Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles)

by Talia Carmichael

  He knew his tone was vicious, but he didn’t want to be competing with a dead man.

  Harper jerked back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not going to forget about him. Never mention him because you want to erase him from my life?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying.” Del touched Harper’s arm, pulling them apart from where they were crossed, then stepped closer to him. “But I won’t compete with a dead man.”

  “You fucker.” Harper moved away, turning his back.

  Del watched his rigid stance. He clenched his fist, not willing to give up on this. Harper turned to him, his face composed and serious. Del figured he was about to hear “no.” A weird sensation filled him, and Del realized it was disappointment. He hadn’t thought he would care so much if Harper wasn’t willing to try with him. Harper saw him as most everyone did—a cold, unfeeling bastard. Del remembered the conversation he’d had a few months ago with his brothers, when Bur was unsure of Gerald. Bur was seen as the one who was carefree, led by his emotions. But that was not true.

  That’s what you get for letting yourself be led by your emotions. You’ve learned that it’s unwise. That’s why you put on the show of the cold man. That way no one can hurt you.

  Del composed his face into the cold, unyielding mask he used when conducting business. Harper shook his head, then walked to him. He stopped before him, gazing at Del.

  “Don’t pull that cold face on me.” Harper cupped his cheek. “I see you, Del. When I compared you to Karl, it was a compliment.”

  “I—”

  “Shut up. I know you are you, and Karl was Karl. The comparison I mean is”—Harper frowned, and then his face cleared—“Ramirez, for example. He comes across as this joker who’s crass.”

  “But that’s not what he’s like at all,” Del interjected.

  “Exactly. Ramirez is the one everyone depends on. Karl was, too, as well as being a joker, but when the chips were down, everyone could depend on him and Ramirez. Our friends knew Karl, and see Ramirez, for who they are. But in private, there was so much about Karl they didn’t see. That he would show no one.” Harper paused, then said softly, “From what your brothers, Gerald, and Tomas have said about you, I figured there was a lot more to you than this loner. From the brief time I’ve been around you, I’m even more sure of it now. I want to see the man who is behind that cold mask you show to everyone else. I deserve that.” Harper thumped him on the chest.

  Del gulped, unsure of what he was saying. “Does this mean you’ll give a relationship a try?”

  Harper frowned. “I’m not ready for a relationship.”

  Disappointment filled Del.

  “But I’m willing to get to know the real Del. The one I saw sitting on the ground with two little boys in his lap outside my store.”

  “You saw us?” Del reached for him.

  Harper met his touch, holding his hand. “Yes, I did. And you calmed them. I want to see all parts of you—the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

  Fear filled Del. If he accepted Harper’s demand, could he reveal the darkest part of himself? Staring into Harper’s gaze, Del knew he wouldn’t be walking away. He glanced down at the leather band on his right wrist, then at Harper. There would be no need for him to know everything.

  “Be careful what you wish for.” Del gave the warning, knowing Harper would never have any idea what he fully meant.

  “I’m ready for whatever happens. And about Karl—”

  Del cut him off. “I can accept that you might make comparisons between us, but I’m not him.” He squeezed Harper’s hand. “I want to hear about him. From Tomas and Gerald, I’ve heard various stories. But I want to see him through your eyes.”

  “Oh boy. I can see you’re going to be a talker, wanting to discuss everything.” Harper stared at him.

  “Not everything. Just some.” Del kissed him gently. “Your friends are important to you. I don’t like people, and I’m not much of a joiner. But I will check out some of these things you all do and see if there are any I might enjoy being a part of.”

  “That’s where Dar got it from,” Harper said.

  “Got what?”

  “The not liking people thing. You like your brothers, Tomas, and Ramirez. And your friends. And if I’m not mistaken, they’re people.”

  “Nope. They’re family.” Del knew Harper would understand that.

  “Okay. They are. But it really isn’t necessary for you to come to spend time with the others,” Harper protested.

  “I know. I want to.” Del slid his arms around him.

  Harper rested against him, watching him, a small smile on his face. “Why would you be willing to do that now, when I know your brothers have asked you to come join in before?”

  “You didn’t ask.”

  Harper looked confused.

  “It was important to you. I could tell just from how you talk about them. You mentioned you all hang together a lot. And in your voice, I could hear it was.” Del smiled. “That’s why I’ll go. When Bur and Bernie asked me, it was like they felt obligated to ask me to come.” Del shrugged. “If they really wanted me there, I would have gone. I could tell by the way they worded the invite.”

  “Really?” Harper looked skeptical. “I know Bur really did want you to come to my house all those times he invited you.”

  “Well, you’re right there.” Del pursed his lips. “But I refused because it was more fun to irritate Bur.”

  “The two of you are strange. He’s told me about when you were kids, the friendly way you’d bicker with each other.”

  “Still do. We keep each other’s wits sharp. Even as a kid, Bur has always been so arrogant. Snotty little shit. And don’t let Bernie’s innocent act fool you. He was a bossy cuss.” Del smiled, remembering them together as kids.

  It had been them against the world. And the world was their parents. Del frowned, pushing away any thoughts of the abuse. He would not go down that road.

  “If you ever need to talk about… what happened to you, I’m here.” Harper squeezed him around the waist.

  From the tentativeness in his tone, Del knew he was referring to the abuse. Del fought his instinct to recoil and tell him “hell no.” Instead, he just nodded, not saying anything.

  Harper squeezed him again, then said, “The boys look like they’re doing well.”

  “They are. There are still touchy days, and they’re still in therapy.” Del shrugged. “They’re smart and have seen too much for such a young age.”

  “For six years the boys are articulate; their vocabulary is amazing,” Harper said.

  “They were homeschooled. They didn’t want the boys anywhere someone could figure out they were being abused.” Del frowned, then said, “Since I got them, I’ve been trying to figure out what they know. They are smart as hell. Soaking everything up like a sponge.” Del smiled, pride filling him, then chuckled. “Like we did when we were kids. Tomas, when I met him years ago when I was a teenager, used to call me Sponge.”

  “Do you think they’re like you and your brothers?”

  “I don’t think they have eidetic memories like we do.” Del was horrified at the thought. “God, I hope they don’t. Remembering everything with all your senses is hell when you really want to forget.”

  Harper tightened his grip, and Del cleared his throat before speaking again. “I just think they’re very smart. Rey is good at math. And Dar… well, he’s superior at everything I’ve shown him. Also, they are bored out of their minds in first grade.”

  “I thought they were in school? But when I saw them with you Friday, on a school day, I wondered.”

  Harper didn’t say anything further, but from his look, Del could tell what he wasn’t saying. Harper had a very expressive face when he was relaxed. Del was pleased Harper felt comfortable enough to be so open with him.

  “With all that’s happened recently, I’ve kept them home with me. All of us have been tutoring them, making sure they kept up on their class wo
rk. Hell, they finished it, and we had to give them other things. They had been bugging me for a laptop for months, but I thought they were too young. I finally gave in when we were locked in from the media. They took to it. Tomas and Gerald tease them that they’re already better at computers than they are. The boys are reading at a sixth-grade level.” Del laughed. “I think their teacher will be very surprised. I’m going to have to make arrangements to get them tested to see what level grade they should be in.”

  “You might have two geniuses on your hands,” Harper teased.

  “God help us all. They’re already too smart for their own good.” Del could only think of the havoc they would get into. He was looking forward to it. Del focused back on Harper.

  “Have dinner with me tomorrow?”

  “You’re asking instead of just showing up. That’s progress.” Harper chuckled.

  “Not here at your house. Let’s go out to dinner, you and me,” Del said.

  Harper looked startled, and then a small smile curled his lips. “Yes. I’d love to have dinner with you.”

  “Good. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night. Since you have to work on Tuesday, I won’t keep you out too long,” Del said.

  “You’re working too.”

  Harper was referring to the centers Del and his brothers were working to get going. Triumvirate Deuce would be the main center, open to the public and offering many things a community center did. The other center, Treble Duo, would be a safe haven facility, which would be kept private, except for those they decided to reveal its existence to. They were developing contacts in various agencies to identify residents they could help. Treble Duo would offer housing for children or teenagers who needed it. It would also offer classes and other types of programs similar to the main center. When they broke ground for the centers, Bernie’s close friends had been present for both ceremonies. At the time, Del hadn’t been sure it was a good idea for the large circle of people Bernie was a part of to know of the safe haven. But he’d accepted it with Bernie’s word that they would never reveal it, and might even be able to help if they were needed. And Bernie had been correct. There had been no leak of their plans, and his friends, who had become Bernie and Bur’s family too, had indeed been a help. With their various professions, some of them had been able to put in a good word for him and his brothers, cutting through the red tape so they could get direct contacts instead of being caught in some bureaucratic runaround.

  “Working on the centers is not work. That’s fun.” Del released him from his embrace. “Let me get started on dinner.”

  Harper stepped into Del’s body and kissed him thoroughly. Del held him, moaning into his mouth. Harper stepped back, pushing him gently toward the stove.

  Del went to start cooking. As he pulled out items from the bag, he watched Harper sit on the stool again. He leaned against the high back of the stool he was perched on. Del observed his movements, imagining him laid out beside him.

  “I don’t bottom.”

  Harper blinked, then laughed. “You’ve been hanging around Gerald too much. You should have worked into that slowly, not just bluntly said it.”

  “Just wanted to make it clear.” Del shrugged.

  “Okay.” Harper looked like he wanted to say something more, but didn’t.

  Del was grateful he hadn’t, because he was not going to explain why he didn’t bottom. “Tell me how you and Karl met,” Del requested instead.

  A sad look filtered over Harper’s face before he spoke. “I met Karl on September 16th—my birthday. I had just turned twenty, and went out to a bar with some friends. I didn’t even know Karl was a cop when he came up to me, bold as you please, and said he wanted to dance with me.” Harper rested his elbows on the island, putting his chin on his clasped hands. “Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to say no. We danced, and then Karl found someplace for us to talk. He told me about being a cop. That was all he and some of his friends wanted to be. When we talked, I noticed these six men watching us and pointed it out. Karl said to ignore them, they were just his friends. He filled me in on each of them: the Rodriguez brothers—Hector, Miguel, Tomas, Javier, and Emilio—and in order, the first two were gay, one bi, and the other two straight. Then there was Ramirez, who was also straight.” Harper paused. “That was curious to me, that these three straight men were in a gay bar with their brothers and their friend. And can you guess why Karl told me they were there?”

  Del seasoned the chicken, thinking, and then shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “They were family. That’s what he said.” Harper chuckled. “Then went on to add that if they—meaning he, Hector, and Miguel—went along with the others to straight bars when they picked up women, the straight guys could come with them to pick up men. Of course, I couldn’t leave that alone, so I asked him point blank if that’s what he was doing—picking me up. And Karl looked me in my eyes and said no, that I was his future.” Harper snorted. “I told him he was full of shit. But he just replied that I’d see he was right. That with age came wisdom. I repeated what I told him before, because he was only five years older than me. He wasn’t turning twenty-six until the next month, in October. But Karl knew from when we met that we would be together. I, on the other hand, thought he was crazy.” Harper’s tone softened. “But he wasn’t. And even when I was stubborn, he persevered. His friends even stepped in, playing matchmaker. I was overwhelmed with the massive amount of people in his life. But in time, I realized it was just the way they all were.”

  Del stirred the rice, listening as Harper talked about his friends. They were going out, and from there, Del would just have to convince this stubborn man to let him in. It was a good thing he was determined.

  HARPER SHARED about his friends while he watched Del at the stove. Del’s statement about not bottoming made him wonder why he was so vehement. Some men didn’t enjoy being penetrated, but Harper didn’t think, in Del’s case, that was what it was. If they got to that point, he wouldn’t have any problem accepting Del. Harper stopped speaking, shocked at where his thoughts went. He shifted on the stool, subtly moving his pants over his cock, which was hard. Harper watched Del cooking the food. His ass looked really good in his slacks. Harper leaned farther forward, trying to get a better view. Del glanced at him, and Harper leaned back, acting like he wasn’t ogling Del’s ass. Del put down the spoon he was using to stir the rice and turned to face the island. He braced his hands on the surface, watching Harper.

  “Sounds like you have a great time when you are together.”

  “We do.” Harper pulled the book Del had placed on the counter earlier closer. “Already on book three of the In Death series? You’re hooked.”

  “Yep. Bur saw the book when he brought the boys back yesterday and started telling me about the series. I had to kick him and Gerald out to get Bur to shut up.”

  Harper laughed. With their eidetic memory, Bur would have remembered every detail.

  “I know it’s fiction, but could you imagine meeting Roarke in person? He must be one handsome man. And that accent.” Del leaned over the counter. “When I read his parts, I imagine he sounds like Tyran.”

  “Me too.” Harper leaned forward. “I was rereading the series again before the latest book came out, and I was doing the same. Ever since I met Tyran, that’s who I imagine Roarke sounds like.”

  Harper remembered meeting Tyran, one of Bur’s bandmates who had moved to Mapson. The man was sinful to look at and sounded very sexy with the wisp of accent that made his voice sound almost lyrical. All of Bur’s bandmates were sexy. Between their talent and charisma, it was no wonder they had been so successful as a band.

  “That look on your face. Which one are you daydreaming about?” Del said.

  Harper glanced at him, then shook his head. “I plead the fifth.”

  “Come on now. They’re all fairly attractive.”

  Harper gave him a look of disbelief. Calling the other four members of TrebleBur “fairly” anything was pr
eposterous. And Harper wasn’t including Bur in the number, although Bur was very captivating. It wasn’t until recently that Bur had explained to them that, although only he and the three others performed on the stage, in the band’s eyes, their stage manager was the fifth member of their band. When Harper met them, being in the room with them had literally been sensory overload. They had such interesting personalities and were unique in their own ways. They were nothing like he had expected.

  Harper studied the man before him. Just as Del had surprised him, and he expected he would keep doing so. Even standing still, Del gave him the sensation of a waiting tiger coiled to pounce. The men of TrebleBur could make anyone’s pulse pound and make someone want to kiss or bed them. But it was the man looking at him across the counter that Harper was nervous around, wondering what would happen next. It was disconcerting, but thrilling at the same time.

  Del chuckled. “Okay. They’re gorgeous. Which one would you do if you could? Just a fantasy.”

  “Ramsey,” Harper replied, thinking of that cool man who was very self-confident.

  “Okay. We’re getting somewhere. But why him?”

  “I just imagine making him lose that control he has.” Harper thought about their first meeting. Ramsey had been so magnetic. “And I’ll have you know, I could have had him.”

  “He asked you out? What did you say?” Del scowled.

  Harper bit back a smile at his expression. Del was being possessive, and Harper got a thrill that he was.

  “Yes. He asked me out. I’ll go check on the boys.” Harper slid off the stool and headed for the kitchen door.

  Before he could reach it, he was turned around. Del hugged him, gaze on his.

  “What did you say?”

  “If I was dating Ramsey, do you really think I would have dinner with you and be wanting to get to know you?” Harper asked.

  Del partially lowered his lids over his pale-green eyes. Harper’s breath caught at the sexy expression. Del kissed him, sliding his tongue into his mouth. Harper rested against Del, knowing even though he was bulkier than Del’s lanky frame, Del would hold him. Del lifted his head, eyes darkened with desire.