All Bets Are Off

by Marguerite Labbe

  He didn’t want to. Damn, he wanted to take advantage of Eli’s temper and discover exactly what he was like in bed when he was in such a mood. Over the past month, Eli had become more than the man Ash wanted to screw: he’d become a friend. A friend who wasn’t thinking things through at the moment, and Ash had no damn wish to be a regret after Eli calmed down.

  A catlike grin crossed Eli’s lips. “But you won’t. I don’t believe it. Not after your little presentation today and all those letters about meeting up outside of town.”

  “I thought you’d pick up on that.” Ash grinned, reminded of the whole reason why he’d wanted to speak to Eli tonight. This would cheer him up. “I wondered what it would take to lure you out to Boston with me.”

  “Boston?” Eli’s dark-reddish brows lifted in question. “I don’t normally choose to go to the city for a getaway, but I could be persuaded to if you’re there.”

  “I happen to have in my possession two tickets to game three of the ALCS at Fenway.”

  Astonishment lit Eli’s face, chasing away the aggravated lines, and his eyes lit up with glee. “Hot damn, how did you manage that magic trick?”

  Ash grinned to see Eli’s mood change for the better. “One of the guys at drill had tickets. He’s going to have to go out of town that week and he can’t get out of it. So he offered them up for sale.”

  “There had to be quite a few people who’d want them. How much did you pay?” Eli’s eyes narrowed. “They didn’t cost you a lot did they?”

  Ash waved him silent before Eli could offer to reimburse him. “Nope, I just gave him what he’d already paid. Since there were a bunch of other guys who wanted in, he decided to let us fight it out.”

  “Fight?”

  Ash laughed at Eli’s shocked expression and shook his head. “Not a real fight. I won them in a poker game.”

  “I could kiss you,” Eli breathed with such a stunned, happy smile that Ash laughed again.

  “I’ll hold you to that sometime very soon.” Maybe even after dinner, if Eli kept looking at him the way he was. Ash’s cock stirred, reminding him that it had been a very long month since he’d been naked with this man and it wanted attention.

  “And here I thought you got worked to death on those weekends. I was feeling all sorry for you, coming home sore and worn out,” Eli teased.

  “Liar,” Ash replied under his breath as Lu approached. “You’re just thinking of excuses to get me naked so you can massage me again.” Then he raised his voice as Eli’s cousin approached. “Once in awhile we have a little downtime at drill. This happened to be one of those times.”

  Lu set down bowls of corn chowder and what smelled like fresh-baked bread, a beer for Ash, and a squat glass of dark-amber liquid for Eli. “I was thinking of you earlier and whipped up a little something to bring just in case you showed up tonight.”

  “You’re the best, Lu,” Eli said with a grateful smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “No need to cozy up to me. I just like seeing a smile on your face again.” With that Lu disappeared into the swirl of customers.

  “Me too.” Ash broke off a piece of the steaming bread and slathered it with butter. “And seeing you all fired up was quite a turn-on.”

  “How the hell am I supposed to stay mad between you offering Red Sox tickets and her chowder? It’s just not possible.”

  Ash dunked his bread in the chowder and took a bite, gauging Eli’s mood. He didn’t want to set him off again, but he did want to find out more about the break-in. Especially since it was just another one of those unexplained mysteries that seemed to surround Eli. Eli had told him of coming home to find Jabbers in rooms he’d sworn he’d left closed, and one time the dog had been outside. It was past time that he voiced his suspicions to Eli. Either Jabbers had learned to open doors, or Wayne was still going into Eli’s house without telling him.

  Just like he had to get his glove, but that didn’t explain why he’d been there in the first place. Maybe it was coincidence. But Ash didn’t really believe that. And every time he saw Wayne, the man wouldn’t meet his eyes.

  “So tell me what happened.”

  Eli set his spoon down, his brows furrowing and took a sip from his glass. “Not much to tell, really. Whoever tore apart my office had a key. Just between us, they had to have been looking for something, but it didn’t seem to be any of the student records. Even though they’d been rifled through, they were intact. Sheriff Cooper wants me keep it quiet until he’s done with his investigation. So don’t say anything or he’s going to bitch at me all over again.”

  “What else did you have in the office? Anything valuable?”

  Eli’s expression darkened and he took another sip of his drink. “Yeah, but it wasn’t stolen, just roughed up a bit. I’d almost rather it have been stolen. I had some rare books, and one of them took some damage to the pages. If they had been after money, they wouldn’t have done that.”

  From the look on Eli’s face, the damaged book was what had gotten him so pissed off. Ash didn’t get it. It was a book. Surely Eli could get another copy, even if it was rare. And then he felt bad for thinking that, because it had to have meant something to him to get Eli so worked up. He’d never met anyone who owned as many books as Eli had in his house.

  “I’m sorry,” Ash murmured. “How bad was the damage? Can the book be fixed?”

  “Not really. And what really pisses me off is I can’t figure out a reason why anybody would need or want anything from my office other than to harass me or make me look bad.”

  Ash closed his eyes and shook his head. He had a feeling he knew where Eli had gone with that theory. “Let me guess. You went off on Britton?”

  Eli looked away and shrugged, an uncomfortable look crossing his face. “I may have accused him of being behind the break-in. It made sense then, even if it seems too extreme for him now. He had the unfortunate timing of showing up right after I discovered my damaged book. I’m supposed to apologize to him tomorrow.”

  Ash couldn’t see that happening anytime soon. “Are you?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.” Eli took a sip of his drink and a wicked smile crossed his lips. “If I can come up with a way to make my apology even more awkward for him than me, I just might do it.”

  Ash burst out laughing, and Eli’s smiled turned a bit sheepish. “I’m not helping my situation out any with my attitude, am I?”

  “The bastard deserves it. I heard the way he talks to you and I can understand you not wanting to apologize.” Ash thought over the situation for a moment until the perfect idea came to him. “Didn’t you say it irks him when he can’t get under your skin?”

  “Makes him nuttier than a cat in heat. And some days knowing that is the only reason why I manage to keep my cool.”

  “I’d suggest going to him with sincerity. Think you can fake that? It would piss him the fuck off.”

  “It would, wouldn’t it?” Eli said with malicious glee. “I shouldn’t be this excited over the chance to see the vein in his temple throbbing again, but I am. I don’t know what it is about this semester, but he’s more vitriolic than ever before. And as long as I apologize, sincere or not, the dean will be happy. He gets far more grief from Britton than he does from me.”

  “Hey, Eli, I heard what happened at your office.” They both looked up at Wayne, who stood next to their table crushing his cap in his hand. “I’m really sorry about it. Can I do anything to help you?”

  Ash felt a momentary stab of sympathy for Sheriff Cooper. How the hell he conducted investigations when everybody in town heard about things as soon as they happened, Ash didn’t know.

  Eli was friendly with just about everybody in this town and it never bothered Ash one bit. So why was it that he got irritated when Eli gave Wayne a warm smile? He knew there wasn’t that kind of a vibe between them, but it still irked him.

  “Thanks, Wayne. There’s really nothing to do. I’ve already picked up and straightened everythin
g I could. And except for the ruined book, nothing was destroyed. I don’t know what to make of the whole thing. How’s your dad doing? I hear he’s getting stronger.”

  For a moment, Wayne looked stricken before he smoothed his expression. “The rehab is going slow, but he’s making progress. I suppose little steps are better than nothing.”

  “It sounds encouraging,” Ash cut in. “Steady progress, even in little steps, is a good sign.” Mentally, he told the guy to go away, but Wayne didn’t listen.

  “I can replace the broken locks on your file cabinets,” Wayne said, ignoring him. “Free of charge.”

  Eli’s brows lifted in surprise. “You don’t have to do that, Wayne.”

  “I want to, please. It won’t take but an hour, tops. I can be there tomorrow morning.”

  “If you really want to, but I insist on you letting me pay. You’ve got your dad to consider.”

  “Free of charge,” Wayne insisted with a stubborn tilt to his chin.

  “Fine.” Eli gave up. “I’m paying for the locks, if you won’t let me pay for labor. Don’t worry, the school will reimburse me.”

  Wayne hesitated and then nodded. “Deal. I’ll see you in the morning.” He cast a quick glance at Ash, mumbling something that could’ve been an acknowledgment before turning into the crowd.

  “Think I’ll be able to talk him into a check?” Eli asked, turning back to Ash.

  Ash hesitated and then decided he couldn’t hold back his concerns anymore. “Do you want my honest opinion?”

  Eli’s brows drew together. “How come I get the feeling I’m not going to like what you’re about to say?”

  “Because you’re probably not. I don’t know how close you are to the guy, but I’d watch out for Wayne. You think he’s your friend, but I’m not so sure about that. And there have been a lot of weird things going on in your life right now.”

  Eli’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding me. You think Wayne’s behind it? Get real, Ash, he’s got enough going on with his dad and holding their business together with the way I hear he’s mismanaging it. Why the hell would he be screwing with me?”

  Now, that, Ash hadn’t figured out yet. But someone was harassing Eli, and once he figured out why, and why now, he’d know who it was. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But there’s something about him that I don’t trust. I mean he went into your house without you knowing about it.”

  Truthfully, it made him want to punch Wayne in the mouth, but he didn’t think telling Eli that was such a good idea. He was already looking at him like he was crazy.

  “He was just getting his glove. Jabbers has a tendency to swipe things, everybody knows that.”

  “Where I come from people just don’t walk into somebody else’s house when they’re not home, unless they’re expected, friend or not.” Ash looked around the bar at the people who’d known each other so long they might as well be family. “I can’t imagine that everybody here would be cool with that, no matter how relaxed things are in this town.”

  “Look, I’ve known Wayne for years. He’s never gotten into any trouble like that. What makes you think he has anything to do with it?”

  “Instinct and training.” And the way Wayne always seemed to be around Eli, yet rarely ever met his eyes. Only Ash was sure pointing that out would only get him accused of jealousy. He folded his arms on the table and leaned forward. “Other than Cooper, you, me, and possibly Britton, who else knows what was disturbed in your office and what wasn’t? Did you tell anyone else?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then how does Wayne know that you need the locks replaced on your file cabinets? I didn’t even know that until he said something. You only said that your files were searched and your book was ruined. That’s the kind of important detail that Sheriff Cooper wouldn’t want leaked out. That’s the kind of detail that the intruder would know.”

  Eli sat back and cast a look in the direction Wayne had gone. If he was still in the bar, Ash couldn’t see him. At least Eli seemed to be considering the thought instead of just dismissing it as Ash had feared he would. Ash didn’t like that the happy light had left his eyes, but it would’ve been worse if Eli had just dismissed his reasoning.

  “Britton or the dean could’ve told him.” His voice didn’t sound certain, though.

  “Maybe. Wayne has both motive—he needs money bad—and opportunity.” He also had the skill set and tools to both break into Eli’s office and to create a new key.

  “Those rare books were worth a lot of money and none of them were taken,” Eli pointed out.

  Ash shrugged and drained the rest of his beer. Wayne probably wouldn’t have known their worth any more than Ash would, but he’d said enough for now. “I just wanted you to think about it. First you had odd stuff going on at home, and now there’s been an even more intrusive invasion at work. Whoever this is, be it Wayne or someone else, they’re not going to stop until they’ve found what they’re looking for.”

  “It might just be Britton looking for a reason to get me sacked.”

  Ash didn’t think so, and he was pretty damn sure Eli didn’t believe it, either, but he decided it was time to drop the subject. All those classes he’d been taking in criminology told him that this wasn’t over with by a long shot. He’d just have to keep an eye on Wayne himself.

  “So the Sox game is scheduled for a school night. Do you think you’re up to being out late, Dr. Hollister?”

  Eli’s eyes gleamed with wicked laughter as he leaned in close. “Don’t you worry about me, Ashley Gallagher. I can hold my own.”

  Ash’s cock twitched, and he promised himself that somehow he was going to get a kiss from Eli before the night was over. He didn’t know where or how, without half the town seeing them and commenting. Or how he’d find the willpower to leave it to just a kiss, but he was going to get one.

  “I think an occasion like that calls for another bet,” Eli continued in a low voice.

  “Words that I’ve been waiting weeks to hear.” Warning bells leapt in Ash’s brain, and he cheerfully kicked them aside. What was the point of life if he didn’t play with a little danger now and then? “I’m assuming from your smile that you already have something in mind.”

  “Damn right I do.” Eli waved to Lu and laid some money on the table. “Did you walk or drive here?”

  “Walked. Seems ridiculous to drive such a short distance.” Eli walking him home was a bad idea, even if it would give Ash the opportunity to pull him aside for a kiss. Still, it wasn’t going to stop Ash. He pulled some money out for his half of the meal and tip. “You can tell me on the way there.”

  The air outside had cooled considerably after the sun had set and it held the nip of winter to come. Ash dug his hands in his jacket pockets, grateful for the nearly deserted streets as they turned in the direction of his apartment. “So what’s going through your devious mind?”

  “If my boys win, I get to investigate the contents of that kink drawer of yours and use them on you.”

  Ash paused in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to face the man next to him, his heart racing. Eli’s proposition filled his head with all kinds of ideas, only with their positions reversed. “You really are in a reckless mood, aren’t you? Why don’t we completely throw caution away, skip the bet, and head upstairs? I’ll show you everything in there.”

  Eli cocked his head, his lips pursed in thought in a way that made Ash’s cock jump. “Anticipation,” he finally said, “makes everything sweeter in the end. Besides, I’m on a roll. I won the last bet.”

  “Winning one bet does not qualify as being on a roll,” Ash said as they continued walking. “I’m due for a win of my own.”

  “If this were a poker game, you might stand a chance. Save your winnings for that game. From what I hear, it sounds like you’re good at it.”

  “And if you do win, do you want to do your investigating right away? Or am I going to have to wait till the end of the semester, anticipating?”

/>   “Anticipation is good for the soul.” Eli chuckled and nudged Ash with his hip. “I can’t let it be said that I’m a bad influence on the student body.”

  “You’ve got a good influence on my body.” A smile tugged at Ash’s lips, and he had to resist the urge to slide his arm around Eli’s shoulders and to kiss his temple. It seemed he’d been spending all of his adult life resisting such things, and he was sick and tired of it. “Sounds like you’re in a far better mood, Doc.”

  It would be a very good idea to remind himself just what was at stake if they got caught. It wasn’t his career on the line this time.

  “I am, thanks to you, and not just because of the tickets.” They turned into the darkened shadows of the driveway behind Ash’s apartment. His downstairs neighbor had forgotten to leave his kitchen light on, and the stars were faint. “So, you never said what your half of the bet would be on the very slim chance that you actually win.”