"I didn't mean that the way it came out. Look, if you don't want to share the bed now, I totally understand. Sometimes my mouth talks before my brain thinks about it, and once it's out there, I can't take it back, no matter how much I may want to."
Kayne chuckled. "I remember. You were exactly the same as a kid."
They sat in silence as they drank their tea. Kayne just couldn't think of anything to say that wasn't going to come out all wrong, so he decided to go with a safe topic.
"Are you still going to start your clothing store?"
Nodding, Jacen sat his mug on the bedside table. "Yeah, as soon as the unit in Footscray sells, I will look into getting something set up around here. I just don't know whether I want the hassle of a lone boutique or whether I should have a store in a big shopping centre. I will also have to work on the insurance factors. There are pros and cons for both ideas. In a boutique I'd have less foot traffic, and I could keep my staff to a minimum with only one assistant. In a mall I would get more traffic and would need more staff, so my taxes and insurances would be higher. What do you think?"
Leaning back against the bedhead, Kayne listened as Jacen spoke with excitement about the store he was opening. He liked the way it lit up Jacen's entire face. He didn't even let Kayne answer before he began talking again.
"I've had some people scouting out available shopfronts that would suit my needs and I have a designer friend who I met in uni on hold. He'll get a cut of everything sold and he has other friends who are interested in stocking the shop. I will need to rent a storage shed until I have everything set up. I'm hoping it won't be too far from the business. I may even have to look into buying some sort of van to haul everything in." Jacen's eyes twinkled in apparent excitement. "I think the best part about doing this is buying all the new stuff."
If this was Jacen's plan, who was he to argue? He would go along with whatever Jacen wanted. "You have enough space here to build a storage shed of your own. If you get a kit, I'm sure Micah and I could put it all together for you."
"You would do that for me?" Jacen stared at him with amazement in his eyes. "The truth is, as good as it sounds, I'd hate to take up the yard. Squirt and Macen need room to run around. I think a storage shed in town would be better, don't you think?"
As much as it excited him that Jacen was looking at him and Macen staying there for a long time, he had to be honest. "Sure I would. You could always build the shed in the front yard and fence the back off for Macen and Squirt. This way you have stock on hand and it would save you a trip of having to pick stock up if needed in the shop. I think having it here would make life a hell of a lot easier for you in the long run."
Jacen's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Kayne wasn't sure what he had said to upset him. "I don't have to help if you would prefer I didn't."
"No!" Jacen said hoarsely as he reached out and clasped Kayne's hand. "I'm not upset. I just can't believe you will help me. George would never have…"
Anger raced through him. "I'm not George. I'd never treat you the way that arsehole did. He never deserved you. I'm glad the fucker is out of your life. You deserve so much more than he ever gave you."
The fear that had filled Jacen's eyes at his outburst slowly receded—but didn't quite leave—as he slid down into the bed. "I'm kinda tired," he whispered as he pulled the sheet until it reached his armpits.
"I didn't mean to scare you." Kayne lay down and rolled onto his side so he was facing Jacen. "You know you don't have to be afraid of me, right?"
Closing his eyes, Jacen answered. "I'm not afraid of you. I've never been afraid of you."
Leaning across Jacen, Kayne switched off the lamp and felt Jacen tense. What the hell was going on? "Do you want me to turn the light back on?"
"No," Jacen whispered. "I just haven't liked the dark since I got hurt."
"Oh." Sliding his hand over until it touched Jacen's arm, he slowly rubbed his fingertip across the skin. "I'm here if you need me. If you need the light back on, just let me know. Okay?"
"Thanks," Jacen mumbled and yawned all at the same time.
"It's okay." Kayne lay there a long time in the dark and listened as Jacen fell asleep. When he was sure he wouldn't wake the sleeping man, Kayne slowly pulled Jacen toward him. He wanted Jacen to be know he was there if he woke up during the night. With his arm wrapped lightly around Jacen's smaller body Kayne smiled as he drifted into sleep.
CHAPTER NINE
Something woke Jacen from a dead sleep—a sound which didn't seem to belong there. In the last two weeks he'd gotten pretty damn familiar with the everyday sounds of his new house, especially the ones in the middle of the night when he couldn't sleep. Before he came fully awake, he froze in terror as the arm around him tightened just a fraction. Fuck! How did George get into his house? With his heart racing, Jacen slid from beneath the arm and off the side of the bed. Turning, he breathed a big sigh of relief, then full-on panicked when he realised it was Kayne… Holy Hell! Kayne had slept with his arm wrapped around him. Jacen wanted to crawl back into bed and be wrapped up in those arms again, but the noise that had woken him happened again, and this time Squirt growled long and low before it turned into a vicious sounding bark. Whatever it was, it was outside his house and Squirt didn't seem to like the intrusion.
"I'm awake," Kayne blurted as he sat up in bed and blinked away his sleep. It had almost given Jacen a heart attack.
Pressing a finger to his lips Jacen whispered, "There's somebody—or something—walking around outside."
Kayne slid out of the bed and reached for his jeans. "You check on Macen and I'll go find out what's happening."
"It could be a possum or some other animal," Jacen said hopefully. "There've been a few of them lately."
"Maybe." Kayne squeezed his shoulder in reassurance. "But I'd better check it out to be on the safe side. You go and stay in Macen's room. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Okay." Terror filled Jacen and he flinched when Kayne pressed a kiss to his temple. Jacen pushed the tender moment from his mind as he quietly walked to Macen's room. Hopefully whatever was out there was something innocent and Macen could sleep through it all.
Just as Jacen entered Macen's room, the bedroom window exploded in a shower of glass. The noise was deafening and wasn't helped any when both he and Macen started screaming. Luckily the bed hadn't been set up right under the window. Grabbing Macen by the hand, Jacen led the frightened boy into the hall. Opening up the linen cupboard, he then sat on the floor and pulled Macen into his side, offering what little comfort he could. Jacen shut the door and listened at what he assumed were more windows being broken throughout the house. What the hell is happening? Has George finally caught up with me?
Not knowing how long he sat there, he tried to freak out as quietly as possible. He was the adult. He was supposed to be the strong one, though he didn't complain when Macen grabbed hold of his hand, as they needed the closeness. Both he and Macen listened as the house fell silent. They let out a scream as the door suddenly flew open, and Kayne fell to his knees beside them. Jacen was momentarily stunned as Kayne pulled them both into a hug.
"Come on. The police are on their way. I chased whoever it was, but they got away from me. The fucker had someone waiting in a car at the end of the street." He helped them out of the linen cupboard and led them to the lounge room. "Your dad and Micah are on their way over with some tarps."
Climbing out of the closet, Jacen started asking questions. "What's going on? Who would do something like this?" Tears formed in Jacen's eyes and he couldn't have stopped them from falling. "I've only lived here for two weeks. How could I have possibly pissed someone off this quickly?"
Kayne led them carefully through to the couch in the lounge room. "Stay here. I'll be right back. Don't move off this couch. There's fucking glass everywhere."
"Dad." Macen began to cry and Jacen pulled him closer into his side.
"It's okay. Dad will be back soon."
Jacen jum
ped as he heard pounding on the front door and a loud voice yelling to be let in. He hugged Macen tighter as Kayne stormed back in the room. "What the hell is he doing here?" He pointed at the couch. "Stay there while I answer the fucking door."
"Who is it?" Jacen asked in panic. Who the hell was banging on his door like a madman in the middle of the night? Thank God he didn't have any close neighbours to worry about.
"Pop!" Macen shouted at the large man who barrelled into the lounge room ahead of Kayne.
"Mr Henderson." Jacen breathed a sigh of relief. It was only Kayne's father. Frank Henderson was a force to be reckoned with when he was pissed off about something, and right now he was madder than a twice cut snake. Before he could stop himself, Jacen cringed away as the older man approached then felt embarrassed for doing so.
"Oh my God, what the hell happened to you?" Frank asked as he squatted in front of the couch. Macen leapt into his grandfather's arms.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Kayne asked, and Jacen knew Kayne was just as confused about his father's arrival as he was.
"Desmond called me in the middle of the night asking for help. He said we needed to make the house my family is living in safe, and you expect me to stay away? I don't think so, son." Frank stood up and faced Kayne. Jacen sat on the couch and watched the reunion unfold. "We may have had our differences, but you and Macen are my family. When you're in trouble, you're meant to come to me."
"Come to you." Kayne all but exploded. "You're the reason I'm homeless. You wouldn't help me after what she did. You didn't even let me try to defend myself. I lost everything I ever had because you blamed me."
Somehow those words cut deep into Jacen as he sat there. Even though he had said he was angry at Teagan, Jacen got the feeling Kayne missed his wife and his family being together. Shame washed through him for feeling happy that Kayne and Macen were now living here with him, even if it had been for less than a day. In those few precious hours he'd gotten to live out a dream—well, sort of. Blinking back the tears threatening to fall, Jacen understood that in the end, no matter what he wanted, he was going to have to let Kayne go. Kayne Henderson deserved to be happy. And no matter how much he wished he could be the one to provide the much needed happiness, it was never going to be so.
Standing slowly, Jacen said, "I need to get some pants on. Micah will never let me live it down if he catches me in my jocks with another guy in the house—even if it is only you."
"Jace, there's glass everywhere. Stay on the couch and I'll go and get you some pants." Reluctantly he sat back down as Kayne went and retrieved a pair of Jacen's tracksuit pants.
"I suppose we should all be fully dressed before the cops get here, or they may just get the wrong idea," Jacen mumbled as he pulled the pants on.
"Wrong idea?" Frank's raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "What wrong idea?"
The inevitable blush rushed over his skin and Jacen just knew his face was beet red. "I wouldn't want them to think Kayne and I were a couple, because sadly, two half-dressed men living in the same house—even if it is only for a short time—would get us both labelled as fags."
"Son, that's not a word I ever want to hear come out of your mouth again. And you should know better than to say something derogative around young ears."
"I'm sorry," Jacen mumbled. Why am I always such an idiot? Why can't I control my mouth? But even now it kept right on going. "I just meant I didn't want Kayne to be labelled as gay."
"I don't think I'll ever have a choice in who my son chooses to love. I never have. He's a grown man and can handle whatever difficulties life throws at him."
Kayne seemed to stop and listen to his father and Jacen talking. Jacen wasn't quite able to read the look on Kayne's face. There was no doubt in Jacen's mind that Frank was using this conversation to tell Jacen what he couldn't find a way to say to Kayne.
"No, I wouldn't wish for my son to be labelled as gay, but as his father, I'd stand by him, no matter who he was in a relationship with."
"What about T.E.A.G.A.N?" Jacen spelled out Kayne's ex-wife's name.
Macen snorted from next to Frank. "I'm six now. I do know how to spell. I know you're talking about Mum."
Jacen blushed. Sometimes it was hard to remember Macen was as smart as he was. "I'm such an idiot. I know you can spell." He smiled before adding, "I'm sorry, Macen."
"It's okay. I swear, sometimes adults think all kids have no ears or brains." Macen huffed.
Sadness washed over Frank's face. He pulled Macen closer to him as he answered the question about Teagan. "She was a mistake, and I should never have forced Kayne's hand in any way."
"You didn't force me, Dad. She blackmailed me into sleeping with her, and after she told me she was pregnant I couldn't leave. I couldn't walk away from my child." He smiled at his son. "You are the best thing in my life."
Macen grinned back.
Frank nodded. "I'll always feel like I'm to blame for what you went through."
"As much as we didn't get on, she did have some good things about her." Jacen piped in, trying to bring the conversation around to a better point. "She gave you a gorgeous son."
"That she did." Frank rubbed Macen's shoulder.
"After all this is sorted out, you and Kaye should come around and have dinner with us." Jacen smiled. "I know the house is looking pretty crappy right now but give me a week or two and things will be much better." Jacen jumped as a knock sounded at the door.
Kayne took a step towards the door. "It's probably the cops. Your family would just barge in." He chuckled as he pulled the door open.
Two police officers stood there waiting. Jacen breathed a sigh of relief when Kayne held open the door and let them pass and he saw who they were. At least Jacen knew these officers were gay friendly, as both had once worked on Sammy's case when Bradley and Blake Steins had run rampant a little over a year ago, conning innocent people out of their money.
"Hi, Travis, Emily, long time no see. Come in. Be careful of the glass. We're in the lounge room. Jace is freaking out a little," Kayne said.
When Kayne, Travis, and Emily came back to where he was, Jacen stood, and it suddenly hit him hard that someone had vandalised his house. Someone had been intent on causing him harm. His knees started shaking and he knew his legs were going to give out. Kayne must have known what was happening because the next thing Jacen knew, Kayne wrapped his strong arms around him, holding him in place.
"It's okay, I have you. You remember Travis and Emily, babe."
"Hello, Jacen," Emily began calmly. "Can you tell Trav and me what happened?"
Leaning into Kayne's body would be the easiest thing in the world to do, but considering who was standing in the room with them, he needed to step away and sit down. But those strong arms felt so damn good. Slowly Kayne led him to the couch and sat them both down, all the while holding him tightly against his body. His world shattered, like the broken glass covering the floor of his new home. He realised he could have died. They all could have.
"What if it was George? What if he's found me?" Tears flowed down his cheeks as he pressed his face into Kayne's broad chest. It wasn't until he heard Nancy and Sammy explaining to Travis and Emily about George did he even realised his own family had arrived. Frank was on the phone talking to someone, telling them to bring sheets of form-ply so they could board up the windows. So much was happening and he couldn't seem to get it to all make sense in his head. He could hear a high keening sound. He didn't understand at first that the noise was coming from him. In truth, he never even felt the pinprick in his arm before the darkness came to carry him away.
CHAPTER TEN
Kayne sat in the dimmed hospital room and held the hand of the man lying in the bed. Jacen looked so small. Every hour since arriving, the nurses had come to check on Jacen. Everyone had given Kayne nasty looks when they'd first seen the battered state of Jacen's body. It wasn't until Travis explained things that they were willing to allow Kayne to sit with Jacen. They would have had a fight
on their hands if they had tried to make Kayne leave. Right now Jacen was sedated until his body could calm itself and to do so, he needed sleep.
His family and Jacen's were still at the house boarding up the windows while Nancy and his mum looked after Macen. His son would be going home with his grandparents to spend the night as Kayne had already told them that he wasn't leaving Jacen's side. The doctors had informed him that Jacen had suffered one of the worst anxiety attacks they had ever seen, and it had sent him into shock, most likely caused by this new drama on top of what he had suffered at George's hands. Kayne, now more than ever, was going to beat the crap out of Jacen's ex-boyfriend if he ever showed his face around Jacen. As far as he was concerned, no one was ever going to hurt Jacen again. Travis had earlier confided, the police were looking into whether or not this was related to George, considering the man was still missing. They were now in contact with the Victorian cops.
Kayne never bothered to let go of Jacen's hand when someone entered the room. He glanced in the direction of the door, assuming he would find a nurse standing there, but instead he found Micah and Sammy. They were standing there with their gazes locked on his and Jacen's joined hands.
"How is he?" Micah asked.
Fuck! Taking a deep breath, he told them the little he knew. "A massive anxiety attack brought on by everything he's suffered over the last month or so. They've sedated him for now. His body needs to rest."
"How long?" Micah's voice was more than a tad worried.
Kayne's voice shook as he answered. "They'll bring him out of it tomorrow and check how he is. They'll know more after he wakes up."
"Did they say if there'll be any permanent damage?" Micah asked as he and Sammy took seats on the other side of the bed.
"I don't know. They really haven't told me anything. I only know what I do because I told them I was Jacen's boyfriend." Kayne rubbed his free hand over his face.
Sammy leant forward. "Have you told Jace how you feel?"
Blinking, he refused to let the tears fall. "I should have told him. I should have asked him to stay before he ever went to Victoria and met George-fucking-Woodrow. None of this would have happened if he had have stayed here." Kayne felt so bloody lost. He blamed himself for everything that had happened to Jacen since high school. As stupid as it was, that's how he felt.
One Last Kiss Goodbye (Hidden Hearts #2) Page 7
