“Of course. I’ve got gluten-free burger buns, and I’ll make a note about the egg allergy, too.”
“It’s not just your food that Nash can’t shut up about.” Her eyes twinkled, and my shoulders unkinked a bit. At least some of Nash’s family wouldn’t be openly hostile. I could deal with an interfering sister much easier than the glare coming from his mother. “He says you’ve got custody of your niece? Think she’d want to play with Jeff and Andrea later? I could use someone to run them ragged so they actually sleep tonight.”
I hadn’t expected the offer and my sinuses burned. Too many freaking emotions the last few weeks. “That would be nice, thanks. She’d love that.”
“And I can grill you while they play.” Her tone was light, and I found myself looking forward to getting to know her—she’d been older than me in school by several years and went to Portland for college and then stayed there after, so I didn’t have many memories of her younger self.
It would be nice for Nash to have an ally, too, especially given his mother’s sour expression. She kept glancing around like a drag show was about to bust out of the kitchen.
“You want your usual?” I asked Nash while glancing at her. See? I know him. Know what he likes and doesn’t and how to take care of him.
“Yep.” Nash’s smile this time was more genuine. “But throw on an order of fries—I’ll split with the kids. It’s a good day to splurge.”
Yes, yes, it was. I smiled back at him, happy to finally be able to let some of my affection show.
Trisha ordered gluten-free burgers for the kids and the Cobb salad off the specials board for herself. His mother very grudgingly got hot tea and a side salad, no dressing, still not meeting my eyes. Oh, well. Maybe eventually that ice would thaw. I hoped so, for Nash’s sake, but I was prepared to deal either way. My own family was hardly warming to the idea of Nash, my dad acting like I’d decided to join the circus for all the support he was offering. He’d undoubtedly be happier if I took up with a Hell’s Angel instead of a law-enforcement guy, but whatever.
I was done putting my family ahead of myself—I had to make Lilac and my future my priority. If anyone had a problem with that, too bad.
Hours later, I sat on Nash’s back porch step watching the kids play some complicated game involving a magic ball, a pile of stuffed animals, and a lot of running around. It was a gorgeous late-summer night, warm with a strong breeze off the coast and a pink sunset in the distance.
“I’m getting more iced tea.” Trisha pushed herself off the swing. Nash’s mother had long since gone to lie down, pleading a headache. “You guys need anything?”
“Nope,” we answered at the same time, and I laughed.
“You okay?” Nash asked as soon as the door closed behind her. “This isn’t too weird.”
“Not weird at all.” I scooted closer to him on the step. “I like her. And the kids. And she clearly loves you.”
“Yeah. She does.” Nash rubbed his face, eyes not quite convinced.
“And I love you, too,” I added lightly, but my heart still pounded. “We’ve got that in common.”
“Do you now?” A wide smile broke across Nash’s face, and his eyes promised a thorough kissing as soon as we didn’t have the pint-sized audience.
“I do. Sorry it took me forever to say it. This all feels so much like a dream. Like I can’t believe we’re actually here. Together.”
“Doesn’t feel like a dream to me.” Nash shook his head. “Feels more like this was inevitable, even from our first conversation. Like we’ve been building to this, and now here we are. And it’s nowhere near as scary as I’d feared.”
“I’m glad.” Taking a chance, I reached for his hand. Neither of us had exactly trotted out the PDA all day, and I was desperate to touch him. He took it, squeezing my fingers tightly.
“I want more of this.” With his free hand, Nash gestured at the yard. “More nights like this. More time with you and Lilac. I want the long haul, Mason.”
“Me, too.” I had to bite my lip to keep from getting all emotional again. Our eyes met, and I swore I could see our future—not smooth and calm, but bumpy and unpredictable and ours. We’d face whatever it brought, together.
Twenty-Seven
Mason—Four months later
The wind howled and whipped the tree branches outside the house, rattling the windows in the sort of late-fall storm I’d actually missed a bit in my years away from the coast. The sea had been roiling on my drive back from the county seat with Lilac earlier.
I was digging in the bedroom closet when the sound of the front door and heavy footsteps cut past the wind noise.
“What are you doing?” Nash came up behind me.
“It’s cold tonight. I’ve got an electric blanket in here somewhere.” I reached past my dress clothes, the spare uniforms Nash kept here, and the stash of holiday presents we already had going for Lilac. Nash had proved to be even worse than me, arriving twice recently with “a little something for Christmas.” Lilac was going to be thrilled with this year’s Santa haul, and I couldn’t wait for Nash to share it with us. “Here it is.”
“I can keep you warm.” Nash wrapped me up in a hug, pulling my back to his front.
“Oh? You staying?” I tried to sound disinterested and not pathetically grateful. Lately, he’d been here more nights than at his place, and no blanket was a match for Nash’s warm bulk in my bed.
“Yeah.” Nash plucked the blanket from me, tossing it on the bed before turning me to face him. Deep lines bracketed his mouth, and I could tell from his cloudy eyes that it had been a long, hard day. “That okay?”
“Always.” I gave him a slow kiss. “There’s food for you in the fridge—”
“Later.” He broke away enough to start unbuttoning his uniform. Yup, it had been a long day indeed. And maybe later he’d tell me about it, but I knew what he needed now. I spread out the blanket and plugged it in while he stripped down to the black boxer briefs I’d gotten for him on my last trip to Portland. He looked damn sexy, but I reined in my ogling as I locked the bedroom door before removing my own clothes.
He was already under the covers when I slipped in, and he gathered me close, burying his face in my neck, breathing deep.
“Bad day?” I whispered.
“Not so bad now.” He squeezed me tighter, his shaky words calling him a liar. “Okay. Maybe a little. But this helps.”
“I’m glad.” I snuggled closer, trying to give him the contact he needed to re-center himself.
“Tell me about your day,” he ordered, still breathing me in. “Business good? How was the DHS meeting?”
“Business is slow with tourist season done, but we’re doing okay. Logan’s got white chili on the menu tomorrow. You might like that.”
“If it calms down, I’ll stop by.” His hands smoothed down my ribs. “And the court stuff?”
I sighed. I knew he wanted a distraction, but I wasn’t sure if this was it. “DHS is still working on the concurrent plan with me. There will be a review hearing in the spring. Jimmy’s still waiting for trial. Chester, too. Chances are high that Chester takes a plea deal on the vandalism charges to testify against Jimmy if Jimmy won’t plead guilty.” At least with the two of them off the streets, the vandalism had stopped and businesses had been able to relax, focus on the good news about the resort and the success of our group ads. I wasn’t ever going to be okay with Jimmy’s behavior, or the fact that we shared blood, but moving forward with my big plans felt like the right path. Maybe Jimmy couldn’t appreciate what we were trying to build here, but plenty could. “Francine’s plea bargain was accepted, but she’ll be in prison at least the next two years. So it looks like Lilac’s with me for the foreseeable future.”
“Excellent.” Nash’s voice was firm. “You’re good for her. That’s the best outcome right now, and I know the court will agree.”
“You don’t mind? I know getting me plus a kid wasn’t exactly in your plans—”
> “You’re a package deal. I get it.” Nash squeezed me closer, dropping a kiss on my shoulder. “And I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that, actually.”
“Oh?”
“Think the social worker would work with you if you wanted to file a change of address?”
“Change of address?” My heart thudded against my ribs, and I was sure he was able to feel it.
“Yeah. My place is bigger, and it’s empty most of the time. Seems a shame. It’s less drafty than this place, and I’ve got the wood stove for winter. And my bathroom’s better.”
“That it is,” I managed to say around holding my breath.
“I was thinking we could look at Trisha’s old room, have Lilac pick out the paint colors, maybe get her some new furniture for it. Then we can let the social workers come have a look, see if they’re good with the move.”
“I’m sure they would be.” My voice came out all rough. “But is that really what you want?”
“More than anything.” He pressed another kiss to the back of my neck. “I’m too old—”
“Nuh-uh,” I corrected him.
“—for this back-and-forth business. I want you in my bed every night. Want you in my life. I’ve waited too long for someone like you. I don’t want to wait anymore for a life with you.”
“I do like your kitchen.” I had to make a joke before the moisture in my eyes escaped.
“And it likes you.” Rolling us, Nash looked down at me with serious eyes. “Way I figure it, it’s past time to turn the old house into a real home again. And that’s going to take you. And Lilac.”
“You sure this isn’t just a bad day talking?” I reached up and stroked his face. “We can take it slow—”
“No day is truly bad when I’ve got you at the end of it.” Nash brushed a fast kiss across my lips. “And I took it slow for forty damn years. As long as you’re on board, I’m ready for this.”
“I’m on board,” I whispered. “I love you.”
It was still hard for me to get the words out, to trust that I was really here in this place with this man, that this was my life now, but there was no greater thrill than when he answered me. “Love you, too, Mason. So much.”
And then we were kissing, and I didn’t even bother trying to cover my damp cheeks. It had been a hard few months—all the stuff with Lilac and my family certainly hadn’t helped. And Nash was still deciding what it meant to be out. I’d been right that most people didn’t care, but a few did, and I knew that rankled him more than he liked. But we were here now, closer than ever with this next phase to look forward to.
I hoped we could get the social worker’s approval quickly. I wanted a Christmas tree in Nash’s front room, wanted to teach him how to make gingerbread in his big kitchen, wanted to move Lilac into a room we’d made perfect for her. I wanted it all, and I wanted it with Nash, and for the first time I really believed I was going to get it. We really were stronger as a couple, and as our kisses heated up and my cheeks went from wet to flushed, my heart surged ahead to that shared future. Our bodies were making promises that I knew our hearts would keep, and I couldn’t wait to watch it all unfold. Together.
~The End~
Thank you so much for reading TRUST WITH A CHASER. I’d be honored if you’d consider leaving a review, as reviews help other readers find books. Stay tuned for Curtis and Logan’s book, TENDER WITH A TWIST, coming soon! Want ficlets, contests, and updates on other favorite characters? Make sure you’re in my Facebook fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, for all the latest news, contests, and freebies. And newsletter subscribers always get the latest news on releases, freebies, and more! Subscribe here. Missing some past ficlets? Check here.
Want more books like the #RainbowCove series? Be sure and check out the #PortlandHeat, #PerfectHarmony, #Gaymers and stand-alone universes, along with my newest series #OutOfUniform.
Also By Annabeth Albert
Winning Bracket
Resilient Heart
Waiting for Clark
Save the Date (with Wendy Qualls)
The Portland Heat Series
Served Hot
Baked Fresh
Delivered Fast
Knit Tight
Wrapped Together
Danced Close
The Perfect Harmony Series
Treble Maker
Love Me Tenor
All Note Long
The #Gaymers Series
Status Update
Beta Test
Connection Error
The Out of Uniform Series
Off Base
At Attention
On Point
Wheels Up (November 2017)
The Rainbow Cove Series
Trust with a Chaser
Tender with a Twist (coming soon)
Hope on the Rocks (coming soon)
Pride Straight Up (coming soon)
Plus more coming!
Author Bio
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not seeking candidates for her keeper shelf, she’s busy writing her favorite kinds of stories—emotionally complex, sexy, and funny.
Annabeth loves happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. A resident of the Pacific Northwest, she enjoys a rewarding day job and wrangling her two children.
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Trust with a Chaser (Rainbow Cove Book 1) Page 23
