by T. A. Chase
James wrinkled his nose. “Do we have to? Could we just pretend it never happened?”
“No.” Cai winked. “I want to do it again, so we’re talking about it after all the craziness is over.”
“All right.” He sneaked a peek over toward Owain. “Be safe.”
Chapter Eight
CAI SCRUBBED his hand over his hair as he stepped from his truck. After shutting the door, he propped himself against it and took a deep breath. His body ached from where Rich had landed a few punches, but he’d take a few aspirin when he got home to take care of them. He pushed away from the vehicle and headed into the hospital.
James had called Owain to let him know the doctors were admitting Dilys for the night, just to keep an eye on the baby. Davy was okay, but didn’t want to leave his ma. Someone had to come to stay with them and Cai had talked his own ma out of doing it.
“Cai, are you okay?”
He looked up to spot James standing just outside the front entrance. Cai didn’t allow himself to think, simply walking into James’s embrace and burying his face in the crook of James’s neck.
“Oh, honey,” James murmured, tightening his hold.
Cai lost track of the world around him as they stood there. For the first time in his life, he leaned into someone, letting James support his weight while he released some of the tension he’d been carrying. He closed his eyes and breathed in the sharp, clean scent of James’s cologne.
Finally, James eased him a few inches away so their eyes could meet. “How are you doing? Are you hurt?” James lifted his hand and hovered his fingers over the bruise on Cai’s cheek.
“I’ll be fine. Nothing a hot bath and some aspirin can’t deal with.” Again, he didn’t fight it. He bent a little to kiss James, not caring who might be watching. At that moment, he needed that connection, though he was surprised that he sought it from James. Especially after all the years he’d spent running from the man.
James studied him, then nodded. “All right. Let’s get inside. Davy really wants to see you. I told him to stay and watch over his mother while I got you.”
He cleared his throat. “James, before we go in, I want to say thank you. This isn’t your family or your problem. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“You’re welcome.” James looked like he wanted to say something else, but whatever it was, he swallowed it. “Come on. Oh wait, did you bring some clothes for them?”
“Shit. Yeah. I left them in the truck.” Cai jogged back to his vehicle and grabbed the small bag his ma had packed for both Davy and Dilys. “Thanks for reminding me. I’m dead on my feet and I still have to work tomorrow.”
“No, you don’t. I already called Timmons and told him that you wouldn’t be in. Owain said he’ll be fine working his shift.” James held up his hand to stop Cai’s protest. “I know you’ve probably worked on less sleep than you’ll have tonight, but there’s no point in doing it tomorrow.”
As much as Cai didn’t want special treatment, he knew James was right. “Thanks again.”
“Well, there has to be some perk to being the boss’s son, right?” He winked.
“Umm….”
James shook his head. “I hope you know I’d do this for anyone. I’m not giving you special treatment just because we kissed. I don’t work that way. Not that I think you’d ever take advantage of any feelings I might have for you. I just wanted to clear things up.”
“I get it loud and clear, sweetheart. No special treatment.” Cai chuckled at the chagrined expression on James’s face. “Come on, man. I’m just teasing.”
“Asshole,” James muttered as he pushed the elevator call button. “Oh, I also had Timmons rearrange the shifts. Rich will be on a different schedule from you and Owain.”
Cai took hold of James’s arm and turned the man to look at him. “We’ve taken our pound of flesh. We’d never risk our jobs by messing with Rich while at work.”
Rolling his eyes, James motioned for him to get in the elevator. “I know that. I don’t want Rich trying anything with either of you. I don’t trust the bastard. Hell, any man who would hit his pregnant wife and one of his kids doesn’t deserve a job—or anything else for that matter. I can’t fire him because he’s a good miner.”
“You can’t fire him. He has four kids and my sister to support,” Cai quipped.
After hitting the sixth-floor button, James stood close to him, hooking his pinkie with Cai’s. They didn’t say anything as they rode up. Cai shot a look down to where their fingers connected. How weird. I never thought I’d be standing in public, holding hands with another man. He’d always known he’d find some guy he wanted to be with for more than one night. He just never thought he’d be comfortable enough for any kind of public display of affection. You kissed and hugged him in the parking lot.
“How long are you staying in the Hollow?”
James glanced up from his phone, where he’d been typing something. “I’m staying as long as I want. I can do all my work at the mine, so this is my base for a week or two.”
Cai nodded, though his heart raced at the thought of being able to see where these desires might lead. Could they actually end up having sex? Would he be able to get over the fact that James was the boss’s son?
“You know, I never did get to ask how your exploring went this weekend. Owain said he was going to take you to some abandoned mine he’d discovered.” He wanted to talk about something normal.
“He’s mapped the main tunnel already, but we were able to get pretty far into the first branch-off shaft. It was a little damp and musty. I recorded our trip if you’d like to watch it some time.” James bumped their hips together. “You can watch Owain freak out when a spider dropped on his shoulder.”
The car stopped on the sixth floor and dinged as the doors opened. Cai followed James as the man strolled through the hallway to a corner room. He frowned a little when they walked in and he noticed that it was a private room. All the miners had health insurance—it was one of the things James had insisted on when he started working for his father—but it wasn’t good enough to cover a private hospital room. He squinted at James, who shook his head as though to say, “We’re not discussing this now.”
“Uncle Cai. You’re here.”
Crouching, he caught Davy in his arms and whirled him around. The little boy laughed, which seemed so opposite of the bruise on his tiny cheek. Cai wanted to clasp his nephew close and promise no one would ever hurt him again. Yet he knew better than to make that vow. As much as he wished it would never happen, someone would eventually break Davy’s heart. It’s what happened when people fell in love.
“I’m here, Davy boy. Are you being good and keeping your ma company?”
“Uh-huh.” Davy nodded, pointing at James. “Mr. Jimmy says you were bringing me my jammies.”
Mr. Jimmy? Cai’s lips twitched at James’s pained expression. He’d have to tease him about it later. “I did. Why don’t you let Mr. Jimmy help you get changed while I talk to your ma?”
“All right.” Davy wiggled until Cai set him down, then he dashed over to where James stood, holding the bag Cai had brought.
Once they were occupied with the pajamas, Cai wandered over to where Dilys lay. He sat on the edge of the bed and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “How the fuck did this happen, Dil?”
Sighing, she leaned back against the pillows and shrugged. “He must have overheard me tell Ma, or maybe he just figured it out on his own. I have no idea. I had just gotten the kids settled and was cleaning up the trailer when he came at me. Yelling and throwing shit. It caught me off guard.”
“How many times did he hit you?” He clenched his hands as anger rippled through him again.
“Twice. The first time he hit me, I was in shock.” She held up her hand. “I swear he’s never hit me before this, Cai. He’s a bastard and verbally abusive, but he never laid a finger on me in anger until today. While I was trying to get over the surprise of it, Davy came runn
ing in and shouted at both of us to stop fighting. To be honest, I don’t think Rich meant to hit him.”
Cai glared at her. “That doesn’t matter. Not now. He meant to hit you, Dil. It’s not a huge leap from abusing you to laying his hand on one of your kids.”
Dil looked over to where Davy and James were playing with the trucks Ma had packed for him. “I know that, which is why I called Owain. You need to get a fucking cell phone, Cai. I would’ve called you straightaway.”
“I’ll look into getting one while I’m in town. I don’t have to work tomorrow, so I’ll stay until the doctors discharge you.” He took his sister’s hands in his. “Rich won’t bother you again. Owain and I made it quite clear that he was to let the divorce go through without contesting it. You’ll stay at my place until we figure out a better situation for you.”
Frowning, she shook her head. “I’m not sure that’ll work out. What about you and Owain? Neither one of you wants us hanging around, interrupting your lives.” Her gaze moved to James, then back to Cai. “I don’t want to get in the way of anything,” she said softly.
He looked at James, who lifted his head at the same time and smiled. His fond gaze trailed over Cai’s face.
“Oh my,” Dilys whispered. “I didn’t know it was like that.”
“It’s not like that at all,” he muttered, shaking his head. Then he forced himself to say, “At least not yet.”
There wasn’t any point in denying it. Cai was sure his interest in James showed in his eyes or on his face. Well, Owain had told him often enough that it did, but he liked to think he was a little more subtle than that.
“Ma, you need to change into your jammies too. It’s time for bed.” Davy dashed over, dragging the bag behind him.
James joined them, then patted Dilys’s shoulder. “Now that Cai is here, I’ll head out. I promised Owain I’d stop by the store and pick up some groceries. Seems you’re going to be running low on milk and cereal for tomorrow’s breakfast.”
Dilys grabbed James’s hand, holding it tight for a moment. “Thank you for all your help, Mr. Callahan.”
“Please, call me James—or Jim, as Owain does,” James insisted. “There’s no reason to be formal.”
“All right, Jim. I appreciate all you’ve done for us. Staying here with me and keeping Davy distracted when I’m pretty sure you’d rather be anywhere else,” Dilys teased.
James grinned as he reached over to ruffle Davy’s hair. “I’ll admit I don’t have a lot of experience with kids, but Davy’s an awesome kid. It was fun.”
Cai stood as James leaned down to brush a kiss over Dilys’s cheek. “Try to get some rest. The little one needs his mother healthy.”
“Good night. Davy, say good-bye to Jim,” Dilys told her son.
Davy threw himself against James’s legs, hugging them hard before he danced back to where his trucks were piled.
Cai followed James toward the door. “I’ll be right back,” he informed his sister, and ignored her knowing grin.
They strolled to the bank of elevators and while James waited for the car to come, Cai gave him a hug. He didn’t pull away when James gave him a peck on the lips. He’d never thought he’d get a chance to live out and proud—not that he was in the closet or anything. Of course, never really talking about it might make people think he was. It made the people around him more comfortable, which was why he chose to do it. Yet something told him that pursuing a relationship with James couldn’t be done in secret. James wasn’t the kind of guy Cai could love in private and ignore in public.
“Call me if you need anything,” James ordered as he stepped back. “I’m glad to hear you’re getting a cell phone. I get that you don’t like them, but now with Dilys leaving Rich, it’ll be important for you to be reachable at all times. Especially to help with the kids.”
Cai shrugged. “Just never really needed one before. It’s not like I can’t drive over to Ma’s—or use my landline to call her. A majority of people in town can’t afford cell phones. But you’re right. I’ll be on call for the kids, just like the rest of the family and friends. I can’t be out of touch.”
James rested his hand on Cai’s chest. “I’m not sure what changed over the course of the day, Cai, but I’m glad it happened. I hope we can talk about it sometime soon. You take care of your sister and Davy. I’ll see you tomorrow sometime. Oh wait. Do you want me to take your dogs to my place? I’m not sure if Owain is staying at your mom’s or not. Plus if Dilys and the kids stay at your place, then it’ll be pure chaos with the dogs and kids there.”
“Do you think you can handle introducing them to Pharaoh? They can be a handful.”
James chuckled. “Pharaoh hasn’t met a dog he doesn’t like. I’m sure it’ll be fine. They can hang out and none of you will have to worry about them.”
“All right. If you’re okay with it. I’ll call you as soon as I get my phone. That way you have my number. I’m sure you left yours with Dilys.” He covered James’s hand with his. “We’re going to discuss the room as well.”
“All right.”
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. James flashed him a smile, then slipped inside. Cai returned the smile before heading back to his sister’s room. By the time he got there, Dilys had already changed into a pair of pajamas. Davy lay next to her, eyes closed and breathing slowly.
“Is he asleep?” he asked softly as he took a seat in the chair beside the bed.
She nodded. “Yeah. I figured if we had a moment of quiet, he’d fall asleep.”
Humming, he nodded as he let his body relax into the cushions. “Fuck,” he muttered.
“What?”
“I forgot to get some aspirin. Oh well.” He shrugged. “I can deal until the morning.”
“I can ask the nurse for some.” Dilys snatched up the call button.
Cai stopped her. “I’ll be all right, Dil. It’s not like I haven’t been sore before. Hell, I feel like this a majority of time when I get home from the mine.”
Her smile was sad. “Sometimes I wish you had the chance to get out of Willow Hollow. Go see the world and find something to do that wouldn’t kill you at a young age.”
Cai drew his eyebrows down as he narrowed his gaze at her. “What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t mind working the mines, honey. It’s what the Rees family has done for centuries. Here and in Wales.”
Dilys smoothed her hand over Davy’s hair. “I get that, but I don’t want that for my kids, Cai. I don’t want to see them go into the mine. I want Rhonda to follow in Bronwen’s footsteps and leave this place. And I’d be thrilled if she didn’t move back. They need to leave Willow Hollow.”
Leaning forward, he laid his hand on Dilys’s knee. “You and I didn’t leave. I don’t think we turned out too bad.”
She snorted. “I married Rich when I was eighteen and I was pregnant like a lot of other girls I went to high school with. Rhonda is too smart for that. She needs a chance to be more than what I am.”
“You’re a wonderful mother and sister. She could do worse than being like you.”
“I don’t have a job. How am I supposed to support four kids with no income?” Tears welled in her eyes.
Cai tightened his grip on her knee. “We’ll figure something out, Dil. You’re not doing this alone. We’ve got your back.”
Dilys sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I know. I’m just being emotional because of the baby.” A mischievous expression crossed her face. “What the hell is going on between you and James Callahan? How long has it been going on?”
“Since about seven o’clock tonight,” he answered. “I went to his house after the party. I’m not sure why, but I needed to talk to someone—not part of the family—about what you were planning on doing. He offered to let me—or Owain—stay with him while you and the kids take over our place.”
“And you kissed him because you were overwhelmed by his generosity?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Don’t try to tell me you two haven’t kisse
d. I can tell. This pregnancy isn’t from immaculate conception, you know.”
He covered his ears. “Ugh! I don’t want to hear that, Dil. Seriously, the thought of you and Rich having sex makes me want to vomit.”
She laughed, and he smiled at the joy in the sound. He didn’t like the idea of his sister feeling defeated. “Poor baby. Having two sisters must be awful.”
“Yes. I kissed James because I wanted to and have wanted to kiss him for quite some time. It’s not the smartest thing I’ve ever done, considering he’s the boss’s son and everything.” He shook his head when she opened her mouth to speak. “I know, I know. And I’m obviously working on getting over those feelings.”
Holding out her hand, she giggled when he took it. “Oh my God, you got cockblocked by Rich. He’d be so proud of himself if he knew.”
While he didn’t really think his brother-in-law hitting her was funny, Cai stayed silent in regards to that. “Should I go punch him once for that? And he didn’t necessarily stop us from having sex. I would’ve called a stop before we got that far. I need to consider all the consequences. Having Mr. James Callahan as my boyfriend isn’t going to go over well in Willow Hollow. Any kind of opportunity—or advancement—I get offered will be looked at as a perk of sleeping with the boss.”
“That’s true. You’ll need to decide if all the hassle is worth it.” Dilys yawned and settled into the mattress. “I hope you go for it. I like Jim.” Her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep.
He covered both her and Davy with a blanket, then got himself situated in the chair. He stared up at the ceiling, waiting for his own sleep to pull him under. While he did, all his mind could do was relive the kiss in James’s kitchen. It was something he wanted to do again.
Chapter Nine
“WHAT THE hell is going on here? Why did you order the materials from Jensens? I thought I told you to get it from Ruthersons.”
Timmons loomed over Sally, yelling at her and gesturing wildly as James walked in. Sally’s face was blank, but he could see her anger and disgust in her eyes.
