by Shea Balik
Of course, with a man like Zane in his bed, it held a lot more interest, but sooner or later Aidan would get bored of the man and want to move on.
Liar.
Shaking the stray thought out of his mind, Aidan climbed out of the car and went to work. So far things had been going relatively well. There were always problems, but as long as none were catastrophic he counted himself lucky.
For the rest of the morning he checked to be sure things were running smoothly before taking the rest of the day to drive around to the nearby towns to see what they were like. With his bosses nervous about Cedar Falls’s lack of enthusiasm, he figured he needed to get a better understanding of what other small towns in the area did to attract tourists.
As he drove around he started realizing why people chose to live there. The scenery was breathtaking. He’d seen many places while setting up vacation destinations for his company, yet this one took his breath away.
The lack of huge developments, buildings, and traffic was refreshing as he meandered along the curvy roads that hugged mountains and crossed rivers. Trees towered over him with the first blush of the changing season. In another couple of weeks reds, oranges, and yellows would fill the landscape as fall officially came to the area.
Aidan had never really thought of himself as a nature guy — not that he didn’t like it, just that he’d never really had the urge to walk a mountain trail or go fishing. Yet, as he drove, he wished he’d brought hiking boots with him so he could get out there and really experience the wonder all around him.
Maybe he’d been too hasty in thinking this place wasn’t for him. Of course, with his luck he’d probably step into poison ivy as soon as he put on his boots. He sure didn’t know what he was doing when it came to nature. Weren’t there bears around there?
Going traipsing through the forest alone probably wasn’t a wise idea, at least not until he learned what to look out for. Still, it was gorgeous to look at.
They were building the casino in the southwestern corner of North Carolina because it was as close as they could get to Atlanta or Chattanooga while still being on Cherokee land. Due to laws in all three states, the casino needed to be on Native American land.
But because of its proximity to both Georgia and Tennessee, residents of Cedar Falls often drove to one of those states for the shopping rather than going into Cedar Falls. The first town Aidan drove to was in Georgia, where there was a large craft fair. Deciding to have a look, Aidan parked and started walking around.
As he walked through the parking lot he saw a lot of license plates from all three states, but there were also quite a few from even farther away. The size of the parking lot was quite impressive, and it was nearly full. When a trolley came around to pick people up from their cars to take them to the entrance, he just stared in amazement.
To have drawn so many people for one weekend had to be good for the Georgia town. Wanting to get a better lay of the place, Aidan had walked instead of getting a ride. By the time he’d reached the entrance he’d wished he’d taken the damn trolley.
Everywhere he looked there were people wall to wall milling about, looking at the various artisans. Everything from small crafts that ran just a few bucks to items that were in the hundreds were on display. When he saw a wood carver working on piece of furniture he stopped to watch.
The large man with muscles bulging carved a design into the wood, making it come alive right before Aidan’s eyes. The wood carver was too big for Aidan’s tastes, but he definitely appreciated the way the man’s sleeveless checkered shirt showcased his arms as he worked the wood.
He totally admitted that he was mesmerized, not just by the man but mostly by what he was doing. He wasn’t sure how long he’d stood there, unable to look away.
It wasn’t until the man stopped for a drink of water that Aidan realized he was standing in the middle of the man’s booth, blocking others from looking around. Stepping out of someone’s way he found himself just a foot away from the wood carver.
With his own king-size bed looking sad sitting on a frame with no headboard, Aidan suddenly wanted one of the headboards this man created. Hell, he’d take just about anything this man made, he was that good. “Hi. Name’s Aidan Dempsey. Do you do special orders?” he asked the man.
The large, muscled man stood and shook Aidan’s hand. “Parker Flemming. I do take special orders but not here at the fair. Why don’t I give you one of my cards and you can call me early next week.” Parker had taken a card out of the front pocket of his shirt and handed it to Aidan.
He glanced at the card, seeing the man was from Cedar Falls before putting it in his wallet. “Your work is incredible.”
Parker gave a shy smile as if he were embarrassed by the compliment. “Thanks.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
Parker nodded.
“Are all these craft fairs this big?” He was still having a hard time comprehending how many people were milling around, many with packages, which meant they’d bought something.
“No. This is one of the bigger ones, although there are several that are this big throughout the year. Then there are many that are smaller. They don’t draw as big of a crowd, but people still come from all over,” Parker explained.
Aidan knew he’d already taken up enough of the man’s time but since he already had the guy talking he hoped to get some more information. “Your business card said you’re from Cedar Falls.”
“Yes.”
“I actually just moved there. I’m the project manager for the casino and hotel.” Parker’s eyes got wider, but he didn’t say anything so Aidan kept going. “Does Cedar Falls have events like this?”
“Naw, not on this scale anyway. Cedar Falls is unique. Those running it never wanted to be overrun by visitors, or people moving there for that matter. So they don’t allow too many events to be held. They still have a couple but not enough if you ask me.” Parker seemed to know quite a lot about the town.
When someone else came up to ask questions, Aidan told Parker he’d call him at the beginning of the week and left. As he wandered around, Aidan paid close attention to the various booths, wondering if he’d be able to convince Mayor Murphy to start holding more events in town.
It would definitely help the casino. If people were coming to the town for some big weekend fair, they would most likely stay at the casino’s hotel or at the very least stop in the casino to gamble for a few hours at night.
The town would also benefit, as the visitors would also go into the shops and buy things. It was clear Cedar Falls was struggling to survive. This might be a perfect way to bring it back.
After walking through the rest of the fair, he’d only been able to visit one other town before night started to fall. So Aidan picked up something to eat and headed home.
Once home, he looked around his barely furnished house and imagined it filled with the wood furniture Parker created. Just that morning he’d told himself there was no way he’d stay in Cedar Falls, but after driving around today he’d seen a different side of the area. Now he wasn’t so sure. Who was he kidding? Aidan was finding excuses to stick around to get closer to Zane.
He was fascinated by the man. The way his muscles worked under that ridiculous neon green T-shirt while he scrubbed the pots and pans had Aidan’s mouth watering for a chance to lick every ridge and indentation.
And that muscled bubble butt had his hands itching to squeeze. Just thinking about it had his dick going rock hard in seconds. Never had Aidan been so turned on so fast. He had been left breathless with need. Even now, hours later, just thinking about the man, made Aidan ache.
What he wasn’t sure of was once he had Zane would he become bored? Would he want to move on from Cedar Falls or do something he’s never tried before — committing.
CHAPTER 7
Jesse had taken Ethan to see Dr. Clark during the doctor’s Saturday morning hours. Neither man had bothered to come into the bakery to tell Zane how it had gone,
so by the time he left at five, he was on pins and needles. He was trying to reassure himself that all was fine or Jesse would have called, but sometimes Jesse didn’t do what was expected.
The sound of giggling when he opened the door was a good sign. Dropping his keys on the table by the door, Zane walked toward the sound. He stood in bedroom doorway to see Ethan lying in bed with Jesse sitting on the foot of the bed, both of them laughing.
Zane didn’t miss Ethan wincing as he laughed at Jesse’s antics. “So, what did the doctor have to say?”
As soon as Jesse heard him, he jumped off the bed and practically threw himself into Zane’s arms. For someone with thin arms and little muscle, he sure could squeeze the life out of Zane. It was then that he realized just how much Jesse had suffered taking care of Ethan.
Jesse felt deeply for those he considered friends. He often hid behind sarcasm and bravado but really, he was more kind-hearted than all of them. When someone he cared for hurt, he hurt just as much.
That thin frame started shaking. “I had to take him to the hospital,” Jesse whispered.
Now that Zane was home to take care of Ethan, Jesse was starting to fall apart. Zane held Jesse tight. “I’m here now. Everything is going to be just fine,” he murmured into Jesse’s ear. “I’m so proud of you for taking care of our friend.”
The hold on Zane loosened as Jesse stepped back. His dark eyes haunted. “I tried.”
Giving his friend a smile, Zane cupped his cheek with his hand. “You more than tried. Why don’t you start dinner and I’ll come help as soon as I’ve checked on Ethan?”
Jesse nodded, rushing from the room.
“Are you seriously wearing one of Jesse’s shirts?” Ethan asked with a stilted laugh that caused him to wince.
Zane rolled his eyes as he went over to the bed to sit next to his friend. “How are you feeling?”
Ethan instantly sobered. “Okay. But you should go check on Jesse. He was barely holding it together when he had to take me to the hospital for X-rays.”
“Yeah, I’ll spend some time with him in a minute. But this time is for you.” Zane hadn’t expected the tears that sprang to Ethan’s eyes. Both his friends cared deeply for others, but Ethan never believed anyone should bother worrying about him.
It was like he believed all that bullshit his father and his brother had spouted about him being worthless. If Zane ever came face-to-face with Ethan’s brother, he’d beat the crap out of the man. Well, realistically he’d only get one good shot before the behemoth of a man pulverized him.
“How are you really?” he asked once more.
Sitting with his back against the headboard, Ethan shrugged while he fingered the edge of the sheet he had pulled up over his hips. “Okay.”
“Really?” Zane asked with a touch of disbelief. “Because I saw you wincing when you were laughing with Jesse earlier. That doesn’t say fine to me.” He crossed his arms over his chest and raised his left eyebrow so Ethan knew he didn’t believe him.
“If you already know, why did you ask?” his friend snapped back.
That was the weird thing about Ethan. He was a confusing mix of the insecurity and timidity of a rabbit and the bravado of a cat defending its territory by using a blitz attack before running for the hills. Now that he knew what Ethan had been through, Zane understood the constant change in emotions.
It actually amazed Zane that Ethan still had the fortitude to push back, although Zane imagined it only happened when his friend felt trapped. He hated making Ethan feel that way, but Zane felt it important that he not let Ethan continue to hide from them.
If he wanted Ethan to trust him then Zane figured he had to be the one to start being honest. “Because I was hoping you’d start to trust me enough to tell me the truth.”
Ethan hung his head. That hadn’t been what Zane had wanted. Mentally Zane kicked his own ass for making a mess of this. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just really worried about you.”
When Ethan didn’t say anything, Zane stood up to leave. Ethan gripped his hand to stop him.
“Thank you,” his friend mumbled before letting go.
Well, it was a start, but Zane wasn’t going to keep pushing – for now. “You’re welcome.”
He entered the kitchen to find Jesse making the one dish the man could actually make. “Spaghetti and meatballs. What’s the occasion?” he asked as he hugged Jesse from behind.
Zane honestly didn’t know what he would do without Jesse and Ethan. They were more than friends. They were like brothers, or, as Jesse would say, “brothers from another mother.” Whenever he was having a tough day, these two could make him laugh and forget all about his troubles.
The fact that they uprooted their lives to move to Cedar Falls with him when he’d been terrified about his mom had meant the world to him. It was why he was so worried about Ethan. It hurt that the man he’d considered family had shut him out of his life.
“Is Ethan okay?”
Jesse’s voice was barely audible as if his friend was afraid of Zane’s response. Zane kissed the top of Jesse’s head. “He’ll be fine. He just needs time to heal.” He felt Jesse nod.
Releasing his friend, Zane opened the refrigerator and pulled out three bottles of water. Normally after a day like today he would have opened a bottle of wine, but with Ethan’s injuries and the medication he saw on the bedside table, Zane didn’t think that was a good idea.
Jesse finished making dinner while Zane set the table and went to help Ethan to his chair. Not that the man couldn’t walk. He had driven halfway across the country after all, but it made Zane feel like he was helping.
With Zane’s arm around Ethan’s waist, they entered the kitchen and found Jesse standing at the table with a big grin on his face. “Okay, bitches, dinner is ready.”
Both Zane and Ethan laughed. That was Jesse. It probably wasn’t the healthiest way to deal with life, but it sure made all three of them laugh.
◆◆◆
“The poor dear,” Zane’s mom said when she walked in for Sunday dinner and found Ethan fast asleep on the couch. When they’d heard what had happened, Zane’s parents had decided to come to them for dinner so Ethan could relax.
The doctor had called and said that Ethan had several fractured ribs and that he should rest. Zane had forced his friend to take the pills he’d been prescribed and stay put. Only when they had him set up on the couch, where he could still talk to everyone, did Ethan reluctantly agree to take it easy. Once the pills had taken effect Ethan mostly slept.
“He’s in a lot more pain than he admits to.” Now that he knew Ethan was hurt, Zane hadn’t missed the winces or even the times his friend held his breath as he tried to get through the constant spears of pain.
“Mom, Dad, you made it.” Jesse walked into the living room to give Zane’s parents a big hug.
When Zane’s parents found out that Jesse’s grandmother, who had raised him, had died a few months before Zane moved in with him, they had practically adopted Jesse. They had done the same with Ethan when they’d met him. Zane couldn’t be prouder of his parents for accepting his quirky friends. Not that he was surprised considering how open and giving his parents were. But still, Jesse especially, could be a bit much for some people.
“Jesse, dear. The girls and I made you that kilt like you asked.” She handed a bag to him.
Jesse’s eyes sparkled as he jumped up and down. “Thanks, Mom. I’m going to go put it on.”
“Do I dare ask how short it is?” Zane asked his mom.
She just laughed. “According to Hannah, not short enough to show anything good.”
Hannah was one of his mom’s best friends. His mom’s two best friends, Hannah and Vera, had moved their sewing machines into his mom’s sewing room to keep her company during her chemo treatments while Zane’s dad was working. It had originally been to just keep his mom active, but now they helped their community by sewing clothes for the needy. He owed those two everything for being so good to
his mom.
Out of the three, Hannah was definitely the wild one. She was fearless and would try just about anything once. She’d even taken Vera and Zane’s mom to a strip club right after they’d found out Zane’s mom had cancer. According to Hannah, you only live once, so you might as well do what makes you happy.
“Please.” Zane rolled his eyes. “Unless Jesse walked down the street naked, Hannah would say he was wearing too many clothes.”
His mom laughed, which caused Zane’s heart to swell with love. The first two months he’d been in Cedar Falls had been horrible. His mom had been so sick, so weak that she couldn’t even manage a chuckle. Now she was back to her old self, minus a full head of hair. It was the last thing to come back.
For now, she wore scarves over her slowly growing hair. Other than that, one would never know she’d been sick, much less had cancer.
Jesse strutted down the hall toward them proudly wearing his kilt. The material was pink, Jesse’s favorite color, with green, black, and white stripes through it. It came to about mid-thigh, showing several inches of skin between it and his over-the-knee black boots. On top he wore a black skintight T-shirt with the words “I’m the pink sheep of the family.”
“So, what do you think?” Jesse gave them a twirl for the full effect.
The thing was, on anyone else the outfit would have looked ridiculous, but Jesse had a way of appearing amazing. With his long dark hair that cascaded halfway down his back, his dark eyes, ringed with jet-black eyeliner and mascara, and pink lipstick that perfectly matched the kilt, Jesse looked downright sexy.
“It’s perfect,” Zane’s mom said.
Zane’s dad agreed. “For a skirt, it looks great.”
Jesse scrunched up his face at the description. “It’s a kilt, not a skirt.”
His dad chuckled. “Whatever.” Then he turned to Zane. “What’s for dinner?”
“Chicken and dumplings,” Zane said before turning to Jesse. “I have to say, considering it’s a pink kilt, it looks stunning on you.”
