I was on the verge of heatstroke. Aster Valley summers beat Houston ones, hands down.”
I pictured Sam sweaty and shirtless on a Houston summer jobsite. That wasn’t a bad image, but my brain quickly replaced Sam on urban scaffolding with Finn on a rock face, shirtless and sweaty. His muscles stretched and bunched as he reached for the next handhold or toe hold. The rope harness cupped his junk, and his ass and veins were visible on his forearms.
“… homicide. I just can’t decide if I want to kill him slowly with a boning knife or quick-like with a semi-automatic.”
My attention snapped to Mikey, who was looking at me with mischief in his eyes. “What the fuck?” I asked. “Who are we killing?”
The table of guys all broke into laughter at my expense. Mikey pointed to me and called me out for zoning out during the conversation. “Dude, it’s nice to know when the convo around you turned to premeditated murder, your ears at least did you a solid.”
Truman stopped giggling long enough to add, “And I love the use of the word ‘we.’ No matter what nefarious plans were afoot, our intrepid sheriff was all in.”
Even Sam, who normally kept his emotions fairly close to the vest, was laughing his head off. I took a deep breath and let myself join them. It felt good to be out with friends. It felt good to be off duty and drinking beer with men I enjoyed and admired. I took a moment to appreciate what I’d gained when I’d made the decision to leave LA.
These men were my community. They cared about me, and the feeling was mutual.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I said to Mikey when the laughter died down. “Who are we killing?”
“Whoever it is that has stolen our precious friend’s attention,” he said, watching me carefully for a reaction. “You going to tell us what’s going on? I left town for like a week, and I came back to Sheriff MoonyEyes.”
“Sheriff I’ Some,” Julian mumbled into his copper mule mug. If I wasn’t mistaken, this was his third. He’d already sucked down a couple of them in the time it took us to order our food. I hadn’t even known the pizza place offered more than beer and wine.
I felt my face ignite and tried to hide it behind a sip of cold beer. “I’m, ah… seeing someone.”
Truman looked positively bubbly with excitement. “Someone famous?”
Winter shot a wink at his celebrity husband. “Famous people are the best.”
“Someone you swore off as a prima donna the last time we were together?” Mikey teased, ignoring Winter and Gent’s quick kiss. “I believe you were going to steer clear of anyone even associated with Gold Rats.”
“Not all Gold Rats are bad,” I admitted with a smile. “Some of them are very, very good.”
Julian muttered, “At least you have a rat. I don’t have anything. The love of my life is marrying someone else, and fucking Christ, I need another drink.”
Mikey reached out to rub Julian’s shoulder. “We’re going to hatch a plan. I told you. Sam has helped me strategize my way through many a love challenge. He even helped me land a pro football player. He can help you land a measly ski instructor.”
“I don’t want to land Parker. It’s too late. Besides. Straight. Remember?”
Sam squinted at him. “Isn’t Parker the one Tiller kissed in high school? Or am I remembering that wrong?”
From the look on Mikey’s face, Sam had just spilled beans that had been locked up tight. Julian stared at him. “What?”
Mikey kicked Sam under the table, and Sam put on the fakest smile ever. “Ha! Just kidding! I think… I think that guy’s name was… Clark-er.”
Truman facepalmed and muttered something under his breath. Mikey’s nostrils flared. “Are you trying to break his fucking heart? Samson Rigby, you’re a monster.”
Julian looked drunkenly between Mikey and Sam. “Tell me everything.”
Mikey shook his head. “No can do. Tonight is about Sheriff Happycock and the actor who begged him to manhandle his stick shif… hey! Hey, ha, Finn! Wow. You have… impeccable timing, don’t you?”
I felt arms come around my neck from behind, and Finn’s unique scent hit my nose. I closed my eyes for a beat to drink it in. “My ears were burning,” he said before leaning in to press a kiss against my cheek, then temple, then neck. I shivered and reached for his wrist to pull him around so I could see him.
He was drop-dead beautiful, this