car or truck swooshed past in a brief, blinding flash of light. It felt surreal. Maybe I’m dreaming all this— the cold glass and the hot boyfriend, the life and the escape. Maybe I’m passed out in a bed at Marston’s, or still on Turov’s yacht. The sway of the seat could be ocean waves. Maybe none of this is real.
The crunch of gravel as they turned in at the drive woke him partway from his odd funk. When he opened the front door, Luger leaped on him and that helped even more. He yanked off his mittens and tossed them aside to bury his fingers in the dog’s coat. “Down, you loony. Where’d your manners go?”
“I think Charlie spoiled him.”
It was almost a shock to hear Nick’s voice behind him. Another jolt back into reality. Brian tussled Luger hard enough to rock him back and forth, then straightened.
Nick picked up the mittens off the floor. A few white snowflakes glittered on his dark hair, and melted droplets beaded his eyebrows and jaw. He looks like a model in a cologne ad. There was still an uncomfortable distance between them. Nick pulled off his jacket and swiped his face with the lining. “You’d think it was Minnesota, with that snow. Give me your coat. I’ll hang it up.”
Brian did, then headed for the kitchen to put on the kettle. Some kind of talk, or maybe a fight, was brewing, and even though he’d been the one to push, he didn’t want it now. Maybe they could drink coffee and just be together as the clock ticked through that final hour.
He heard Nick come up behind him, and strong arms circled his waist. Nick leaned against him, solid warmth from shoulders to ass. “Are we fighting?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to.” He stared at the kettle as it began to click and heat. “We need cups. And coffee.”
“Instant? It’s quick.”
He shrugged. Nick said after years of squad room coffee, even the cheap stuff was drinkable. All Brian wanted right now was something warm and something to do with his hands.
Nick brushed a kiss below his ear, then rummaged overhead for mugs. Two of the big red ones appeared on the counter next to Brian, a mound of instant in each. He lifted the steaming kettle and filled the mugs. A spoon appeared and he stirred them both, took one, and turned around.
Nick reached past him for the other and drank a sip. “Ouch! Hot!”
“Dork.” The flash of affection helped him breathe easier. “So. Explain tonight to me. In words of one syllable, because I must be dumb. I don’t get it.”
“You’re not dumb. I am.” Nick counted off the single syllables on his fingers as he spoke, then lowered his hand and sighed. “Sorry. Look. I told you I went to see Gannet, about meeting Reggie Urban.”
“Yeah. You said.” Removing any doubt about Nick’s man-crush, or woman-crush or whatever gay guys got, for Gannet.
“I offered to snoop around. She said she couldn’t make it official, but unofficially she gave me her personal contact number.”
“Why you?” Beside the fact that you’re bored? He tried to listen to what Nick was actually saying.
“Reggie seemed interested in me, trying to figure me out, so I’m making it look like they could recruit me. I let it be known I was looking for a small-game rifle. Two people referred me to Reggie’s outdoor store and I let him sell me a gun. Got on the shooting range there and let him see I could handle it.”
“When?”
“Yesterday?” Nick had the grace to look embarrassed. “Anyway, I heard him and one of the other guys at the gun range talking about New Year’s at The Blacktop Bar. I figured we’d do an hour there, a couple of beers, let him see me out locally. Being part of the landscape. Lull him.”
“With your gay boyfriend?”
“You don’t look gay, and we don’t do PDAs.” He bit his lip. “I’m sorry. I should’ve said something first, but I didn’t want you acting— I don’t know— weird and nervous.”
“And pissed off was a better idea?” He tried to channel Dr. Murphy. Who I should really Skype, like she offered, because I’m clearly not as mature as I thought. He ducked to the side and strode out of the kitchen, because it was easier to keep his temper while moving. As he reached the living room, he threw back over his shoulder, “You lied to me about tonight.”