10. Wyatt

Chapter Ten

WYATT

I’d never believed in ghosts, but then again, I’d never visited Eden House at night.Standing on the front steps, looking up at the dark windows, it was easy to imagine the eyes of some long-dead priest or sickly orphan watching me.The heat wasn’t bad this time of year, but it was sticky and humid even after the sun went down.Still, a chill seemed to radiate off the old wood siding.Cold bit at my fingers when I lifted the brass knocker.No answer—not even when I laid on the bell.

I gave up and tried peering through one of the narrow windows that flanked the door, but a set of gauzy lace panels blurred the interior.All I could make out was a dark, shadowy hallway that looked like something from a tomb.

Not exactly what I needed at the end of an exhausting day in court, watching a judge wave off the perps with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.By the time I’d filed my report at the station, I was hungry, tired, and bone-deep weary of the system.That was when Vanderhoff cornered me in the locker room and laid into me over the lack of progress in Gage’s case.

“How many favors are you planning to pull for this family, Brooks?” Vanderhoff barked, slamming his fist into someone else’s locker to drive his point home.“You didn’t even bother pressing Etienne to file charges about the stolen truck.”

“Etienne just wants to be left alone, Kent,” I said wearily, trying to ignore him as I changed out of my uniform.“He got the truck back, and he doesn’t even drive it.There’s no case.”

“Then move on to finding those men Gage attacked.They’re out there somewhere. Stop dragging your feet and get it done—or I’ll find someone who will.”

I knew a threat when I heard one.If I didn’t have something to report to him by morning, Vanderhoff would be on Gage like a dog with a bone.He had a hard-on for the whole damn family, but Gage always seemed to catch the worst of it.When he was an obnoxious teenager, he’d made himself low hanging fruit, and Vanderhoff refused to let it go.

Looking after Gage wasn’t my job anymore.He was a grown man, and he sure as hell didn’t want my help, but I couldn’t just stand back and let Vanderhoff bulldoze him.I wanted to protect him. It was instinct by this point.But I couldn’t shake the feeling that stopping by at this time of night was a mistake.

The mansion was empty, but the faint strains of a bass guitar were drifting from somewhere out back.I circled around, following the sound.Full dark was falling fast, but it was still light enough to navigate without tripping over landscaping.The moon was fat and bright, and lightning bugs lit up the gravel path like tiny spotlights.

Just as the gravel gave way to concrete, I caught the faint blue glow of an inground lap pool.A man was slicing through the water like a dolphin.Moonlight rippled across the surface, lining the swimmer's bare back with silver.I’d know the shape of that back anywhere.I’d thought of almost nothing else all week.Gage had come into his prime with an explosion, and the sight of those long, strong limbs as he swam had my pulse kicking into high gear.

I should’ve turned back. I had plenty of time to check on him in the morning before Vanderhoff even rolled his pompous ass out of bed.But my legs felt like lead. I couldn’t force them to take that first step.I stood, rooted to the spot, fighting the desperate ache spreading out from my groin.

Gage spotted me right away, pausing mid-stroke to tread water.He tossed wet hair out of his eyes and swiped a hand over his face before offering me a slow, lazy smile.“You here to take me in, Deputy?”

I stepped up to the edge of the pool, close enough to see the water beading on his shoulders, and raised one eyebrow.“Done anything to deserve it?”

“Plenty.” His eyes gleamed, and his grin widened into something devilish.“Nothing recent, though. Not since the last time you saw me.”

“I heard otherwise.”

The smile dropped in an instant, replaced by a guarded look that made my heart ache.I wasn’t used to that kind of wariness from him.Even back when I used to haul him home in the back of my patrol car, he’d treated it like a free joyride with an old friend.

“Yeah?” he asked, floating closer to rest his forearms on the pool deck.“Who told you?”

“Silas McKenna. He said you’ve been sniffing around the Dead End, asking about some guy named Paulie.”

Gage grimaced regretfully, but I don’t think he regretted what he’d done.Only that he’d gotten caught.“I went back to the bar to look for my wallet and keys.Seems like y’all aren’t too keen to find the guys who tried to kidnap Ivy, so I figured I’d help out.Ask a few questions, you know?I’m no use here at Eden. Gideon and Loretta have things on lock, and I’m better at busting heads, anyway.”

“I told you to stay out of trouble.”

Gage’s chuckle was deep and sexy.“Since when do I listen to you?”

The mocking light in his eyes hit a nerve, so I fixed my gaze on the way his hair stuck up in wet spikes instead.Water droplets rolled down his temple and clung to the edge of his jaw.I swallowed hard, trying to ease the tightness in my throat, and said harshly, “You’re asking for trouble.Vanderhoff’s itching for a reason to throw you behind bars.If you start cracking skulls at the Dead End, he’ll slap you with charges so fast it’ll make your head spin.”

“You think I don’t know that?” he asked, sounding amused.

“Then why the hell are you getting involved?”

His face hardened. His features were sharper than they’d been as a teenager, but I recognized the same stubbornness.“Because my family's already involved.Ivy’s involved. This whole damn town is involved.Boone sent me away to keep me out of trouble, and all it left me was a pile of regret.I’m done with that.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled, hating that I couldn’t argue.Part of me understood all too well why he felt the way he did.Gage was a fighter, and he’d do anything to prove he deserved the second chance he’d been given in life.Even if it meant throwing himself headfirst into fights that weren’t his.

“You’re a good man, Gage,” I said, meaning every word.

Surprise flared in his eyes. He looked momentarily taken aback, but he recovered quick enough.His lips pulled up at the corners in a faint almost-smile.“Never thought I’d hear something like that from you.”

“It helps that you’re not in the back of my squad car this time,” I joked.

A beat passed between us, charged with a magnetic pull I didn’t want to be feeling.I should’ve walked away right then and come back in the morning when there was less heat, more light, and a few more people around.But somehow, I found myself stepping up to the very edge of the pool.

Gage was trouble—always had been—but he was my trouble.

Slowly, he reached out and curled his hand around my ankle.The coolness of his fingers was a shock, and he knew it, because he cocked his head and grinned.“You coming in?” he asked, eyes gleaming in the low light.

While I hesitated, my gaze trailed down his chest to the water lapping at his pebbled nipples.Damn. My mouth went dry, and I could feel sweat breaking out along the back of my neck.“I didn’t come here for a swim,” I muttered, though I wasn’t sure I’d convinced either of us.

His grin widened. “Good. Swimming’s the last thing on my mind.”

“Fuck, Gage.”

He chuckled, and I glanced down at my jeans to see if I was busting through my zipper.Not yet, but it was a close thing.After such a long day, the cool, chlorinated water was tempting, and so was the glistening man swimming in it.“I didn’t exactly bring my suit,” I hedged, but it sounded weak even to my own ears.

Gage just shrugged. “So what?I’m not wearing one.”

My gaze dropped instantly to his distorted silhouette beneath the water.The pool lights were too dim for me to make out more than the shadowed outline of a strong pair of legs.“What the hell, man? Where are the kids?”

“Oh, relax,” Gage said, rolling his eyes and swirling his hand aimlessly through the water.The other hand was still around my ankle.“Loretta took them into town for ice cream and a movie.They’re celebrating Ivy’s first week with the boys.”

“That’s good,” I said, pleased.“She deserves a night to just be a carefree kid.”

“They all do,” Gage replied.

“What about Gideon?” I asked, trying and failing to keep the anticipation out of my voice.

“Helping out with meals over at the Sisters of Mercy shelter.He’ll be gone for a while. The Sisters usually rope him into a poker game afterward.”

I knew what I wanted, but still, I hesitated.Five years. Five years was long enough, right?I’d done the honorable thing and denied Gage once, but I didn’t need to do it again.I ran a hand through my hair and tried to remind myself that I still had a job to do, but with Gage so wet and naked and close, it was impossible to focus on anything else.

“Any other excuses, Deputy?” he asked in that familiar lilting, challenging tone.There was a devil-may-care tilt to his lips when he smiled up at me, daring me to take the bait.

Hell, I’d never been the type to play it cautious, and Gage wasn’t a kid anymore.He was a man with gravity all his own.

“You asked for it,” I warned, kicking off my boots and grabbing my t-shirt by the hem to peel over my head.I reached for my belt buckle next, holding Gage’s eyes as I worked the clasp.His grin only widened as I stepped out of my jeans and underwear and kicked them aside.The night was warm, but the air felt cool against my naked skin.

Gage. This was Gage. My Gage.I couldn't be doing this with him—but Iwas.I stood there, hard and unashamed, letting him look his fill for as long as hewanted.

Hedid. His gaze traveled slowly from my bare feet, up my calves and thighs, and then paused at my cock.He licked his lips, but he didn’t speak.Just took a quick sip of air and continued up my stomach and chest.His teasing grin was strained by the time he reached my eyes.“See? It didn’t kill you.”

“Not yet,” I said wryly, and then I dove headfirst in a perfect flat dive.The water was a cool relief against my overheated skin.I submerged myself for as long as I could and let the world go quiet and peaceful.Then I broke the surface with a hard shake of my head, sending droplets flying.I kicked onto my back and floated, weightless, letting the water cradle me and ease the knots of tension in my back.Hours in a courthouse’s unforgiving pews did a number on anyone over thirty.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Gage reclining back against the pool deck, arms draped along the tiled edge.His gaze was hot and heavy-lidded as he watched me drift.I’d never been so turned on and so relaxed all at the same time.Water lapped at my ears, muffling the croak of tree frogs and katydids, and the scent of chlorine and night-blooming jasmine mixed together in a strange, intoxicating scent.

The peace didn’t last long. Out of nowhere, a vicious splash hit me square in the face.I shot upright, spluttering, while Gage doubled over and clutched his belly with laughter.

"Polo!" he shouted while I knuckled water out of my eyes.

I let out a surprised huff of laughter, squinting at him through my wet lashes.“You wanna play, huh?” I growled.“In a pool this size? You know I’ll catch you in no time.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I’m counting on that.” Gage pushed off the edge and swam toward me with a few easy strokes—a predator entirely too comfortable in his own territory.He stopped just out of reach and began to tread water, all mischief and confidence.“You’re always calling me a kid anyway.So, what’s the harm in playing a game?”

“I don't call you that anymore,” I said solemnly.

His gaze met mine and then darted away, a quick escape.“Close your eyes, Deputy,” he instructed softly.“Let’s make it fair.”

I hesitated for a heartbeat, and then I closed my eyes.Right away, every other sense sharpened.The weight of the thick night air against my skin, the rustle of magnolia leaves, and the gentle splash of Gage moving stealthily across the pool.

“Marco,” I called, feeling ridiculous.

The complete silence didn’t help the feeling.Then Gage’s voice came, startlingly close, near enough that I felt his breath hit the back of my neck.

“Polo.”

I spun toward the sound, reaching out blindly, but only caught a handful of empty water.The thrill of the chase started to buzz in my bloodstream.“Marco,” I called again, grinning fiercely.

“Polo,” Gage taunted, still behind me, but further away now.

I cocked my head, listening for the telltale burble of him moving through the water, and then lunged.Gage shoved off my chest one-handed and darted out of the way just in time.

“Too slow,” he teased, full of the playful arrogance that had always made me smile even when it shouldn’t.“Gotta earn it, Deputy.”

Soft ripples betrayed his next movement as he circled me, close but frustratingly untouchable.Every time I reached out, he vanished.I listened, attuned to every sound, even the elevated rasp of his breathing.Patiently, I waited for a slip in his game.“Marco,” I called again.

“Polo,” he whispered, almost directly in my ear.

I lunged again, fingers barely grazing his slick bicep, but I wasn’t about to let him slip away this time.I tracked the splashes across the pool, driving him back into a corner, and caught him by the wrist.Gage tried to break free, but I tightened my grip and pinned him there, so close our chests almost touched.He froze, and I finally opened my eyes.There they were—those piercing steel-gray eyes, watching me with a heat and hunger that hadn’t dulled in all these years.

Neither of us moved.

“I win,” I murmured roughly.

“Yeah,” Gage breathed. His pulse was racing against my fingers.A beat so fast it almost matched my own.“You gonna let me go now?”

“Not this time.” I relaxed my grip on his wrist, but I didn’t release him.Instead, I let my hand slide down his arm, tracing the hard muscle under his wet skin.I splayed my fingers against his ribs, mindful of his injury, and tugged him close.“This time, you’ve got nowhere left to run.”

He sucked in a breath, and my gaze dropped to his lips—slightly parted and waiting.

“Wyatt,” he whispered. I caught the barest hint of warning in his tone, but it was too late.

Just like that, the game was over, and I closed the final distance between us to kiss him.