Chapter Fourteen

Andrew sat in Brian's living room with a glass of water, waiting for Greg to get home from work and for Kyler to get there. It was a bit awkward, and he didn't know why.

"So Greg should be home any minute." Brian curled up on the plush chair with his legs tucked under him and his hands around a mug of coffee. He looked at the wall clock. "Any minute."

"Sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable."

Brian smiled. "Not your fault. It's mine. I'm a little protective of Kyler."

"And you want to know my intentions." Andrew smiled. "We're dating. Dinner. Dancing. Movies, just as soon as I know what type he likes."

"Dating is good." Brian nodded.

Andrew changed the subject before Brian asked any more questions. "Do you still have those Beatles CDs?"

"Never in a million years would I get rid of those." Brian stood and went to the entertainment center. He opened a side door, messing around with the stereo system. Before he knew it, the Beatles sang ‘Let It Be'. "This is my favorite."

Ten minutes later, they were debating which song was the best when Greg walked through the front door, looking surprised.

He nodded to Andrew by way of greeting and made a beeline for Brian, who stood and wrapped his arms around Greg before kissing him. They kept the kiss brief. Greg whispered something to Brian that Andrew couldn't hear. Brian nodded, smiling.

Greg let Brian go and turned to Andrew, holding out his hand. "Glad you could stop by."

Andrew shook it and smiled. "Thanks. I'm meeting Kyler here."

"Yeah, he texted me earlier and told me." Greg sat down in the chair Brian had vacated and pulled Brian down into his lap. "Since you're here, I need to talk to you."

Andrew didn't need to be a good cop to know Greg was about to give him the talk just like Brian had. "Sure."

"Kyler's like a brother, and I'm just about the only family he has except for maybe Royce. So I'm not trying to be disrespectful, and I'm not trying to make your lifestyle my business." Greg sounded exactly like Leonard, Travis' farm foreman. Andrew didn't have much interaction with Leonard, but he'd been around the man in the past four years enough times to know he said things straight. It seemed Greg wasn't any different. Andrew respected that more than someone who tried to blow smoke up his ass.

"I understand." Andrew was just glad Kyler had a few people in his life who cared about him. "This isn't the first discussion I've had." Andrew met Brian's gaze.

Greg smiled. "I see." When he grew serious again, Andrew knew the time for pleasantries were over. "Are you just fucking around with him or what?"

"I haven't ever had a permanent relationship before because my job was demanding and stressful. But I'm willing to see where it goes with Kyler."

"Why now? Why not when you two fucked that first time?"

Shit. He might as well just admit it. "Because the rapist has a type. Long, dark hair. Slender. And the latest victim was a male."

"What does that have to do with a relationship?"

Andrew knew he heard the sliding glass door open at the back of the house, and his mind registered Kyler's presence. He didn't care enough to keep his feelings to himself. "I've seen a lot of death in my life. I know what people can do to each other more than most. Humans can be the worst creatures on the planet. I've never wanted someone to be my whole world and then lose them. But Kyler got under my skin, and now I feel how I feel. What's the fucking pointing in being scared when I'm already there anyway. If I don't pay attention, that fucker could hurt him. That isn't happening. It can't. Not to him."

Halfway through Andrew's little speech, Greg's gaze darted to something-probably Kyler-behind him.

Kyler cleared his throat and came around the couch. He was still in his gray coveralls. The closer he got, the more Andrew could smell automobile grease and some heavy-duty soap.

Andrew stood and took a step toward Kyler but stopped because he was unsure of his reception. For the first time in Andrew's life, he couldn't tell what someone was thinking.

Greg put Brian on his feet before standing, pulling him down the hallway and out of the room, giving them privacy.

"How much did you hear?" Because maybe that would give him some clue as to how he should proceed.

Kyler stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jumpsuit and shrugged. He had a crease in the center of his forehead.

"Please tell me what you're thinking," Andrew whispered. Maybe if he didn't speak too loud, then Kyler would gentle his words.

What he didn't expect was a question. "You're dating me because you're afraid I'll get hurt? Am I getting that right?"

Well, when put like that, it didn't make sense. "I have feelings for you. And I realized nothing would change it. Not even fearing for your safety."

"Yeah, knowing the rapist has a type is kinda scary."

"Yes, it is, carino."

Kyler finally met his gaze. "Is it pity dating? That's all I need to know. And I mean it, Andy. I want the truth."

Andrew sighed in exasperation and then ran his hand down his face. He shook his head and then let out a sardonic laugh. "What I feel is so far from pity. You scare me more than anyone I've ever met, and I don't know what to do with that. I tried pushing you away, and that didn't feel right. Keeping you close makes you question me. I don't know what to do."

"I'm questioning you because you hurt me once, and I don't want to go through that again."

"Getting close to someone isn't easy for me. I haven't ever done it before."

"Because you're afraid of death."

"Yes. And no. I'm afraid my job will follow me straight to you. Someone would kill you as soon as I loved you. And it would be my fault that it happened at all."

"That doesn't make sense, Andy."

"Nothing makes sense. You be a homicide detective for one week, and you learn that quickly. No one murders with a good reason. No one."

"I'm an auto mechanic for a reason. I'd rather not see all the things you have. It would freak me out more than it is you right now."

"I'm not freaking out." Okay, maybe he was a little, but it was the first time he'd ever put words to his thoughts. He wasn't one to talk about his feelings. "I'm just trying to explain myself."

"It sounds like freaking out to me, but you can call it whatever you want. It's your mental problem, not mine. But I'll say this one last thing, and then I'll drop it because I'm hungry and you promised me dinner." Kyler took a deep breath and let it out before speaking. "I know death. I lost my mom. No amount of distance lessens the pain. It doesn't matter how much you try."

Andrew couldn't take it anymore. He had to touch. He cupped Kyler's cheek right before he went in for a kiss, although he kept it brief. "How about I make dinner at your house?"

"Okay."

"I just need to get a few things for our meal." Andrew kissed him again, unable to resist.

Kyler smiled. "How about you do that while I talk to Greg. We can meet back at my house."

"How about you come with me to the store."

Kyler chuckled. "I need to shower first. You can let yourself into the house."

Andrew shook his head. "You can't leave your door unlocked, carino."

"I'll give you my key." Kyler pulled his ring of keys out of his pocket and took one of them off the ring. "I'll take Greg's and give it back to him later."

Andrew took the key and pocketed it. "Thank you."

Kyler's brow creased. "For what?"

"For trusting me." Maybe it was just a key, but it was to Kyler's home. His mother always said a home was a sanctuary. Andrew hadn't settled into life in Pickleville. He had somewhere to stay but not much else. It was the same way in the city. The job took over his life so much he didn't even have a place where he could get away from it.

Same habit, different town.

He'd have to call Mami and have a talk. She needed to know he was ready to listen to her advice. Maybe he was ready for domestic bliss more than he had been before. Kyler made wanting more easy.