Page 46 of Man of Honor
Mason climbed out from behind the wheel, tossing a set of keys in the air before catching them again.The Harley rider removed his helmet, shaking out a dark ponytail.I'd never completely trusted Silas McKenna.He looked like he'd been born on a bike, all rough edges and sharp eyes, and when it came to the Dead End, he like to play it fast and loose with the law.
"Figured you might want this hunk of junk back," Mason said, tossing the keys to Gage, who caught them easily."A couple drunks were trying to sleep off a bender in the back seat, but we talked them out of it."
“Want is a strong word,” Gage joked, dangling the keys off one finger.“But I’ll take it off your hands.”
Silas, watching the interplay with curiosity, said in his pack-a-day rasp, "The tags are expired and the exhaust manifold is cracked.You keep driving that thing, Beaufort, and you're gonna be on a first-name basis with every cop in the parish."
"Too late for that," Gage shot back with a chuckle."But it keeps things interesting, don't it?"
“Interesting’s one word for it,” Silas replied, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
I slung an arm around Gage’s shoulders and tugged him close, not just because I wanted to touch him, but to settle the curiosity running unchecked in both men's faces.Gage had staked his claim on me long ago. Now, it was my turn.“Thanks for keeping an eye out,” I said with a nod.
Gage leaned into my side and shot me a look that was equal parts pride and amusement, like he was a half-second from making a smart remark but held back for my sake.Just this once.
"Dom warned us you weren't in a hurry to get home," Mason said wryly, crossing his arms and leaning one hip against the Buick.I grimaced. A suit that nice shouldn't be rubbing up against that dirty finish, but he either didn't notice or didn't care."Now I see why. How long are you planning on staying?”
“Why? You miss me?” Gage grinned, flashing the kind of smile he reserved for his brothers.I'd never been a jealous man, but just looking at that easy, genuine grin tempted me.
“You wish,” Mason snorted. “As far as I'm concerned, you can stay here and pork the deputy as much as you want.But Gideoncould use a hand with the house.He and Dom don't exactly see eye-to-eye these days, and I'm swamped with work." He brushed a bead of rain off his sleeve, adding offhandedly, “Besides, Ivy’s been asking about you.She’s having a rough go of it.Maybe you could talk to her. But hey, no pressure.”
No matter the casual tone, I knew Mason's words had been chosen with careful precision.They hit squarely. Gage's expression didn't change, but I caught the subtle twitch of his cheek at the mention of the girl.He felt responsible for Ivy in the same fierce, unspoken way I’d felt about the gray-eyed boy in the bayou.Saving someone's life forged a bond that wasn’t easy to break.
A lead weight dropped in my stomach at the thought of him leaving.We hadn't had enough time. I'd learned so much already: which side of the bed he preferred, the mess his hair turned into every morning, how he squeezed his toothpaste from the middle of the tube.I knew now that he ate side dishes clockwise and saved the main course for last.But I needed more. Did he sing along to his favorite songs?Forget to rinse his coffee mugs?Organize his sock drawer or jumble everything together?
Still, I refused to be selfish.Gage was looking for direction. Sharing responsibility for the kids at Eden might give him something to hold onto.
“I’ll think about it,” Gage said, glancing down at the keys in his hand with a pensive look.“You need a ride back?”
"Nah, I'm taking the scenic route today." Mason glanced over his shoulder at Silas, who was already slipping a spare helmet from his saddlebags and passing it over.The skull emblazoned on the scratched helmet didn't exactly go with Mason's suit andtie, but then again, neither did the jeans-and-leather man beside him."You stay out of trouble."
He pointed at Gage, half-warning and half-affection, then swung a leg over the Harley and settled behind Silas.The sight was almost comical.The biker waited patiently while Mason stripped off his silk tie, folded it, and tucked it into his jacket pocket.He set his polished shoes on the footpegs and adjusted his seating, resting one hand lightly on Silas's waist for balance.
The engine snarled to life, vibrating through the ground and into the soles of my bare feet.With a flash of brake lights, they roared down the driveway and onto the open road.That's when he opened up the throttle, and they were off like a shot.
I was glad I wasn't working today; I'd hate to be the one pulling them over.
“I know that look,” Gage said wryly, slipping an arm around my waist.
“What look?”
“The one that says you're debating whether to write a ticket or smack some heads together."
I laughed and gave his shoulders a quick squeeze before steering him toward the house."I've got more important things in mind right now."
“Yeah? Like what?” His hand slid down to pinch my ass.
I jumped, just a little, before I could hide it."Let's start with breakfast and go from there," I said, smothering a grin."I think you could do some good with those kids, but no need to decide now.Not on an empty stomach."
I kept one arm around his shoulders, savoring the simple pleasure of our hips bumping as we walked.The sun was breaking through the mist, lighting up raindrops, and I decided we'd eat on the porch.Gage always seemed most at ease outdoors.More places to run, I guess.
His smile didn't quite reach hiseyes."You always make it sound like we've got all the time in the world."
“Maybe we do," I said, staring into those troubled gray eyes, searching for a way to light them upagain."Maybe we don't. But I know onething.Whatever we've got, we're gonna make itcount."
Chapter Twenty-Two
GAGE: