Authors: Tymber Dalton
Tags: #Romance
Aidan clapped Jeff on the back and gently squeezed his shoulder before letting go.
Purson finished packing one of the FLIRs. “How is Kal?”
“She’s in shock, I think. I don’t envy her. Will’s got his hands full. He volunteered to come in tonight and help out, but I told him it was okay. She needs him more than we do right now.”
“We could use the help. It’s a big freaking building.”
“I made other arrangements.”
Purson immediately picked up Aidan’s nervous tone. “
What
other arrangements?”
Aidan mumbled something.
“Oh,
fuck
no. Do
not
tell me you did that!”
“What? He volunteered to help. We cut tonight’s shoot as the second act of an episode with an investigation with Will in it, it’s no big deal.”
Purs crossed his arms. “I don’t want to put up with the shit weasel tonight.”
“What do you have against Ryan?”
“Nothing, except that he’s a total asshole. My loyalties lie with you and Will. I don’t give a shit that Ryan’s my boss. He can take a flying fuck as far as I’m concerned.”
“And how far are you concerned in that regard, Purson?” Ryan asked from the doorway.
“Oh, see, and that’s another fucking thing,” Purs said. “You pop in and out like that. It’s bullshit. How about a little fucking warning?”
Ryan held a Starbucks cup. “I’ll remember that sentiment next time I need someone to run over to Tavares, Purson.”
Jeff nervously laughed. He knew Will and Aidan had reached some sort of detente with Ryan, and he didn’t have anything personal against the guy. If anything, Kal was now on pretty good terms with Ryan, even if she walked on eggshells regarding the topic around the other men.
Aidan looked decidedly uncomfortable though. “Hey, he’s going to help Jeff, okay? You and me and Gery and Cabrio will run the investigation.”
Purson angrily jabbed a finger at Ryan. “You aren’t the one who had to sit there and listen to poor Kal when that fucking wraith had her, you goddamned asshole!”
Ryan’s face darkened. “If you wish to have a private conversation about this, I will be more than happy to oblige you, Purs. Until then, keep your fucking opinions to yourself.”
Aidan stepped between them. “It’s okay, Purs. Seriously.”
Purson glared at Ryan before storming out.
Aidan breathed a sigh of relief, then turned on Ryan. “You know, sometimes you’re a real dick when you don’t need to be.”
Ryan was wide-eyed innocence. “What?”
“You could have given me a chance to break the news you were coming tonight.”
“Considering it’s my network, I didn’t think that was necessary.” He sipped his coffee.
Aidan rolled his eyes and dropped the topic.
Cabrio arrived even earlier than expected. Aidan kept Gery and Purs away from Ryan. When he had a private moment with Ryan, Aidan glared at him. “And keep your fucking hands off Jeff.”
“Since when have you ever known me to swing that way, Faust?”
“You know damn well what I mean. Don’t go pulling a Kal with him.”
Ryan’s face darkened. “I had my reasons, Aidan. I promise I will not interfere in your love life.”
“Better fucking not.”
* * * *
They were investigating an old hotel in downtown St. Pete, so at least the drive wasn’t too bad. It took them a couple of hours to set up. Once the network crew arrived to film them, Ryan settled in with Jeff behind the bank of monitors in the room they were using for their base.
Jeff admitted he was a little nervous. While he’d had some contact with Ryan in the office, he barely knew the guy.
More to make conversation than anything, Jeff asked, “Why a ghost hunting show?”
“Ratings. Pure and simple.”
Jeff knew a little about what happened to Kal and felt he shouldn’t pry too deeply. Still, he couldn’t contain his curiosity. “Kal seems to enjoy working on the show.”
Ryan nodded as he adjusted one of the monitors. “She’s very talented.”
Jeff had a sudden flash of insight. “What if she hadn’t picked film as her major?”
Ryan shrugged. “Her major truly didn’t matter.”
“Because you would have done whatever you needed to do to make sure she was with Will.”
Ryan nodded without taking his eyes from the monitor. “Yes. You’re very perceptive.”
“How long have you known Aidan and Will?”
An unreadable expression flitted across Ryan’s face. “A very long time.”
That was all he was getting from Ryan on that topic apparently.
At the break, Aidan nervously rushed into the base area. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“He’s still wraith-free,” Ryan snarked.
Jeff burst out laughing. Aidan rolled his eyes. “You are a fucking ballbuster.”
When they started filming again, Jeff asked Ryan, “How much else is out there? Besides entities or ghosts or whatever you call them?”
Ryan shrugged. “Do not ask that which you are not prepared to know.”
Jeff wasn’t sure he was prepared to know much more than he already did. He was still coming to terms—in a good way—with his knowledge about what Aidan, Will, and the others were.
There was one more question he
was
curious about. “Can I ask you about the soul mate stuff?”
Ryan smiled. “I think you should ask Aidan about that. It’s quite a commitment.”
“Yeah, I sort of get that.”
“I’ll let you in on something about Aidan. He’s lived a long life. Just because he’s lived a long life doesn’t necessarily mean he’s very experienced in some matters. Matters of the heart. He had to live a certain way for countless ages. When someone does that, it makes them very set in their ways and scared to step out of that self-constructed box.” He returned his attention to the monitor. “I think you are quite possibly the person to help him overcome his fear.”
* * * *
Cabrio and Aidan each managed to catch something on the FLIR and digital voice recorders. The other volunteer investigators had enough false scares that it would make a good show. Kal’s talented editing skills guaranteed a segment the audience would love. Paired with a first act of an investigation involving Will, no one would question his absence from this shoot.
By the time the shoot wrapped, Jeff was comfortable talking to and working with Ryan, although they didn’t make any further mention of Jeff’s fledgling relationship with Aidan. Jeff rode with Aidan back to the office. He was preparing to leave when he turned to Aidan.
“Want me to drive you home?”
Aidan looked pleasantly surprised, then hesitant. “You need to get to sleep. I could just pop home.”
“I know. But I have to go right by your place and I thought maybe I could take you home and then come get you later. We could go out for breakfast and ride in to work together.”
Aidan briefly considered it, then nodded. “That sounds good.”
On the way to his house, Aidan asked, “So what else did you and Ryan talk about?”
Jeff shrugged. “The show. Things like that.”
Aidan let the quiet lie for a moment. “What other things like that?”
“Paranoid?”
“Duh.”
“I like Ryan. I’d like to hear the full story about you three guys one day.”
Aidan’s face darkened as he stared out the passenger window. “It’s a long story, and not one I like talking about.”
Jeff left him alone for the rest of the ride, sorry he’d mentioned it. Once they arrived
,
he caught Aidan’s hand before he could get out. He kissed him. “Want any company?”
Aidan’s eyes burned into his. “Want isn’t the problem. I told you, I’m trying to do things the right way.”
“Okay. When should I come get you?”
“How about one?”
Jeff nodded, but didn’t release Aidan’s hand. He waited until Aidan leaned in for one more kiss, which left them both out of breath.
“See you at one, sugar.” Aidan reluctantly got out of the car and stood at his front door, watching as Jeff drove away.
He turned to go inside and let out a startled scream as he nearly ran into Ryan.
“Fuck! Would you
please
not do that!”
Ryan smiled. “I shall only take a moment of your time. I’m not overstepping my bounds, I think, to tell you that Jeff seems rather fond of you. Also, you should, as they say, get off the pot where he’s concerned.”
“Stay the fuck out of my love life!”
“I’m not in your love life. I’m simply imparting a little information I thought you’d find helpful. You’re welcome.”
“Thank you,” Aidan grumbled, shouldering Ryan aside so he could unlock his door and walk inside. Ryan followed, uninvited.
“Jesus, Ryan, I’m so not in the mood to deal with you this morning.”
“I’m going. I just wanted to add one thing.”
“What?”
Ryan’s face darkened. “Remember, he’s human. He might be willing to wait forever for you to quit being scared, but his body can’t.”
Aidan’s heart nearly stopped. “No! Oh, Christ, please tell me he’s not—”
“No!” Ryan shook his head. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that!” He swore under his breath. “Aidan, listen to me. Quit being afraid.”
Aidan set his jaw. “Point made. Now get the fuck out of my house.”
Ryan disappeared.
Aidan was still trying to slow his pulse. For a moment he’d been scared that…
He closed his eyes. The thought of losing Jeff tore at him. As much as he hated the shit weasel, Aidan had to admit he was, in this case, dead
-
on.
Now it was just a matter of getting over his fear of hurting Jeff and not being able to take care of him.
Bera had watched and waited for several days. Once she’d followed Jeff home
,
she knew she could plan her approach. It did make it a little trickier this way, but maybe Ryan and the others wouldn’t see it coming. Especially with Will and his bimbo apparently out of town. Bera had even remembered at the last minute to leave off the perfume.
The things she suffered through to get knocked up.
Ryan had come too close to guessing her game for her comfort. If she could have her way with Aidan, she could get on with popping out a rug
rat and finalize her plans.
She couldn’t appear at his front door. Apparently the barrier thrown around the office to prevent her from appearing applied to the condo complex, too. She could drive in, but that meant risking
someone spotting her who might recognize her.
She set her trap for this morning. She knew Aidan had been out late the night before on a shoot while Jeff worked at the office, meaning Aidan would stay home this morning to sleep, leaving this one on his own. That was their usual pattern if Jeff didn’t work on the shoot.
She pulled off to the side of the road where her quarry would be sure to see her, right next to the condo complex driveway. She used a small screwdriver to let the air out of her rear passenger tire valve.
Who said you couldn’t learn anything from watching TV?
He appeared, right on time. She saw why Aidan had set his sights on him. He was a cutie, with a nice firm ass she normally wouldn’t mind digging her fingers into. Unfortunately she didn’t have time to seduce him.
Bera put on her hassled, helpless look. Jeff pulled over.
“Do you need some help, ma’am?”
“I’m afraid so. I have a flat tire and I forgot my cell phone at home.”
He got out and walked over. “I don’t mind helping you with it.”
She smiled as she put her hand on his lower arm, on his bare flesh. She took a firm grip and felt his energy flow through her. “You are a real lifesaver.”
He changed the tire for her and she profusely thanked him. He bashfully waved off her attempts to pay him. “No, that’s okay. I just live right here, no big deal. Glad I could help.”
Jeff returned to his car, then Bera slid behind the wheel of her own and hurried off. Pulling into a nearby shopping center, she parked in the distance away from other cars and looked in the rearview mirror.
She closed her eyes, remembered the feel of his energy, and shifted. When she opened her eyes, Jeff’s blue eyes looked back at her.
Bera smiled.
Jeff smiled back.
Perfect.
* * * *
Aidan groaned at the sound of the doorbell.
Fuck
. He’d just gotten to sleep.
He pulled on a pair of boxers and stumbled to the door, pleasantly surprised to find Jeff standing on his doorstep.
“What—”
Jeff pushed in and kissed Aidan, startling him. Aidan finally grabbed Jeff’s arms and managed to step back, holding him at a distance. “What’s going on?”
Jeff smiled. Something tripped Aidan’s internal warning buzzers, waking him from what little sleep held him.
“I want to be with you, Aidan. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
“Um, yeah.” Something was seriously whacked. “No offense, but why aren’t you at the office? Who’s minding the store? Purs and Gery won’t be in until lunch. Will and Kal are up in Columbus. You’re supposed to open the joint today.”
Jeff tried to step closer
,
but Aidan refused to let go of his arms. “It doesn’t matter. I
need
you. I need to be with you.” He pulled free and wrapped his arms around Aidan again, kissing him, grinding his hips against him, his hard cock pressing through his slacks. “Take me,” he whispered in Aidan’s ear. “You know you want to. Quit waiting.”
This was wrong on about twenty different levels. That’s when Aidan spotted the chain around Jeff’s neck, which was almost completely concealed by his collar.
“
Volciamente appareo
!”
“Awww…
fuck
!” Halfway through the epithet, Jeff changed into Bera.
Aidan stepped back. “Oh, come on, you fucking skank weed. You’ve gotta be shittin’ me!”