Today’s the day. Kaine rose before dawn. Graeson had returned from Houston immediately after the board meeting. Refusing to consider himself a stalker, Kaine knew this because he kept abreast of all things Graeson or Hardin Offshore. The past month, while Graeson was in Houston, had been excruciating. Kaine had explored every corner of his new home as well as, it seemed, every rock on the property. Unable to relax during the day or sleep at night, Kaine was wound tighter than a snare drum. Just knowing that he would soon be near Graeson after all these years had Kaine tied up in so many knots it was a miracle he could stand.
Upon the news of the death of Jack Charles Hardin several years ago, followed by the announcement that Graeson Fairchild Hardin would be taking over as president of the company, Kaine had known Graeson would be headed back to Texas. Moreover, Kaine also knew he, himself, would be moving again.
Whenever Graeson spoke about his roots, Kaine could tell he’d liked growing up in Houston but loved the small town of his youth. Perfect, Texas, Graeson had expressed too many times to count, was just that – the most perfect place on earth. Perfect was home. Kaine had instinctively known the man would return there. He always had, he always would, just as he had a few days ago. Graeson was home.
Whenever Graeson was away from his hill country home, the media hounded him. The millionaire recluse never ceased to fascinate them, and they reported his every move – except when he retreated to Perfect. Graeson was at times portrayed as a playboy and at others a surly hermit. The reality was he rarely socialized, even in his beloved Perfect. In the year or so that Kaine had been in Perfect, he’d learned that Graeson was well liked and his privacy fiercely protected by the residents. But what was a small town without gossips amongst the townsfolk? This was how Kaine had known when Graeson returned to his normal routine. It was now time.
Kaine had considered many different scenarios as backdrops for his first contact with Graeson in nearly ten years, but eventually decided a public reunion would be best. He knew that Graeson usually went into town Saturday. He was relatively sure Graeson would be there today, and although he expected nothing short of total hostility, Kaine refused to be deterred. This was not an easy road Kaine had chosen, but he was one hundred percent committed to it nonetheless. Graeson Fairchild Hardin would be his once again. As it was always meant to be.
Kaine had dressed carefully in comfortably worn jeans that slung low on his hips, well-worn Sperrys – no socks – and a sky-blue, form fitting, silk-blend t-shirt that clung to his sinewy biceps. He hadn’t shaved and the light stubble was visible in the moist heat of the afternoon sun.
He casually strolled into the coffee house and was greeted by the comforting aromas of freshly roasted coffee beans, hazelnut, and vanilla. Kaine stood in the short line and ordered a large, non-fat, vanilla iced coffee, he wasn’t normally a fan of non-fat anything, but he didn’t know how many of them he’d have to go through before he got up the nerve to approach Graeson.
Graeson would be there today, he was sure of it. He usually sat close to the street and quietly passed the afternoon, either reading or working. Kaine had watched his ritual for several months now. For all the pictures in the society pages of him attending various functions with a never-ending string of vacuous, walking breast implant ads, Graeson didn’t seem to date while in Perfect. Graeson hadn’t fully come out while they were in college and it appeared he hadn’t done so here either.
Whenever the notoriously reclusive man was mentioned in Houston’s society pages, there was always a tall and exceedingly beautiful woman attached to his side like a limpet. Kaine had never heard even the slightest rumor that he dated men. Although Honey insisted that Graeson was likely involved with these women in some form or fashion, Kaine knew better. Yes, the man had only dated women before Kaine, but he did not believe for a moment that one of them could hold Graeson’s heart as he had. Besides, none of them ever graced his arm a second time. Pathetic that he knew that. But he did.
Outside of his familial and social obligations, Graeson rarely kept company. His assistant, a leggy Brazilian woman, Maggie, seemed the only constant in his life and would occasionally sit with him at the coffee shop. The man seemed most content when he was alone. And whose fault was that?
Kaine forced that negative thought out of his head. He was betting on Graeson’s unfailing politeness and unwillingness to make a scene to enable him to get in, at the very least, a few words of greeting. With his order filled and the latest Harlan Coben novel in hand, Kaine chose a table underneath lush shade tree on the side of the building, away from the street. Slouching into the cushions of the high-back wicker chair, he dropped his shades down over his eyes and settled in. Kaine smiled as he sipped his iced coffee and for the first time in months, began to unwind enough to appreciate the beauty of this quaint place. The spot Kaine occupied was especially lovely, as it afforded him an unobstructed view of the front patio where Graeson normally sat.
Kaine took a deep, cleansing lungful of the magnolia- and coffee-scented air. Oddly, he was no longer fidgety and the anxiousness from before had vanished. He’d waited ten years for this moment and he was more than ready.
Graeson opened the door to Coffeehaus, causing the bell above the door to tinkle merrily. Smiling cheerfully, he made his way through the shop, which was crammed full of every coffee themed knick-knack imaginable, to place his usual order. He would pick up his standing order of special blend beans for home and grab a cup and a sandwich to enjoy as he sat on the patio to wile away the lovely Texas afternoon.
This was one of Graeson’s most relaxing pastimes; he thoroughly enjoyed people watching. He delighted in observing the honest, unguarded emotions of people when they thought no one was watching. He loved spotting the senior citizens on their walks, the skateboarders being run off the sidewalks by business owners, and couples making goo-goo eyes at each other. He even found it compelling to watch the inevitable couple staring daggers at one another, each grudgingly enduring the other’s presence. Those scenes always tugged at his heart because he imagined that by the time night fell they would have forgiven one another, all thoughts of their irritation forgotten.
It was those moments that would leave him wistful for a life where he could let his guard down and allow someone in to share the ups and downs as part of a couple. Someone to argue with only to be quick to forgive, someone to gaze at lovingly, someone with whom he could be comfortable enough to endure a stroll, even if he was irritated to no end by his partner, knowing that their irritation wouldn’t last forever, but they would. Graeson would never have such things. Instead, he would force himself to be content to sit and watch as it all passed him by. Because one thing in life was certain. Lovers betrayed you. Friends lied to you. Life fucked you. Nah, he was good just the way he was.
“Hey, Carter!” Graeson called out to the older man behind the counter. Carter raised his arm in greeting and continued with his customer. His daughter, Lark, looked up with large brown eyes, her curly, waist-length, black hair arranged in an unruly, chaotic twist and smiled. She knew Graeson’s order by heart – it never changed. She set to work on his latte and his ham and Gruyere sandwich.
“Hey, Graeson! Usual table?” Lark chirped happily as she worked. At Graeson’s nod Lark added, “I’ll have your order out in bit.” Graeson smiled at Lark, she was fifteen, all legs, skinny, and wore braces. Graeson had been around enough beautiful women to know that Lark would soon blossom into a stunning beauty. Poor Carter – the guy was going to have his hands full in a couple of years.
Graeson grinned at the thought and gave Lark a wink. “Hi, beautiful. Yeah, I guess I’ll stick around for bit, make it look like you guys actually have customers.” Lark’s laugh was a tinkling sound that was cut off when she remembered her braces and quickly stuffed her laughter behind closed lips. “Whatever dude, I’ll be right out.”
“Just the latte right now, though. Give me awhile on the sandwich, I just got back from Houston and need to relax the city out of me,” Graeson added, and Lark rolled her eyes, shooting him her old people look.
Graeson headed out the opened doors that lined the front of the store. Today was a workday. Maggie had given him a file containing a listing of properties for sale in the area that he needed to review. Tri-H had been receiving an uncharacteristically large anonymous donation for the last few years and Graeson was thinking he wanted to build some sort of camp or retreat for young men.
He seated himself at his usual table, nearest the sidewalk and farthest from the door. He enjoyed being in the midst of people, even if he had no desire to actually interact. The residents of Perfect were long used to Graeson’s solitary nature. They were always friendly, but rarely stopped for more than a word or two. He settled in, determined to enjoy another warm, sunny afternoon soaking in the sun and feeling more at ease than he had in a month. Ah, Perfect!
Oh my gosh! Kaine’s pulse began to race, as his mouth parched. He hadn’t been this close to Graeson in over ten years. God, the man was even more beautiful up close than he remembered. Kaine felt a subtle stirring in his groin. The media and magazine photos that had been Kaine’s lifeline simply had not done justice to Graeson’s thoroughly masculine, rugged features.
The man wore a lightweight, linen shirt that hung just below what Kaine knew to be a perfect ass. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, exposing tanned, strong forearms. He was absent any jewelry, didn’t so much as sport a watch. Kaine’s previously dry mouth began to water. His breath hitched as he drank in the vision of Graeson’s golden skin against the stark white of his shirt. Kaine could tell Graeson’s jeans were expensive, even though they looked soft, worn, and comfortable. They were loose fitting but cupped his ass lovingly, the effect so much more enticing than if they’d been painted on. Kaine struggled to bite back a groan.
Shaking his head to clear the fog of lust, Kaine shifted in his chair to adjust to the increasing pressure of his cock pushing rudely against his zipper. Grae looked so incredibly sexy.
Yes, the man was gorgeous, but those thoughts would have to wait. What he wanted from Grae could not be rushed, he had to settle down and move slowly. Forcing back the spike of lust that ripped through his gut, Kaine watched Graeson stretch his long, muscular legs out in front of him and open a folder, quickly becoming absorbed in its contents. His eyes never straying from Graeson, Kaine sighed and sat back, willing away his erection and forcing his muscles to relax. Finally able to breath regularly, he settled in once again, content for now to enjoy the view. And what a stunning view it was. Dang! They did grow them fine in Texas!
The hairs on the back of Graeson’s neck tingled and he wondered at his unease. Shrugging off the feeling of being watched, he looked up and down the street, which was filled with people milling around and window-shopping and others lunching at the little cafés that dotted the picturesque street. The town seemed to be a favorite of tourists and teemed with them year round.
Lark brought out a second latte as Graeson continued to review the list of properties. Maggie had included campground designs for him to look over as well. As he flipped the page to review one of the proposals submitted by local architects, a shadow fell across the table. Before he could look up, a chill ran down his spine as a never-to-be-forgotten voice from his past grated across his flesh.
“Hello, Grae.” Kaine prayed his voice wouldn’t crack. He stood mere inches from Graeson, his throat felt constricted. Kaine waited for Graeson to turn those beautiful gray eyes, eyes that had haunted his every waking moment for the last ten years, upon him. Jeez, he was sweating.
Graeson’s hand froze on the papers he held and his body stiffened noticeably. Seconds ticked by in strained silence, and still Graeson had not turned. He hadn’t so much as blinked, but Kaine held his ground.
Kaine spoke again, this time unable to manage more than a husky whisper, “Hello, Grae. It’s good to see you, how’ve you been?”
At that, cold gray eyes snapped up to meet his own. Kaine kept himself from flinching at the hatred which flashed, turning them stormy and dark before quickly giving way to pain and then… nothing. There was no anger, no hurt… certainly no joy. Just… nothing.
Kaine swallowed hard, a stab of pain lancing his heart, but he forced himself to forge ahead and quickly took advantage of Graeson’s shock by sliding into the chair opposite him. He opened his mouth to speak, but Graeson found his voice before Kaine could continue.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He pronounced each word slowly through clenched teeth, the tick in his jaw working overtime.
Kaine would not let Grae’s bitterness pierce his resolve. He answered the man bluntly and truthfully. “I came here for you, Grae.” Graeson’s eyes narrowed and flashed hotly. Kaine hadn’t realized until that very moment the degree to which he still wanted this man and how much his life depended on having him. Kaine breathed in Grae’s citrusy, masculine scent and took in the clearly defined pecs underneath his sexily rumpled shirt. What he wouldn’t give to run his tongue over Grae’s chest and pinch the copper-colored nipples that became visible whenever the man shifted. It was almost as if they were attempting to hide from the man to whom they would soon belong.
Graeson was finally within touching distance. And he was gorgeous. Angry as hell, but still gorgeous. If Graeson were capable of violence, Kaine felt sure he’d be on the receiving end of a blow to the face at any moment. Kaine took in the ebony hair that fell in loose, lazy waves to graze wide shoulders.
Kaine continued to stare at Graeson, the wild and fierce man, not the controlled, every-hair-in-its-place cool tycoon portrayed in the media. And while all of the Hardin children were blessed with their mother’s dark looks, only his Grae had those amazing eyes that changed colors as quickly as his emotions.
“Grae? It’s been a long time,” Kaine continued, his chest tight with longing. “You… wow, you look great, man… you look so… good.” Kaine’s breath caught as he thought he saw a slight thaw in the man seated opposite him. “I was hoping we could perhaps talk. There is so much I want… that I need to tell you. So much that we… Grae?” Kaine stopped talking; Grae glanced at him flatly, with abject disinterest. But Kaine knew the man was not as unaffected as he was pretending to be.
Graeson’s body was tense and his normally full lips had formed a thin, tight line. He asked sharply, “Why are you really here? What could you possibly need to say to me now? Almost ten fucking years later?” Graeson was livid. His face flushed so hotly in tightly controlled fury that Kaine swore he could feel the heat emanating in waves.
Kaine cleared his throat. “Actually there’s quite a bit for us to talk about, Grae. I have so much to say to you. Yes, it has been ten years. Ten very long, very lonely years. I’ve missed you so much. I think it’s time that we… that you and I….”
Sweat began to form on Kaine’s brow and palms. He paused, inhaled deeply, and closed his eyes, willing his panic away. His earlier calm was quickly dissipating under Grae’s cold glare. Kaine bit his lip uncertainly, forcing himself to voice the request that was slowly trying to die in his throat.
“Would have dinner with me? Meet me tomorrow night so we can talk? Eight o’clock? Would you grant me a few hours, Grae? Please?” There. Done. Kaine’s heart was about to beat clear out of his chest. Please don’t pass out, please don’t pass out.
Graeson’s breathing had become increasingly ragged. “That is not possible. I cannot… no, strike that. I will not fucking meet with you. I have absolutely no fucking interest in you or anything you think you have to say to me.” Kaine flinched at the vehemence with which the cold words were flung at him by the love of his life.
Kaine was determined, though, and refused to waver beneath Grae’s flinty glare. He leaned back in his seat as Graeson continued his verbal assault. Strangely, the more heated Grae became, the easier Kaine could breathe. His heart calmed so that it was almost normal, he felt… peaceful. It was his penance and if this was what Graeson needed, then he was happy to endure. Just get it all out, babe. I’m not going anywhere.
“…I am not inclined to have dinner and I for damn sure don’t want to hear any of your bull-fucking-shit explanations about the past.” Graeson willed himself to relax, easing his fingers out of firmly clenched fists. His face flattened and he stared coldly at the fucking sexy bastard that had invaded his table.
So fucking what? So what if seeing the man after all these years had his heart banging erratically against his ribcage? So what if this man was so crazy sexy it hurt to even look at him and left Graeson with an unwanted tingling that ran straight to his cock? So. Fucking. What! Graeson owed him nothing and would give him nothing.
Even as every cell in his body screamed at him to close the distance between them and kiss those full, almost ruby-red lips that Graeson remembered so vividly. Graeson could never allow this man close enough to repeat the damage he’d caused long ago. Fuck! After ten mother-fucking years of Graeson cursing his existence, the bastard was close enough to see those fucking sexy biceps bunch each time he stopped himself from reaching for Graeson’s hand. Goddamnit! Why? Graeson willed his emotions under control. He needed to get the fuck away from here… from him.
As Graeson sat fuming, Kaine saw Lark clearing tables out of the corner of his eye. He knew he could press Grae a bit more; he wouldn’t make a scene with her so close. Steeling himself, he slid his hand under the table and grasped Grae’s knee. Graeson startled and clenched his jaw before noticing Lark. Boiling now, he tried to remove his leg from Kaine’s grasp. He pinned Kaine with furious eyes, but the damned man only tightened his grip and began to move his thumb in slow, firm circles on Graeson’s thigh. He never took his eyes off Grae’s as he watched Grae’s nostrils flare and his hands curl into fists on the table. His reaction was mostly anger sure, but also… Kaine thought, hoped… hunger. It was so quick Kaine would have missed it had his senses not been so focused on his man. No, there was no way Graeson had forgotten how they were together.
Graeson forced his eyes away from Kaine and noted for the first time that there were others on the patio. He looked over to see Lark laughing with a couple of her friends, enjoying what had become for Graeson a nightmare of a day.
God, and to top it off, his dick was steadily firming as that asshole continued to rub his thigh! Fucking bastard. Who did he think he was?
“You had best move your fucking hand or I will move it for you. I live here, this is my home.” Graeson leaned in. “You have no right to be here and you pissed away the right to lay your hands on me. Move your hand. Now,” Graeson growled low in his throat as he tried to free himself from Kaine’s grasp.
Kaine smiled at him lazily, confidence welling deep within his chest. He replied silkily, his moist lips pouting slightly. “Come on, Grae,” he cajoled. “Have dinner with me. If for no other reason than to pound my face in. Have dinner with me.” Kaine’s tongue darted out and took a slow swipe of his lips, his eyelids lowering to half-mast as he stared hungrily at Graeson, not caring that the man saw Kaine’s want, his need for him.
The two handsome men were in the midst of their heated stare down, the air thick with desire and tension when Lark appeared at the table. “Hey, I see you met one our newest regulars, Graeson. You two ought to get along well, Mr. Keeley’s been coming here for months, does the same as you, sits and reads. How cool is that?”
Lark seemed genuinely happy to think Graeson had made a new friend. Her braces sparkled in the sunlight as she smiled down at them. Graeson was thankful that her appearance had caused Kaine to release him, giving him room to breathe.
“Yes Lark, we’ve… met. Hey, I’m getting ready to get out of here. Has your dad organized my order?” Grae hoped his smile reached his eyes as Lark replied, “Yeah, he’s done, I’ll just go get it. I’ll wrap up your sandwich, too. Gosh! I forgot to bring it out… don’t tell Dad!” She giggled and then a light sparkled in her eyes and she said, “Mr. Keeley, Graeson’s lived here forever, maybe he can take you tubing or show you around. This town’s pretty boring, but there’s cool stuff not too far off.” Lark’s messy ponytail bounced as she turned and went in to bag Graeson’s order.
Kaine was smiling wickedly at Grae, and god help him, Grae felt his breath catch. “What can you show me, Grae?” Kaine leaned in, his voice low and warm as whiskey. “Have dinner with me. The sooner you give in, the sooner you get it over with. I’m not leaving this town until you do. I will be here every day, waiting for you until you agree to talk to me.”
Although Kaine had steeled himself for rejection, he was still stunned momentarily when Graeson flushed a deep red and jerked up from the table, almost toppling it over, glaring at Kaine with such venom that Graeson looked dangerous.
But just as quickly as the storm flared, it was gone. With his hands fisted and knuckles white, Graeson turned and stalked away from the table without so much as another glance at Kaine.
That went well. Kaine released the breath he’d been holding and tried to calm his nerves. He hadn’t been able to talk Graeson into seeing him, but… a slow smile slipped over Kaine’s lips as his fingers caressed the file left lying open on the cast-iron table… he would get at least one more chance, and soon.
Suddenly euphoric, Kaine slouched down, smiling stupidly and sipping the remains of Grae’s beverage and watched as Graeson’s tight, sleek body slid gracefully into the old, green Range Rover. You are so mine!
Fucking whoring bastard! What the fuck!? Graeson hadn’t been mistaken; he had been seeing Kaine around town. How long had he been here? How long would he be here? Did he still live in California? Not that Graeson wanted to know. He’d felt like smashing his fist into that handsome, smiling face. If it were even possible, the sweet, shy kid that Grae had fallen in love with all those years ago, the first man – first anybody – that Graeson had loved, had grown into an elegant, incredibly well built, fucking gorgeous man. Manicured hands and all. Well, ain’t this just a bitch.
Graeson’s silent rantings ground to a halt as four words slammed his brain. Wait, what had Kaine said? What the fuck did he say? “I came for you.” As fast as Graeson’s rage surged, it gave way to a tingling sensation that spread all the way to his groin. Graeson determinedly ignored his growing erection. It meant nothing. Nothing. Bound to happen. He simply hadn’t been touched in so long that his body was hypersensitive.
Seriously, did that asshole actually think a wink and a smile would wipe away that horrible day, or for that matter, the last ten miserable years of Graeson’s life? And, fuck yes he was man enough to admit it… miserable! Graeson freely acknowledged that day had left him empty. He had been stripped bare, hollowed out. There was nothing left, save a lonely, bitter, reclusive imitation of the man he once was.
As Graeson drove home, he couldn’t help but remember Kaine’s hot hand on his thigh. He had grown instantly hard. Zero to a hundred in seconds. Damn! No way. No fucking way. He would not go down that road once more. Letting his rage consume him, he slammed his fist against the steering wheel.
Goddamnit. Graeson had not been with a man in almost ten years and it was all because of Kaine. Fuck! Before him, Graeson hadn’t ever even looked at a man that way. He certainly would never again give that fickle bastard what he so callously threw away in their other life. No, Graeson would not see him. He would not let that lying, cheating fucker know the damage he’d wrought in Graeson’s life. This time, Graeson would at least walk away with his dignity.