“SO.” MALIK shifted on the bed, while dropping the remote between them. “Did you call him?”
The pitcher threw a high fast ball. The catcher barely managed to corral. It was only then that Gabe shifted to look at his best friend and partner lying beside him. “Call who?”
Malik sighed dramatically. “The bartender at Warrior. Dude, come on.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Gabe turned back to the baseball game.
“How long have I been your partner?” Malik asked, sitting up.
“Six years.”
“Six years and you still don’t trust me.”
Gabe frowned. “What’re you on about?”
“Ford, I know you’re gay.”
Gabe swallowed the lump in his throat. “How do you know that?”
“I’m not blind,” Malik said. “Aside from the fact that I saw you kissing someone a couple of years back, I—”
“And you haven’t said anything?”
“I figured it wasn’t my place—that you’d tell me when you were ready. I don’t get why you felt you had to keep that from me.”
Gabe sat up and curled his legs under him. “It’s not a matter of trust—not really. I didn’t want our friendship to get weird. I know how Jamaican men are with the whole homosexual thing. I didn’t want to add anything that would make it different between us.”
“So, what was your plan? Spend the rest of your life without dating—alone?”
Gabe shrugged. “I didn’t really think that far ahead.”
“You weren’t going to tell me?”
“Honestly?” Gabe climbed off the bed to grab the remote from where it had fallen. He dropped it beside Malik. “No.”
Malik sighed. “Look, I’m not one of those dudes who gets all pissed off over who another guy sleeps with. It’s none of my business unless that guy is my friend and the other is a tool. You’ve had my back since day one on this job….”
“I’m supposed to.”
“Yeah, but it’s more than that.” Malik muted the television as the other team scored on the home team. “It’s way more than that. We’re supposed to do a lot of things we don’t. But with you, protecting me is like second nature. I’ve never had to look behind me on a bust because I know, instinctively, that you’re there. I know how you feel about me, and believe me, brother, the feeling is mutual.”
“Still? I mean, here you are lying in this bed with me and you know about— What does that mean?”
“Don’t read too much into that.”
“But I’m curious,” Gabe pushed. “I’m not saying you’re into—you’re gay or anything. I just want to know what makes you comfortable enough to do that when most other guys would have taken the chair in the farthest corner of this room. Hell, they wouldn’t have even entered the bedroom with me.”
“It means I trust you, Gabe.” Malik rubbed the back of his neck. “And I know even if you find me sexy as hell, you’d never cross that line. Besides, even if I did swing that way, it would be weird. You’re like my brother.”
Gabe crinkled his nose. “Even now?”
“Why, because you like dudes?” Malik laughed. “You forget? I’ve known. So, can we please stop talking about this bit of it and get to the point where you tell me if you’re going to call Jason or not?”
Gabe crinkled his nose again. “Are you sure? I mean, I know it can get weird talking about gay sex when you’re straight.”
“I’m very comfortable with my sexuality. And besides, if a guy hits on me, it’s flattering. It only means I’m that much more irresistible.”
“Oh gawd, the ego on this one.”
Malik laughed. “Stop changing the subject.”
“I don’t know,” Gabe admitted. “I mean, if I’m going to be putting my career on the line, it’d better be for a man who wants to settle down, who doesn’t go out flirting with other guys.”
“Um….”
“Bartenders are notorious for that kind of thing.”
“Speaking from experience, are we?” Malik asked.
Gabe shook his head. “I’ve never dated a bartender. But I’ve seen it happen. I want a man I can trust—one who if we’re going to be lying down together, I’m the only one he’s taking it from and giving it to.”
“Taking it from and giving it to?” Malik asked, then chuckled. “So, you like it both ways? Hmm. Good to know.”
Gabe’s cheeks heated. “Could we focus for a second?”
“I am focused. I’m learning new things about my fellow brother in blue.”
“You’re an ass.”
“I’ve been told.” Malik winked. “Okay—but Jason could be different. You won’t know unless you try. And remember, we carry guns for a living. If he doesn’t behave, we have ways of making him hurt.”
“No need for that.” Gabe rubbed his palms against his thighs, then walked over to the window to peer out at the darkening outside.
“What did you mean before when you said you would be putting your career at risk? You think the force doesn’t understand they have LGBT working for and with them?”
Gabe shrugged.
“Ford, listen to me.” The bed creaked, telling Gabe Malik had climbed off. “You’re a great cop. Most people twice your age wish they were as good as you. We’re not going to trade that for what you do in the privacy of your home, and if anyone says otherwise….”
“I get it. Thanks, Malik.”
“Any time, brother. Now, I’m going to wander out into the kitchen for some snacks. But I’m going to take a really, really long time. I might even stop to use the washroom on my way….”
Gabe turned to look at Malik and arched a brow.
“That should give you enough time, so it won’t be weird.”
“Enough time for what?”
“Oh shit. Please tell me you’re not this clueless.”
Gabe bowed his head as realization dawned on him. “Sorry. Okay, sure.”
“Good man.” Malik patted his shoulder and left the room.
The moment he was alone, Gabe’s heart raced. It’d been three years since he’d even looked at a man twice. So why was Jason different? Was it because he was so open, so blatantly interested? It could have something to do with the green of Jason’s eyes, the length of his hair, the size of his body—damn.
Jason stood at least six foot five, massive pecs that bulged through the soft material of his graphic T-shirt each time he reached for a plate or set down a glass.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Gabe hurried over to his underwear drawer. He dug underneath the folded bunch to find the receipt with Jason’s number. It had been almost a week, and he was pretty sure Jason might have forgotten him by then.
But he would call—if only to prove a point to Malik.
He dialed the number and held the phone to his ear while it rang.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three rings.
Damn it!
Gabe hung up. He paced one way, then the next while biting on his thumb. Finally, he gathered enough courage to try again. This time on the second ring, Jason’s voice floated over the receiver like a well-tuned symphony of masculine perfection.
“Tomlinson.”
“Jason—it’s Gabe.”
“Officer Ford,” Jason drawled. “Aren’t you a sound for sore ears?”
“No one ever says that.”
Jason laughed. “But with all the technology these days, they should. I didn’t think I’d hear from you.”
“Isn’t there a time frame for these things?”
“Yeah—three days, tops.” Then Jason’s voice dipped lower, huskier. “Were you trying to make me wait—maybe, earn it? I mean, did you think I’ve been a bad boy?”
Gabe’s cheeks heated as flames exploded across his face. “Are you always this insufferable?”
“I don’t know—hang around long enough and you might find out.”
“I see.” Gabe cleared his throat. “Listen, um—could I interest you in a drink?”
“Are you asking me out, Officer Ford? Or will your partner be included?”
“I—um—well….”
Jason chuckled. “You’re blushing.”
“I don’t blush.”
“Why? Because you carry a gun for a living?”
“No—I just don’t.”
“Well, then. Challenge accepted!”
“Jason?” Gabe warned. “That wasn’t a—”
“I accept your invite for a drink, Gabe Ford. Just you and me.” He cleared his throat. “Then I will get to work trying to see if all your cheeks grow rosy red when I do make you blush.”
Son of a bitch!
“I’m free tomorrow night,” Jason continued. “You can pick me up at eight at my place.”
“Pick you up?”
“This is a date, Gabe,” Jason said. “I expect to be treated like a gentleman. I’ll text you my address.”
“Jason….”
But Jason was gone. Gabe grunted and pressed his forehead to the window. Quickly after that, his phone vibrated, and he checked it to see that Jason had been true to his words.
“Trouble?” Malik asked.
Gabe whirled around and pushed a puff of air out his mouth. “Tell me one of those beers is mine.”
Without a word, Malik handed one to Gabe. Without a second thought, Gabe downed half the contents.
“What happened?” Malik asked.
“We have a date tomorrow.”
“Solid!” Malik cheered.
“And I have to pick him up because, after all, he’s a gentleman.”
Malik laughed until he almost fell over.
“It’s going to be a long night.”
Malik snorted.