Page 41 of Bait and Switch (Subtle Deceptions #2)

Casey looked over at the bar. “I’ll tag along and see what else they have. Hang on to Bowie for me.”

Gabe took Bowie’s leash, glad to have something else to focus on. Bowie sat on his haunches, his eyes on his favorite person, a glitter-bow collar adding to his aplomb.

“We’ll be right back,” said Shay. “Play nice.”

The last bit was hopefully aimed at Niall.

Gabe had no plan on bringing attention to himself in any way.

The strategy was a quick meet and greet, birthday wishes, eat fast, and then escape the island maybe with a detour to Jewel Creamery on the way.

Gabe hadn’t even made hotel reservations.

They would be on the last ferry or the three of them would be sleeping in the car. Four, if he counted Bowie.

He and Niall watched the other two slowly walk toward the bar.

Shay was a hand talker so Gabe could tell that he was saying something to Casey.

He low-key wished he’d gone along with them.

Shay Delacombe was imposing in the same way that Casey was, but he had a more polished and civilized air to him, probably from his career as a lawyer.

Niall, on the other hand—the other brother, whom he hadn’t met before today, and that had been perfectly fine, thankyouverymuch—had an edge of menace to him. Gabe tried to think of something they had in common that wasn’t Niall being on one side of the law and Gabe the other.

He got nothing.

“So, your neck of the woods is keeping WCF busy these days,” Niall began.

Gabe grasped the conversational life preserver. “I guess we are.”

He’d heard from Casey that a forensics crew had begun to set up around Snowcap Estates about a week ago. While it was midwinter, the weather this year had been mild, especially compared to how fall had ended. At least, that had been Casey’s reasoning as to why they hadn’t waited until spring.

“We haven’t heard much about how things are going.”

Gabe knew that Casey hated not being a part of the operation, but he understood why he wasn’t.

Didn’t stop him from grumbling about it though.

They were both looking forward to the spring, when Casey would have less time on his hands.

Out of prison after almost twenty years, Mickie Lundin probably was too.

Casey was overprotective of his older brother, to the point of being slightly suffocating.

Gabe could understand Casey’s reactions, but he also understood that Mickie wanted his freedom, his space to discover who he was now.

“Early days yet, but Ethan’s one of the best and he has a great team.”

“They’re looking specifically for Suzie Warner’s remains, right?”

“Between you and me, yes. Not that it’s a secret, I suppose.

But yes, since her backpack was found there, the assumption is that she was buried or dumped somewhere close by.

From what Ethan has said, though, it’s a large area and some rough terrain.

And it’s been a while, so we have to hope that animals have done minimal damage.

Or at least not carried everything off.”

Gabe hadn’t thought about that. It was going to be awful if nothing was found after all this time.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they find more than Suzie.”

“Are you two talking shop?” Shay asked, setting Gabe’s drink down in front of him.

“Busted,” said Niall.

“Did you tell him the Colavitos have been taken care of?” asked Shay.

Gabe felt his eyes widen as he stared at his two half brothers.

“No,” said Niall with a shake of his head. “I thought I’d let you do the honors.”

“What did you do?” Gabe asked, feeling a bit breathless.

“We have friends—legal friends, I assure you—in high places who, as it turns out, were already investigating Colavito and his dealings. They just pushed their case to the top of the list. He and several others were taken into custody last week on various racketeering charges. Thousands of counterfeit handbags were discovered at a known warehouse, as well. So,” Shay finished, twitching his eyebrows up and back down, “they won’t be bothering you again. ”

“Wow, that’s—that’s incredible,” Gabe said. “Thank you.”

“Pfft, don’t thank him, he just made a phone call. Someone else did all the work. Typical lawyer.”

Casey took the seat next to Gabe. “Who’s a typical lawyer?” he asked. “And can you pull some strings so we can visit the lighthouse?”

They stayed, of course.

Later that night, after the festivities were over, Gabe and Casey somehow ended up occupying a suite on the second floor. It was beautifully appointed, and Gabe was particularly fascinated by the artwork fixed to the walls.

“I think these are originals,” he said, leaning so close to the sketches that his nose almost touched the glass.

“They are. I read on their website that most of the artwork was produced by artists who stayed here during the Great Depression and after.”

Gabe turned toward him, intending to say something, but whatever he’d had in mind was lost. Casey lay back on the bed, the covers flipped to the side. He was wearing only a pair of bright red cotton boxers and a smile. A wicked smile.

“Cody’s done a great job with the place, hasn’t he?” He shifted and lifted his arms to slide his hands behind his head.

Gabe allowed himself a few seconds to absorb the magnificence that was a naked Ranger Man. Casey Lundin was better for Gabe than any drink. And he, for reasons Gabe couldn’t comprehend, was his.

For now.

“Are you trying to kill me?” he teased, brushing his insecurity aside. Casey was old enough and mature enough to know what he wanted. “I’m an old man!”

“Old man,” Casey scoffed. “I don’t know how you do it, but in reality, you’re younger than I am. Probably, like Claribel, you have a deal with a demon.”

Claribel was a force one could only admire, not aspire to.

She seemed to have Casey’s number, so to speak.

That evening, she’d teased him mercilessly about knowing that he and Gabe were together back when she’d first met them a few months ago.

The deeper Casey dug his heels in about not being together yet at that time, the harder she’d grinned and poked until Niall told her to knock it off.

While Casey was discussing demons, Gabe hastily stripped down to his briefs, scattering his clothes across the carpeted floor. Bowie pointedly huffed his disgust at human shenanigans and curled up in a corner with his back to them.

“You know,” Gabe said, easing onto the bed so he could lay next to Ranger Man, who also doubled as a furnace when it was cold. “You should be worried. I could get used to this same bed thing.”

“You’re supposed to get used to it, Gabriel.” Casey sounded slightly exasperated. “The point of being together is the together part.”

“I’m damaged goods. Together is a concept.”

“We can be damaged goods together .”

“I suppose that works,” Gabe said, mimicking Casey’s position, hands behind his head and eyes on the ceiling. “I just don’t feel worthy of you.”

The sheets rustled, and the next thing Gabe knew, Casey was lying on top of him, pressing him into the mattress. His warm, strong hands cupped Gabe’s face.

“You are worthy, Gabriel Karne,” Casey, said staring into his eyes.

Without giving Gabe a chance to respond, probably knowing it would be something along the lines of “I think you need a cognitive assessment,” Casey covered Gabe’s mouth with his, effectively cutting off his rejoinder.

The thing was, Gabe was uncomfortably aware that, against his best judgment—all judgment had fled him when it came to Casey Lundin—he’d fallen in love with Ranger Man.

But Casey was not ready for declarations, not yet.

So instead of revealing his heart, Gabe wrapped his legs around Casey’s calves and held him tight, arching against the hard panes of his muscled body, returning the kiss.

Telling Casey that he loved him without saying the words.

End for now…