Page 3 of Sandcastles & Sunburns (DKAG Summer Shorts #6)

Liam

Unwrapping and putting together furniture sucked! Sucked! Liam huffed before standing and stretching out his back. He wasn’t even halfway done, and Liam was so over this.

The back gate slammed, and Liam whirled around.

Jude stood just on the inside of his yard, holding a bag. “Move!” he barked.

Liam scrambled out of the way instantly complying with the order.

His neighbor shouldered past him to crouch in front of the table that Liam had been trying to get the legs connected to.

“What are you doing?” he asked in bewilderment.

“I cannot stand to watch you struggle or hear you sigh again,” Jude replied without glancing up. He picked up the leg and the screw that Liam had been trying to use. “This isn’t even the correct part.”

Liam was amused. Just earlier that day his neighbor had made it clear they wouldn’t be friends. Now look at them! “It came in the package.”

Jude grunted. That was it. Just grunted at him before he started sorting through the small plastic bag that had come taped to the table.

Liam nearly offered to help but thought better of it. Besides, in a tight black tank top and dark blue shorts that rode up his thighs as he bent over, Jude was beyond sexy. Liam hadn’t been aware that he had a handyman kink but watching Jude manhandle the furniture was fantasy worthy.

Within minutes Jude had the legs on the table and spun it upright before gently setting it into place.

“Would you like a coffee?” Liam asked. He was starting to feel awkward as Jude began to put the legs on the tan wicker chairs Liam had bought.

“No,” Jude replied.

“Energy drink? Soda?” he offered.

“No.” Jude swallowed and shook his head. “Thank you but no. I don’t want anything.”

Okay, well that settled that.

Jude flipped the chair over and tested the legs before he grabbed the plaid cushion, putting it in place. “Sit there,” Jude ordered.

Bossy! Liam liked it. He skipped over and plopped his butt into the chair. “Okay, I guess you don’t need my help.”

“I don’t,” Jude said. Something caught his attention, forcing Jude to snap his gaze to the window. “What is that?”

Liam followed Jude’s gaze. “That’s a cat.”

“A cat?” Jude was frowning at Liam’s precious baby. “He’s kind of fat.”

Liam gasped. This asshole had not just called his baby fat! “He is not! He’s just big-boned.”

Jude’s grunt wasn’t unexpected.

“Hades will tear out your throat,” Liam warned. No one called Liam’s baby fat! Hades was perfect just the way he was.

“I think I’ll take my chances against your fat cat.”

Jerk! Liam drew his legs up to his chest as Jude started on the next chair. Hades would certainly forgive Liam for allowing Jude to hang around and do the hard work so Liam didn’t have to do it. He’d make sure to give Hades extra treats before bed. That always cheered his baby up.

It was almost worth it as Jude actually had some skill in putting together furniture.

Liam could picture the deck decor coming together. He’d gone with tan wicker and cushions. Lots of cushions. Liam loved soft things. He was pretty sure that it came from the little part of him.

Looking over at Jude’s deck, Liam frowned.

Jude’s furniture was all black rod iron with dark colors. He did have numerous plants all along his railing and in the corners. More plants than Liam had ever known another person to have.

Liam had a total black thumb, as the saying went.

An ex-boyfriend had once gifted him an ivy plant.

After Liam kept forgetting to water it and his ex had to bring it back to life a half dozen times, Liam’s ex took the plant back.

Their relationship hadn’t lasted much longer than Liam had the plant.

Not that it was the plant's fault. Liam just had bad taste in men.

Jude finished the second chair then moved on to the wicker loveseat.

Liam’s mouth watered as Jude struggled to push the piece of furniture onto its side.

“I can—” Liam started to offer.

“I got it,” Jude cut him off.

Liam rolled his eyes while huffing but Jude wasn’t even looking at him.

Was it weird that he was watching his neighbor basically do the heavy lifting that Liam had been struggling with?

Okay, he’d been about to give up and force Nicky to help once his bestie came over.

It wasn’t like Liam had asked Jude either. Jude had come over all on his own.

“So,” Liam drawled. “You were watching me?”

Jude snorted. “Just returning the favor.”

Liam grinned. His neighbor was spicy! “I do have to admit that the views here are much better than expected.”

Slowly Jude turned his head to look at him.

“What?” Liam asked innocently. “I’m just being honest.”

“You look sweet and innocent but I’m beginning to think that you’re pure trouble,” Jude accused. There was a light in his eyes that Liam hadn’t seen before.

Liam batted his lashes. “I have no idea what you're talking about.” Flirting was fun. They were flirting, right? It felt like it to Liam.

Jude’s features hardened then he turned back to his task.

Or not! Liam wanted to scream. He was totally getting mixed signals from his grumpy neighbor. “So, what do you do?” Liam asked just so he didn’t have to sit there in silence.

“Do?”

“For work,” Liam clarified. “You seem to be home quite a bit.” It didn’t appear that Jude ever left. Liam had even seen his groceries being delivered to his door. “At least as much as me. Are you on vacation or—”

“I’m retired,” Jude replied, practically barked at him.

There was a short pause as Liam considered just going inside and leaving Jude to do whatever the hell he wanted.

“What—” Jude cleared his throat. “What about you? What do you do?”

That was sort of an effort. Liam decided to take it as a win. “I’m a writer. I have eight published books.”

“Writer?”

Did Jude seem intrigued? Whatever. Liam was going to roll with it.

“I was an accountant, but I hated my job. My boss was a dick and even though I’m good with numbers, I didn’t particularly like them.

I started to write in my free time. My best friend Nick put me in touch with a publishing company that he’d worked with, and I sent them my book.

It took forever, like months, but eventually they reached out and offered me a contract. ”

Those had been hard months. Liam had been sure that the publishing house had hated his book. He tried to write another book but all he could think about was what a failure he was.

Liam had almost given up at that point.

Nick was once again his savior. Liam didn’t know what he’d do without his best friend.

Nick had asked Liam point-blank if he wanted to be rich or famous.

When Liam said he didn’t care about either of those things, that he just wanted to write a book that other people loved, Nick had given him a look.

That look. The look that said Liam was missing something.

That night Liam had started his second book.

By the time the publishing company had offered him a contract, the second book had been finished.

“What kind of books do you write?” Jude asked. It sounded like it killed him to ask a follow-up question. The evil part of Liam wanted to torture Jude. Make him work for an answer.

“Gay romance books.” Liam gave his standard answer. If he knew someone better, then Liam might admit to the kink in his books, but he didn't want to scare his neighbor away.

Jude stopped twisting the leg in. “That’s a thing?”

Liam bounced. “It totally is! Nicky and I have been reading them for years. That’s what gave me the idea to write my own book.

There are some epic stories out there. Everything from mystery thrillers, to horror, and even outside of mainstream.

If you can imagine it, then someone has probably written it. ”

“Huh, cool.”

Well at least it appeared that his neighbor wasn’t homophobic. Which led back to the maybe flirting. Had it been flirting?

* * * * *

Jude

Replacing his tool bag in his garage, Jude thought back on the few hours that he’d spent with his neighbor. He hadn’t meant to go over and take control but Liam’s struggles had been driving him crazy.

Every long, frustrated sigh had pierced Jude’s heart.

He had the ability to help the other man and before Jude could talk himself out of it, he’d grabbed his tool bag and headed next door. This wasn’t like him. Jude wasn’t helpful. At least he hadn’t been for about a decade.

There was a time when Jude looked at the world through rose-colored glasses.

He’d been the first to jump to help anyone or anywhere.

If his friends needed an extra hand moving?

A truck? Yep, they could count on Jude. Stranded motorists?

Jude would stop every time. It didn’t matter if it was big or small—everyone knew they could call Jude.

Until the entire world fell apart around him.

His friends had tried to be there for him. Lawrence especially. Jude couldn’t be around his old team without thinking about Sam.

That day was burned into his memory. The fight that he and Sam had before going on the protective detail. Jude could recall every word said.

Two other members of his team were injured. Both Brody and Angelo had spent weeks in the hospital. Sam had been in that front vehicle. Sam had been the one that had given his life that day.

Drawing his hand back, Jude punched the metal locker he used for tools.

He sank to the ground as he cradled his injured hand and howled.

It wasn’t fair!

Sam had been the youngest on the team. He’d been so full of life. Always making plans and dragging Jude along for the ride. Sam shouldn’t have been killed that day. No one should have.

Yet, ten years later Jude was bawling his eyes out, missing the person that he thought he’d be spending the rest of his life with.

He couldn’t be around his old friends, his teammates, because they reminded him of Sam. He’d not only lost his lover that day. His boy. Jude had lost everything. He knew deep down that if he picked up the phone and called Law, Brody, Angelo, or Josh that they would answer.

Jude just couldn’t take that step.

Even if he needed his friends more in that moment than he had around the time of Sam’s death. Jude had known what to do for Sam. He had instructions. There was no playbook for dealing with his intriguing neighbor.

It didn’t help that Liam appeared to be the opposite of Sam in every way.

Once Liam started to talk about writing and books, he’d rambled on for nearly an hour.

He asked Jude questions and even when Jude would respond with a grunt or shrug, Liam had never lost that smile or his excitement.

Sam had been a moody boy. If Sam didn’t have Jude’s entire focus, the entire time Sam would throw a tantrum.

Sam had been messy and chaotic while Liam was calm and easygoing.

The two were so different, leaving Jude wondering how, if Sam was the love of his life, why he felt so strongly after such few interactions with Liam.

Jude didn’t know what the hell to do.

He had to ignore the attraction, right?

Jude was just lonely.

There were a million other things that Jude could do instead of thinking about his neighbor.

This would pass.

Had to pass.

Everything would be fine. If Jude just ignored Liam, with his lopsided smile, bright blue eyes, then Jude could go back to his solitary existence. It was simple enough.

With that plan in mind, Jude dragged himself off the garage floor. He headed to the kitchen to start dinner.

Liam had offered to cook for Jude in thanks for helping put the furniture together but of course he declined. Jude couldn’t have dinner with Liam. That…he couldn’t do that.

He pulled out the chicken he had in the fridge before grabbing a skillet and placing it on the burner. Jude got the chicken grilling and was heading to grab veggies to chop when he heard it.

Liam.

They both had their windows open, so it was easy enough to hear his neighbor. That was what had gotten Jude in trouble to begin with. Jude had been rinsing out the glass from his protein drink when he’d heard Liam muttering and sighing.

Now it appeared that Liam was on the phone. At least that was what Jude figured from the one-sided conversation.

“I’m telling you, Nicky! He is the hottest guy I ever laid eyes on and that includes when we went to Pride in Rio.”

Jude smirked to himself. He wasn’t surprised that Liam was attracted to him. Not with the way the boy watched him. Even trying to flirt with Jude a time or two.

“I’m not exaggerating! He swims like ten million miles every morning and it shows!”

Liam was definitely exaggerating. Ten million miles? Jude set up the cutting board next to the veggies he’d pulled out before grabbing a knife.

“And those shorts he wore. Every time he bent over, I wanted to take a bite out of his ass. I could spend hours worshipping him.”

Jude had to glance down to even remember what he wore. It wasn’t like he dressed up. He’d thrown on an old pair of shorts after his shower that morning.

“No.” Liam sighed loudly. “I don’t think he hates me anymore. I wouldn’t call us friends but maybe he’ll do more than grunt at me sometimes.”

Jude was an asshole. He chopped the vegetables harder, feeling like shit. Liam was a sweet boy. He didn’t deserve to put up with Jude’s moods.

“I know.” Liam laughed. “Eye candy for days!”

He’d been called worse. Jude found solace in the water. The physical outcome was just a bonus.

“I’m so excited!” Liam’s voice rose again. “I’ve put off the playroom until you come. You are helping me get it all set up. It’s not like I can go next door and ask mister sexy neighbor to help.”

Jude froze when Liam said the word playroom . No. He must have heard wrong.

Liam giggled. “Yeah, sure, hey, mister sexy, would you come put together my changing table? Oh, and if you aren’t busy later, could you also put a diaper on me.”

His fingers went numb, and the knife clattered onto the counter. Jude had to grip the granite edge of the counter hard to keep his knees from buckling.

“He’d probably pass out or punch me.” Liam’s voice started to fade away. Like he was moving away from the open window.

Jude was fighting to breathe. Liam was a little? He just might pass out like Liam had joked but not for the reason Liam thought. This couldn’t be happening.