Page 25 of Stronger Than Blood

Chapter twenty-three

Rory

Ileaned back against the door after I closed it.

All the protective emotions and needs I felt when around him were new and more than a little disconcerting.

If he’d encouraged me even a little, I’d have sent Madam Bellamy off in my car and spent the night.

That was more my style. Love them, then leave them.

The gentle kisses and worry for someone I’d just met… well, I’ll admit, I didn’t love those feelings… but maybe pursuing something with him was worth the effort, and I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to find out.

I found Madam waiting patiently, exactly where she said she’d be. I looked around the mostly empty coffee shop, which wasn’t surprising considering it was getting late. Madam waved me over, and I sat across from her. “This is good. Do you want a cup?”

I shook my head. “No, I’ve never been able to drink caffeine and sleep.”

“So, wanna tell me about what happened when I left? I swear the sexual energy that popped when I forced your hands to connect was palpable.”

I shrugged. “I kissed him, we hugged, he kissed me… you know, the average date.”

Madam laughed out loud, causing the only other customers in the shop to look our way. “So he’s not a fast mover. That’s different for you.”

“Different for most gay men,” I said under my breath and shook my head.

“I like him more than I should. I don’t really trust that.

I-I never told you, but when my grandparents died, I was dating an older guy.

We were even living together, and he… Well, he was no good.

Tried to steal my money, then screamed at me when I confronted him. ”

“And you think Mick will be like that?”

I laughed. We both knew he wasn’t. “No, but with that loser and the others from my past, I just don’t think my heart’s ready to trust again.”

“Oh, honey, your heart’s ready and willing.

It’s your brain that’s telling you no. Let yourself trust for a moment, and just enjoy that man,” she said, looking across the street toward the building where Mick’s tiny apartment was.

“But we both know that man’s got a lot of challenges coming his way and not just the specter kind.

The one person he loves and depends on the most is preparing to cross over.

I could sense it even if her brother hadn’t told me.

And it’s her time, bless her. She’s been a powerful woman all her life, and I can feel the pain she’s had to bear as she maintained that power.

But your man… Mick, he’s not good with the alone thing. ”

She chuckled. “Although I’m gonna bet he’d argue about that, he’s a family man, through and through.

” I felt the anxiety build in me when Madam hit my shoulder playfully.

“Don’t get all up in your head over that.

You’re as much, if not more, of a family man than he is.

I swear,” she said before sipping her coffee.

“I just don’t get what it is with you men and your fear of commitment, fearing it even though that’s what you want more than anything else. ”

I smiled. “Well, most of us are under the illusion that we like the freedom to mess around with anyone we want, and tying ourselves down will put an end to that.”

“That’s bologna, and you know it. I know as many gay men in open relationships as I do gay men in relationships, period. You get to choose, and that’s not what you fear either. You’re afraid of being hurt, plain and simple.”

I shrugged. I never could argue with Madam Bellamy, and I’d stopped trying long ago.

Not that she was wrong, but I was ready to change the subject.

“Why don’t we head back to Piston Creek?

With Mick in bed before the roosters, I’m guessing he’ll be up and ready to work early tomorrow.

I’d like to be there when he uncovers whatever it is his uncle had hidden. ”

Madam grinned. “I’m not sure what it is, but his uncle was pretty excited about it.”

“Can you sleep after all that?” I asked, gesturing toward the coffee.

“It’s not coffee, silly, it’s herbal tea, and since it was Sleepy Time, I’m sure I’ll sleep like a baby.”

***

Because I had turned in early, the next day, I woke up before dawn, got up, and walked to the old store.

Somehow, I knew Mick would be working. I’d grabbed two coffees to go from the service station, as well as a couple of sausage biscuits they had in the warmer.

I figured it best to fuel up since Madam was convinced today was the day we’d get through enough mess to find whatever was hidden under all the trash.

“Morning,” I said, startling Mick when I came in.

“Morning,” he replied, clutching his chest like he’d just about jumped out of his skin.

“I brought coffee and sausage biscuits. It smells good.”

Mick smiled. “I should’ve probably done that for you, but I got here a couple of hours ago and didn’t think.”

“Not a problem. So, you ready to find whatever it is your uncle was hiding under all this?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I know you all are expecting something big, but I just… well, I don’t have the same hope.”

I bit into the biscuit and moaned happily. “What is it with this town and all the good food? How can service station food taste so good?”

Mick picked his up and, carefully holding the wrapper so as not to let his dirty hands touch the food, took a bite. When he swallowed, he said, “It’s just years of practice, I think. That store has been around for a few years.”

“You’d think there’d be too much competition with all of you in one small town,” I said as I took another bite.

“For a long time, there was nothing here at all. When I first moved here just over a decade ago, Uncle Eddie had his tiny grocery store, there was a fairly nice bakery, and Brenda’s restaurant was about all that was open.

Well, besides the church’s thrift store.

The city hall was falling in, and if you looked around, you’d have thought the whole town was about to fall in as well. ”

“What changed?” I asked, truly curious.

“A few things. Christian, he’s the mayor’s son, moved back and married his high school sweetheart. Then we elected the mayor, who has been a big influence. Oh, and the town seems to attract gay men. I think that’s helped too.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised at that.

He shrugged. “Yeah, really.”

“I knew I liked it here,” I said, getting a chuckle out of Mick.

“So, how did you know I was gay? It shocked me when you called me out when we met through Mr. Kennedy.”

I shook my head. “I don’t have a handle on my gifts, not really, but my gaydar is spot on. You were cute, and I had a feeling you might be a little into me.”

Mick popped the last of his sandwich into his mouth before wadding up the plastic wrap and throwing it onto the ever-growing pile of trash from the back room. “Well, you’ve got good self-esteem, I’ll give you that much.”

Before he could move toward the back, I caught him and drew him toward me. “It’s average self-esteem, but when I see a man that warms my engines like you do, I try not to shy away.”

Mick leaned back against my arms and laughed. “And do you have a lot of men who warm those engines of yours?”

“Pretty average amount, but I do have to admit, you warm them a little more than most.”

“Is that so?” he whispered as he drew closer. The moment our lips touched, the blood rushed from my head, leaving me light-headed. The kiss started gently, chaste almost, before Mick took it deeper, letting me in, giving me more.

“Mmm,” I moaned as I rubbed my hands up and down his muscular back. Something fell in the back room, causing us to pull apart.

“What was that?” Mick asked, and I chuckled.

“I’m willing to bet that is your uncle telling us to get on with it.”

“Seems to me like we were getting on with it very well,” Mick said grumpily, but he took my hand and led me back toward the back room.

“So, as you can see, there’s nothing here. Most of the trash is gone. So, like I said…”

Just then, something fell again, causing us both to glance to our left, where the sound had come from. “Is that a safe?” I asked and, still holding Mick’s hand, led him toward the big door.

“Maybe,” Mick said. “I heard there was one here.”

He tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Well, so much for that,” I said disappointed.

“But something fell inside there. We both heard it,” Mick said excitedly.

“Yeah, but if we can’t get in—”

We had just walked away when we heard a click, then a squeak. “Um, why don’t you try it again,” I said. Mick looked at me, then walked back to the door, and sure enough, it came open.

“What the hell is that?” he asked, and I knew exactly what we were looking at.

I couldn’t help myself. I burst out laughing. “Mick, my boy, it seems like your great Uncle Eddie was a good ol’ bootlegger.”