Krewe Daddy (10 page)

Luis walked toward his car and, without turning around, raised his middle finger to Kyle. "See ya round."
This circular conversation is boring.

Once in his car, Luis took his time leaving his parking spot. Although the air conditioning was on full force, he dripped sweat. And it wasn't because of the weather.

Kyle's assertions that Drew wanted nothing to do with him, and that he was in Drew's past, rocked Luis to the core.

He chewed the inside of his lip.
What did you think would happen, you stupid fucker?

Drew would rush into your arms, and say he still loves you, and all is forgiven?

Rain splatters landed on the windshield.

Luis turned on the wipers, and then backed out of his parking spot. In the next second, rain gushed from the sky as though the heavens had cracked open. Rather than duking it out in bumper-to-bumper freeway traffic, Luis waited at the end of the parking lot for the downpour to ease.

He scratched his chin, creating a scraping sound against his close-trimmed beard.

Luis hadn't expected to have to compete for Drew.

Actually, I never thought I'd see him again, either.

Groaning, Luis leaned back in his seat and listened to the rain drumming on the roof.

What to do?
As he contemplated his options, the words echoed in his mind.

Finding Drew had been child's play, but where is he now?
Luis wondered if he was ready for an all-out, cat-and-mouse game.

For a little while, maybe.

The conclusion startled him. If he wasn't committed to a real resolution this time, what was the point of disrupting Drew's life? Kyle's math had been accurate. Six years was a long time to be incommunicado.

He remembered the last time they were together. They were in the living room at Luis' place in Tampa, arguing about Drew's affair with Teak. Drew's hair was longer, falling into his gorgeous brown eyes that crackled with anger. Luis didn't think either one cared if the neighbors heard them.

"I slept with Teak, and I'm glad it happened. Now maybe you'll know what it's been like for me the entire time we've been together."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You and all the minions who follow you like you are a Pied Piper. You live for the celebrity of being a Daddy. Your ego is so over-inflated, it’s a wonder you haven't stroked out."

Unable to suppress a groan, Luis remembered laughing at Drew.
A fatal error.

Drew had walked to the kitchen, heading straight for the door.

No lover had ever spoken to Luis that way. He intended to teach Drew a lesson.

"If you walk out that door, don't expect me to let you back in."

He remembered holding his breath, clenching his fists.

The door slammed.

With only the rain to hear him, Luis cursed his stubborn pride. He could have gone after him; he could have reached out. Two years ago, when he saw the photo of Drew in the Marks catalog, he could have found him.

"Sort this out once and for all, old man. If you want a chance with Drew, you're going to have to prove you've changed." Luis pounded the steering wheel.
But have I?

A crackle of thunder interrupted Luis' diatribe. Cars drove by, their tires splashing through deep puddles that had formed in the sudden downpour. When he closed his eyes, the traffic sounded a bit like ocean waves breaking on the shore.

He wondered where Drew really was, and decided to keep tabs on Agent LaMontagne, too. Certain one man would lead him to the other, Luis let his lips rise in a smile.

Back in his apartment two days later, Drew unpacked his suitcase. Holding the cum-soiled shirt, he laughed again. Things had played out pretty much the way he thought they would. Drew said he'd slipped on the riverbank and gotten dirty.

Sapphire had a hissy fit over that, but calmed down after Drew apologized for losing his temper. Sapphire had insisted on a hug, which Drew allowed until he felt Sapphire's fingers groping his ass.

Drew pitched the garment into his laundry basket. "Good thing he didn't know the truth, or he would have really blown a gasket."

Basket in hand, Drew walked to his washing machine and started a load. A metallic clang echoed in his small utility closet when he let the cover fall shut.

On his way to the living room, he grabbed his cell phone off the kitchen counter.

Drew sat on the couch, tapping his chin with the corner of the phone. Two weeks ago, he was puttering along, and sort of had a boyfriend. Now he sort of had a boyfriend, his ex might be back in his life, and Blair was hinting about something long-term with the L
-
word attached.

My love life suddenly has
train wreck
written all over it.

He touched his phone screen, waking it up, and dialed.
First things first.

The call was answered on the third ring. "Drew, this is a surprise. What can I do for you?"

"I need to find someone."

"You're perfectly capable of doing that yourself."

"I'm not looking for a criminal. I'm looking for someone I used to know."

"Let me guess. You're pregnant and need a paternity test." The man on the other end of the call let out a belly laugh.

Drew rolled his eyes and hoped trusting this private detective wouldn't come back to bite him in the ass.

"You're a barrel of laughs, Pierce, you know that?"

"Sure I am."

Drew's temper simmered. He'd never had a lot of respect for the guy's credentials, but Pierce could find a cockroach at high noon with his eyes blindfolded if he needed to.

"Look, do you want to help me or not?"

"It'll cost you."

Drew growled into the phone. "Fuckin'
A
. I know that, but it's not going to take you any time at all."

"A hundred bucks an hour, plus expenses."

"Seventy-five."

"Asshole."

Drew was a heartbeat away from hanging up. "Listen, you snake. Seventy-five and I won't have the boys in blue impound your car because the tags somehow disappeared."

"Who are you looking for?"

Drew liked the resigned tone in the detective's voice. "Luis Herrera. He's a big guy, six-foot-one. Medium build, except for his barrel chest. Short, black hair; close-trimmed beard." Drew couldn't recall Luis's exact age. "He must be right around forty years old."

"Is he queer, like you?"

Drew bristled at the way Pierce emphasized the word
queer
.
One day my queer foot
is going to kick your homophobic ass.
"Yes. I saw him at Tanners a couple weeks ago with a crossdresser named Ronnie. Luis lives in New Orleans. He's a graphic designer by trade, but I don't know where he's working or anything else."

"What do you want to know?" For the first time, the PI sounded like he was paying attention.

"Home and work address. Don't talk to him. I don't need photos. Just track him down and call me back. A guy with your street smarts ought to be able to do this job in ten minutes flat with a coffee break in between."

"Have I said you're an asshole yet? 'Cuz you are, Agent Rothem."

"Do the job, and get back to me." Drew hung up. He could have used police connections to find Luis, but he didn't need the hassle if he got caught. Pierce would likely double bill him, but at least Drew wouldn’t jeopardize his reputation or break departmental rules.

Sinking back into the couch, a feeling of resignation came over him. Sure, he could call the whole thing off and pretend he never saw Luis at Tanners
.
The question is,
can
I forget I saw him?

The sound of his phone ringing made Drew jump.
Jesus Christ, did Pierce find him
already?

Kyle's picture appeared on the screen.

Drew sighed, then put a smile in his voice when he answered. "Hey, Kyle, how's it going?"

"Good. When did you get back?"

"A few hours ago. I've been doing laundry, catching up on mail. The usual back-from-a-trip kinds of things."
And trying to sort out the messes in my life.

"I was hoping you'd call me."

"You were next on my list. Honest."

"How did the trip go?"

Oh, I had a commitment offer and a fuck fest on the riverbank but other than that,
nothing out of the ordinary.
Enthusiasm popped into his voice when he remembered the big news.

"Kevin and Teak are getting married. They asked me to be their best man."

"Cool! When, where?"

"The second weekend in December, in Minnesota."

Kyle laughed. "You're going to have to face a northern winter, huh?"

"Don't remind me. Maddy Salmonson is hosting the event at her restaurant. She and Teak are best friends, and she pretty much kept him from starving to death those four years he lived up there."

"That's terrific. If you need a date, I'd love to come along."

Drew winced. Only God knew if he'd have his relationships sorted out by then.

He kept the smile in his voice. "I'll let you know. It would be cold though. Nothing like you've ever experienced."

"If you're there, and we can find a fireplace to cuddle in front of, I'll survive."

While he'd lived in Wescott, Drew had shared many a winter fire with lovers.

"Teak is sending silk underwear to keep me warm. To appease me, actually. He hates the cold as much as I do."

"Then why not have the ceremony someplace else?"

"The town is special to them. Teak and Kevin met in Wescott, so getting married there kind of brings things full circle." Drew chuckled. "They're so hot for each other, though, I doubt keeping warm is a concern."

"Sounds like they have it all."

Drew heard the longing in Kyle's voice.
Why in hell's name haven't I ever picked up
on these cues before?
"What they have is very special. I'm happy to have been a part of bringing them together."

"I imagine so." Kyle let out his breath in a huff. "Anyway, are you working tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'm going to turn in early."

"I'm off tomorrow. Why don't you come over for dinner?"

"Can I have a rain check? I have some personal business to take care of."

"Luis?"

Sheez, that didn't take long.
"I don't know. I have someone trying to find him.

While I was in Montana, I decided I need to take care of that loose end once and for all."

"What did you decide?"

Drew heard the wariness in Kyle's voice. He felt like he was walking on springtime's dangerous black ice. If he said the wrong thing, at any moment, he could sink into the frigid emotional lake and be in deep-shit trouble.

"I haven't decided anything about the future."
At least that part was honest.
"I'm going to find him and try to have an honest conversation about what happened back then. I guess we'll see where it takes us afterward."

"Are you still in love with him?"

Drew frowned over the accusatory tone in Kyle's voice. "I honestly don't know. I used to have a lot of hopes and dreams tied to him. I thought he was
the
one. I was younger then, less experienced, dumber."

"You should let him go. He treated you like shit at Tanners. He's clearly playing mind games, the same way he always has."

"Where's all this coming from, Kyle? I thought you'd be supportive of me getting this straightened out. I haven't kept it a secret that Luis is the reason I can't seem to make a real commitment to anyone."

"Is that what you want?"

Drew, stretched out on the couch, propped his arm against the back of the couch to hold the phone. "It is. It always has been. Seeing Kevin and Teak together . . . the devotion in their eyes."

Shoving aside a wave of longing, Drew cleared his throat. "I've never seen two people more in love. I realized that's exactly what I want. I don't want to live my life alone. I do want to find somebody to share it with me—someone I can give my whole heart to. Finally." He rubbed his watering eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get all emotional on you."

Kyle snorted.

Once more, Drew thought he was hiding something. "Is there something you aren't saying, Kyle?"

"No. I guess I'd hoped after the time we spent together a week or so ago, and after your time away, you'd figure out you were still fine without him."

"I'm sorry you're disappointed, but I haven't concluded anything." Drew felt the taps of a first-class headache. "Maybe we should take a break until after I talk to Luis.

Maybe he won't see me. Maybe he'll slam the door in my face, or laugh. If he does, then I'll know how he feels, won't I?"

"Sure."

"Sure what?"

"Sure to both things. Give me a call sometime."

Kyle disconnected the call before Drew could get in another word. He stared at his fading screen.
What the fuck was that all about?

The dryer buzzed.

He got to his feet wondering if he was even qualified to sort socks these days.

After work the next day, Drew parked his car in the ramp at Luis' office building.

He had no idea whether Luis was in. Pierce wanted to do a little surveillance, but Drew didn't think the situation deserved that kind of drama or expense.

Hell, why waste a grand on a guy who probably will tell me to go to hell?

And anyway, Drew wasn't in a huge hurry to become the target of another round of Luis' ridiculing bullshit.

He strode into the elevator and pressed number twenty-seven. The car rose to a destiny Drew hoped he wouldn't regret.

The door slid open to reveal a spacious lobby. An executive-style reception desk was on his right. A beautiful black woman looked up and smiled at him.

"May I help you, Agent?"

"I'm looking for Luis Herrera."

She frowned. "Is there a problem?"

Realizing the woman was reacting to his uniform, Drew shook his head. "No, this is personal. Is he in?"

She looked at the telephone console on her desk. "Mr. Herrera is on the phone. If you want to have a seat, I'll find out if he can see you as soon as he's finished."