Nicky smiled when he realized he was humming as he moved about his apartment preparing it for the special dinner he had planned. He was happy and he couldn't seem to stop smiling, or humming. Not only was Seth due home from work anytime now but his feelings for the other man had finally been cemented.
He wanted Seth in every way possible. He was tired of being scared and holding back from him. When Seth used his full given name a few nights ago, he'd stolen more than Nicky's breath. Seth had stolen Nicky's heart.
Nicky placed the last of the dishes on the table, then put two long-stemmed candles between them. He messed with the setting for a few minutes, moving the salt and pepper shakers around the candles until they were placed just where he wanted them. Candlelight for ambiance was great but not if he couldn't see the person across from him and gaze lovingly into his eyes.
Even though things had kind of been cemented between them a few nights ago, Nicky wanted to formally tell Seth he wanted to stay even when the mess with Morales was over. He wanted Seth to know what was in his heart and prayed for the day when he could stand next to the man as another man.
Nicky had a little bounce in his step as he walked into the kitchen to check on the meatloaf he was cooking for their dinner. He glanced at the clock on the wall and knew Seth was due any moment. Little butterflies fluttered in his stomach as the time drew closer.
Nicky was nervous, which just made no sense to him. He knew Seth wanted him, cared for him. He was pretty damn sure the man would be ecstatic when Nicky committed himself to staying and building a life with Seth. Still, he couldn't help wrapping his fingers around the delicate necklace at his throat. It gave him some measure of calm.
At the sound of a key fitting into the front door lock, all calm Nicky felt flew out the window. He'd never committed himself to someone for the long haul. Maybe Seth had changed his mind? Maybe Seth didn't love him enough? Maybe…
"Hey, babe, something smells good."
"Hey, Seth."
Nicky's hand fluttered nervously at his neck. He
watched from the kitchen entry as Seth took in the decorated dining table, the soft music playing in the background, and the carefully placed items for later sitting in the living room area.
"What's all of this?" Seth asked as he glanced over at Nicky.
"Dinner?"
"With candlelight?" Seth looked at bottle of lube sitting on the coffee table next to a blindfold and a tray of whipped cream and chocolate covered strawberries. "And toys?"
Nicky shrugged. He could feel his face flaming but the grin that spread over Seth's face when he looked back made up for any embarrassment Nicky felt. "Call it a surprise celebration dinner."
"A celebration dinner because…?"
Nicky walked over to stand in front of Seth. He was unable to keep the happy grin off of his face when he saw the delight in Seth's chocolate brown eyes. "Does there have to be a reason to celebrate? Can't I just be happy to see you?"
"Of course," Seth said as he wrapped an arm around Nicky and pulled him closer for a kiss. Nicky melted against Seth. He would be eternally convinced that no one on the planet kissed as well as Seth. "But I'd be happy to see you without all the fanfare."
"Me, too." Nicky chuckled as he pushed away from Seth and took his jacket, carrying it to the closet by the front door. He turned back to grin at Seth's confused frown. "However, I have a special reason for this celebration dinner besides your scintillating company."
"Oh? Do tell."
Nicky nervously pushed his hair back from his face and tried to draw courage from the welcoming smile on Seth's face that spoke of love and acceptance. "I wanted to tell you th—"
Nicky swore silently under his breath went his phone went off. He was geared up to tell Seth everything. He did not need the interruption. However, it was his cell phone and the only person that ever called it was Detective Elliot Storm.
"Hello, Elliot."
"Nicky, you need to get out of your apartment and hide," Elliot said quickly. "I discovered a leak in my department. Morales knows where you are and I think he's heading in your direction."
Nicky's heart thundered as he gripped the phone. "A leak? What are you talking about? What leak?"
"I suspected that Morales received inside information on where you were when he attacked and killed the two US Marshals. I was right. Someone from inside my own squad was feeding Morales information. Fucking bastard was taking bribes."
"Oh my god," Nicky whispered. "Did you catch him?"
"He's in custody and being questioned as we speak but Morales has already left the area. I tracked him and a bunch of his goons chartering a plane out of Boston headed in your direction. I have law enforcement officials waiting to meet his plane but I still think you need to lay low until he's in custody, Nicky."
"Yeah, yeah, I can do that. I'm sure I can find a place to hide for a few days." He lifted questioning eyes to Seth, letting out a relieved sigh when Seth nodded his head. "But I'll be taking Seth with me."
"Oh?" Elliot chuckled. "Then I guess things are going pretty good between the two of you, huh?"
"Yeah, you could say that." Nicky couldn't help smiling at Seth even though he was scared out of his mind.
"Well, I'm glad. You deserve a little happiness. And Nicky, if Morales knows where you are then I think it's safe for you to give up your disguise. You can go back to being Nicholas Rylander."
"Re—really? I can be a man again?" Nicky could barely get the words past the lump in his throat. He felt stunned. While he hadn't been masquerading as a woman for that long, he couldn't imagine a time when he would be able to go back to being a man.
"Yeah, pretty much. I still don't know how much this guy here told Morales but if he knows where you're located then I'd bet my hat that he also knows you've been disguising yourself as a woman. You might even have a better chance at hiding if you go back to being Nicholas."
"Yeah, okay." Nicky could barely keep the excitement out of his voice.
"Just be careful, Nicky. Morales is
not
someone to mess with."
"No shit."
"Nicky, I'm serious. He's off his rocker. Stay clear of him, stay hidden, and contact me in a few days. I don't want to know where you’re going or who you will be with. In fact, leave this phone in your apartment and call me from a pay phone or something. Hell, buy one of those damn disposable cell phones if you have to. Just remember to use cash. You do still have that stash of cash I gave you, right?"
"Yes, I still have it," Nicky said, thinking of the roll of money hidden in the top of the medicine cabinet. Elliot had given him several hundred dollars for escape money in case he had to run. Apparently, this was that time.
"Good, use that. Cash is always better. Morales can't track you that way."
"Just how long do I need to hide, Elliot?"
"I wish I could tell you, Nicky, but I don't know. If we can get this guy here to talk then I think we have enough to arrest Morales and keep him in jail this time. Add in the murders of those two US Marshals and your friend, Juan, plus your testimony, and I don't think Morales will see the light of day until your grandchildren are old."
"Do you think the district attorney will really keep him this time? She didn't think there was much of a case last time."
"Well, there must have been something to your story or the US Marshals never would have taken you into protective custody. They don't do that unless they have something good on someone."
Nicky drew in a deep breath. "Okay."
"This case went beyond the local DA anyway when those US Marshals were killed. This is federal now, Nicky."
"And that means what?"
"That means there are a lot more people determined to see Morales hang than before. Unfortunately, it also means that Juan's murder is not their focal point, the death of the marshals is. But it still means that Morales will do time and that’s what we want, any way we can get it."
"I suppose you're right," Nicky said. "But I still want him to pay for what he did to Juan."
"And I'll see that he does, but it can only happen if you keep yourself safe and not let Morales get you. I need you to tell Juan's story, Nicky. You're the only one that can do it."
"Yeah, I understand."
"Alright, now, I want you to go hide somewhere. Don't tell anyone where you're going. Just go. Call me in a few days and we'll go from there."
"Thanks, Elliot."
"Stay safe, kid."
Nicky rolled his eyes as he hung up the phone and slowly set it down on the table. He flexed his fingers because they were sore from gripping the phone so hard then looked over at Seth.
"How do you feel about taking a trip?"
"No meatloaf?"
A nervous laugh burst from Nicky's lips as he shook his head and tried not to let his terror overtake him. "Not tonight but I promise to make you meatloaf the minute this is all over."
"Deal." Seth reached over and turned the oven off then leaned back against the counter. "So, where are we headed, babe?"
Nicky stepped into Seth's waiting arms and cuddled against the man as he considered the question. Morales would pretty much find them anywhere they went. Nicky just knew it. But, maybe…
"How do you feel about Boston?"
CHAPTER 14
Seth tried not to growl when yet another man winked at Nicky. It had only happened about a million times since they left home and caught a flight to Boston. Every time he turned around someone was whistling at Nicky, or trying to make a pass at him… well, her. Nicky was still masquerading as a woman. He felt it was best under the circumstances.
Seth agreed, but he was still having a hard time coming to grips with his
girlfriend
having long white blond hair after Nicky dyed it. Granted, the color did wonderful things for Nicky's facial features, drawing out his hazel eyes and making his cheekbones seem more prominent but Seth just couldn't get used to it.
He also couldn't seem to get used to no one looking at them funny when they sat close together on the plane ride to Boston or held hands all through the airport terminal. They were just a guy and a girl, albeit a beautiful girl, on a trip.
"We can catch a cab outside," Nicky said as the waited for the luggage to come around the luggage rack. They had packed simply, just one bag each. There hadn't been time to pack more. They hadn't even cleared the table before leaving.
"Where do you want to go, Nicky? Is there a hotel close by where we can stay?"
Nicky glanced around them as if he were afraid someone might overhear him. "I'd really like to go see my mother. I haven't been able to talk to her or see her since I left."
"Then that's where will we go."
"I just don't know if it's safe. I'd die if anything happened to my mother because of something I did."
"What if we got the hunky detective of yours to pick up your mother and meet us somewhere?"
Seth arched an eyebrow as he turned to look at Ricky. When they left home it had seemed like a good idea to bring Ricky along with them. Two men and a woman traveling to Boston looked better than two men or a man and a woman. Seth hoped it would hide them just a little longer.
Now he was wondering if he’d made a mistake. Ricky was in full hornball mode. He checked out every guy they came across. He'd even made a pass at the flight attendant. Seth's one consolation was that everyone on the flight would remember Ricky and not him and Nicky.
Ricky shrugged. "It was just an idea."
"Actually, that’s not a bad idea. We can use a pay phone to call Elliot."
"Ricky can use a pay phone to call Elliot," Seth said as he pointed his finger at Nicky. "You're not calling anyone."
"Fine." Nicky rolled his eyes.
Seth knew he was being overprotective but he couldn't seem to stop himself. Nicky's life was in danger and he wasn't going to let anything happen to the man who'd stolen his heart. Nicky was his to protect now.
"Ricky, go call Elliot from a pay phone and ask him to meet us somewhere." Seth turned to Nicky. "Do you have a place in mind, Nicky?"
"Just have him meet us at the coffee shop," Nicky said. "He'll know where that is. We've met there several times."
"Do you think it will be safe there?" That was Seth's most important concern. He wouldn't take Nicky anywhere that he might not be safe. Well, he wouldn't really be safe until Morales was behind bars but they could at least pick and choose where they showed up.
"It's a cop coffee shop." Nicky chuckled. "It should be relatively safe unless we jaywalk or steal their donuts."
Seth chuckled and shook his head. "Okay, fine, then have Elliot meet us at this coffee shop of his. Once we meet with Elliot, we can make arrangements to have Nicky's mother brought to him. I want to make sure the coast is clear before we do anything."
Ricky nodded and hurried off to make his phone call. Nicky started snickering, which seemed a little strange to Seth considering the situation. "You find something amusing, babe?"
"Ricky didn't even ask me for Elliot's phone number."
"Oh yeah, that." Seth smiled. "I kind of introduced them when Elliot came out to play your fairy godmother. They must have exchanged numbers or something."
"Seriously? You introduced Ricky to Elliot?"
"Why not?" Seth shrugged. "They're both unattached. I thought they might have a good time together. I figured why the hell not?"
"You do remember who we're talking about here, right?" Nicky waved toward the long passageway that Ricky ran down. "Ricky is a spaz and Elliot is one of the most straight-laced men I've ever met in my life. I don't think the man even sleeps in the nude."
"Ricky's high-strung but he's harmless. And I think he brings the fun out in Elliot. Besides," Seth said as he reached down to grab their bags then started down the passageway, "they're both consenting adults. They can do what they want. And according to Ricky, Elliot does sleep in the nude."
"Maybe," Nicky said as he followed Seth, "but it's just weird."
"Not any weirder than us, babe."
It took Seth and Nicky just a few minutes to catch up with Ricky, who was hanging up the phone when they reached him. Seth handed Ricky's bag. "Well, what did Elliot say?"
Ricky grinned. "You want the clean version or the truth?"
Seth arched an eyebrow. "Um…"
"Elliot is thrilled I'm in town. You two…" Ricky shook his head, "not so much."
"You didn't say we were here did you?" Seth asked quickly. "You didn't use our names or anything did you?"
"Not in so many words." Ricky rolled his eyes as he slung his duffle bag over his shoulder. "Give me some credit, Seth. I'm not just a pretty face, you know. I do have some brain cells, and I even use them on occasion."
"So, what exactly did you tell him then?"
"I said I was in town and wanted to know if we could get together for a little one-on-one time." Ricky wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "I told them that a friend mentioned some coffee shop and that we should meet there."
"So, how does he know we're here then?"
"I told him I had a present from his fairy."