Promises: Part I (Bounty Hunters Book 1) (18 page)

Duke didn’t utter a word when he was inside Quick’s office. He eased down onto the sofa nestled close to the window in the spacious room and looked around as if he’d never been in there. He noticed that Quick had added more pictures of Vaughan on the built in bookshelves along the far wall, as well as a few knickknacks.

Quick was rummaging through the stack of papers on his desk, still not bothering to acknowledge him. So Duke spoke up first. “You went after a bounty today?”

“Yes.”

“Without consulting me?”

“Yes.”

“Quick.”

“What?”

Duke was getting frustrated but he stayed calm. If Quick really was warring with his sexual identity, Duke didn’t want to add to it.

“What’s going on, buddy? You go out on a bounty without backup then you come in here and bite my doctor’s head off.”

“You’re wrong!” Quick barked; slamming his heavy palm down on the cherry-stained oak desk, causing the couple of picture frames there to fall over on their faces.

“About?” Duke asked calmly.

“I didn’t have a chance to contact you. I got the tip early and I went for it. The new guy, Markson, that Judge sent over, went with me. The bounty didn’t put up a bit of resistance, not to mention the kid was only one hundred pounds soaking wet. And for the record, I didn’t insult your doctor. He insulted me.”

Duke raised his eyebrows in question. “Oh really. How so?”

Quick bolted up from his seat, waving his fist angrily. “You saw him. Looking at me like that. And saying my name all… like… You know, you heard him.”

It took all Duke’s will power not to laugh in his friend’s face, especially with him looking so serious. Duke covered his smirk with his hands and feigned that he was contemplating what his friend said.

“Don’t you fuckin’ mock me, Duke. I can see you trying to hide your crooked-ass smile, but that’s okay. Laugh all you want, but I don’t want him in my house again.”

“Okay. Calm down, calm down, please, Quick.”

“See! See! You called me Quick. No one calls me Roman. No one! I don’t want him calling me that!” Quick was pointing at the door like Dr. Chauncey was standing just on the other side of it.

“First of all. I call you Roman sometimes, but only your friends call you Quick. The doctor is a professional. And second. You can’t get pissed because the guy called you by your name.” Duke motioned for Quick to sit, and after a few fuming seconds, he finally did. “I think you might be overeacting.”

“Whatever,” Quick grumbled, running his hand through his long hair in frustration.

“He said your name like it was honey on his tongue, you said his first name like it tasted like shit and you wanted it out of your mouth as quickly as possible.” Duke frowned, knowing he had to be truthful. He needed to let his friend know he’d hurt the fragile doctor.

Duke let the silence drag on before he added carefully, “Unless you like the doctor’s flirting and don’t know what to think of it.”

“Duke. Do you want me to put you out on your ass? Surgery be damned. I will literally throw you in my front yard if you say something stupid like that again.”

“Ouch.” Duke rubbed his chest like his friend had punched him. “Now you’re threatening me. Damn, dude. Where’s the love? I was on my death bed only four-and-a-half weeks ago, now you’re threatening to beat me while I’m down.”

“Shut up. Stop being so dramatic.”

“Ditto.”

“I’m not, Duke. I just don’t want him looking at or talking to me like that.”

“Very well. I’ll let him know.”

“Thank you. I’ll just wait here until he leaves.”

“Cool.” Duke got up and walked to Quick’s office door. Throwing it open, he bellowed down the short hallway, “Dr. Chauncey. Roman will see you now!”

“You bastard! What the hell, Duke?” Quick said in a stern whisper.

“Oh. The doc wanted to get a chance to apologize for ‘speaking without consequence’ – he actually said that – so I thought it only fair to give him that opportunity.”

“Fine. Just don’t leave, alright. I don’t want me and him to be alone… ya know… give him the wrong idea,” Quick whispered again.

“Of course not.” Duke smiled, reassuring his friend

As Dr. Chauncey got closer he begin to smooth down his shirt and push a few strands of hair back in place. Duke turned and noticed Quick straightening up the knocked over picture frames and scrambling to push some of the papers strewn around into neat stacks. When Quick saw him looking at him in amusement, he hastily flipped Duke off right before the doctor appeared in the doorway. Duke moved aside and let Dr. Chauncey in. “I’ll just give you guys some privacy.”

“Duke!” Quick yelled at a closing door.

Duke was laughing so hard as he left Quick alone with the doctor that he had to clutch his side. He hobbled back into the living room and Vaughan looked at him with humorous curiosity.

“What the hell was all that about?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Duke said, sitting down next to Vaughan. They shared a few sweet kisses like they’d been apart too long. Duke pulled back and stroked Vaughan’s cheek, only to lean in and tenderly kiss him there. “I love you.”

“Mmm. Me too. I need to show you just how much.” Vaughan’s leer was so salacious Duke had to take a couple breaths to will his dick not to fully harden in his thin sweats.

“I got good news.” Vaughan beamed after they finished another round of kisses.

“Oh, yeah? Lay it on me. I need good news right now.”

“Great. Good news is… we can fuck.”

Duke coughed on his own saliva.

“I told Dr. Chauncey the G-rated version of last night’s episode and he said it was alright. If you didn’t feel any pain, then orgasms are fine. The physical sexual activity should be kept light until we both feel up to handling more.”

“So….” Duke wondered what that meant.

“Soooo… it means I can’t fuck you as hard as I intended but I’ll make it good for you, sweetheart, don’t you worry.”

Damn. That was hella good news. He felt like he could fuck right that minute. His body was healing every day. The only injury that gave him problems were his still-bruised ribs and the occasional headaches from the concussion. He knew they’d take the longest to heal but everything else was workable. “We need to go to my place… soon.”

“Agreed.” Vaughan winked.

Before they could discuss that possibility more, Quick’s office door flew open hard enough to bang against the wall, startling him and Vaughan.

“Jesus,” Vaughan gasped when he saw a red-faced Dr. Chauncey emerge with Quick hot on his heels.

Duke stood up, wondering what the hell he’d done by forcing those two to be in the same room, especially with Quick already wound up.

“Your friend could use a lesson in manners, Duke,” Dr. Chauncey said, glaring daggers at Quick.

“I won’t be insulted in my own house! Out! Now!” Quick demanded.

Vaughan got up and went over to his dad searching his face like a demon could’ve possibly taken over his body. “Dad. What is going on? Dr. Chauncey is here because of your phone call to his office. He needs to examine Duke. Why are you going crazy like this?”

Quick turned on his heels and slammed himself back in his office. Vaughan stood there dumbfounded, staring down the hall.

“Duke, will you take off your top please, so I can look at your incisions. I’ll just draw some blood and get a urine sample. That should be enough to determine if any complications have arisen.” Dr. Chauncey was digging in his bag when he spoke but as soon as he sat up, Duke saw that the man’s baby blue eyes were not as radiant as before. Goddamn you, Rome.

Duke walked Dr. Chauncey to the door after he had collected his samples and was finished with the exam. “Dr. Chauncey. I’m really sorry about Quick. He’s usually pretty laid back.”

The doctor laughed humorlessly. “I guess I just bring out the worst in him.”

Vaughan looked as disappointed as Duke while Dr. Chauncey slowly made his way to the front door. It appeared he was trying to save face by offering up some last minute conversation like Quick’s words had little effect on him. But anyone with eyes could see it was bogus. Duke couldn’t imagine how embarrassing it would be to get kicked out of the home of someone you’d unknowingly flirted with and told to never return. Or to be treated with utter disgust, because that’s the look Quick wore.

They all turned in Quick’s direction when he came back into the living room and dropped noisily into his recliner, angrily shoving the handle back to kick his size thirteen feet up. Quick grabbed the remote from his armrest and turned the television up so loud that they could hardly speak without yelling. Catching himself staring again, Dr. Chauncey murmured an awkward goodbye to them, turned and left.

Vaughan closed the door and locked it, then turned heated hazel eyes on his father. He marched over and grabbed the remote from his father’s hand and turned the television off. “What the hell was that?”

“Mind your own business, son. This has nothing to do with you,” Quick ordered.

“What ‘this?’ What do you mean? What’s going on between you and the doctor? Are y’all old high school rivals or what, Dad? Because I’ve never seen you treat anyone like that, not even the criminals you arrest.”

“I said drop it!” Quick yelled. Vaughan reluctantly retreated, brushing past Duke and recklessly taking the stairs two at a time.

“Duke. We’re going to your place,” Vaughan yelled from upstairs.

Duke didn’t answer. Instead he went back over to the couch and sat down with his hands steepled in front of him. “Do you have no respect for the man that saved your best friend’s life?”

“My son saved your life and I have all the respect in the world for him.”

“Oh, okay. So Vaughan got special treatment through the whole donor process from himself and went inside the OR, pulled his own fuckin’ kidney out of his gut and put it in mine?”

Quick glared at Duke but he didn’t waver from his friend’s sneer for one second.

“There was no MD anywhere in sight,” Duke continued.

When Quick finally looked remorseful, Duke took the opportunity. “You hate him that much for flirting with you? I’ve seen plenty of women and men try to pick you up, you’ve never acted like this.” Duke lowered his voice like he was calming a skittish colt. “I think you like him, Rome. I’ve known you for twenty years buddy. Something is off with this guy.”

Quick shoved his hands back through his hair, pulling hard on the ends. “Damnit.”

“How long have you been attracted to men?”

“I’m not attracted to men,” Quick growled, slamming his footrest down and standing so fast he almost broke his chair. “And don’t say it again.”

“Is that so bad?” Vaughan asked from across the room. He was standing on the stairs with a large adidas duffle bag on his shoulder, looking heartbroken. “You almost sound mortified at a man being attracted to another man.”

“You know I don’t think like that. My best friend and my son are both gay, along with several of my other friends.” Quick sighed. “I just don’t want to be called something I’m not.”

“Gay or bisexual,” Duke chimed in.

“Yes,” Quick huffed angrily.

“Well if a man hits on you and calls you gay, then you just look him in the eye and call him gay right back.”

“Very cute, Duke.” Quick went to the breakfast counter, grabbing his keys and phone. “I’m going out for a bit. Since you two are leaving to Duke’s, I’ll assume you can take care of each other. I’ll call later.”

Duke had a feeling that was a lie. He’d give his friend a little time, but not much. He had no doubt Quick was confused by his feelings for the doc and as his best friend, it was his job to help him through this, just like Quick had helped him with every situation his heart went through.  

“What was I thinking? What the hell? How could I be that stupid? Shit! Shit!” Cayson continued to beat on his steering while he sat in the McDonald’s parking lot a few blocks from Quick’s house. He’d been so upset he didn’t think he could drive anymore. He was already sick to his stomach from being humiliated and rejected, but the addition of the horrific smells that drifted into the air from the disgusting fast food joint made it so much worse. Over and over he’d reprimanded himself for doing something as stupid as using a patient as a reason to see someone who interested him.

As soon as Cayson got to the hospital that morning, his nurse was in his office going over Quick’s message regarding Duke. He tried to keep from fidgeting while she told him what he’d relayed to her over the phone about his patient. Just thinking of the big man he’d met only a few weeks ago had left a most intoxicating impression on him, like nothing had before.

Quick was everything Cayson had ever dreamed of in a man. Big, brawny, and hard-packed with natural muscles from working. And all that sexy ink on those massive arms. The thought of those big arms holding him down made Cayson bristle at what would never happen. Nor would he fulfill his fantasy of running his fingers through Quick’s long, thick hair that draped over his shoulders. He longed to tame those beautiful brown locks. Yearned to slowly strip off the sexy-assed leather coat and dark clothes, to get to the man underneath. It was like Roman Webb walked right off the set of his favorite porno site and fell into his life.

He’d never believed in love at first sight, but he did believe in lust at first sight, and he had that in spades for the big guy. Cayson stopped pounding his head on his steering wheel and leaned it back against the headrest. He looked in the mirror, saw the slight reddening on his forehead, and cursed himself again. How was he going to explain that?
I ran into a tree… face first
. Cayson turned his ignition back over but hesitated to put his car in motion.

He wanted to go back and square things with Quick, but what could he say. The man was disgusted by him. Cayson ran his hand over his hair, probably making it stick up like a madman, but fuck it. No one thought he was attractive anyway. Since high school when he’d discovered he preferred to hang out in the boy’s locker room rather than stand along the fence behind the practice field and watch the cheerleaders practice. He’d tried sports, but after being pushed and battered enough on and off courts or fields, he realized he’d stick with books… and that’s what he did.

His long trek through college had been uneventful and tiring. Even undergraduate wasn’t the fun that he’d heard so much about from his high school nerd buddies. College was supposed to change their status from geeks to smart hotties. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. While he didn’t endure the bulling he had in high school, he was still ignored just as much. Unless someone needed a science tutor, then he got a phone call.

Cayson groaned. He couldn’t get Quick’s look of revulsion out of his mind. Those piercing green eyes had been his undoing when he’d first met him. Never had he seen a man more gorgeous and so far out of his league. Hell. All of Duke’s friends were handsome and hot. He didn’t have one visitor that wasn’t fuckin’ fine as hell. That’s why he was still berating himself. Never had Cayson come close to pulling a man has striking as Roman or any of Duke’s buddies.
Roman
. Damn even the man’s name is sexy. Cayson cringed inside when he thought of how he—like he was special—called the man his given name when everyone else called him Quick. But the man put him in his place faster than Cayson could turn on his charm. More like the charm he wished he had.

He figured whatever the man had going on; it wasn’t a good time to be in his company. He’d remember that he was strong, confident and demanded respect for himself and his friend while he was in the hospital, but he was also kind. That wasn’t the man he’d just seen. He hoped that maybe it would change, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t, because it never did. Of all the men who’d rejected him, no one had ever called him with a change of heart after realizing they’d let a good man pass right by them. And damnit, Cayson was a good man. He worked hard, cared for people and healed them, empathized with them. He wasn’t a bad person. Cayson squeezed his eyes closed.
Then why the hell am I so unlovable?

Leaning back, he replayed the scene in Quick’s office when Duke had left them alone.

Cayson looked at Quick like he’d lost his mind when he fussed at Duke for closing the door. Nervously fidgeting with his hands, he stilled them by pushing them into his pockets. Quick was just staring at him like he was a visitor from another planet.

“Can I sit?” Cayson finally asked after realizing Quick wasn’t about to help make him comfortable.

“I don’t care,” Quick grumbled. “But if you think you need to apologize, then save it. It’s no big deal.”

Cayson sat down gingerly and braced his hands on the chair’s arms to keep from reaching out for Quick. When he’d walked into that house in all that fuckin’ black leather, the words BOUNTY HUNTER stenciled boldly across his deliciously huge chest, Cayson thought he’d pass out or come. He’d never seen a man look that deadly and delicious all at the same time. When he removed that coat, Cayson immediately noticed the weapons nestled close under Quick’s large biceps. He hadn’t realized he was fawning until Duke roused him out of the fantasy that was starting to play in his mind again.

A vision of Quick barging into his home and forcing him to the ground, securing his hands behind his back. He could smell the leather as Quick rubbed against him, keeping him pinned under him.
Oh god
. Cayson might’ve moaned out loud. The dialogue in the fantasy that he was boldly picturing right there in front of the man was even hotter than the image of being taken.

“If you fight me, pretty doctor, it’s only going to make me fuck you harder.” Quick would warn him in that growly voice right before he—

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Quick stood, his hands on his strong hips, his sharp eyes filled with rage, making his usually meadow green eyes appear more hunter green and meaner.

“Nothing’s wrong. I was just—”

“It ain’t gonna happen. Whatever you were thinking right then.” Quick pointed at Cayson’s head. “Not. Gonna. Fuckin’. Happen.”

“I wasn’t thinking anything bad.” Cayson hurriedly tried to recover. “I was trying to come up with a suitable apology for the way I talked to you. I shouldn’t have called you Roman. If you prefer Quick, then I will call you that.” Cayson tried to look unaffected, but his brain was screaming at him to make it right.
Make friends with them. Let them see how great a guy you really are
. Maybe there was enough room in Duke and Quick’s circle of friends for him. He didn’t expect to be an honorary member of the club, but an invite to a barbeque or a fight night would be nice.

Cayson bit his bottom lip—another nervous gesture—while he thought of the right words. He was a thinker, typically, and didn’t usually act or even speak without thinking it through first. So why did Quick take him so far out of his comfort zone and make him pine for things that would never be within his grasp?

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t, doc,” Quick said, his tone unfazed.

“Well then, good.”

“If you want to examine your patients, I think you should do it in your own office, not mine.” Quick went back to shuffling some papers around as if Cayson was dismissed.

“You’re a real asshole. You know that.” Cayson regretted it the moment he said it. Because Quick stood to his full height and came from around the desk and stood over him like Cayson was in for the ass whupping of his life, but if he was… fuck it. Might as well have his say first. “You called my office, worried about your friend. When I couldn’t reach him to schedule him to come into my office, I came out to check on him. Not all doctors disregard their patients as soon as they exit the hospital doors. Duke will be under my care for a year or more. Since y’all are all so close and you’re my other patient’s next of kin, I thought we might see each other a few more times.”

“You make personal visits to all your patients’ ‘kin?’” Quick used air quotes around the word kin. “Or just the ones you want to shag? Are you that hard up, doc?”

Cayson could feel the warmth from embarrassment spreading across his chest and rapidly making its way to his neck, and then his face. He had to be red as fuck because his face felt like it was on fire. He was humiliated. Was he hard up? Yes. Was he lonely? Yes. But he didn’t have to be made to feel like a pathetic loser. He was too old for that. True, most of his colleagues were married and settled with families, and Cayson craved it, but he’d settle for someone that would just treat him nice. How hard was that? Ask him about his day when he got home. Make love to him after a hard day. Hold him and whisper words of encouragement to him when he lost a patient on the operating table. Those things happened to him regularly, but he dealt with them alone.

There was nothing else he could say. Quick wasn’t the man he thought he was. Cayson made to stand but he ended up awkwardly maneuvering around Quick, who was still standing over him. He hurried out of the room, vowing that no matter what, he’d never come back to his house again.  

He took care of his patient and got the hell away from where he wasn’t wanted. Cayson pulled out his cell phone and called his office, letting the nurses know that Duke’s labs needed to be picked up from Cayson’s house. Since he didn’t have any more appointments and wasn’t scheduled for surgery until the following day, he figured a day off might not be a bad idea. He’d call his father and see if he wanted to go fishing or something. Since his mother passed a few years back, it’d just been him and his father. After a while I’d only be him.

Cayson’s phone chimed and the name he saw on the caller ID almost brought tears to his eyes. But he must be a glutton for punishment today because he picked up. “Hey, Joe.”

“Cayson, what’s going on? You busy?”

“Um. Not really.” Cayson pinched the bridge of his nose. “Actually, I was thinking of doing something tonight since I don’t have to get up early.”

“I was thinking of doing you. Come over,” Joe ordered. He was an anesthesiologist that used to work at the hospital with him, but right after their first casual hook up, the handsome man had gotten a job at another hospital across town. Duke thought that their few fucks were leading to more but he’d been gravely mistaken. Joe was adamant about not wanting to date, that he was too busy to be tied down. Even though they were both in their forties.

Cayson bit his lip again, afraid to ask his next question. He’d only admit it to himself, but he was terrified of more rejection. If he didn’t take control of his life, then it was going to pass right by him. “How about a movie tonight? Then we could go to this nice Italian restaurant I’ve been hearing a lot about.”

Silence.

“Joe. Joe are you there?”

“Yeah. I’m here. Look, Cayson I just realized that I’m on call tonight. I better not.”

Cayson gritted his teeth at the slew of curse that lingered on his tongue. “You called me, remember. You called to ask me over to fuck, but when I suggested a date, now you’re on call. That sounds—”

“I made a mistake. Got my days mixed up is all. I’ll talk to you in a few weeks.” And Joe hung up.

Cayson shook his head as he stared at the now black screen of his phone.
Seriously. I can’t even get a basic dinner and a movie?
He was going to be alone forever. He hoped Duke realized how good he had it. Because he not only had an amazing man like Vaughan to have his back, but his life was full of friends that adored him. How had Cayson ended up with no one?

I was a good kid. I worked hard at school. I was good to my folks. I’m not mean to people and I try to help anyone that asks me to.
Cayson put his car in drive and headed towards his house. One question was in the forefront of his mind and probably would be for the rest of the night.
Why doesn’t anyone want me?