The Current Between Us (33 page)

“
I meant everything I said last night,” Gage said while never leaving Trent’s personal space.

“
Me too,” Trent said.
And I want you to say it again.

“
I want to kiss you so badly, but I haven’t brushed me teeth,” Gage said, and Trent reached up, but Gage pulled back. Not willing to be denied, Trent grinned and lifted his hand to Gage’s head before he spun him around, changing positions. Now he had Gage pressed back against the wall. Trent slanted his mouth over Gage’s and thrust his tongue forward. Gage didn’t resist and opened for the kiss. Trent kissed him long and hard until his dick stood wanting and his knees wobbled. Even then it took several minutes before he pulled away.

“
Think about me when you’re gone. No meeting any men along the way,” Trent said, drawing Gage into a hug.

“
You have nothing to worry about there. My guy holds my heart.” Gage leaned in to kiss Trent’s neck as one of the Coop Electric trucks pulled into the driveway behind Gage’s Prius. His electrician could see everything from where he sat in his truck. All eyes met one another. His electrician’s eyes narrowed, really taking in the scene before looking away.

“
I haven’t hid, I swear, but I’ve never mixed it all up like this. I guess I’m completely out now,” Trent said, turning back to Gage trying to hide his worry.

“
It’s all good. They’re gonna have to get used to seeing me around, Trent. I’m here to stay.” Gage kissed him again on the lips and pulled free of the hold. He took the steps down, looking back over his shoulder. “I’ll call you as soon as I can and let you know my schedule. I’m going to Mexico. I don’t know how good my signal will be, but I’ll try to stay in touch. Remember those gifts are coming tomorrow, and tell Em happy birthday for me. I really wish I could be here for both her and you, I’ll try. I love you.”

“
I love you,” Trent called after him and watched his electrician back out of the driveway to let Gage leave, then pulled back into the drive a little too aggressively. Trent kept his eyes on the guy, until he pulled past the house into the back, and he prayed everything would work out.

Chapter 18

The surveillance equipment laid spread across Gage’s bed, and he looked over everything, ticking off his mental check list of needed supplies. His cameras, lenses, scores of memory cards, tripods, cleaning equipment, all terrain laptop, and back up everything were all ready to go. On the other side of the bed, his personal climbing gear, binoculars, compass, canteen, toiletries, and clothing consisting of a couple of T-shirts, shorts, socks, underwear, and bandanas scattered across the coverlet. Gage packed numerous bandanas to keep the sweat out of his eyes and the dust from his mouth.

He didn
’t plan on staying long. Gage added his broadcasting equipment to the gear, but in his heart he planned to do what it took to be back here for Emalynn’s birthday party on Sunday. That meant he would fly back to Mexico on Monday morning to broadcast his findings from the short weekend trip.

All of this was his personal equipment, and he never let anyone handle it. This load would be heavy, but the checkpoints to the mission were reasonably secure and waited his arrival.
His hidden campsite required a three mile hike through the desert of Mexico, placing them just west of the mission. They would use manmade tunnels, all carved out centuries ago, in one of the mountain ranges to be the go-between from the campsite to the abandoned convent mission tucked in a Valley between two mountain ranges. Gage had checked the forecast before he came up to pack. It looked like the temperature would be somewhere around a million degrees, making it a fun-filled, treacherous assignment all the way around.

Gage ran his hands over his face and through his hair. He needed to get this show started; time ticked away, and he was making himself late. The chartered jet sat waiting for him while he stalled because all he could think about was his sexy, hot as hell, new boyfriend
… who loved him. He shook his head at the grin that wouldn’t leave his face, and he silently began packing. He was a loved man…someone amazing loved just him…and it set his world on fire.

Slinging his cases over his arm, he dropped his keys and phone into the front pocket of his walking shorts and turned off the lights in the upstairs area. He trotted down the stairs and hit the door to the gallery with a kick in his step. He shut the door and set the security to his upstairs apartment and turned to see his driver, his security guard, and Jacquelyn all staring at him. At first, he didn
’t understand their confused appraisal of him, and then he remembered the smile that never left his face.

“
I guess someone had a good time last night,” Jacquelyn said, coming to stand at the front entrance of her office.

“
I did, great showing last night,” he said, passing her by.

“
Here, Gage. I’ve a collection of media coverage on last night. I packed it for you to read on the flight,” Jacquelyn said, handing him a large manila envelope full of newspaper clippings. “This is print media. I’m sending you an email link of all the online news feed coming in. Your boy was a big hit last night, you two have pictures everywhere.”

“
Hmmm… keep me posted on that. If it doesn’t die down in a few days, I want to know. Refer everything to my agent, they have some statement ready to go,” he said, walking past her to the front door.

“
You two were hot last night, and for the record, I totally picked up on it from day one,” she called out after Gage.

“
Yeah, right, whatever! Maybe you could have put me out of my misery, because I sure didn’t pick it up,” Gage called out, laughing, as he walked out the front door, his driver following behind him.

The chartered jet waited for him at Executive International. His driver drove him directly to the tarmac after passing through security at the gates. It took only minutes for him to board before they were on their way to Mexico. Gage pulled out his laptop, sent a couple of quick emails to his travel agent, needing to book this same flight for Sunday morning. They emailed back and forth, and for a small fortune, he
’d arranged to have the plane waiting for him in Mexico at midnight, Sunday morning, with a return flight placing him back on Mexican soil sometime after six in the morning on Monday. That would give him all day with Em, then all night with Trent. If he worked aggressively, he could broadcast by Tuesday and be home Wednesday morning.

Absently, he wondered if there were a way to talk Trent into being at his apartment Wednesday about mid-day in nothing other than his tool belt and a smile, possibly bent over working an outlet when he arrived home. The thought made hi
s smile grow, and he pulled out his phone to bring up a photo he’d snapped last night when Trent had been unaware he’d been watching. Trent Cooper was such a handsome man. Everything about him turned Gage on. This snapshot may have been about the time Trent learned who his parents were. He breathed a sigh of relief over that situation. He’d been lucky. Gage had worried Trent would be angry with him for keeping the secret, but so far he seemed to understand.

The in-flight attendants made their presence known, bringing Gage his normal coffee and bagel. A tradition he
’d started years ago and never changed. As he sat, picking at the bagel, he pulled the newspapers out and grinned. Jacquelyn was right. Every entertainment section of every major newspaper printed the story from the Associated Press about his gallery opening. The same picture ran in all the newspapers. Admittedly, it was a great picture. He stood with his arm wrapped casually around Trent’s waist, introducing him to Katie Couric. They were all smiling at one another, Trent’s charming grin in place, Katie looking a bit overwhelmed by Trent, and Gage laughing at her for being so taken with his date.

The article didn
’t give much away about Trent. It talked about Gage’s opening and the small reference he made during his speech about the last report. Sid was quoted saying everything in this last report came together nicely. The only other comment the article made was a quote from Gage when he told a reporter Trent was his boyfriend and lived locally in Chicago. Gage cringed, looking at the article. In hindsight, maybe he shouldn’t have said that, but pride ran deep inside him. He didn’t want to hide them, but he also hadn’t considered the homophobic atmosphere of construction and what it might mean to Trent’s future. He laid the newspaper aside and brought his phone up to text his father.

Dad, thank you for coming last night. It meant the world for you and mom to be there.
Gage sent the text to his father.

Son, I
’m not your mother, you don’t need to butter me up. What can I do for you?
Jack Layne texted back, and Gage chuckled at the reply. His father knew him well.

I
’m reminding you to get Coop Electric on as a vendor as we discussed last night.

Already done, son. They
’ll contact him early next week and get all the paperwork completed. Bids should come his way as early as the end of next week.
Jack sent back.

Perfect, Dad, thank you.
Gage sighed in relief, knowing Trent would be protected…at least professionally.

No thanks necessary. Now
, this does mean I want you at Sunday dinner as much as you can be there. It means everything to your mom to have all her children there. Bring Trent and the kids. We need to get them used to our crazy crew.

I will. I
’m in Mexico this weekend, but I’ll talk to Trent about the next weekend for sure.

Thanks, son. Be careful out there. Let us know you
’re home safe.

Thanks, Dad.
Gage ended the text session and placed the phone back on the table close to the laptop.

He spent the rest of the trip attempting to return emails, go over market reports, and check on the sales number from last night, but his mind stayed on Trent the entire time he worked. His silly grin stayed firmly in place.

As the plane descended, Gage palmed his phone one last time and sent a message to Trent.
This is probably the last time I’ll have service for a while. I wanted to tell you bye and I miss you already. I’ll see you when I can. I love you, baby. Now I’ve said it out loud, I seem to want to say it over and over. I love you, Trent. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. Have a good day, I’ll be home soon. Gage.

The plane touched down and Gage realized he hadn
’t done one bit of the homework he should have done since missing most of the day yesterday. He’d spent the flight concentrating on Trent and not much more. Yet this was game time, he should have been going over yesterday’s videos, reading the reports, not focused on exactly what shade of green matched the true color of Trent’s eyes.

Gage needed to get down to business. There would be no time for him to continue like this. If he did, he could easily blow the whole report. Abdulla was cunning and deadly. It wouldn
’t just be the report he blew, but he could jeopardize his men’s safety if he didn’t maintain his A-game.

Gage flipped up the blind on the small window inside the plane to view the remote landing location, an old abandoned airfield now overgrown with foliage. They were approximately one hundred fifty miles west of the convent mission. Two jeeps barreled up to the plane, supposedly his ride for the next leg of the adventure.

“Sir, we just got word Manuel is here. Is it safe to lower the steps?” the captain asked.

“
Ah, my ride. Yes, please do.” Gage rose. The flight attendant had his bags ready, and he slung his equipment and duffle over his shoulder and grabbed his laptop before he made his way to the front of the plane. The hatch opened and the stairs descended. Gage stopped as he exited the plane, and stuck his head back inside the cabin to look at the attendant. He pointed toward the print media settled on a seat.

“
Please keep those articles safe, I’ll get them from you when I return.” He dropped his aviators in place and ducked out the door again. The first jeep waited for him near the bottom of the stairs. They looked like a muscled band of Contra rebels waiting below. There were three fully armed men in the first jeep, four in the next, all wearing assault rifles resting within easy reach. They watched their surroundings as he climbed off the plane and stalked to the first jeep.

Manuel, the only one Gage knew by sight, lifted a hand in a silent salute, and Gage nodded, taking the last step, now fully entering Abdulla
’s world. He mentally shed his life in Chicago, transitioning his mind, focusing on his target. This was his career, his passion. But Trent was too good for this mess, and Gage relegated him to the back corners of his mind, going straight into investigator mode for the duration of his stay. He dumped his bags in the backseat and used the sidebar to slide inside. Within seconds of his ass hitting the seat, they rocketed out of there.

****

“Daddy!” Em called, climbing up on his bed, launching herself across his body. “It’s my birthday, and it’s time to
get up
!”

“
Em, are you certain it’s your birthday?” Trent asked, grabbing her around the chest, dodging all the limbs and bringing her in for a tight hug.