Chapter 4

 

 

REGGIE YAWNED at his desk the following morning. He hadn’t slept much the night before, keenly aware of having Willy in the house. When he got up at his usual time, he’d found Willy already awake, sitting on the sofa, staring at the walls, worrying his lower lip with his teeth. He’d taken him back into town and dropped him off at home before heading to the station. Now, he couldn’t concentrate, hoping Willy wasn’t going to be in any trouble.

“When do we need to take Clay and Jamie to see the judge?”

Reggie checked the clock. “Go get them and we’ll take them over. How was their night?”

“Very quiet. The older one, Jamie, apparently stayed up, and Clay spent much of the night on his bunk. The guard thought he might have heard crying on and off during the night, but he wasn’t sure.” Jasper shifted as he took another step closer. “What do you think will happen to them?”

“Honestly, I think they’ll be given bail and then they’ll get probation and a fine in the end, especially Clay, who’s a minor. The worst part of their ordeal is probably over, but I hope they remember it.” Reggie stood and went with Jasper through the station. “Where is Sam?”

“Traffic duty.” Jasper grinned. It was clearly a source of delight. “Shawn is out on a domestic disturbance call up at the Wilsons’. They were screaming at each other again, and the neighbors called.” He spoke like that was a regular thing. “Shawn says they never hit each other, just yell at the top of their lungs like banshees. I went out there once, talked to them. They get quiet for a while, and then it starts up again.”

They got the two boys out of their cells and into the cars, and drove them to the courthouse, where they were met by their parents and a lawyer. Reggie escorted them to a secured room where they could talk and left Jasper to watch over them. He headed upstairs to the courtroom and ran into Reverend Gabriel.

“Good morning. How was His Honor doing?”

“As well as can be expected. I counseled him on his boys, and we prayed together. Then I left him alone.” Reverend Gabriel held his hands together, his voice as calm as ever. Reggie wondered what was really going on behind those eyes.

“He’s with his boys and the lawyer now.” Reggie did his best not to look around in the hope that Willy was with his father, but the door to the men’s room opened and Willy came out, dressed in somber clothes much like his father.

“Morning, Sheriff,” Willy said with a slight smile that lasted seconds, before standing next to but behind his father, gaze darting around, tension between father and son mounting by the second.

“I understand you brought my son home this morning.” Reverend Gabriel turned to Willy and then back to him. Reggie wondered what Willy had told him and suspected this was a way of corroborating Willy’s story. Reggie nodded, and thankfully Jasper brought out the boys, so they headed into court without him having to answer.

 

 

EVERYTHING WENT as expected: bail and a court date were set, and the case shifted to the county attorney, which meant that unless it actually went to trial, Reggie and Jasper were done.

“Where is your father?” Reggie asked Willy as he approached him outside the courtroom.

“He had to go to the church, and I managed to beg off. I can only take so much of this. I was hoping to have a chance to talk to Clay.” Willy peered up toward the doors. “He’s at a crossroads. You know?” He gazed past Reggie and waved. Clay stood with his brother and father, still looking a little freaked.

Willy stepped away and motioned him over. Clay approached slowly, warily. It was clear he wasn’t interested in spending time around the sheriff who had arrested him. “Are you going to put me in jail again?”

“Clay,” Willy said gently, “the sheriff isn’t to blame for what happened and you know it. He’s doing his job, and what you and Jamie were doing was wrong. Whose idea was it to race?”

Clay’s glance shot to Jamie and then back to Willy.

“I see. You know, you’re old enough to think for yourself, and you need to start doing that.”

“But Jamie—”

“Is your brother, but he gets into trouble and takes you along with him.” Willy was amazing. He was kind and caring. “You’re better than that. Jamie is an adult and he’s going to face the music for this one, harder than you will, since you’re still seventeen.” Willy hugged Clay gently, and Reggie could no longer hear what they were saying.

Once they pulled apart, Willy watched as Clay went back over to his father and brother. The group moved away, and Reggie turned to Jasper.

“Go back to the station, make sure there are no calls, and then head on out for traffic, but keep your radio on. I want you to get more experience, and that means taking more calls.” Reggie smiled as Jasper hurried away. He might have actually jumped a little before he reached the stairs.

“Where are you heading?” Willy asked.

“I’m going to patrol for a while. I want the department to be visible. Let people see that we’re out and about, not just sitting in the station. What about you?” Reggie found it hard to look away, but he had to. Having Willy in his house had been hard as hell. Every sound had made Reggie sit up, wondering if Willy was okay. He’d tossed and turned for hours, debating if he should have offered to stay with him, to see if Willy wanted to come to his bed. He knew he’d done the right thing, but still….

“I don’t know. I was thinking I could look for a job.” Willy lifted his gaze, the confidence from earlier gone. “I need to be more independent.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“How late do you work tonight?” Willy asked. “I can cook really well. So maybe….”

Reggie was on the verge of saying yes. It would be nice to have dinner with Willy, but that would be playing with fire. He never dated or got involved with guys where he worked, ever. It was a bad idea on all levels, and yet he wanted it, consequences be damned.

“You don’t have to…,” Willy whispered, glancing around.

“I know that. But what sort of chance will you be taking?” Would we be taking? “You know what will happen if your father finds out.”

Willy nodded. “I know. But I need to have a little freedom of my own, a chance to be myself with someone, or I’m going to go out of my mind. I can’t sit at home, nodding my head, making believe that I agree and want what my father does.” Willy took a single step closer. “I’m not strong like you. I can’t just stand up to him like that.”

“You did before,” Reggie said, wishing he’d kept his mouth shut.

“And look what it got me. Permanent souvenirs of how far he’ll go to try to protect what he sees as his mission in life.” Willy sighed and turned away, walking slowly toward the stairs.

“Six,” Reggie said. “I get off at six, depending.” His radio came to life in his ear, and he hurried to the exit on his way to a call. He didn’t have time to be any more specific than that, and maybe that was okay. Now it was up to Willy to figure out what he wanted to do with the information.

 

 

REGGIE SPENT the day on one call after another. When he had a few minutes to patrol, he made a point of stopping out at the highway rest area to check on the restrooms. They were a known spot for men to meet. Not that he had anything against it, exactly, but it was also a spot where other kinds of transactions could be conducted. Since he wanted to choke those off, he’d added the area to regular patrols. But other than a family of four who were walking back to their car as he arrived, it was empty and as it should be. He drove through, taking pains to be visible to anyone passing, and then headed back toward town as he received another call.

After his last call, Reggie went to the station and got to work. He had reports he needed to file, and he reviewed those of his deputies. Sam had said that he’d seen a number of cars out at the rest area, though when he pulled in, the parking lot emptied within minutes. As Reggie read through the report carefully, things didn’t ring quite true, especially some of the timing. It could have been sloppy reporting on Sam’s part… or something else. He needed to keep a closer eye on him.

Sighing softly, he put the papers aside and finished up for the day, making sure all on-call information was correct. Sam was on duty that evening, so Reggie hoped for a quiet night. He checked in with him and found Sam almost chipper, which was unusual.

“I got things. You have a good night.”

Reggie thanked him and left the station, heading home for a few hours of peace. He pulled up in front of his home and found it quiet. Reggie checked the time—a little after six. He drove into the garage, then walked across to the house and entered the nearly silent abode. Reggie had to admit that he was a little disappointed. In truth, he’d been looking forward to the possibility that Willy would come over. He was also well aware that carrying on a relationship with Willy was a really bad idea. But damn, as soon as he closed his eyes, he could see Willy, and if he concentrated, he could feel him in his arms, a bundle of heat and energy.

He went to his bedroom to change out of his uniform and take care of his belt and gun before returning to the kitchen.

A car pulling into the drive caught his attention, and Reggie hurried to the window, moving faster than he should have. Willy got out of an old Toyota that looked held together with duct tape and a prayer. Maybe that was an exaggeration, but it was in some serious need of attention. Reggie went right to the door and opened it so Willy wouldn’t need to set down the plastic bags he was carrying.

“What’s all this?” Reggie asked as Willy set the bags on the counter.

“I said I was a good cook, and I didn’t know what you had.” He began unpacking the bags, pulling out some tomatoes and cucumbers that looked amazing. There was leaf lettuce, and then pasta and basil, the scents filling the kitchen. “Most of this came from my garden. I have a patch in the community plot south of town, and I raise a few things, mostly for my mom.”

“My uncle had a garden out back. He’d cleared some trees for it. I haven’t had a chance to do anything with it. But this fall I’ll till it and then plant in the spring. Not that I know all that much about growing vegetables, but I thought I’d give it a try.” Reggie had the space and figured it would give him a new hobby.

“I’ve been growing things my whole life. I love it. You have to be careful, though, especially in this area. Only get plants from local growers or seeds that are purchased locally. They carry hardier varieties that can thrive at our altitude. And California has a bunch of agricultural laws to protect the rest of the state from invasive species.” Willy blushed. It was adorable and sweet as anything. “You probably knew that.”

Reggie got him a pot for the pasta and a bowl before showing Willy where everything else was. Then he got out of the way. “Where did you learn to cook?”

“Mom thought it a good idea that all of us know some of the basics.” Willy began chopping the basil, the scent filling the room. “I can make garlic bread if you want….”

Reggie got out the bread, and Willy pulled some cloves of fresh garlic out of his bag. Reggie was beginning to wonder just what else he had in there.

“Mom taught me and I liked it. But I never get to cook much. Dad is pretty old-fashioned about things like that. Sometimes I think he was born too late.” Willy finished with the basil and filled the pot to get the pasta on. “I didn’t have the cash to get some meat, but….” Willy opened the refrigerator to check for butter. “Yes. I took a chance. I’m going to make some pesto and a salad and garlic bread. Is that okay?”

Reggie’s stomach growled at the mention of food. “More than. I’m so sick of my own cooking.”

“What do you make?”

Reggie humphed. “I usually get stuff I can put in the microwave and heat up. I can grill a mean steak and make good chicken and mashed potatoes. Basic stuff. But I’m usually so busy, I don’t have a lot of time for things like that.” He pulled out one of the stools from the living room side of the island and sat down, watching Willy as he got the pasta water on the stove and cut up everything he needed.

“This is a great kitchen. Mom’s is really small. She has just enough room to do what she needs to, but if anyone else is in there with her, it gets crowded fast. This is so open and comfortable.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Reggie sat and watched. “Can I ask you something? Why are you doing this?”

Willy’s knife stopped midslice, the blade halfway through the cucumber.

“Not that I don’t appreciate it, because I really do. But why do this? Why invite the possible wrath of your father?”

Willy rolled his eyes. “We haven’t done anything other than cook.” He tried to look innocent but failed. “Okay….” He set the knife down. “I’m tired of my dad running my life for me, and I like you. I know you may not like me or you may think I’m too young or something.” Willy rocked back and forth slightly, which told Reggie he was nervous. “You’ve been nice to me, and you actually see me. Do you know what that means?”

Reggie was lost for words. “No?”

“I’m Willy, the reverend’s son. Most of the time, when I’m with him, people don’t even see me. They all defer to him and pay attention to him. I went through high school with very few friends because I was nearly invisible. But you saw me at the club, and even here. There are people in town who think of me as Reverend Gabriel’s son—that’s all. I’m not Willy. I don’t have my own identity. They might know my name, but they don’t even think of me as my own person.” Willy looked down and went back to cutting. “Maybe I’m being foolish to think that someone like you would….” He set down his knife. “I am being dumb, aren’t I?” He backed away from the counter. “I am being stupid. I thought I could come over here, make you dinner, and then maybe we could… I don’t know.” He turned and left the kitchen, striding toward the front door.

“Where are you going?” Reggie asked, jumping off his chair, desperate to relieve Willy’s stress and anxiety.

“I should just leave you alone and not bother you. I’m some kid who has no clue about how things work and—”

Reggie caught Willy’s arm as he reached the door. He didn’t grip him hard—he’d never hurt him—but Reggie didn’t want Willy to go. “Hey, I see you.” When Willy turned, Reggie’s heart skipped a beat at the loneliness in those crystal-blue eyes that seemed to change color with the light and with Willy’s mood. They were fascinating, and Reggie wondered if he would ever be able to see all the colors they could be. “And you don’t need to leave.” He tugged Willy closer, wrapping him in his arms, marveling at how right he felt there.

“I shouldn’t have come. You were right about my dad finding out. Me hoping for things and wishing for things… you doing this… you…. It’s playing with fire.”

Reggie held him tight, his heart rate increasing, a nearly overwhelming urge rising from the base of his spine, blooming like a spring flower, spreading and growing by the second. He leaned in, closing his lips over Willy’s, tasting his sweetness, wanting more as soon as he’d gotten another taste. He tightened his grip, intensifying his hold, as a need to protect and care for Willy grew by the second. Reggie was in deep trouble; he could already feel it. If he’d been smart, he’d have let Willy leave. This was throwing all his rules out the window, and while he liked it, the idea threw him for a loop. He pulled back, still holding Willy, gazing into his eyes, trying to think clearly.

Clearheadedness was a lost cause. A few blinks of those blue eyes and a glimpse of Willy’s pink tongue as it peeked out to wet his lips was enough to counteract everything he knew he should do.

“Let’s have dinner. Okay?” Reggie asked in a whisper, not wanting to spook Willy.

Willy nodded, and Reggie walked with him back to the kitchen. As Willy took up the knife again, Reggie went into the living room and put on some music—nothing too loud, but something to fill the void and create a mood.

“I feel like a fool,” Willy said without looking up from what he was doing.

“You can’t assume things. If you want to know something about anything, all you need to do is ask. It’s that simple.” The music changed and the beat increased. Reggie tapped his foot and then spun around in time to it. Willy chuckled, and Reggie hurried around to the back of the island and set the knife on the counter before whisking Willy into his arms, dancing him out of the kitchen and into the living room.

“I need to finish this if we’re going to eat,” Willy said, nearly tripping over his own feet. Reggie held him up, and they moved more easily together once Willy relaxed.

“There you go. I take it you’ve never been dancing,” Reggie said, holding Willy closer and letting the music work its way through him. “Is that something your dad doesn’t allow?”

“No. He and Mom used to go dancing together sometimes. There’s plenty of dancing in the Bible, so he isn’t against that. But I never learned. I’m kind of uncoordinated. Mom tried to teach me once, but I ended up falling and breaking a lamp. There were no more dance lessons after that. Mom didn’t want to have to replace the rest of the furniture in the house.” Willy laughed, and Reggie chuckled against his neck, inhaling his deep, musky scent and letting it fill him as the song came to an end. He let Willy go, glad for a breather and maybe a little distance. Sitting on that stool was going to be difficult for a few minutes. Reggie only hoped his excitement wasn’t too obvious.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“See what you have for salad dressing.” Willy put the pasta in the boiling water and began making up the pesto, which smelled mouthwateringly good within minutes. Reggie had some honey mustard and a bottle of ranch dressing and put them on the counter. Then he helped butter the bread, and Willy put it into the oven.

Reggie should have made sure he had a snack of some sort other than crackers and cheese like he’d served the last night. Still, it wasn’t going to be long before dinner would be ready, though the scent was driving him crazy.

Willy took out the pasta and sauced it, then placed the bowl of salad on the island, as well as the pasta, before getting the garlic bread out of the oven and tipping it onto a plate. Reggie got a couple of beers from the refrigerator to complete the feast, and they sat side by side on the stools.

“Wow, this is awesome,” Reggie said around his first bite of linguini. The scent had nothing on the rich creaminess of the pesto sauce.

“I read about this in a magazine and made it for some friends when I was in college. But I never made it for my family.” Willy shrugged.

“Where did you go to college?”

“I got into UC Davis, and I was there for two years. I had it good there and enjoyed it. I was Willy for that time, but budget cuts meant that my scholarship money dried up, and Dad wasn’t going to help pay for it. He likes to think he runs the town, but one thing I do know, my father is honest as far as money is concerned. He doesn’t take any from anyone and only pulls his salary from the church. So there isn’t a whole lot to go around. After that, I came back here. How about you?”

“I’m a Davis alum as well. But I was probably there and gone before you. I majored in criminal justice.” Reggie took another bite of pasta. “I started out as a sheriff’s deputy in the Fresno area, where I did well and helped on some high-profile cases. I busted a huge drug distribution ring, and that got me some recognition. I was asked to take over a department that was struggling, and when I agreed, they sent me here.”

“So this is your first time as sheriff? You do seem young.” Willy took a bite of a piece of garlic bread, and Reggie reached for one as well.

“I was acting sheriff there after my boss was implicated in the ring I broke up.” Reggie sighed. “That was the hardest thing I ever had to do. He’d taught me what I know and given me my first break, but he was dirty. That really shook me up.” The decisions he’d had to make had nearly torn his soul apart. In the end, he’d done what was right, but it had ripped him apart emotionally. “I looked at the guy like a second father.”

“I’m sorry.” Willy placed his hand on top of Reggie’s, their fingers curling together. “What about your family?”

Reggie took a bite of bread, just garlicky and gooey enough to be totally decadent. “Mom and Dad are in Sacramento. They’re proud of me, and my dad was right there for me when the shit hit the fan. My sister, Janine, was ready to marshal the troops and have them there to buck me up. But I needed to work through it on my own.” That was partially why he was so careful about relationships now. He had built a very close one with Sheriff Andy, and look what happened. It was best to keep professional relationships and personal ones as far apart as possible. And he’d done that… up until a certain young man with the most amazing eyes walked into his station.

“You know, I’m tired of talking about families. Mine pretty much sucks.”

“Then what would you like to talk about?” Reggie was more than willing to change the subject.

“Oh!” Willy’s eyes brightened and he leaned closer. “I think I got a job. John Webster down at the drugstore is looking for someone to help him with his books. The person who was helping him quit, and he’s been trying to do it himself and is going crazy. I took accounting classes in college, so I can help him do that. He’s happy and says that bookkeeping is a half-time job, but he can use me to watch the store and things when he’s gone, so that would be the rest of the time. I’m not going to get rich or anything, but I will be able to have some money of my own.”

“What did your dad say?”

“I didn’t tell him yet. I talked to Mr. Webster just before I came here, but he wants me to start on Monday. So that’s really good.” Willy practically bounced on the stool. “The really nice thing is that Mr. Webster is Catholic, so he isn’t one of the folks who’s beholden to Dad. He wants me for me and what I can do.”

“That’s great.” Reggie smiled.

Willy bit his lower lip. “The only thing is that Mr. Webster is open on Sundays. He’s about the only store that is, but he said that people need things and they come in all the time. He doesn’t open till after noon, but it means that some days I’d have to leave church early. But the store is just down the street, so I can be there in five minutes. It won’t be too big a deal.”

“You deserve to have your own life.” Reggie lifted his beer bottle and clinked it with Willy’s. They shared a smile and then drank. “Sometimes fathers think they know what’s best for their children. Maybe they do sometimes, but we have to find out on our own.”

“Maybe once I get settled in this job, I can find a place of my own to live. That would be best. Then I’d be away from him. But I suppose I need to go one step at a time.” Willy was still so excited, and Reggie was amazingly happy for him. Taking the first steps on one’s own was a big deal, though it highlighted just how big the age and experience difference was between them. “How was your day after all the court stuff?”

“Busy, but relatively uneventful, thank goodness. I took some calls, mostly community-service-type things, and did some patrolling.” Reggie didn’t explain about the rest area and the stepped-up patrols he’d ordered there. He figured there was more going on there than just a little quick gratification.

They ate companionably. Reggie couldn’t help glancing over at Willy every few minutes just to check on him. Reggie wished he’d have sat on the other side of the counter so he could watch Willy more closely. On second thought, Reggie was already doing his best to keep his napkin stretched over his lap to hide his erection. Just being this close to Willy had that effect on him. Not that he had any intention of acting on it, even though his instinct pushed him to take Willy and show him just how wonderful things could be between two people.

Reggie stifled a sigh once he was finished eating. He needed to put some distance between them. Reggie was already sweating, and not from the heat. Every time he inhaled, he scented Willy. Maybe it was his cologne, but Reggie didn’t think so. He was pretty sure he kept smelling pure Willy, and it was driving him crazy.

He put his dishes in the sink and began gathering up the leftover bread and pasta to wrap it up and put it away. Between them they had eaten all of the salad, so he put that bowl in the sink.

“I appreciate you coming to make me dinner. You didn’t have to, but it was a real treat.” Reggie smiled and then finished the cleanup.

“I see…,” Willy said softly. “I really should get going.”

Reggie didn’t mean to make Willy feel bad, but Willy was a huge source of temptation. Reggie turned around, pulling his hands out from under the warm water. “I don’t know what you want from me,” he admitted. “Or maybe I do.” Fuck it all to hell, he hated being nervous. In his job, it was action, caution, and confidence that kept you on your toes and alive. Inaction could be just as fatal as making the wrong move.

“I feel like a fool,” Willy whispered. “Maybe I am too… naïve for words.” He rolled his eyes and looked about two seconds from slapping himself. “I figured I’d come over here and make you dinner, and we’d talk and you’d see that I’m a nice guy, maybe sort of cute….” His half smile certainly was—there was no denying that for a second. “I thought that maybe you liked me and that….” He sighed. “Ruthie hates to cook, and Mom is always telling her that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. At least that’s how she claims to have caught my father….”

“Is that what you wanted—to catch me?” Reggie was flattered and a little bowled over by the simple, old-fashioned approach. He walked to where Willy stood and embraced him gently. “You’re an amazing young man. Don’t let anything tell you otherwise, ever.” He tightened his hug, and Willy wound his arms around Reggie’s waist.

“Sometimes I wish I was like everyone else. Then I wouldn’t have to hide and could be myself.” Willy squeezed him. “I just want what everyone else has.” He lifted his gaze, and Reggie nodded. He understood that sentiment so very clearly.

“I hide too,” Reggie admitted. “When I want to have fun, I go to Sacramento. I never see anyone where I work. That’s where we met, on one of those evenings. Those friends all live very open lives, but I keep mine closed. The people who appointed me to my position here do know that I’m gay.” Reggie swallowed very hard. “I love my job and I love what I do. As much as I want to be able to say that my being gay doesn’t make a difference, I know that’s not really true. It will make a difference. And who knows how the people here will take it?”

“So you’re staying away from me because of them?” Willy asked.

Reggie chuckled, burying his nose on Willy’s soft hair. Without thinking, he inhaled and had to stifle a groan. “No. I’m staying away because I’m afraid you’ll become addictive, and the two of us being together is dangerous. You have a pretty good idea how your father will react. Imagine what would happen if it came out that you and I are together.” Reggie closed his eyes and held a little tighter because what he was saying made his throat ache and close up as though it wanted to stop what he was saying.

“I guess I know,” Willy said, lifting his gaze, and when Reggie met those incredible blue eyes, they drew him in like a magnet, a force he couldn’t control, until he had to stop. Willy’s heated breath touched his lips, ghosting over them. Reggie froze, holding at bay the urge to take what he wanted. This was a moment of decision, and it had to be Willy’s. He had to make the final move.

Their lips touched, Willy closing the distance. A frisson of electricity shot between them. Reggie tried to keep the kiss gentle, but Willy pressed closer, so he went with it. His right leg shook slightly with excitement, and Reggie slid a hand down Willy’s back, along the curve, and then down to the top of one of his cheeks. Each step forward was fraught with peril as Reggie inched toward an abyss that there would be no turning back from.

Somehow he managed to break their kiss. “We need to take things slow, okay?” Reggie’s heart pounded and the thumping rang in his ears. He took a deep breath and held it, hoping to give his head some time to clear from the fog of pure desire that had fallen over it. He blew out the breath he was holding.

“Yes, slow,” Willy agreed and kissed him again, harder, Willy quivering in Reggie’s arms. Somehow he knew he’d just been lied to, but Reggie was too far gone to care. Willy practically hung off him, making soft noises in the back of his throat, stoking Reggie’s desire by the second. Reggie held him closer, groaning himself as Willy’s cock pressed to his. God, he hated the layers of clothing between them, and yet they were the only things preventing him from throwing Willy over his shoulder, carrying him to the bedroom, and tossing him on the bed. His imagination raced with images of Willy naked on his bed, smiling up at him, pale skin against the burgundy coverlet.

Reggie stilled and then backed away, his arms slipping from around Willy. “Okay….” Damn, he needed a second, because what the fucking hell? Willy was better than a dose of Viagra, and Reggie needed to be able to think. His rules. Reggie needed to remember the rules. They were there for his safety and future. He wasn’t supposed to be doing this.

“Okay. I take it this is the ‘taking it slow’ part?” Willy said, his breath coming in soft pants.

Reggie nodded. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?” He didn’t want Willy to go. “I have some in there if you want to stay. You could pick one out, and I’ll be right back.” He needed a little distance. And a damn beer.

He got a beer and brought Willy the soda he asked for, then sat next to him on the sofa. Reggie thought about taking one of the chairs, but that seemed like a dick move and would send the wrong message. He didn’t want Willy to think he didn’t desire him. The problem was, he was too damned cute for words. “What did you pick?”

Willy pressed start, and Reggie laughed outright. “A Million Ways to Die in the West?” A slapstick comedy. “I wouldn’t have expected that.”

“My dad would have a fit if he knew.” Willy rubbed his hands together in delight.

Reggie took a swig from his bottle of Corona and sat back. As the movie played, they laughed and groaned at some of the jokes together. About halfway through the movie, Willy leaned against him, and Reggie put his arm around Willy’s shoulder. This was so nice, calm, and quiet, gentle… almost domestic.

“I like this,” Willy whispered as the credits rolled at the end of the movie. “It’s nice just being here with you.” He stretched out on the sofa, reminding Reggie of a cat who had just awakened from a nap.

When Willy put his arms over his head, his shirt rode up, treating Reggie to the amazing sight of that strip of glorious pale skin just above his belt. Reggie swallowed to keep from drooling, and Willy shifted to get closer.

“I really do have to go. I have some things I have to do at the church for my dad, and I figure I better break the news to him about my job.” The few hours of relaxation for Willy seemed to be over, and as his nervousness returned, it was palpable.

“Look, you can use my guest room again if you want.” Reggie knew he was doing the right thing to try to help him. He drew Willy into another hug. “I don’t want you feeling this way.”

Willy shook his head. “I don’t have an excuse this time, and I need to go home and face my father. There is no other way. It’s a job, after all. It’s not like I’m running away to become a Moonie or something.”

“Yeah, I bet your father would have a seizure if you did that.”

Willy’s chuckle morphed into a full-blown laugh. “That vein in his neck would throb and then his head would explode.” He rubbed his hands together. “How fast do you think I can find them?” He was kidding, of course, but it added a few moments of levity. Willy got up, and Reggie did the same, taking care of the bottles and cans, dumping them into the recycling bin.

“Then you should go. But hopefully I’ll see you soon.” Reggie would have to make sure of it. He walked Willy to the door and said good night before kissing him goodbye. Okay, what started out as a goodbye kiss quickly turned into Reggie pressing Willy to the back of the door in a full-on make-out session that curled his toes. He only pulled away when he ran out of breath. Reggie fumbled a few times getting the door open and stood on the front porch as Willy got in the old car and backed down the drive, then drove away.

Reggie didn’t close the door until the taillights could no longer be seen. Then he leaned against the back of the door, still breathing heavily, but he couldn’t help smiling. Willy clearly liked him, but he was playing a fairly dangerous game, regardless of how he looked at it. Well, it wasn’t too late yet. He could back away and not see Willy anymore. But Reggie knew that was a stupid notion. His heart was already involved, to a degree, and Reggie wasn’t the kind of guy who backed down from a fight or from what he wanted. He didn’t announce that he was gay, but he wasn’t going to deny it either. It was just that if things progressed with Willy, they were going to come to a crossroads, and both of them were going to have to make some hard decisions.

Reggie checked his phone, grateful there were no messages or calls. He also called in to the switchboard just to ensure they knew how to get in touch with him if required, and then he turned out the lights, got undressed, and climbed into bed.

He fell to sleep quickly and was just getting into a wonderful dream starring Willy in a very underdressed state when a persistent beeping pulled him out of it. He snatched his phone off the nightstand and groaned before answering the call as he got dressed once again.