Chapter Eight
Rand Summer 2016
Arriving at the Moores’ cottage at Martha’s Vineyard, Rand was impressed with the stunning view. It was like something you normally only saw in a painting or a magazine or splashed across a movie screen. He was taking it all in when something—well, someone—on the beach caught his eye.
“Who is that?” Rand asked.
“Gonna have to be more specific,” Frank responded.
As it turned out, blond and beautiful had a name, Shannon Dupree. He also had a boyfriend, Agent Rory Landers. Well, Rand was always up for a good challenge. “We’ll just see about that.”
“Rand, seriously, do not start any shit here today.” He waved off Frank’s warning, walking the path down to the beach. Good lord, but the man was beautiful. Tall and thin with white-blond hair and eyes the color of the sky on a sunny day, Shannon Dupree was captivating. Oddly, Rand found himself watching both Shannon and Rory with rapt attention. He’d rarely seen this side of the agent he worked with closely as of late. He’d let his hair grow out and had it pulled back into a ponytail, his green eyes full of mischief as he watched Shannon spinning in a circle, laughing.
Taylor took a seat beside him, offering Rand a fresh beer and he took it, downing the last few sips before setting the empty bottle on the table. “Which one of them has you staring so intently?”
Rand answered him without thinking. “Both.”
“Listen, Rand. Shannon and I go back a few years and…” he turned to look at Taylor. He was watching Shannon the way Rand watched Claire—like a big brother. “He’s very important to me, and I don’t want to see him hurt. So whatever ideas are floating around that thick skull of yours, you better be damn sure about it before you start anything…” Rand nodded, agreeing with the logic. “Unless you’re considering going after them both.” Rand sputtered, choking on the swig of beer he’d taken. Taylor laughed, smacking him on the back, hard.
“You can’t be serious,” Rand finally managed to say.
“Completely,” Taylor looked at him.
“What…I…really?”
Taylor shrugged, “Why not? It always works in the gay romance books I read. I saw a story online awhile back that featured several throuples—that’s what they call themselves when there are three in a relationship. And that online gay porn site, All Cocks—it’s run by three men that are married.”
He was speechless for probably the first time ever in his life. Taylor had to be jerking his leg, picking on the new guy. That was it. Rand was being initiated into their group; this was just a cruel joke. “Get the fuck outta here.” He waved Taylor off.
When they all moved into the tent to eat, Rand made sure he sat across from the two men he’d spent the better part of the afternoon watching. They really were lovely, holding hands and feeding each other, smiling and laughing. Rand caught himself watching the way they moved together, wondering how he would fit between them. Would Shannon throw his head back and laugh at something Rand said the way he did with Rory? And would the annoying agent lean into him and kiss Rand softly on the shoulder the way he did Shannon?
Fucking hell. You’ve lost your mind, Davis! It’s Taylor’s fault with all that romance novel crap. Get a grip! Dismissing his wayward thoughts, Rand started a conversation with Frank’s father, Hubert, in an effort to ignore Rory and Shannon. When Frank stood and thanked them all for coming, then got down on one knee and proposed to Taylor, Rand’s attention was drawn back to Shannon when he squealed with delight.
“Oh, my God. Taylor, you’re engaged!” The blond jumped up and down, clapping before throwing his arms around Frank’s fiancé, the two of them hugging and crying. Rand chuckled; Shannon was adorable—there was no denying it. When he looked over, his eyes met Rory’s fiery gaze. Cocky and confident, Rand stared right back, neither man blinking. Rory finally looked away when Shannon sat back down, but he kept stealing glances at Rand. His very nature had Rand wanting to challenge Rory, but it was not the time nor the place.
Jesus, Davis, you so need to get laid. You’re way too high-strung. Yes, that was what it was, he told himself. He had a type, and Shannon checked off every box on the list. He’d resigned himself to jacking off in the shower when he got back to the hotel, stopping to say good night to Frank and Taylor. “I think I’m gonna head out, Moore. Thanks for inviting me.” He shook Frank’s hand, a little surprised to be pulled into a one-armed hug by the man.
“Thanks for coming. It meant a lot to Taylor and me to have you here. Be sure to catch him on your way out—he’s over by the garden with Billy.” Frank pointed toward the house.
Rand headed that way, blinking at the guy talking to Taylor. In the dark, he thought it was Shannon for a second, but the guy was bulkier and a few inches shorter. “Hey, Taylor, I’m heading out and wanted to say good night before I leave.” Another quick hug and he turned his attention to Billy. “Who’s your friend?”
“Rand this is our neighbor, Billy. His grandparents own the house next door. Billy, this is Detective Rand Davis. He works with Frank back in Dallas.” Taylor made the introductions.
“Well hello, Detective.” Billy looked him up and down, licking his lips and waggling his eyebrows.
“You’re about as subtle as a brick, Billy. Go home.” Taylor stepped in between them, laughing. “Night, Rand. I’ll see you at breakfast in the morning.” Shaking his head, Taylor walked away, leaving the two of them alone.
“So, Billy, got any plans this evening?” Rand asked, taking a step closer.
“I think so. You see, I’m hoping this sexy detective I just met might take me for a ride.”
“It might get a little bumpy. You see, I drive very, very fast.” Billy took his hand and Rand followed him around the house and back down to the docks. Inside the boathouse, they both got naked and Rand was never happier that he kept a condom and packet of lube in his wallet at all times. He liked to be prepared for anything. When he bent Billy over a bench and buried himself balls deep, Rand let himself pretend it was Shannon he was fucking. And in the darkness of the boathouse, the only light shining through the window making the young man’s blond hair look pale and white, it was easy enough to imagine it was Shannon’s body wrapped around him.
It turned out, screwing a stranger in the dark until his balls erupted, the rush so dizzying he almost passed out, was just what Rand needed to relax him. He slept like a baby, arriving back at the cottage the next morning with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Rory and Shannon were nowhere in sight, which was a little disappointing. When they sat down to eat, Rand asked if they should wait for the pair. “No, they left early this morning. Shannon had some stuff to do at the studio before next week’s classes start so they booked an ass crack of dawn flight back to Texas.” Frank joked.
“Studio?” Rand asked, taking the omelet Taylor’s mom handed him and muttering a quick “Thanks.”
“Shan and I own a business back in Dallas. Well, I’m a silent partner—the rest is all him. He teaches yoga and dance classes and lives in the space above the studio.” Taylor looked like a proud big brother talking about Shannon’s accomplishments.
Concentrating on his plate, Rand had a mouthful of eggs, sausage, and mushrooms when Frank leaned over and whispered to him, “So, Billy Cranston?” Sputtering and coughing, pieces of egg flying out of his mouth, Rand took a drink of juice to clear his throat. Frank and Taylor both laughed, obviously enjoying his discomfort. “I might have warned you that Billy boy is like a case of herpes, showing up when you least expect it and generally when you don’t want him to. But I didn’t think you’d be banging the next door neighbor in our boathouse.” Frank spoke quietly, and Rand was certain that only he and Taylor could hear him, but it was embarrassing nonetheless.
“Hey, I’m just fucking with you.” Frank grinned maniacally, having far too much fun at Rand’s expense.
“Back in the day, Billy and I used to fool around.” Taylor told him between bites of food.
Rand snorted. “When was that, in kindergarten?”
Frank and Taylor both laughed. “Good one.” Frank clapped him on the back.
When they were done eating, Rand helped clear the plates and put them into hot, soapy water. Standing at the sink looking out at the water, Rand cursed both Frank and Taylor when he caught Billy watching him from his porch. He winked and waved, and Rand knew it was time to get the hell out of dodge.