Evening was a blessed respite here in Hidden Creek, the way Orion had kind of forgotten about. After a long day of work on the farm and around the farmhouse, the afternoon mercury creeping up day by day, evening was his time to himself.

A few nights a week, like tonight, he made sure Gramma was set for the evening and came home to eat alone. But something was wrong.

He knew exactly what it was, if he was willing to admit it to himself: without seeing Gabriel, the week dragged by.

He was perfectly used to doing things on his own. Grocery shopping, cooking, housework on his own was fine with him. Buddies to drink beer with at a local bar or something was as much interaction as he’d figured he’d needed. No real close friends, but nobody to get in the way of his career.

Somehow, he’d wound up here, missing Gabriel’s cheerful smile and bright eyes. It had come all too easily: inviting Gabriel over, checking up on him during the day, helping him unload his beater of a car in the afternoon. But getting into a routine? He’d never planned that.

He hadn’t intentionally avoided the guy; life was just always busy on the farm. The harvest of tender spring crops—young spinach and spring onions, lettuce before it could bolt in the summer heat—demanded all hands.

Orion pushed open the window over the kitchen sink to let a breeze in, breathing in deeply and smiling to himself. Country air. He’d missed that, too.

Enough to give Joe his notice on Monday? He wasn’t sure, but he was thinking about it. The longer he stayed here, the more he dreaded heading back to Houston—and not just because his job awaited. There was so much more to miss about Hidden Creek this time than the last time he’d left it in the rearview mirror.

Orion’s phone rang, and he sighed at the stillness of the moment shattered.

Glancing at the name on the screen made Orion smile, at least. Gabriel. Worth the interruption.

“Hey,” he answered, jamming the phone between his ear and shoulder as he fished around in the sink for any stray cutlery he hadn’t washed.

Gabriel didn’t say anything at first, but he heard rattling in the background, and Gabriel’s voice saying something indistinguishable out loud, not into the phone. Well, it would have been hard to make out for anyone who hadn’t had a crappy earpiece before. Orion was pretty sure it was, “Hold on, I’m coming.”

He smiled, about to hang up and send a text to say he’d butt-dialed him, when he heard a sharper voice.

“About fucking time. Jesus.”

“Whoa!” That was Gabriel, louder. Nearby, but muffled. “What the fuck, man?”

Orion dropped the last pot in the sink and dried his hands in a flash, already moving for the door. He was calm on the surface, but it was nearly impossible to keep his cool inwardly.

Gabriel was in danger. He was already in no doubt about it. The only question was whether he could get over there fast enough—and if he should call the cops. But he couldn’t. That would mean hanging up.

Goddamn it, he bitterly regretted not getting a landline. On the other hand, he wouldn’t have been able to call from it and drive toward Gabriel’s house as fast as his car would take him.

He listened intently as he pulled on his shoes and grabbed his keys. The voices were muffled again, but not loud, at least. If Chad was there, he wasn’t taking it out on Gabriel… yet.

Then, a text from Gabriel made him switch from his phone to messages, putting it on speakerphone as he balanced his phone on the dash.

Art Chad drunk guns.

That was all, but it was enough of a heads-up for him. He knew what he was walking into, and he could prepare to defuse the situation accordingly.

Both of them? Of course Art was taking Chad’s side, if there was conflict. From what little he knew about them both, they seemed similar. And Chad could use Art to get at Gabriel. Orion had no doubt he was that spiteful.

Neither Chad nor Art were really bad guys, Orion was pretty sure. He knew their type. They were easily led to believe or do shitty things because they were bitter about the lot life had handed them, but unwilling to work for more. Worse, even if they wanted more, often, life just beat them down again. Given a good chance at something they cared about, and someone who believed in them, guys like them could move the world.

On the other hand, Chad clearly realized how lucky he’d be to have Gabriel at his side, and crimes of passion weren’t a myth.

Orion reversed out of the driveway fast, sending gravel flying as he floored it toward Art’s house—not quite in the center of town, but certainly closer than the farm.

The voices were still too muffled to hear what was going on, but Orion took comfort that no more shouting was going on. His knuckles were white on the wheel. He couldn’t restrain his emotions any more than he was doing.

It was something about Gabriel. I can’t let go of him, Orion thought, and just like that, clarity hit him.

He had to choose this life. Somehow, he had to make it work. He’d lived more in these few weeks than he’d done in his last year—maybe the last couple years—on the job.

Love came first. For his family, for Gabriel, and for the town that he’d grown up in. The other cities he’d spent his last few years in were usually big, exciting, colorful--especially when he was protecting VIPs. It felt like being a spy in plain sight, blocking his client from flashbulbs, slipping into the press without a name or a moment’s interest in who he was.

But here, people cared about who he was. And whether or not Gabriel saw it, they cared about him, too.

He was finally turning the last corner. He wrenched the wheel to park in front of Art’s house, slowing as he approached, all his senses on high alert. It didn’t take an observational genius to see the scene unfolding in front of the cars in the front yard.

Gabriel leaned against his car while Art stood next to him, arms folded, glowering. Chad hung back slightly, sitting on the hood of the car, a beer bottle in his hand.

Both of them had handguns tucked into the front of the waistbands of their jeans, not even close to hidden. They glinted in the glare of his headlights.

Idiots. Didn’t they care about their junk? Not Orion’s problem, though. Gabriel’s safety was his first concern.

All three men turned to see him, and their reactions were very different.

Gabriel smiled, but it was taut and fearful. He was trying to keep a brave face and stay casual, like he was surprised to see Orion there.

Chad sneered, gulping from his beer bottle as he slowly rose to his feet.

Art wasn’t as hostile as Chad, but he also looked… put out, like a toddler whose tantrum had been interrupted.

Orion parked along the street so as not to get too close with his vehicle and provoke them. He climbed out, keeping his hands in plain sight so they could see he was unarmed, and wandered closer. His steps were casual, like he hadn’t noticed the group dynamics or the guns.

“Hey,” he greeted Gabriel with a wave. “Did you forget about me?”

Gabriel was smart enough to pick up the cue instantly. “Oh, shit.” Gabriel winced when the other two looked at him. “Sorry. I got caught up in… talking.” He trailed off, glancing at the others.

Orion was close now—close enough that Art was almost within reach. He pretended to notice the weirdness for the first time and slowed his steps. “Oh, sorry. Did I interrupt anything?”

Art snorted at him. “Nah. Just his car breaking down. And him hiding a shit-ton of money from me.”

“Oh?” Orion furrowed his brows. “Are you behind on rent?” He glanced at Gabriel.

Gabriel shook his head. “I’ve been paying up. He thinks I should pay more rent. We were talking it out.”

While he was trying to get out of here. Sure.

Orion nodded and clapped Gabe’s shoulder with a smile, pulling him gently away from the car and toward him so he could shelter him. “Well, sorry to get in the way, but I gotta steal Gabe for now. I’ll give him a lift tonight. We’ll call the auto shop tomorrow, huh?”

Gabriel breathed out and smiled slightly. “Thanks. I’ll just grab my stuff.”

Orion’s grip tightened on Gabriel’s shoulder. Nothing in there is more important than your life. Gabriel glanced back at him, then sighed and nodded. “Yeah, we’re late. Sorry.”

“What’s the rush?” Chad finally drawled, tossing the empty bottle away across the yard. That brought Orion a mixed sense of relief. One fewer weapon around here, but one more hand to reach for his gun.

“We had an appointment.”

“A date?” Chad challenged, tipping his chin up. He was leaning on the car again.

“Don’t see as it’s any of your business,” Orion said, but he gave Chad a friendly smile. He wasn’t going to piss him off completely when he was this far gone. “But no. See you boys tomorrow when we call the tow truck, no doubt.”

Art eyed him but waved them both off. “Fine. We’ll finish this later,” he told Gabriel. He shook his head and grabbed Chad’s arm, steering him toward the house.

Orion stood motionless, watching them head in. Only once they were inside did he relax slightly. “We’re getting out of here now. We can get your stuff tomorrow,” he told Gabriel quietly.

Gabriel dipped his head in a quick nod. He leaned down to open his car door and grab an armful of books from the front seat. “Ready.” It was impossible not to notice his hands shaking.

Orion kept his hand on Gabriel’s back as he steered him over to his car and opened the door for him. Once he was safely inside, he headed around the front of the car for the driver’s seat, trying to keep his expression neutral.

Even if the confrontation had been smoother than he’d expected, it had rattled him.

Gabriel was deathly silent for a good minute. When they were approaching the city limits, he started to unwind and breathe deeply. He only spoke up when the stretch of spaced-apart farmhouses came in sight. “I can’t believe that.”

Orion glanced over at him and reached out to rest a hand on his thigh. “You in shock?”

“Maybe,” Gabriel murmured, his gaze distant. He was looking ahead, not at Orion. “You… I was stuck. Fucking car. Stupid fucking engine wouldn’t fucking start.”

Orion was more than a little suspicious of the timing, but he let it go. The car was pretty old, after all. “Yeah. That’s shitty timing.”

“That was after… I mean, I called you first…” Gabriel trailed off into silence, his brows furrowing like he was trying to remember everything that had happened.

Orion pulled into the driveway and shut off the engine, then headed around to help Gabriel out of the passenger seat.

Even when he opened Gabriel’s door, Gabriel didn’t move. The books were still clutched against his chest like a shield. Orion had to reach in, over him, and unbuckle his seatbelt before he shifted, coming to.

Definitely shock.

“Hot chocolate and a warm blanket for you,” Orion told him softly as he helped him get up and out of the car. After he locked the doors, Orion led the way inside.

Gabriel headed straight for the couch once he’d kicked off his shoes. He finally put down the books on the coffee table and curled up on one end of the couch. As if unaware a minute had passed since Orion spoke, he nodded. “Hot chocolate sounds great.”

“Coming right up.”

By the time Orion carried two mugs of it back to the living room, Gabriel looked more like himself. He met Orion’s eyes and even smiled. “Thanks. For everything.”

“You’re more than welcome.” Orion sat next to Gabriel, wrapping his arm around his shoulders when Gabe took the mug.

They sat like that in silence for a few minutes as they each blew on their own mug and sipped the hot chocolate. The sweetness would help Gabriel get through the shock, and he’d keep an eye out for more symptoms. Taking care of Gabriel was grounding for him.

Orion didn’t push Gabriel to talk about it. He needed space and safety to process it on his own terms. If Orion could give him that much, he hoped it would be enough.

When their mugs were empty, Gabriel leaned in to kiss him. After a moment of surprise, Orion kissed back. He made it as gentle as he knew how, keeping his arms around Gabriel’s shoulders.

The adrenaline must have been fading. Gabriel’s eyelids looked heavy—he kept blinking rapidly as if trying to stay awake.

“Let’s get you to bed,” Orion told him, leading him upstairs to change into a spare pair of PJs. Orion sure as hell wasn’t letting Gabriel go to bed alone after that. The moment wasn’t exactly right to celebrate finally sleeping together for real, though.

When Gabriel was nestled in the crook of his arm, the lights off, Orion rubbed his shoulder lightly. “You okay?” He finally couldn’t resist the question.

“Yeah. I will be,” Gabriel murmured back, his palm on Orion’s chest, cheek tucked into the crook of his arm. “Thank you. A lot.”

“Of course. I… You…” Orion didn’t know how to say it. He cleared his throat. “I care about you.”

Gabriel’s chuckle was audible but soft. “I like you, too,” he said.

Orion tried not to let his heart race. He was supposed to be getting sleepy, after all. But hearing those words from Gabriel…

Well, it made him think about a possible future. Not just for us individually, he thought, tightening his grip on Gabriel to hug him for a few seconds. But us together.

An us with Gabriel was amazing to think about.

“I’m tired of fighting it,” Gabriel murmured softly. “And you. You were right. I need to get out of there.”

“Come live with me. I’m not leaving next week. I don’t know when, yet,” Orion told him. “But I’ll make sure you’re safe and settled, no matter what.”

Gabriel chuckled. His voice was soft, sleepy. “I trust you.”

Those three little words meant the world to Orion. His eyes burned, but he held back the tears and didn’t stop gently caressing Gabriel’s shoulder. “Good. Get some sleep, hon.”

After his breathing grew slow and steady, Orion lay awake, gazing into the darkness. If he’d had no idea what he was doing a few weeks ago, the feeling had only intensified now. He was completely out of his depth, but also more committed to seeing this through than ever before.

I guess I’m giving them my notice, then. That much was clear. He sighed, finally closing his eyes as the weight of the unmade decision lifted from his shoulders.

The rest of his life was clear as mud, but lying here with Gabriel tucked against his body, he found himself weirdly okay with that. As long as he could keep Gabriel safe, one night at a time, everything else would fall into place.