Chapter Six
LINDSEY STOOD in his closet wearing teal boxer briefs and nothing else. How did one look really, really good—irresistible, in fact—without trying too hard?
Damn. He stalked from the closet, crossed to his big bed, and sat. He never wore the teal boxers unless he planned on getting some. What exactly did he have in mind? Murder/suicide? Jesus.
Of course, just because Zakowsky had called didn’t mean he was planning on seducing Lindsey. Ha, as if seduction would be required. But the chances of sex happening had gone up several thousand times since Seth had clearly made up an excuse to take Lindsey out. Did he have sex in mind? And if so, could Lindsey do it? Could he control himself when all he wanted to do was lose control?
Get dressed. He’d agreed to go and boxer briefs were not dress code at the country club. Besides, if nothing else, he’d find out more about how far along the police were in capturing the kidnappers. Yes, that was his story.
Back in the closet, he chose tight black slacks, a white dress shirt, a teal leather sport coat to match his boxers, and black ankle boots. He layered his favorite lavender scarf into the open neck of the shirt and added a diamond earring into his pierced right ear. The golden hair flowing free around his face added the final touch. There. He might as well emphasize how completely he wasn’t Seth’s type. It would save everyone a lot of torn clothing and scratches on their backs.
One last glance in the mirror and he headed out the door of his suite. He was halfway down the stairs to the main floor when the doorbell rang. Wow. Heart racing. Rooted to the spot. He heard James, his butler, greet the guest. Then Seth’s deep, rumbly baritone followed. Could you have an orgasm from the sound of a voice? Add that man’s heavenly smell and Lindsey was a goner.
James walked into the receiving room, leading Seth. The butler looked up and saw Lindsey—stuck. “Oh, sir. I didn’t know you were here. Uh, you have a guest.”
Seth stared at him. He stared at Seth. A gray suit. He wore a gray suit that fit like it had been tailored to his broad shoulders and big biceps. He’d pulled his hair back tight but the tendrils escaped as always. Funny, the soft hair didn’t feminize that chiseled face. It just made him look more male in contrast. Best of all, he’d tucked the scarf Lindsey had given him into the neck of his white shirt. Lindsey swallowed hard.
Seth kept staring.
Lindsey’s grandfather’s voice came from his right. “Excuse me, don’t mean to interrupt.”
What? Oh. Lindsey looked toward his grandfather, who had walked in from the living room. “Oh, uh, hi, Pop-Pop.”
The old man grinned. “Since Lindsey seems to have lost his voice, I’m Casper Vanessen.” He stuck a hand out to Seth. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Seth Zakowsky.”
“Yes, the policeman, I believe.”
Lindsey gave himself a little shake. “Pop-Pop, Seth is a specialist in kidnapping. I met him at Dave’s.”
“Ah-ha. And you two are going—?” He waved a hand inquiringly.
Lindsey swallowed. “To the country club, sir.”
Seth nodded. “Lindsey was kind enough to offer to introduce me around. We can’t really investigate the kidnappings without looking into the people closest to the families.”
The old man looked intently at Seth. “Very wise, of course. I hope you two have a lovely evening.”
Lindsey took a breath and forced his feet to move. “Thank you, sir.” He walked over and kissed the old man’s cheek. Hidden from Seth, Pop-Pop gave him a wink. He grinned back. Though grinning may not have been the optimum response.
He turned to Seth. “Shall we go?” He raised a brow. “We wouldn’t want any of those suspects to get away while we dillydally.”
James held his cashmere overcoat while he slipped it on, and he walked to the side door toward the garage. He glanced back to be sure Seth was following, cleared the portico in a few steps, and opened the door to the huge house of vehicles. He swept his hand out in an arc. “Pick a car, any car.”
Seth walked up to him. “I’m sorry I made the whole evening sound so professional, but I wasn’t sure what you might have said to your grandfather.”
Hmm. “But then, it is professional, isn’t it?”
Seth frowned. “Yes, of course.”
Lindsey looked back at the cars. “So choose. We might as well have a little fun while you catch a kidnapper.”
That got the half grin. “The Roadster.”
“Done.”
Seth climbed in the sports car while Lindsey got in the driver’s seat. He was a good driver. Might as well prove it. “Buckle up and hold on.”
He backed out of the garage, traveled down the private road sedately, and came to the stop sign at the country road that led to the club. Seth snorted. “Uh, I’m waiting.”
Lindsey toggled the pedals and took off like a wolf in heat. Seth pressed back against the leather seat. “She-it!”
“Zero to sixty in three point seven seconds, darling.”
“Yeah, well, we left sixty a distance back.” He held on, but he was smiling.
The trees raced by in a blur. “So true, but sadly they’ve software limited the car to one hundred and twenty top speed, so you’ll have to find your thrills elsewhere.”
“Uh, this will do nicely.”
Lindsey glanced at him, then back at the road. “How disappointing.”
Seth laughed, though he sounded a little uneasy. It only took about four minutes before Lindsey pulled in to the parking lot for the club. Another sad valet, but he never let them touch his babies.
Seth unfolded from the passenger seat as Lindsey got out his side. Seth stared over the low hood of the car. “Anything I should know?” He walked over beside Lindsey.
Lindsey inhaled the crisp night air lush with the smell of pine. “They’re just people. Sometimes they can seem a little naïve or even callous, but it’s usually not because they’re nasty, let-them-eat-cake conservatives. It’s just that their money insulates them from some of the horrors and seedier aspects of life.” He leaned against the car and crossed his arms. “Still, they have a lot of responsibility. Power corrupts, but it also keeps you up at night.”
Seth stared at him. “Well, shit. I think you just prevented me from my favorite pastime of hating the rich.”
Lindsey smiled. “Like all people, some of them deserve to be hated, but some do a lot of good. Let’s go inside before we freeze.” Not likely in his case. Werewolf body temperature ran several degrees above human. His came out somewhere in the middle.
Seth didn’t say anything as they entered the club and Lindsey requested a table for dinner. “Let’s hang out at the bar until the table’s ready. All the better to, shall we say, observe?”
Seth nodded, and Lindsey led the way into the bar. The spot would be busier later after most people had eaten, but he still saw many friends and waved and patted his way across the room to a cocktail table in the corner.
The waiter arrived, and Lindsey looked at Seth. “What would you like?”
Seth glanced around like someone might catch him drinking on duty. “Uh, beer. Whatever you have on tap.”
“Vermouth on the rocks with a twist.”
When the waiter walked away, Lindsey glanced at Seth, who was looking around at the cozy room with its fireplace and muted colors. People sat in small groups at tables and several at the big bar. Seth nodded at him. “You know a lot of people.”
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. They have a lot of events that include children.”
“So your father died.”
Maybe not. Who knew where his real father was? “Yes. Before I was born. My mother and grandparents raised me, and no one could have been better.”
Seth smiled softly. “Yeah, I have great parents too. Makes it easier being gay, don’t you think?”
“Immeasurably, I’m sure, though I have no other direct experience.”
“You didn’t get bullied in school?”
“Oddly, no. But I’ve always known how to fight, you see. And people knew I knew.” He laughed. “So even if they hated me, they left me alone.”
The waiter brought their drinks and Lindsey signed.
Seth frowned. “The department is paying.”
“We’ll send them a bill.” He grinned.
Seth nodded. “Be sure you do. Before when you were talking about the rich people, you said ‘they,’ not ‘we.’ Aren’t you speaking from experience?”
“Indirectly. I’m just a kid in my grandfather’s enterprises.”
“Will you head the whole thing some day?”
“Maybe.” He sighed. “No one really runs the whole thing anymore. There are boards and some of the companies have shareholders. I wouldn’t mind having a simpler life.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Global programs to eradicate hunger. Homes for orphan kids.” He laughed. “I guess that’s not simpler, is it?” He shrugged and stared at the fire. “I’d like to have a home and someone to love.” Oh crap, why did I say that? Slowly he looked up into those bright amber eyes. But they seemed miles away.
“Lindsey, my man.”
Lindsey dragged his eyes away from Seth as a hand landed on his shoulder, and he looked up at one of the club’s older members. “Hello, Ronald. How are you tonight?”
“Might ask you the same thing.” He smiled and waggled his brows. Despite his age, Ronald loved demonstrating his open mind, and Lindsey gave him every credit.
“Ronald, this is my friend, Seth Zakowsky.”
The old man leaned across the table and shook Seth’s big hand. “Glad to meet you. Any friend of Lindsey’s, as they say.” He looked back at Lindsey. “I heard via the hush-hush grapevine what you did for Dave and I wanted to say thank you.”
Lindsey shook his head. “Didn’t do a thing. As it turned out, it wasn’t necessary.”
Ronald chuckled. “Thanks to Super Granny. Who on earth do you suppose she is?”
Lindsey glanced at Seth, whose eyebrows were so drawn together they touched. “Uh, no idea, darling.”
“They say she’s really tall. Maybe a man, do you think?”
Well, damn. How to get out of this gracefully? “The girls she’s saved say she sounds and acts like a granny. Who knows?” He shrugged and sipped his vermouth.
Ronald clapped his hands together once. “Kind of exciting having a superhero on our hands. Right here in Connecticut. Just like the movies.”
Hell. “Actually, she’s pretty fun to think about, but I’ll bet she’s a nightmare to the police.”
“Oh? How so?”
Seth stared at Lindsey like he’d finally said something interesting.
“Think about it. An old woman insinuating herself into these frightening, dangerous situations. My heavens, the police might just as easily have to rescue her along with the people she’s trying to save. Hasn’t she heard of 911?”
“You have a good point there, Lindsey.” Ronald nodded to himself. “But I sure am glad these kidnappers appear to have been stopped in their tracks by having their latest victim rescued. My God, people couldn’t sleep at night for fear of what might happen.”
“Let’s hope they have been stopped.” Lindsey glanced at Seth.
The old man’s eyes widened. “You don’t think they’ll try again?”
Lindsey fanned himself with his hand. “Heaven forefend, but they haven’t caught them. Not the ringleaders, anyway.”
“Well, I’m going to think positive.” Ronald grinned and shoved an elbow against Lindsey’s shoulder. “And if they come back, we’ve still got Super Granny.” He laughed. “Thanks again, Lindsey. You and your whole family are a credit to your good name. See you soon. Good to meet you, Seth.”
He walked off, still chuckling.
Seth leaned forward. “I’m so glad you fucking get it about this damned vigilante. She, he, whatever, is a threat to the whole case.”
“I really said that just to subdue the superhero mentality.” He frowned. “Surely she’s not as bad as all that.” WTF. He had rescued Carla.
“She’s every bit as bad as you said. God, she could get in the line of fire and the public would castigate the police for killing a civilian. She’s messing with crime scenes and probably contaminating evidence. She—”
“Pardon me, sir. Your table is ready.”
Saved by the maître d’! “Thank you, Peter.” He jumped up. Two more minutes of hearing Seth damn his rescue efforts and grandma just might turn into the big bad wolf.
He walked toward the dining room and assumed Seth would catch up.
Ironically, Peter had chosen the same romantic table he’d seated Lindsey at with Bruce. Moonlight, privacy, candles. Peter walked behind the chair to hold it for Lindsey and Seth stepped in front of him. “Thanks, I’ve got it.”
My oh my.
The big guy pulled out the chair and scooted it under Lindsey’s butt as he sat. Seth’s voice came from over Lindsey’s shoulder, his breath tickling his ear—and his balls. “I’ve got an idea. How about we don’t charge the department for this? What if I just get the check? Then we don’t have to talk about crime the whole damned meal.”
“What a lovely idea.” Of course, he’d pay for it, but no use dampening the chivalry at this point.
Seth crossed to his chair, and Peter sprang to hold it for him. Seth nodded. “Thanks.”
Lindsey smiled at Peter. “Would you arrange for some lovely, dry champagne, please?”
“Your favorite, sir?”
“Yes, please.”
Peter walked away and Lindsey gazed at Seth. “Never fear. My treat.”
“Wasn’t fearing.”
Cute. The waiter brought the menus. Seth took his and started reading it. “What’s good here?”
Oh, what the hell. “You look pretty delicious, but aside from that, I’d recommend the filet or the sole.”
Seth stared at him with his mouth slightly open. “Okay.”
“Sorry. I just thought I’d stop playing around.” He looked down at his menu. “What would you like to eat?”
“You.”
Lindsey glanced up and his breath stopped. What was he doing? Easy answer. Having a cock attack of astronomical proportions. The thing pressed against his zipper so hard it might not hold.
The waiter walked over. “What can I get you, gentlemen?” At the same moment, the sommelier brought the champagne bucket, and suddenly their table was Grand fucking Central.
Lindsey stared at Seth. “I’ll have prime rib, bloody rare.”
“What sort of potato, sir? Baked, mashed?”
The waiter must be new. “I don’t do vegetables. Thank you. Just the prime rib.”
The man swallowed. “Yes, sir.” He looked at Seth. “And you, sir?”
Seth’s eyes blazed gold and never left Lindsey’s. “The same, same way. But I’ll have a salad with bleu cheese.”
“Very good. I’ll bring you some bread.” He scampered away. Too hot at their table. Run, rabbit, run.
With champagne bubbling in their glasses, the sommelier left. Alone at last. Sort of.
Seth stared into his glass. “You’re not my type at all.”
Well, fuck you. “I rather assumed that. Oh well, drink the champagne anyway.” The heat of tears pressed behind his eyes. Forget about it.
“Everything about you weirds me out.” Seth didn’t look up. Those bubbles must be mesmerizing. “Your fucking silk scarves and purple shoes. Your ‘darling’ this and ‘sweetheart’ that. I hate that shit.”
Lindsey spoke softly. “It’s not necessary to elaborate.” He downed the champagne in his glass.
“But then you get on that fucking horse and all I see is that ass and those thighs and I wish I was fucking Trigger. You’re pretty as a damned girl, but you command people like the king of something.”
Lindsey’s heart hammered in his chest.
“You’re confusing.” The gold eyes lifted slowly. “But I must fucking love being confused because I think about you all the time. I get horny in the middle of the damned day when somebody says your name. ‘Lindsey Vanessen volunteered to pay the ransom.’ Sprong. ‘Lindsey Vanessen will be attending the governor’s meeting.’ Hard-on. Crap, I may be confused about who you are, but I don’t know me at all.”
He could barely get the words out. “So wh-what are you trying to tell me?”
“That if I had my way, I’d be having you for dinner, and they wouldn’t let us back in the country club.”
Lindsey stared into those eyes and melted into goo. Oh shit. “Excuse me. I have to go to the men’s room.” He flew out of the chair, raced across the bar to the bathroom, and pushed inside. He stopped. Breathe. Think. He stepped into a stall and closed the door. Think, dammit.
He was walking off a cliff. No, running. Everything he’d done since Seth called and asked to go to the club had been preparation for sex. Sex he couldn’t have! What the hell did he have in mind? He must walk out there and calmly eat dinner, tell Seth thanks but no thanks, and go home. Never see the guy again.
Wow, that felt like a stake in the heart. The kind that could kill a werewolf. Still, if he liked the guy at all, he needed to protect him from the pack—and from Lindsey.
Okay, get it over with.
He opened the door to the stall and walked straight out into—Bruce. The man stood leaning against the sink, arms crossed, and a thundercloud all over his face. “So, just a friend, huh? You’ve even got him at the same romantic table we sat at. Man, you do go through them fast.”
“Give it up, Bruce. I said I brought him here for a friend and that’s the truth, not that I need to explain anything to you.” He started to walk by and Bruce grabbed his arm.
Lindsey stared down at it, and Bruce pulled his hand away like it had hit a hot iron. He even shook it a little. His bottom lip trembled. “I thought we had pretty incredible sex.”
Lindsey sighed. “It was very enjoyable.”
“Then why do you need someone else?”
Why indeed? Lindsey looked at Bruce. Really looked. Handsome, spoiled, and bland. A representative of a whole life of men stretched both behind and ahead of Lindsey. Condemned. To this.
He looked in the mirror. His own sad, lonely, lost blue eyes gazed back at him. While sitting out in the dining room at the romantic table was the cure for that condition. Seth. Someone with the power and vitality to cure the Bruce Blues. Okay, he couldn’t marry him. He didn’t have a future with him. But maybe just for one night, he could feel like himself. Like he was real and not some shadow puppet. Shit, maybe for one night he could feel excited to be alive.
“You’re smiling.” Bruce’s pouty voice sounded like an accusation.
“Yeah. Thank you for helping me set some things straight in my head, darling.”
Bruce smiled hopefully. “Oh? Good. What did you decide?”
“That life’s too short to drink cheap wine.” He smacked Bruce on the shoulder and ran past him out of the men’s room, almost mowing down their waiter in the process. “Excuse me.”
“No problem, sir. I was just at your table. Your guest seems a little anxious.”
“Is our meal ready?”
“I’m going to get it now.”
“Could you package it up to go, please, and give it to Peter? I’ve had something important come up and I need to leave.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, sir.”
“Don’t be sorry. Not sorry at all.” He took off at a fast walk, dodging tables with his eye fixed on the goal. A couple of people spoke to him and he nodded but didn’t stop. About halfway across the room, Seth looked up. He frowned, then cocked his head. A slow grin spread over his face.
Breathless, Lindsey stopped beside the table. “I’m starving.”
A crease popped out between Seth’s eyebrows. “So sit down and eat. You’ve been in the can for an hour.”
“Had some thinking to do.”
“About what? Whether to pee or shit?”
Lindsey grinned. Oh my, Seth was such a guy. He loved that. “No, I decided I ordered the wrong thing for my first course.”
Seth gave him a sideways glance. “It took a trip to the john to decide that?”
“Yep. I think I need another kind of meat.”
A grin tugged at Seth’s mouth. “Oh yeah?”
“Yes. I asked them to package up our meals. Peter has them at the front door. The bill is handled. Ready to go?”
“Holy shit. You do not waste time.”
“I’ve wasted too much time already.” He looked down at his hands resting on the table, then back up into Seth’s eyes. “I should warn you, I like to top.”
“Oh yeah? I’ll fight you for it.”
Lindsey laughed. “That, darling, is music to my ears. Come on.”