Finding Trust (Finding Series, Book 2) (2 page)

He dropped into the seat and got the car going and turned the air conditioning on full blast. It took several minutes for Dane to get the base secured and Emma settled. By the time he was sliding in the passenger seat, Jax was enjoying the first blast of cold air snaking over his heated skin. He got the car in gear and started down the dirt road that led to the main highway. A glance in his rearview mirror showed that Emma was out cold.

“Tough day for her,” he mused as he glanced at Dane. God, even now the man was stiff as a board. “Tough day all around, I suppose,” he corrected as he leaned back in his seat and enjoyed the cool feel of the ventilated, leather seats. Dane didn’t respond to him or acknowledge him in any way. His initial response was to lay into the doctor about being wound so tight, but then he noticed Dane was staring out the window, the knuckles of one hand fisted against his mouth as if he was trying to hold something in.

Jax knew he should just ignore the man, get him dropped off at his house as soon as possible and get his ass to a hotel. The sooner he put this day behind him, the sooner he could wake up, give the sheriff his statement and get the hell out of this hotter than Hades little town.

So he had no idea what had gotten into him when he said, “Hey, she’s okay, Doc” and reached out to brush his fingers over Dane’s left hand. Dane closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest.

“It was just supposed to be a fucking ride,” he said softly. Jax felt a punch in his gut when Dane’s tortured gaze landed on him. “I shouldn’t have left her in the car.”

“She’s here, Doc. She’s fine.”

“Don’t call me that,” he said in a clipped tone.

“Look, Dane, I don’t know shit about you, but even I can tell you love that kid more than anything. There was no way you could have known what would happen.”

“That’s just it. I’m supposed to know. I’m her father.”

Jax laughed softly. “Unless you have some plan to get yourself a crystal ball, I wouldn’t pin all your hopes on that thought. Sometimes you’re just gonna fuck up.” Dane didn’t respond and Jax felt himself weirdly missing the sound of the man’s voice. “So Finn is with Callan and Rhys?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Dane said with a smile. “They had some kind of a falling out and he was staying with me ‘till he figured out what to do next. Callan showed up at my place a few days ago and told Finn he loved him and Rhys both and wanted him to come home.”

“And just when I was thinking this little town would be boring. A ménage – I bet they’re gonna be the talk of the town.”

A dark expression came over Dane. “Be fine if talking was all they did.”

“What do you mean?” Jax asked.

Dane looked over at him. “Didn’t the sheriff tell you who those men were?”

Jax tensed. “No, he was in a hurry to get to the hospital. Why? Who were they?”

“Up until a couple of days ago they were both deputies working for Sheriff Granger.”

Jax remembered Emma the instant before he was about to slam on the brakes and carefully slowed the car to a stop instead. They had just reached the end of the driveway so he put the car in park. Cops? He had killed a cop? “Explain,” he managed to bite out.

Dane glanced back at Emma, presumably to make sure she was still asleep. “Finn’s been out for a couple years now. Not an easy thing to do in a bible-loving, rural community in the middle of nowhere.”

“But Callan-” Jax interrupted.

“Was in the closet until three days ago. Rhys has been up front about it, but he’s only been here a couple of weeks.”

“So it was just Finn?”

Dane nodded and a pang of pity went through Jax.

“The town’s been giving him shit ever since. Refusing him service, calling him names. They went after Callan’s ranch too because he refused to get rid of Finn. Charged him more for things, the price of his cattle fell, cut fences, things like that. Then someone poisoned his cattle’s main water supply and he lost half his herd.”

“The deputies?”

“They had a run in with Callan and Rhys a few days ago. Callan said they all but admitted to the vandalism and poisoning. Cost them their jobs. Barn was payback, I guess.”

Jax tightened his hand on the gearshift. “Wish I’d known that before I shot the bastard. He got off easy.”

Dane suddenly stiffened and Jax saw him both physically and emotionally retreat. He sighed and put the car in gear. The stick was back up the man’s ass. It was just as well since sniffing after a straight, very married guy wasn’t really his thing. And if the combination of a platinum wedding band on Dane’s left hand and infant daughter was anything to go by, the man was a lot of both.

No more words were spoken other than Dane telling him where to turn. The man’s house was a complete surprise and Jax couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of the pretty little gray, Victorian style home sitting in a clearing surrounded by huge pine trees. There was a small building behind the house and on the other side of the driveway stood what was left of a partially torn down barn. A small pasture sat beyond the barn and Jax didn’t see a neighboring house or farm anywhere in sight.

“Nice place, Doc,” he said as he pulled the car to a stop by the side entrance, enjoying the frown he received for the use of the dreaded nickname. Emma began to cry as soon as the car stopped moving and Dane got out and got the car seat out.

Jax opened the door and got out just in time to hear Dane say, “Thanks for the ride. I’ve gotta get her changed. If you want to leave the car seat base on the porch, you can head out.” And just like that, Jax was dismissed. Annoyance flashed through him but what had he expected? The guy’s punch had made it pretty clear what he thought of Jax’s intervention in his daughter’s would-be abduction.

Jax went around the car and began working the base free. It took him several minutes to figure out how to get the thing loose and by the time he was done, he was sweating again. He climbed up the porch stairs and walked into the house. The side door led into the kitchen and he set the base on the old farm style table. Boxes were piled up in corners and the counters looked completely bare except for a coffee machine and a sink full of dishes. The bright yellow paint that covered the outdated cabinets was probably supposed to be sunny and welcoming, but instead it was hard on the eyes. Maybe if the walls weren’t a shade of puke green…

Emma’s screaming grew closer as Dane entered the kitchen and he stopped in surprise when he saw Jax.

“Don’t worry Doc, I just came in to wash my hands and use your bathroom. Then I’ll be out of your hair.”

The man didn’t seem all that comforted by Jax’s reassurances. He thought he heard Dane mumble something about it being fine but between the man keeping his distance and Emma shrieking her head off, he wasn’t so sure.

Dane went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle for Emma who stopped screaming the second the tip touched her lips and began sucking fervently as her tiny hands grasped the bottle as if it would be ripped away from her at any second. Jax washed his hands, then turned to ask Dane where the bathroom was. He stopped when he saw Dane studying a stack of papers on a small desk on the far side of the kitchen.

“What is it?” Jax asked him, recognizing the tension that had entered the other man’s body.

Dane glanced at him, then returned his gaze back to the papers. “They’re out of order.”

“What do you mean?”

“I left the bills in the order I needed to pay them in. The cell phone bill was on top,” he said as he used his cheek to hold Emma’s bottle in place while he searched through the pile with his other hand. “It’s gone.”

“Maybe your wife moved it,” Jax said.

“I’m not married,” came the distracted response. At any other point, the admission that he wasn’t married would have had Jax asking a slew of other questions, but the hair on the back of his neck went up and he automatically pulled one of his guns from the holster.

“What are you doing?” Dane asked in concern as his eyes fell on the gun.

Jax grabbed his other gun and closed the distance between them. He shoved the gun into Dane’s free hand, forcing him to hold onto it when the other man immediately tried to put it down. “Stay here,” he ordered.

“Jax,” he began.

“Safety’s off so keep it pointed at the ground unless you hear or see anything. I’ll call out when I’m coming back in.”

“Jax, I’m sure it’s nothing-”

“You really want to take that chance after what went down today?”

Dane paled and shook his head as his fingers finally tightened on the butt of the gun.

“Keys are in the car. Things go bad, you get Emma out of here, you hear?”

Dane nodded and Jax gave him a reassuring squeeze before leaving the kitchen and beginning his sweep of the house.

Dane retreated until his back hit the counter, his eyes on the doorway that Jax had disappeared through nearly two minutes ago. The gun felt foreign in his hand and he kept his finger away from the trigger, afraid that his jittering would accidentally cause the gun to go off. Between the events of the day and the fear that was burning through him at the possibility that someone had been in his house, he was at the end of his rope. He clutched Emma closer to him and was glad when she stayed quiet and kept sucking on her bottle.

“Coming in,” he heard Jax call just before he entered the kitchen. Dane tried to push away the relief that flooded through him at the sight of the other man. He tried to convince himself it was because Jax returning meant there was no one else in the house, but that thought flew out the window when Jax removed the gun from his shaky hand, his brief touch singeing Dane’s fingers. God, he absolutely could not be attracted to this man. He was blunt, cocky and dangerous and the exact opposite of what Dane was looking for. Not that he was actually looking for anything at this point in his life. He wasn’t even sure if the man was gay.

“It’s all clear, but I want you to walk through the house with me and tell me if anything looks out of place or disturbed in any way.”

Dane nodded numbly as he followed Jax out of the kitchen. They went room by room but Dane didn’t see anything unusual. By the time they reached his bedroom, Emma had finished her bottle and was out cold in his arms which were turning numb from the combination of stress and fatigue.

“Anything?” Jax asked.

Dane shook his head as he sank down on the bed. “I probably just misplaced the bill. Maybe it fell between the desk and the wall or something,” he said tiredly. He felt the bed sag as Jax sat next to him.

“You look dead on your feet, Doc,” the other man said. “Why don’t you let me take her for a bit?”

Dane shook his head. Letting go of his child was the last thing he wanted to do and having her out of his sight was out of the question.

“She can’t sleep in the bed with you, right?” Jax said gently.

There was no way in hell Dane was going to try and explain how messed up he was right now so he kept his mouth shut. He was glad when Jax got off the bed and disappeared from the room. But then there was some commotion outside of the door and he was surprised to see Jax dragging Emma’s crib into the room. So the guy was more observant than Dane had thought.

Jax put the crib right up next to Dane’s bed but made no move to take Emma from him. “Whenever you’re ready, Doc. I’ll lock up,” he said as he turned to go.

“Isaac used to call me that,” Dane heard himself saying, though he had no clue why. To his horror, he felt tears sting his eyes. A few escaped as he closed his eyes and tightened his hold on his daughter. “It was the last thing he said as he lay dying in my arms. Love you, Doc.”

Fingers brushed through his hair and then a big palm settled on his damp cheek. “Get some rest, Dane.”

And then his bedroom door was closing and Dane let the tears fall.

***

“Okay baby girl, new day, better day,” Dane said as he finished dressing Emma. A goofy smile spread across her tiny lips and he leaned down to blow a raspberry against her neck like she liked. She grabbed at his face and he gave her a couple more before pulling her up into his arms and heading out of her room. As exhausted as he was, mornings like this would always be his favorite. And after the hellish day yesterday, he would have even welcomed dealing with an irritable baby.

He made faces at Emma as he made his way to the kitchen and prepared a bottle. Emma bounced excitedly in his arms and let out a little gurgle as she opened to take in the nipple. Dane used his free hand to search out a coffee mug, then said a mental thank you when he saw the coffee pot already full. Not only had Jax managed to read him like a book last night during his emotional breakdown, the man had been thoughtful enough to get the coffee ready before he took off.

Dane dropped into a kitchen chair and sipped at the coffee. God, he’d actually cried in front of the other man. Dane shook his head. All the shit he’d been through since Isaac’s death and he had to choose last night to get weepy and pathetic. It was just another reason to be grateful that the confounding man had left. Feeling that strong, comforting hand on his skin last night had been too tempting.

Dane closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair as Emma’s sucking started to slow. The pounding in his head kept growing and he got up to search out the aspirin in the kitchen cabinet. It was then that he realized that the pounding wasn’t in his head at all. It was coming from outside and his gut seized instantly at the realization of who the culprit likely was.

He quickly removed the bottle from between Emma’s lax lips and settled her in her car seat. She was completely out cold by the time he had her out the door and not even the sound of a sledgehammer striking wood over and over jarred her from her sleep. Dane trotted down the stairs and came to stop when his suspicions were confirmed. Jaxon Reid was in the process of tearing down the rest of his barn. And if that wasn’t enough, he was doing it shirtless.

Dane’s mouth went dry at the same time that his cock stood to attention. Jax was turned away from him so Dane got a nice, long look at the numerous arcs and waves tattooed in some mysterious pattern over Jax’s upper left arm, across his shoulder blade and halfway down his back. Sweat glistened over a ripped body that would put most men – himself included – to shame and tight jeans clung lovingly to a perfect ass. Dane could actually picture the muscles in each globe clenching as Jax thrust into him over and over. He chose to ignore the sight of the gun protruding from the waistband of the man’s pants.

“Hey!” Dane yelled as loudly as he dared as he hurried across the driveway to the growing pile of rubble. Jax heard him and turned, the sledgehammer dangling in his hand and Dane had to force himself to keep moving at the sight of the wide chest and six pack abs that greeted him.

“Morning,” Jax drawled as he reached for the shirt he had slung over a fallen beam. But instead of putting it on like Dane needed him to do, Jax used it to wipe his brow. “Didn’t wake you, did I?” he asked,

“What the hell are you doing here?” Dane nearly shouted, then remembered Emma and lowered his voice. He sucked in a breath when Jax suddenly drew close to him, mere inches separating their bodies. But he just glanced at Emma, then stepped back and Dane wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed.

“Figured it might be better to try to get some of this down before it got too hot,” Jax said as he motioned to the pile of wood.

“No! Here! What are you still doing at my house?”

Jax shrugged. “I needed a place to stay. You had a comfy looking couch. It’s not, by the way.”

Dane knew he must’ve looked completely lost because Jax said, “The couch. It’s not comfortable.”

“Jax-” Dane began, but then snapped his mouth shut when Jax suddenly shifted and their bodies were once again nearly touching.

“I like the way you say it,” Jax murmured as he tilted his head and focused in on Dane’s mouth.

“Say what?” Dane asked as a shiver snaked down his spine.

“My name,” Jax responded and he leaned down and took in a deep breath. God, was the man smelling him? And why the fuck did that turn him on?

“Anyone ever tell you your voice is like fine whiskey? Smooth and deep with just the right amount of heat?” Jax said softly.

Lust spiraled through Dane and he knew all he had to do was turn his head just a few inches and he’d be able to taste those firm lips. A voice in the back of his mind was trying to remind him there was something he was supposed to be saying to this man, but for the life of him he couldn’t think what it was. Hot, blunt fingers brushed his waist and drew him in and Dane didn’t bother fighting it. It had been too long since someone had touched him – even the months before losing Isaac had been cold and lonely.

The brief thought of Isaac was enough to bring everything back in a rush for Dane and he yanked himself free of Jax’s gentle hold. He took several steps away from the intoxicating man and was relieved to feel his common sense coming back and replacing the need that had been unfurling within him. The man in front of him was just like Isaac and he’d make Dane suffer the way Isaac had, even if it wasn’t his intention.

Jax watched him intensely for a moment, then sighed and reached for his shirt and tugged it on.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Dane heard himself stammer. So much for the sexy voice Jax accused him of having. He sounded like a whiny child.

“Look, Dane, I was worried about leaving you guys after everything that happened yesterday…last night. I also figured you might need a ride to get your car.”

Dane felt like an ungrateful shit. Yeah, it seemed that for some reason Jax was attracted to him, but if that had been the man’s only motive he could have done a lot with Dane’s vulnerability last night, especially after Dane had all but admitted he was gay when he’d mentioned Isaac. He watched as Jax dropped the sledgehammer and moved past him, presumably to go to his car. Dane knew he would probably pay for it later, but he grabbed Jax by the arm. “Don’t,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I would appreciate a ride into town.”

***

Jax forced away the desire that had flared to life the second he’d seen an infuriated Dane rushing towards him and pulled his arm free of the other man’s gentle grip.

“Sure, no problem,” he said woodenly. “You mind if I use your shower to get cleaned up?”

“Yeah. But would you mind giving me a hand with a patient first?” Dane asked as he motioned to the small building behind the house.

“Uh, yeah,” Jax responded as he looked around the empty driveway. He kept his mouth shut as he followed Dane, assuming the guy just needed help setting up some equipment or something before his patient arrived.

The building was flooded with light when Dane flipped the switch as they entered and Jax instantly welcomed the cool air conditioning that caressed his skin. The front room wasn’t much more than a large, open space with a built in reception counter. Boxes were shoved against the far wall and a couple of plastic folding chairs were sitting against another wall.

Dane must have noticed him eyeing the boxes because he said, “I’m still working on getting my practice up and running. Lucinda’s in back.”

Jax followed Dane down a long hallway and tried very hard not to focus on the gentle sway of the other man’s ass. So much for getting his skyrocketing desire under control. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so caught up in wanting someone like this. On the rare occasion that the other guy wasn’t interested or seemed like the clingy type, Jax had no problem moving on to the next man who’d give him the quick, no strings fuck he was looking for. But something about the strong yet vulnerable Dane Winters had him on edge and the man’s rejection stung.

“I have to keep her in here for now,” Dane was saying as he swung open a door leading to another room. Jax wasn’t sure what surprised him more – the endless row of dog runs that lined the back wall or the high pitched squealing that began the instant Dane turned on the lights.

“What the hell?” he said as they came to a stop in front of the first kennel. A huge pig stood on the other side of the door, her massive snout rubbing up against the chain link. At least a dozen piglets surrounded her, their incessant mewling an exact replica of their mother’s loud greeting. “What the hell kind of doctor are you?” Jax heard himself say.

Dane shrugged. “I started with a small animal practice but decided to train in large animals too in case the need ever came up.”

Jax was sure his mouth was hanging open as he turned to stare at Dane. “You’re a vet?” he asked, the question sounding ridiculous even to his own ears since the evidence was right in front of him.

Dane lowered Emma’s car seat to the ground and began removing the pin that kept the pig from pushing the latch on the door up. “Yeah.”

“But you helped Finn yesterday. And that girl.”

“Blood’s blood. Two legs or four doesn’t really factor in when you’ve got someone bleeding out.”

Newfound respect went through Jax as he realized how freaked out Dane must have been yesterday beyond the shit that had happened with his kid. Dane didn’t seem to notice or care that Jax was still caught off guard by the revelation and carefully stepped into the run. He pushed the pig back with his legs and held the door for Jax.

“You want me to come in there?” Jax asked, dumbfounded.

“Yeah, I need you to hold her while I check her teeth. She’s got an abscess.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Jax said.

“Hurry up before the babies get out,” Dane quipped.

Jax carefully stepped into the run, his foot instantly sliding in a soft pile under the straw. Dane leaned past him to close the door and Jax would have enjoyed the feel of the man’s hard body brushing his, but he was too concerned with the monstrous pig that was sniffing his legs. Jesus, did pigs bite?

“Let’s get her back in the corner,” Dane said as he began corralling the large animal into the far corner of the run, mindful of the countless babies dashing around. Jax followed him and cringed when he saw Dane kneel in the straw. “Just steady her,” he said as he looked at Jax expectantly. Jax finally gave up and knelt next to Dane and put his hands on the pig’s body.