Rainbow Hill (21 page)

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Unfortunately that vulgar word had become his own personal mantra since Randall and his spit-polished Mercedes pulled into the drive. He kept coming back to that word each and every time he intended to admit to Ethan that he loved him before reality set in—the differences between them—and the word would slide off his tongue, ending any plausible solution that would secure his happiness with Ethan.

“Fuck,” Quinn said one last time before promising himself to retire it forever.

“Is that an invitation?”

Quinn went from fully reclined to ramrod straight in under a second. He jumped off the bed. “I-I-I didn’t hear you knock,” he stuttered, readjusting his towel.

Randall’s smarmy smile evoked feelings of disgust.

“That’s because I didn’t.” He stepped into the room, his bare feet padding softly on the wood floor. “I didn’t think I needed to. We’re roomies and partners in business now. I don’t know about you, but I like to be familiar with my business associates. Makes the time spent together more enjoyable.”

The way Randall said
familiar
made Quinn’s skin crawl.

“I don’t share that same philosophy,” Quinn returned, eyeing the growing bulge in Randall’s khaki-colored shorts.

“Are you positive?” Randall ran his tongue across his bottom lip, reminding Quinn of a mythological dragon that wanted to eat him.

Squaring his shoulders and staking his ground, Quinn asked, “What do you mean?”

“Ethan is an attractive man with needs. I find it hard to believe that you two haven’t screwed in every room in this house.” He took a tentative step forward, cautious as an unsure cat.

“This is a conversation you should be having with Ethan, not me.”

“So you aren’t denying it?” He laughed a sardonic laugh, exposing yellowing canine teeth.

Quinn’s stomach roiled. “Get the fuck out of here. It’s been a long day, and no doubt tomorrow will be too. I need to get some sleep.”

“You don’t look sleepy to me. You look horny.” Randall ran his gaze up and down Quinn. “You are one sexy man.”

“I’m not going to tell you again. Get out.”

Randall stripped off his T-shirt and dropped it to the floor. His skin was a blotchy pink and his body soft in the midsection. Sparse reddish-colored hair surrounded large, purple nipples.

Bile bubbled to the back of Quinn’s throat. “What are you doing?”

“I want a piece of what Ethan got. I think it’s only fair since he’s my boyfriend, so don’t play hard to get. It’s not becoming, and we’re running out of time.” The words came out in a rush.

“You don’t deserve Ethan. He’s a better man than you could ever be, and quite frankly, I don’t know what the fuck he sees in someone like you.”

“He knows a catch when he sees one.”

“And you know how to use up every ounce of him. Don’t you have a conscience?”

Randall flicked his hair off his forehead and huffed. “You know, for a pretty boy, you’re becoming a bore.” He ran his hand over his crotch and squeezed. “I’ll show you why Ethan puts up with my boyish antics.” He stepped forward with purpose, a look of genuine lust in his eyes.

All sense of self-control flew out the window when Quinn felt Randall’s hands race over his body, grabbing greedily.

Through a flash of red, Quinn shoved Randall backward. Randall stumbled, cursing under his breath.

Regaining his footing, Randall said, “I’m going to suck that cock if it’s the last thing I do.” He lunged at Quinn.

A cool breeze raced across Quinn’s ass. He looked down to realize that his protective terry barrier was now clutched in Randall’s right hand.

“Oh,” Randall cooed. “You are impressive. Bet you made Ethan beg for it.” He chuckled throatily. “He’s good at groveling.”

In an instant, Quinn felt the crush of Randall’s nose against his fist. Blood squirted from Randall’s distorted face, bathing Quinn’s fingers in warm sticky liquid. Quinn knew he didn’t have to follow it up with another punch to the man’s gut because Randall’s screechy howl exploded in his ears like an injured animal in the wild, signaling that his opponent was down for the count.

It was a pleasant sound, Quinn thought. A sound of triumph. A sound he would never forget.

* * * *

Ethan parked the Range Rover in the driveway and shut off the ignition. He looked up and noticed that Quinn’s light was still on, the amber glow illuminating a patch of grass in the yard. On impulse, he wished he could slip into Quinn’s room and into his bed. He craved the touch of his lover’s warmth against his own, the tickle of chest hair under his eager palms. But that was never going to happen again as long as he was with Randall.

Stepping out of the vehicle, he exhaled the fantasy out of his head. All he wanted to do was crawl into bed, alone, and fall in the deepest sleep imaginable.

Before entering the house, he paused to enjoy the sounds of the night. Tree frogs were out in full force, singing their nocturnal song, and an unknown animal was furrowing and grunting in a nearby flowerbed, no doubt eating the pansies Tucker had painstakingly planted just a few days earlier. Ethan suspected it was his tribute to his mother, pansies being her favorite flower. He didn’t have the heart to tell his father that the temperamental flower survived longer in cooler temperatures.

Will Randall do the same for me one day, if the time comes?
Ethan thought.
Does he even know my favorite flower is the rose?

Walking across the lawn, Ethan shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind before he slipped further into a darker and more depressing place. He had to remain positive no matter what, not only for his sake, but also for his father’s. Tucker had had enough sadness in his life lately, and his son sulking around writing the final scenes of his own life was not going to help matters.

As he jabbed the keys into the lock, a bone-chilling howl pierced the night. The sound was coming from inside the house. Panic shot up his spine.

Turning the key, he threw open the door. “Dad!” he yelled into the darkness. “Who’s in trouble?”

Stumbling blindly toward the stairs, his thigh smashing against the hall table, adrenaline coursed in his veins, propelling him forward. Bounding up the stairs, he headed for the one and only room with the light still on.

Quinn
.

Reaching the landing, he sprinted the remaining distance and pushed open the door. Clutching his nose and sobbing like a toddler who lost his toy, Randall stood with his back pressed against the wall, the front of his khaki shorts covered in blood.

“W-w-what the—” is all Ethan could manage.

Randall spoke first. “He punched me,” he sputtered. “I think he broke my nose.” His wails resumed with an ear-piercing pitch.

“You got off easy!” Quinn shouted.

Gazing at Quinn wrapped in nothing but a green terry towel, Ethan’s panic morphed into an inappropriate desire burning below his waistline. After catching his breath, due more to the half-naked man standing in front of him than the two-second sprint up a flight of stairs, Ethan attempted to make sense of the situation. He looked at Quinn, then to Randall, and back to Quinn again.

“What’s going on? Why would you do—” He pointed at Randall. “—that?”

“Because he deserved it.”

“You have to do better than that,” Ethan shouted over Randall’s cries.

By this time, the cacophony had got the attention of Tucker and Frank, both now standing behind Ethan. They stood silently, a look of mild amusement on each of their faces.

“This looks like it’s gonna be good,” Frank murmured out of the side of his mouth to Tucker.

Now able to stand without the aid of the wall, Randall dragged himself toward Ethan. “This animal attacked me without any provocation.”

“I’d consider demanding to get your dick sucked provocation.”

Ethan looked at Randall, dumbfounded. “Did you make a pass at Quinn?”

“I came in here to ask if you two were having an affair.”

Anger rising, Ethan attempted to steady his nerves. “And did you get the answer?”

“How could you, Ethan?” Randall asked.

“How dare you ask me that question after everything you’ve put me through?”

“You tell him, son.” Tucker coached.

“Stay out of it, Dad,” Ethan said without turning around. “I can handle this myself.”

“You said you forgave me,” Randall choked. “Was that a lie?”

“The one who’s lying is you,” Quinn said.

“I never said I forgave you. I was trying to pretend it never happened like I always do, but I’m not going to do that anymore. I deserve better than you.”

“Better,” Randall scoffed. “You call that piece of redneck trailer trash better?”

Quinn raised his right arm and balled his hand into a tight fist. “Would you like another one of these?”

Randall cowered and ducked behind Ethan. “Don’t let him near me,” he cried while shielding his face with both hands.

Ethan stepped to the side. “Why shouldn’t I allow him to beat you to a pulp? You came into my father’s home, my home, and have been nothing but a rude asshole the entire time.” He shoved Randall toward the door, Frank and Tucker moving out of the way to allow a clear path.

“You can’t be serious,” Randall said, his eyes wide in shock.

“I’ve never been more serious in my entire life,” Ethan assured.

“What about us?”

“There was never really an us. I can finally admit that now.”

“Well, don’t expect me to just roll over and let you take my client list and destroy my business.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and grimaced. “And that vehicle you’re driving is in my name.”

“I don’t need that gas guzzler,” Ethan said. “And I don’t need a list of pretentious bitches with too much time on their hands. You can have it and them.” Ethan threw up his hands, disgusted. “Have everything for that matter. I just want you out of my life for good.”

“You can’t mean that. I thought you loved me.”

“I did once, but not anymore,” Ethan admitted.

“It’s him.” Randall cocked his head at Quinn, eyes narrowed. “You’re in love with him?”

“Yes, you’re right. I do love Quinn.”

“You do?” Quinn sounded breathless.

Ethan nodded. He turned and looked at Quinn, losing himself in his chiseled features. “I suspect I always have.”

“I knew it,” Tucker said.

“Me, too,” Frank added, looking pleased.

“But I said all those stupid things, and that I couldn’t promise you anything.”

“I heard, and it doesn’t matter. I needed to tell you that I love you anyway. I can’t deny my feelings any longer.”

“I didn’t mean it.”

Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you saying?”

“Those things,” Quinn began. “I didn’t mean any of it. I was being a coward. And I can promise you a life. I’m not sure exactly where, though, but does that matter? The important thing is we will have each other.”

“I can accept that.” Ethan smiled. “We can even stay here…in Jefferson. It’s grown on me.”

Randall snorted but stopped abruptly when Tucker placed a warning hand on his shoulder.

“I love you,” Quinn said.

Tears burned in Ethan’s eyes as he risked giving Quinn a kiss in front of Tucker and Frank. They didn’t appear to mind since they both
ahhed
their approval.

Randall dabbed at his nose gingerly. “What about me? And what about my nose?”

“Well,” Frank began, “you could pack up and drive yourself to the ER?”

Tucker nodded in approval at Frank’s suggestion. “I’ll jot down the address. I’m sure that fancy car of yours has a GPS that will direct you straight to the door.”

Frank turned to Tucker. “So as not to appear unhospitable, why don’t we help the young fella pack?”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Tucker agreed.

Knowing where he wasn’t wanted, Randall tilted his head back and continued to pinch the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “Don’t bother. I’ll be gone in five minutes,” he said before leaving the room. From the hall, he yelled. “And you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

Ethan smirked. “Don’t worry, he says that to everyone. Besides, his lawyer intends on suing Randall for numerous unpaid fees, he just doesn’t know yet. I forgot to tell him with everything else going on.”

“He’ll find out on his own soon enough,” Quinn grumbled. “Asshole.”

“Forget about Randall,” Ethan said, “and concentrate on me.”

“Let’s show Randall to the front door,” Tucker suggested, “and give these boys some peace and quiet.”

Tucker and Frank exited the bedroom, smiles firmly planted on their sun-weathered faces.

Pressing his forehead to Quinn’s, Ethan said, “Can you believe we kissed in front of our fathers?”

Ethan chuckled. “They better get used to it because I intend to do a lot more from here on out, and I don’t give a damn who’s watching.”

“I like the forceful Quinn, breaking noses and not giving a damn.” Ethan released a playful growl. “Very Alpha Male.”