SafetyInNumbers-Final (11 page)

That was a huge understatement. Winning their own battles hadn’t allowed Saul to truly relax. Could something as simple as playing like children lighten the mood? “We’d have to hobble Saul a little. He’d have an unfair advantage otherwise.”

“Agreed.” Another dart sailed past and Owen squared his shoulders. “First we gotta survive Ty’s minions. You ready to get back out there?”

Chris snorted out a laugh and rechecked his ammo. “Okay, here’s what we gotta do. Ava’s got the best eye, but she’s slow to react, that’s why she’s behind the door. Luc’s quick on the draw, but his aim is a little off. If we burst out there, he’s gonna shoot wild to keep us busy while Ava lines up her shot.”

“I still haven’t heard what we gotta do,” Owen pointed out when he stopped.

Owen’s enthusiasm was rubbing off. He always loved playing with the kids, but having his own partner in the game took it to a whole new level. “We go out back to back. I’m bigger so I can shield you from Luc’s barrage while you get a bead on Ava. If I can take him down first, Ava will rush out of her spot. Ty still hasn’t convinced her not to break cover no matter what. Just keep your hand steady and your eye on the door, and remember head or heart are the only shots that count.”

“Wait.” Owen grabbed his arm before he could implement their plan. “Have you ever won?”

“Nope, not on my own.” He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Owen’s surprised mouth. “I think you’re gonna bring me luck. Ready?”

Owen touched his lips briefly, his smile the brightest Chris had ever seen it, and then they were rising as one. Back to back, feet totally in sync, they prepared to face their enemy. Just as he predicted, Luc started firing at first sight, his darts raining down on them in rapid succession. Despite the unrelenting attack, his partner was solid behind him and Chris felt like it finally was his turn to win a round.

A dart hit low on his arm and he gave a convincing shout. Owen picked up his cue, telling him to stand strong and promising they had the enemy on the ropes. It was the perfect reaction and Luc was laughing so hard there was no way he was even trying to aim.

His sister, the little sniper that she was, started shouting for him to pull it together. That just had Luc laughing harder, and when he doubled over, his head coming into view, Chris fired. Luc looked up in surprise, grabbed his head, and strategically fell backward onto the bed. His little body twitched dramatically and he groaned out a desperate “Save yourself!” before going still.

“Luc!” Ava’s shout had Owen taking his stance. Chris didn’t even turn to look. He was going to count on Owen to do what he said. He heard the creak of the door, the cock of the Flipfury, and then Ava’s shocked cry as she screamed, “You got me!”

There was a second of silence before Owen straightened up behind him and said as seriously as he could, “Enemy target eliminated, sir. Do you need a medic for that arm?”

Ava and Luc were all giggles as they converged on them to congratulate Chris on his first victory
ever!
“I can’t believe you won. We’re so proud of you!”

Owen chuckled at Ava’s dramatic reaction as they all headed out to Chase’s SUV, the dreaded papa-mobile, and Chris felt his own blush threaten. That positive reinforcement was a perfect reflection of their environment and they were words he hadn’t heard in a really long time. That they came from a five year old didn’t change their impact on him one bit.

With the kids secure in their booster seats and Owen belted in beside him, Chris found himself thinking of the future again. He knew they had to work on the present to get to that future, but he’d been thinking of Owen as his for months. That was a problem since, technically, they were just getting started.

“Chris?” Owen reached for his hand and tugged him right into that present he was having trouble focusing on. “You still with me?”

“I want this.” The words were out before he could stop them and he had to fight not to look away. It was too soon, too much pressure, but he needed to see Owen’s reaction.

“With me?” The surprised squeak made his stomach drop. Was he wrong in thinking they’d at least taken the first step together?

“Yes, with you.” Whether it was too soon or too much pressure, he really had to know they were at least in the same place. That deer in the headlights look transformed into the big, bright, happy smile he’d only seen for the first time a few minutes ago. As far as answers went, he was going to read every possible thing he could into it. And get a little confirmation. “You good with that?”

“I’m definitely good with that. Great even. Possibly perfect.” It looked and sounded like a promise, and that was good enough for Chris.

Chapter 10

Billy

“I hope this is okay?” Billy looked over to see Liam poking his head out the window as they eased through the line for the valet at the EPIC Hotel.

“Okay?” Liam ducked back in the car, his eyes bright with excitement, and let out a sound that could only be called a squeal. “You’re taking me to Area 31!”

That reaction was far beyond anything he thought himself capable of provoking in another human being. After the conversation with Chris, Billy’s confidence was so unexpectedly high that he dared to dream bigger than just pinning Liam to his bed and finally having his way with him. He even spent the hour it took them to eat dinner to work on his approach. The plan was admittedly simple—he’d walk Liam to his bedroom door, kiss him gently, possibly even chastely, and ask him out. Problem was, Liam made him too stupid to be smooth or gentle or chaste. Instead of asking, he just declared that they were going on a date and the kiss, well, there might be fires in hell hotter than the one they set in the hallway, but he wouldn’t swear to it. Liam had looked at him strangely, but he nodded and Billy had taken that as a yes.

The next day, while they were having lunch over a dismantled engine, Liam asked the important details—like when and where—and Billy’s confidence plummeted as he realized he had no idea. Not wanting to look like the idiot without a plan, he’d suggested Saturday because he needed a few days to come up with something good and claimed the rest was a surprise. It wasn’t a lie. It was just going to be a surprise to both of them.

Thankfully, he remembered Kyle and Javier raving about a restaurant downtown with amazing food and awesome views. They only teased him a little and warned that it was very fou fou, whatever that meant, but claimed it would be perfect for a romantic first date. Luck was on his side when he called for a reservation, and just like that, he was the man with the plan.

Before he could enjoy that little confidence boost, Javier asked him what he was going to wear. It was no secret that he had to be physically restrained before he willingly put on anything considered dressy. That’s how he found himself watching Kyle and Javier sort through his closet and drawers until they dug out a pair of black suit pants he didn’t know he owned and a black silk button down that he wasn’t sure was his. He was certain Liam would take one look at him and ask who died.

As a result, he’d never been more nervous about anything in his entire life and almost all of it was washed away by the pure happiness on Liam’s face. “So, I did good?”

“You did awesome. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this place.” Liam cut himself off when one of the attendants opened his door. The little shit gave Liam a sidelong leer as he stepped onto the curb and Billy felt a growl well up from his toes. The other valet, big shit, reminded him to leave the keys in the car and Billy barely jammed it in park before jumping out to stalk his boy.

“My man in black,” Liam murmured, sidling up close as he came around the car. Before he could snap and snarl at Liam’s admirers, his uber-perceptive date leaned in for a lingering kiss. “You look good enough to eat, Billy Bear. I’m gonna have to beat all the twinks off with a stick.”

If there were Billy-management classes, Liam would ace them all. “I’m only looking at you.”

“I might be a tad possessive, so that works for me,” Liam promised, his tone somehow teasing and serious at the same time. “Are you feeling possessive, Billy Bear? Cause that would work for me too.”

“Is that a real question?” Billy growled, making Liam laugh. Since marking the ground around Liam would probably get him arrested, Billy settled for placing a hand on his lower back to guide him to the door. The doorman was already holding it open for another couple, so Billy didn’t have to growl at him. Thankfully, there was no one else to intimidate between the lobby and their table.

Liam gushed over their spot on the balcony and the magnificent view, and practically leaned over the railing to take some pictures of the skyline. There were no holds barred on Liam’s enjoyment of life. He laughed loudly, said whatever was on the tip of his tongue, and it brought out so many emotions in Billy. How had he maintained that outlook after all he’d been through? It stirred all of his protective instincts and, at the same time, Billy couldn’t help but be envious. That boisterous laugh had a few of the diners nearest to them frowning in disapproval and Billy had no problem glaring back. If hanging over the side of a building made Liam happy, Billy would just as happily hold his legs.

“Oops.” Liam snickered as he caught sight of one of the darker glares. “Guess they don’t do that in fancy places like this.”

“Do what makes you happy and ignore them.” And if they couldn’t ignore him, Billy was just the man to teach them a few lessons.

“Looking at you makes me happy.” Liam gave him a seductive once over as he settled in his chair. “Oh, man, I do love when you blush. It’s a weapon you’re gonna be sorry you gave me.”

“I’ve given you a whole arsenal and still don’t regret it.” It was the truth. Liam did all sorts of things to his brain and his heart and his stomach, but never once did Billy regret it.

“Thank you for that.” Liam held out his hand and even though there were still a few eyes on them, Billy didn’t hesitate to take it. “And for arranging this beautiful night. How did you know I wanted to come here?”

“I, uh, didn’t.” He could have played along, but he didn’t want even a little well-meaning lie between them. “Honestly, I didn’t know where to take you. Kyle and Javi helped me.”

Instead of being disappointed, Liam’s smile only got bigger. “That had to be painful. Those two are overwhelming on a normal day. I appreciate you putting yourself in their overeager hands for me.”

“Maybe next time we can plan the date together.” There were some dating rules that were passed down through the generations, like waiting a respectable period before asking for a second date so you don’t look too eager. He hated rules in general and didn’t want to act like he wasn’t as eager as he was to be with Liam.

“And the time after that and the time after that.” Liam sighed and squeezed his hand. “I suck at playing games.”

“Games aren’t really my thing either and I like that you go after what you want.” More than that, Billy really liked that Liam wanted him enough to skip the games.

“Something’s different about you since your conversation with Chris.” Liam tilted his head and tapped his lower lip, both telltale signs that he was close to figuring something out. “We’ve been dancing around for this date forever and I was beginning to wonder. Will you tell me what’s changed?”

The waiter picked that moment to introduce himself and list the specials, giving Billy a few extra minutes to think of a response. He really didn’t want to explain that conversation to Liam or talk about Chris and Owen at all tonight. They were all connected, he got that and normally took comfort in the unity between the four of them, but it wasn’t selfish to want their private moments to be just about them, was it?

“I didn’t mean to ruin the mood.” Liam tugged his hand back when the waiter walked away with their drink order. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”

Well, fuck, what had he done to get that reaction? “What’s that all about?”

Liam snapped open the menu and gave it more attention that it deserved. If Billy knew anything with a hundred percent certainty, it was that Liam wouldn’t be able to hold his tongue for long, so Billy just waited him out. It was totally wrong, but Billy actually thought Liam was cute when he was pissed, what with the huffing and the dramatic page turning and the way his eyes went all molten and… “Your face gives you away every time. I’m not sure it’s fair that you get horny when I get angry.”

It wasn’t fair, but he wouldn’t apologize for wanting this man more than he’d ever wanted anything. “I’m not even sure why you’re angry when you were happy five seconds ago.”

“Like I said, your face gives you away. As soon as I asked about that conversation with Chris, you closed up tighter than a shrimp’s asshole.” Liam slapped the menu shut, folded his hands, and pinned him with that dark gaze. “You’ve done it every time I’ve asked and I don’t get it, don’t like it, and won’t have secrets between us. I’ve had more than enough secrets in my lifetime.”

“You’re right.” Billy reached for Liam’s clasped hands and tugged one free. “Truth is, I’ve been very afraid of what I feel for you. There’s no real good reason for you to trust me—not to make you happy, not to keep you safe, not to do right by you in every way you need—but you do. You tell me and show me all the time how much you trust me. It terrifies me, Liam, because I don’t trust me. Not with you.” Billy looked at their joined hands and saw every reason he couldn’t be trusted. His big, meaty, hairy paw completely engulfed Liam’s smaller hand. “It’ll probably piss you off and there’s nothing I can do about that, but I needed to know that someone else was making sure I don’t hurt you. That I don’t bring pain into your life.”