The Haunting Crush (Mesa Boys #4)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

K ai, dressed in his black restaurant t-shirt and jeans, dried a wine glass with a white towel and scanned the groups of people sitting at the bar. Everyone was almost done and probably needed checks. He set down the glass on the cooler and walked to an elderly couple. “How are you doing?”

The man smiled at him. “We’re ready for our check.”

He stepped to the POS system at the island and rang them up, staring off at the fake brick wall, the machine spitting out their invoice. He caught motion out of his periphery vision and glanced at Beth.

Beth let a wide smile spread over her lips and waved a pointed finger out into the restaurant, cocking her head, her short, blunt-cut, blonde hair swinging over her shoulders.

He twisted around.

Conner, wearing a thin black V-neck sweater and jeans, sided up to bar and slid over a metal, slatted bar chair. “Hey.” He skimmed his hand through his bangs and released a long sigh.

Kai’s heart skipped. Maybe things hadn’t gone so well with his parents. “Hey.” He brought the invoice to the elderly couple, then stepped to stand in front of Conner. “Drink? ”

“Yeah, just a beer.” Conner offered him a quick smile, then stared at his hands, entwined on the bar top.

Kai poured his beer and set it in front of him. “You okay? You don’t look so good.”

“I’m okay. It was just hard.” He rubbed his eyes. “I feel like I broke my mother’s heart tonight.”

Kai placed his hand on the back bar. What should he say to that? “I’m sorry. That sucks.” He pressed his lips together. “So, she’s not happy about you being gay?”

Conner gave his head a slow shake, wrapping his hands around the beer. “No, she’s fine with it. She just wanted to know why I didn’t trust her enough to tell her a long time ago.” He turned to Kai. “She wanted to know what she did to make me think that she wouldn’t support me.”

Kai lifted his brows. “Well, that’s a different reaction than I expected.” Pretty damn different than how his mother had reacted. He glanced down the bar, making sure no one else needed him for anything. “So, but she’s okay with it. With us?”

Conner freed a soft scowl. “Yeah. She wants to meet you. She thinks she remembers being a classroom helper in your class back in middle school and you being this cute little thing.” He released a sharp laugh and took Kai in. “That’s exactly what she called you, too, a cute little thing .”

Kai’s face flushed and he shook his head, then wiped the bar. “Seriously? She might have been. I remember moms coming in as helpers, but I wouldn’t have known it was your mom.” He wasn’t sure what to think now. He leaned forward. “I hope you told her I’m not like that anymore.” He chuckled. This was a ridiculous conversation. Under his breath, he said, “God...”

“You were, really.” Conner smirked. “I remember how you were in middle school.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “My dad was... quiet.”

“Yeah?” Kai focused on him. “And?”

As Conner shrugged, he sipped his beer. “And so, I don’t know what he thinks. My dad is a person who believes that if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Well, he didn’t say much.”

Kai chewed his lower lip. “So, but no one blew up at you or said anything nasty?” Like my mother did. He wouldn’t even entertain remembering that day.

“Nope.” He gulped his beer, then focused on it as he brought it to the bar top. “Which I think makes me feel even worse when you consider how I behaved. Especially what I did to you back in high school and to Paige all those years.” He wrinkled his brows. “I don’t even have a very good excuse for it.” He looked at him. “Except that my best friend was a homophobic asshole. I mean, most people are closeted because their family doesn’t agree with it, right?”

Kai sighed. “Yeah, I guess so.” The only real reference he had was his own mother. Not exactly a typical mother... He’d never talked about things like this with the guys he’d hooked up with. He’d never cared enough. He glanced at Conner. He needed to help him. “Conner, whatever your reasons were for doing what you did, they were your own. I don’t think you can compare your situation with anyone else’s. For whatever reason, you didn’t want to be gay.”

Conner widened his eyes. “Yeah, you’re right. I hated the idea of it. I couldn’t believe that someone like me could be that way.” He furrowed his brows. “ I was homophobic, but I didn’t take it out on anyone else. Just myself.” He straightened and looked around him. “Fuck. I never thought about it like that before.”

Kai placed his hand palm-up on the bar. “That’ll be twenty dollars please.” He smirked at Conner, wiggling his fingers.

“For what?” Conner let a wry grin creep over his lips.

“Therapy. You know, bartenders are pretty good at it. We hear all kinds of shit.” He burst out a sharp laugh and withdrew his hand.

Beth edged up beside him. “So?” She smiled from Conner to Kai .

“So, what?” He looked her up and down.

She flung a white towel at him. “Everything good now between you two?”

Kai placed his hand on his hip. “Yeah, why?”

She glanced at Conner, then grinned at Kai. “Bryce said you two broke up or something.” She raised her brows.

“Oh, my God. Bryce and his big, fucking mouth.” Kai shook his head. “We’re fine. Right, Conner?”

Conner offered her a charming smile. “Yes, very much in love and very much together.”

“Good, because I think you two are really cute together.” She winked at Kai and sauntered away.

“Well, everyone in this whole restaurant knows everything. I guarantee it.” Fucking Bryce. Kai grabbed a wine glass from the dishwasher.

“Kai.”

His heart skipped. Damn, Conner could still get to him like that. “Yeah?” He turned to Conner.

“Come meet my parents tomorrow, okay?” Conner wiggled his brows. “My mom wants to make her cute little thing some dinner.” He snickered.

Kai grit his teeth inside a grin. “Jesus, fine.” I see that comment is going to become a thing . He wiped the wine glass, thinking on what Conner had told him. “What about your dad?”

“We’ll see, won’t we?” Conner sipped his beer. “I guess I’d like your help with him. Maybe we can talk to him alone tomorrow.”

Fear pinched Kai’s chest. It would be hard, but he’d do this. Conner needed him. “Sure. We can talk to him together.”

“Thanks, baby.” Conner smiled at him and drank his beer.

Wearing a white sweater and jeans, Kai sat in the passenger side of Conner’s BMW M3 as Conner drove up the long winding driveway to his parent’s house.

Conner, dressed in a gray fleece and black jeans, drove the car to the double side of the three-car garage, parked and shut off the engine. He faced Kai. “How are you doing?”

“Fine.” Kai clenched his jaw. He wasn’t really fine. He’d never met a boyfriend’s family before. But then, he’d never had a boyfriend before.

“You look pale.” Conner brushed his hand down Kai’s cheek. “Why are you so scared? You already sort of know my mom.”

Kai drew a deep inhale. “I guess I’m a little worried about your dad. I mean, I didn’t grow up with one, so...” How could he explain this? He wasn’t used to fathers. Bryce didn’t even have one.

“Kai, just relax. You deal with all sorts of people behind the bar. Maybe just pretend you’re behind the bar when you’re talking to him.” He came close and kissed Kai’s cheek. “Do you think that would help?”

Kai nodded, thinking Conner had a point. “Yeah, I’ll try that.” He forced a smile at him. “Let’s go.” He opened the car door and stepped out, then waited for him, taking in the large beige Hacienda-style home. His gaze was drawn to the open balcony above the garage, the black iron railing, and the curves in the roofline. “This place is huge.”

Conner took his hand. “My parents had this place built. They bought the land, had an architect draw it up, and then contracted with a builder.”

“Yeah?” Bet it cost a fortune. Kai tightened the hold on his hand. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” Conner led him to the side of the garage, up a long, curvy set of cement steps around desert landscaping lit up from below to the entryway. A lionhead fountain spat water into a basin from the wall on one side. The other side opened to the view of Four Peaks out in the distance, and above them was another balcony with precast columns .

Conner opened the right side of a set of immense wooden doors.

A woman with shoulder-length wavy brown hair walked into the entryway. Her eye shape and color matched Conner’s. She wore a long-sleeve red blouse with a long, flowing black skirt. She offered them a wide smile. “Oh, hi, honey. Right on time.” She stepped to Conner and hugged him, then kissed his cheek. She turned to Kai. “And you must be Kai?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Kai bit his lip and held out his hand to her.

She glanced at his hand, then held her arms wide. “Can I get a hug?”

“Uh, yeah.” Kai gave her a quick hug.

As they parted, she grabbed Kai’s hands, focusing on him. “You can call me Judy.” She looked him up and down. “My, you’ve become quite a handsome young man since you’ve grown up.” She gave his hands a shake. “You were such a cute little boy with those big brown eyes. I’m not surprised Conner fell for you.”

“Uh...” Heat rushed to his face and he glanced at Conner.

“Mom, stop embarrassing him.” Conner chuckled and tapped his mother’s shoulder. “What are you making for dinner?”

She freed Kai’s hands and turned to walk inside the house. “Oh, your father insisted on cooking steaks. So I made salad and some baked potatoes.”

As Kai followed her into the entryway, he took in the high ceiling with a chandelier centering it, the curved stairway leading up to Conner’s old bedroom, then the travertine tile floor. The memory of that night flashed through his mind. It seemed so long ago now, when he’d walked up those stairs.

Conner seized his hand and led him through the hallway, past a wet bar and into the large family room with a modern brown leather sectional wrapped around a fireplace. The room was open to the kitchen, with high-end stainless-steel appliances, dark, alder wood cabinetry and black granite counters. A long island angled out from the kitchen.

“Sit on the couch, Kai, and I’ll grab you a beer.” Conner waved his hand at the couch.

Kai took a seat at one end and surveyed the room, the tall ceiling and the balcony hovering over it all with the bookshelves. His gaze travelled to a sliding glass pocket door, partially opened to the flagstone patio with arched stucco Grecian columns, and red draperies. He’d stood right there, watching his classmates play beer pong. He’d seen Conner with Paige’s arms wrapped around him just before he’d left. And now, five years later, he was here with Conner. Was this really happening?

Conner sat next to Kai and handed him a beer in a brown bottle. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, and not the one in your place.” He wrinkled his forehead.

Kai blinked a few times, then focused on him. “Sorry, it’s just sort of weird being here after the last time, you know.”

Conner sipped his beer. “Guess I was more concerned about you helping me with my dad than how you’d feel coming here.”

Kai lifted a corner of his mouth. “It’s not bad, it’s just weird. Like I remember that night so clearly. Where everyone was standing, the beer pong table, everything.”

Conner leaned in. “Everything? Like my bedroom?” He arched a brow.

Kai flushed and freed a sharp chuckle. “Yeah. That’s something I’ll never forget.”

Conner brushed his lips against his cheek and whispered, “We should sneak up there later.”

Kai flashed his eyes at him. “Stop it. Your parents are home.” Was he always thinking about sex?

“They go to bed early.” As Conner wiggled his brows, he adjusted his jeans.

Kai glanced at Conner’s groin and narrowed his eyes. Under his breath, he said, “Are you getting hard thinking about it? ”

Conner raked his teeth over his lower lip. “Yes. Fuck, I want you now.”

“Stop it. We have to talk to your father.” Kai searched the room. “Where are your parents, anyway?”

“Dad is outside grilling and Mom is...” Conner looked around him. “I don’t know. She’s around.”

Conner’s father, wearing a white polo shirt and khaki pants, walked in through the sliding glass doors from the patio, a plate stacked high with steaming steaks in his hand. “Oh, hello.” He stepped to the couch and stopped. “You must be Kai.”

Kai set his beer down on a square, dark wood coffee table and stood, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Yes, I am. Nice to meet you, Dr. Mitchell.” He looked him over, the salt and pepper hair, the blue eyes, the generous lips, so much like Conner’s.

Dr. Mitchell smiled at Kai. “You can call me Jeff.” He lifted the plate of steaks. “Sorry, I’d shake your hand, but...” He peered toward the kitchen. “Where is your mother at, Conner?”

“Not sure.”

Conner’s mother walked out from the hallway. “I’m here, I’m here.” She smiled at them. “I’ve set the table in the dining room. Bring the steaks, dear, and we can get started.”

They followed Jeff through the kitchen and into the dining room, then sat down at a long dark wood table with cream cushions on the high-backed chairs. The table was set with white and gold china, white linen napkins with gold holders, silverware, and stemmed glasses. Conner sat next to Kai, and Conner’s parents sat across from them.

Kai scanned the room. These formal rooms were pretty fancy. Behind Conner’s parents, a set of French doors opened to the balcony over the garage, and a large window centered the end of the room. Built-in shelves and cabinets lined either side of the window and a buffet cabinet rested behind him against the wall. “This house is so beautiful.”

“Oh, thanks, honey.” Judy bent over the table, piling steak and baked potatoes on everyone’s plates, then took her seat. “Can you pass the salad around, Conner?”

“Sure, Mom.” Conner dished salad onto his plate, then passed it to Kai.

“So, how’s business, Conner?” Jeff cut into his steak.

“Good, Dad. Got a nice commission check coming this month.” Conner prepared his potato with butter and sour cream.

Kai took some salad, then passed it to Jeff. “Here you go.”

Jeff took the salad bowl and set it down. “Kai, I hear you tend bar at the Fountain Bar and Grill?”

He peeked over at Jeff. “Yes. I’ve been working there since high school.” What would someone like Dr. Mitchell think about his profession?

Jeff gave him a warm smile. “Some of my golf buddies at Firerock tell me there’s an amazing bartender over there who twirls bottles in the air and makes incredible drinks. Is that you?” He tented his fingers on the table.

Kai let his lips curl in a shy smile. “Uh, yeah, that’s me.” He squirmed in his seat. Was he really so famous in town that people talked about him at Firerock Country Club?

“We’ll have to go in sometime when you’re working and see it.” Jeff put a forkful of steak in his mouth.

“Sure, I usually work nights.” He glanced at Conner, smirking. This was going all right.

“But he’s switching to days, so we can spend more time together.” Conner bumped Kai with his elbow. “Right?”

“I didn’t say I’d switch to all days. Just a few.” What was Conner going on about? They hadn’t even talked about his schedule since they’d gotten back together. He furrowed his brows.

Judy poured red wine into a wine glass, giggling. “Just like Conner to try and dictate to you when you can and can’t work.”

“Mom.” As Conner chewed, he flashed his eyes at her.

“He’s an only child, Kai, so he’s used to getting whatever he wants.” She shook her head with a sigh, grinning. “I suppose I spoiled him a little.”

Kai looked at him, a grin spreading over his lips. “Yeah, he does like telling me what to do sometimes.”

Conner shook his head, smirking. Under his breath, he said, “Sometimes, you need a little push.”

Kai sent him a mock glare. “Sure.”

Kai sat on a resin wicker outdoor chair on the front balcony over the garage of the house, looking out at the lights of the town and the outline of Four Peaks lit up by the moon, hovering over the Mazatzal Mountain range.

Conner dropped down in a chair next to him and handed him a low-ball glass with bourbon in it. “My dad will be out in a minute.”

Kai nodded. So far, meeting his parents had been pretty easy. Now was the real test, spending some alone time with his father.

Jeff stepped out of a French door and took a seat in a chair beside Conner, then picked up a glass with bourbon in it from a round outdoor table in front of them. “So, you two do this every night, huh?” He held his glass out to them.

Conner clinked his glass on his father’s. “Yep, great way to end the day.”

Kai tapped his glass to Jeff’s, then took a sip. “It was nice of Judy to take care of the dishes.”

“Yes, she thinks we need to talk.” Jeff glanced at Conner, then sipped his drink. “Your mother and I spoke about your situation after you left last night.”

Conner pursed his lips, then faced his father. “Dad, you didn’t say much to me last night.”

“What was there to say? Your mind was pretty much made up.” Jeff focused on Kai. “It was a shock, to say the least, but it’s the twenty-first century. Parents aren’t supposed to be angry with their kids for being gay anymore, right?” He released a quick breath and focused on Conner. “I know I set some pretty high expectations for you, and maybe that’s a big part of why you thought you had to hide this from us. All I really want now is for you to be happy and if this is who you are, then who am I say any different?”

Conner smirked. “So, you’re okay with it?”

His father pursed his lips, then grinned. “If you’re happy, then I’m okay with it. Yes.” He cocked his head. “I’m just trying to make sure everyone’s happy now, including your mother.” He freed a sharp laugh.

Kai watched the exchange, taking sips of his bourbon. How easy the two of them looked together. How much had he missed in his life not growing up with a father?

“So, Kai, what are your plans with my son?” Jeff gave Kai a coy grin.

Kai widened his eyes. “Uh, what?”

Jeff chuckled. “You know, are you going to make an honest man of him?”

Conner dropped his mouth open. “Dad, it’s a little soon to be talking like that.”

Jeff gave his head a shake. “I’m just joking with him. But your mother has been looking forward to seeing you get married for a while now. In fact, we figured it would have happened by now.” He drank his bourbon. “You two can do that now, you know.” He lowered his brows. “And haven’t you two already known each other forever?”

“I know, but...” As Conner glanced at Kai, a shy grin crept over his face. He grabbed his hand and rested them on his knee. “We have to move in together first.”

“When is that happening?” Jeff glanced at Kai.

Kai straightened in his seat. This was serious. Conner’s dad must really like him to be talking this way. But marriage already? He had to admit, he didn’t hate the idea. Someday. “My lease is up in a month or so. I’ll move in with Conner then. ”

“Okay, good.” Jeff rocked once. “So, you’ll be over here for the holidays, I assume?”

“Sure.” Kai gave Jeff his most charming grin.

Jeff focused on Conner. “Guess your mother will have to get a new stocking for the fireplace for Kai.”

Conner laughed. “Yeah, I forgot about that.”

Kai’s gaze darted from Conner to Jeff. “Stocking?” With all that had happened, he hadn’t even thought about the holidays coming up. He squeezed Conner’s hand. How awesome would they be this year with Conner and his family?

Conner smiled at Kai. “My mom hangs stockings for all of us, including my uh, significant other. We get all sorts of fun little things in them and candy. It’s like she’s still treating us like we’re kids.”

“She’s not entirely happy that Conner actually grew up. I think she wants to treat him like a little boy as much as she can.” Jeff snickered and sipped his bourbon, then leaned toward Kai. “She calls him baby Conner when no one’s around.” He lifted his brows.

“What?” Kai erupted in a belly laugh.

“Dad.” Conner glared at his father. “Don’t tell him that.”

“Oh, please, tell me more.” As Kai’s laughter slowed, he glanced at Conner and smiled. “I’m going to have to use that.”

Conner pursed his lips. “No, you’re not. Ever.” A grin spread over his face. “You cute little thing.” He smirked at him.

“Guess we both have funny nicknames from your mom.” He shook his head and sipped his bourbon. Seemed he might finally have a father figure in his life.

“Anyhow, boys, I’m tired and heading to bed. I have an early procedure in the morning. You two can finish up here.” Jeff stood and smiled at Kai. “I really enjoyed meeting you, Kai.”

Kai stood up and stepped to Jeff with his hand out. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Jeff shook Kai’s hand, then came in for a quick side-hug and a pat on the back. “Goodnight, son.” He walked off through the French doors and into the house.

Kai’s heart swelled. He called me son. He sat in his chair, tears stinging his eyes. He rubbed them away.

Conner peeked at him and lifted his brows, then whispered, “Kai.”

He focused on Conner. “What?”

Conner rose from the chair and held out his hand. “Come with me.”

Conner is up to something . He could see it on his face. Kai took his hand.

Conner led him through the French door, the front room and to the circular stairs. He stopped and turned, placing his fingers over his mouth. “Ssh.”

Kai shook his head. Damn Conner was bringing him to his old bedroom, he knew it.

The clanking of Conner’s mother working in the kitchen sounded out through the house.

Conner guided Kai up the green Berber-carpeted stairs, then to the hallway with the three doors. He shoved Kai up against the wall, bringing his hands up over his head, and crushed his mouth in deep kisses, pressing his hardening cock against Kai’s hip, releasing soft moans.

Holy shit. He’s really doing it. Kai opened his mouth and tangled his tongue with Conner’s, the memory of the graduation party coming to life in his mind. He ground against Conner’s thigh, heat filling his shaft.

Conner broke the kisses. Inside a breath, he said, “Fuck, Kai, I can’t stop.” He thrust against Kai, his breath coming in quick pants.

“I don’t want to stop either.” Sensitivity lit up his cock, making it pulse. He bit back a groan.

Conner shoved him into his old bedroom, quietly shut the door and pushed Kai onto the bed, lying down over him. He thrust his hard shaft against Kai’s hip, seizing his mouth with penetrating kisses.

Kai roamed his hands down to Conner’s buttocks and pressed their hips closer still, winding a leg around Conner’s. Pleasure rippled up his spine and coiled in his gut. “Fuck, this feels too good.”

Conner ground his solid cock over his thigh through their jeans. “We have to hurry.” He snuck a hand up under Kai’s sweater and kneaded his nipple into a hard nub.

As a shock of sensation tore through Kai, he gasped. He moved his hand between them and unfastened both of their jeans, then worked their cocks out and held them together, thrusting his hips.

Conner’s face tensed. His head arced back, and he slid his shaft against Kai’s, through his hand. “Fuck, I’m coming.”

“Shit, me, too.” Sensation surged in Kai’s groin, sending wave after wave of intense pleasure coursing through him. As it slowed, he laid his head on the bed, catching his breath. “Jesus, Conner. That was?—”

“Exactly what we needed after all these years.” Conner lifted his head and gazed down on him. “Fuck, I love you. So much.” He brushed his hand over Kai’s forehead. “This time, it was done for the right reason and I’m not going to be a dick after.”

“Good. I love you.” Kai looked around the dark room, a nightlight giving off ambient light. “I can’t believe I’m here right now with you, doing this again. Guess I don’t have to fantasize about it anymore. I can have it whenever I want.”

“Fantasize? You fantasized about this, too?” Conner lifted a brow.

“Of course I did.”

“What, when you, uh...” He glanced down. “Jerked off?”

“Yeah.” He bit his lip. “Now, get off me and let’s get cleaned up before your mom comes looking for us.”

“Shit, thinking about you doing that is making me hard again.” He lifted off the bed and raked a hand through his bangs.

“Stop.” He snickered and placed a quick kiss on Conner’s lips. “Think about it later.”