Chapter Nine
NASH
I lay in the rolling bed with my hands behind my head, staring at the ceiling, and thinking about how stupid it had been to touch Joshua.
What the hell had that been? It had been a massive mistake to sit with a guy I was really attracted to, when I should’ve been at a bar picking up a guy to screw.
If Mickey were here, he would agree. And now, I’d put myself in a situation where I’d be spending an extended amount of time in close quarters with a gorgeous protectee.
The simple fact was, I hadn’t only reached out to cup his cheek and make him look into my eyes, but I’d had to fight the urge to take his face in both hands and bring our lips together.
My immediate future was going to mean not only keeping Joshua safe but fighting the urge to put my hands all over him.
Shit!
I’d actually surprised myself when Candy had asked me if I would be willing to take charge of Joshua’s protection and be split from the team.
My brothers were everything good in my life.
I counted on being with them every single day.
We not only worked together, but hell, we’d relocated all the way from Houston together.
When we got to L.A., we didn’t know anyone in the new office but each other.
We ate together, hung out at each other’s houses, and laughed together.
None of us had significant others so being together in off hours wasn’t a hardship on spouses or boyfriends.
Being separated from them for an extended period, even knowing they’d be a phone call away, was going to be hell.
When Candy had asked, though, I’d practically jumped at the chance to stay in Joshua’s orbit.
The man simply did it for me. He was brave, kind, and nothing like I’d expected him to be after running into him at the cartel’s apartment.
However, meeting his family and hearing what he’d gone through to protect them had really opened my eyes.
Joshua Calder had overcome a load of crap, fought to keep Barbie, Meggie, and Pete together…
out of the system, when it would have been so much easier just to let them go into foster care.
I’d never met a man as devoted to his family.
My own family had turned their backs on me when they found out I was gay and I’d built up walls to protect myself, only letting them fall with the men I called brothers.
I didn’t do relationships with guys I hooked up with in bars.
I picked up guys for one reason only, to get off and get them out of my apartment where I happily lived alone.
Most of my encounters were done in gay bar restrooms anyway.
I didn’t care about any of those guys. I couldn’t say the same thing about Joshua.
In the span of twelve hours, he’d not only wormed his way into my life, but brought his entire brood with him.
Barbie was like the little sister I’d never had.
Pete was as sweet as any little boy could be as evidenced by his innocent questions and the way he’d cared for Billy’s small puppy.
Meggie was in a class all her own, though.
I’d gotten tears in my eyes when she’d hugged me, trusting the safety of her family to me when men had come there to kill us all.
I’d been in a lot of firefights on RECON missions with the Corps, but nothing could have prepared me for the abject terror that had lanced through me as I stayed in the bedroom while praying their hiding place in the attic wouldn’t be found.
I hadn’t prayed for my own safety but knowing a cartel hit squad had been sent with the single task of wiping out children, had almost been enough to drop me to my knees.
In truth…it’d been the longest five minutes of my life.
While walking Garbanzo earlier, Candy texted with an update.
Both police officers had been killed after managing to get a distress call out.
Both men left behind widows and kids. I felt heartsick about it.
The LAPD’s SWAT team had managed to kill two guys outside the house before Candy and my brothers arrived, and once they breached with my team at their side, they’d taken down another six men, all carrying automatic weapons.
The house would need some clean up, but I felt immeasurably relieved that my team had done what they always did and protected the lives of Joshua’s family.
Long after his breathing evened out and I knew he was asleep, I pondered what the team would determine about Joshua continuing to work at Tango’s.
I was 90 percent sure they’d agree with my assessment.
One person wouldn’t be able to guarantee his safety.
Perhaps he could continue work as a teacher in the evenings, but that would be part of Candy’s evaluation.
I sighed and rolled over, trying to put it all out of my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
In the morning, we’d get satisfactory answers.
Right now, though, the idea of spending all that time with Joshua one on one, both worried and thrilled me.
“Nash?”
I blinked, realizing that sunlight was pouring into the room as a little person stood over me.
Two small fingers held one of my eyelids open and I found myself staring up at Pete’s small face.
I jerked away, making a sputtering sound as I sat up.
When I heard a chuckle close by, I realized that everyone was awake.
Meggie was sitting on the edge of Joshua’s pullout bed staring at me.
She suddenly let out a belly laugh which was more suited to an adult woman than a six-year-old.
“You should see your face, Nash. You were drooling!”
I smiled, reaching up and wiping it away as the smell of fresh coffee hit my nostrils. I braced myself with both hands and looked over my shoulder at the kitchenette, only to find Joshua and Barbie watching me with amused expressions.
“Coffee’s ready,” Barbie announced. “How do you take it?”
“Black,” I croaked out before clearing my throat. “Black.”
“Eww,” she remarked.
“Barbie,” Joshua admonished. “No coffee shaming.”
She grinned at him, poured a cup, and brought it over to me.
“Here you go. It’s the hotel coffee, but they’re serving a continental breakfast downstairs.
” She sounded so hopeful, all I could do was laugh.
I gulped more of the coffee as she gave me the hard sell.
“Seriously, there’s sure to be fresh coffee down there, and the kids would love a muffin. ”
I focused on the cup in my hand, making sure the blanket was covering the boxers I slept in as I drank more of the less than spectacular instant coffee. “Thanks, Barbie, but we should wait until Candy—Captain Sorensen—gets here.”
“Garbanzo needs a pee,” Pete said, thrusting the puppy at me. “Joshua says you have to take him.”
“Thanks, buddy, but would you hold him just a minute while I get dressed?”
“Okay.” He stepped back as I set the coffee down and yanked the blanket off the bed.
I wound it around my hips as I stood, hooking a thumb in the direction of the bathroom.
“I’m just gonna go…you know.” I didn’t wait for an answer but bent and grabbed my duffle, heading to the singular bathroom close to the door.
I should have been prepared for the explosion of clothing, grooming supplies, and towels strewn all over, but it only brought a smile to my face as I shut the door.
It didn’t take long to shower but when I stepped out, I heard deep voices in the outer room.
I dressed quickly and went out into the living area only to find Candy, Mickey, and Patsy sitting on the newly made sofa holding cups of Starbucks.
Mickey grinned at me. “Morning.”
“Hey, guys. Morning,” I replied, much less enthusiastically. I hadn’t gotten much sleep.
“Morning, sunshine,” Patsy drawled brightly. I dragged my gaze over to the Irishman. “In his infinite wisdom, the boss made us stop and get Starbucks for ya, though, I argued against it, I did. I told him not to waste his money on a hero when deep adulation and sufficient fawning usually applies.”
I just smirked at him before turning to the boss.
“Thanks, Captain.” I headed for the small dinette in the room, picking up the cup, noticing that someone had put the beds away to make room for everyone.
I turned to look at Pete and Meggie who were playing with Garbanzo on the floor in the sunlight pouring in from a window. “I can take Garbanzo out now.”
Pete looked up and smiled showing me his missing teeth. “Too late. He already made a poo on the floor.” He burst into giggles. The sound was contagious and I couldn’t help but grin.
I started chuckling as I ruffled his hair. “I’m sorry, buddy.”
“It’s okay, Nash.” He pointed to Patsy. “Mr. Patsy took him out.”
Candy cleared his throat. “Hampstead, we should probably go over things now.”
“Sure, boss.” I walked over and plopped down in a chair at the table where Barbie and Joshua were taking seats as the boss sat forward.
“Patsy, Mickey, and I went back to the family’s house to collect their belongings this morning. Afterward, we headed over to both of Mr. Calder’s job sites to evaluate the protection capabilities should he continue to work at those places.”
I glanced at Joshua, getting a good look at the younger man for the first time this morning.
He was dressed in a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans with tons of holes in them.
Even seated at the table beside me, I could tell they’d hug him in all the right places when he stood up.
His tight-lipped expression told me that he probably already knew what was coming and was none too thrilled about it.