Chapter Three
“Fuck me.”
Tim didn’t know if it was shock, fury, or humiliation that surged through him. Probably a mix of all bloody three as he stared at the man who’d sucked him off—underwater!—two nights before.
The man he’d been thinking about bending over and pounding balls-deep ever since, wishing he’d taken the chance in Bali. Knowing he’d never see him again.
Careful what you fucking wish for.
Nervous laughter rippled through the tower. Tim realized he’d cursed aloud when Teddy said, “Yep, the grommets are all grown up. I remember when you used to spend hours teaching ’em to surf on the south break. Now all three of you are lifeguards. Who woulda thought?”
Ryan was fuming, and Lachlan—fuck, was he really that kid?—lifted his mouth—Christ, that mouth—into a tense smile, his face beet red.
Tim managed a steady tone. “Not me.”
Someone slapped Lachlan’s rigid shoulder. “Sharky’s back from the city.”
“Bull!” Chalkers, his hair grayer and face more wrinkled though he was still fit, offered his hand and pulled Tim into a hug. “Been too long since we’ve seen your ugly mug around here. Finally had enough of swanning around the Gold Coast?”
“Something like that.” Tim nodded to Teddy. “Happy to lend a hand when it’s needed.”
Teddy slapped Tim’s shoulder. “Taught me everything. I know you’ll keep this place running smoothly. And that everyone’ll work as a team while I’m gone.”
Teddy hadn’t needed to give Ryan a meaningful look. Ryan nodded, his arms crossed tightly over his blue uniform shirt. Tim had left him a dozen messages, but his appearance was clearly a surprise somehow.
“You know we’ve got your back, Cyclone,” said a tall, serious man with dark hair and a baritone voice. He approached Tim and offered his hand. “Mark. Good to know you.”
The introductions started—too many names and faces for Tim to remember at once. He was hyperaware of Lachlan lurking on the sidelines, but he forced his focus on the lifeguards he’d be working with for the next three months.
Teddy hadn’t been sure how long he’d be out, so he’d decided to play it safe and not rush himself back to work. Tim had jumped at the chance to come home and finally make things right with Ryan. It was his fault his own son wouldn’t talk to him, and he’d let it go on far too long.
A slim young man with long, curling blond hair shook Tim’s hand. “I’m Damo. Good to have you here, legend.” He turned and announced, “Cyclone, I love ya, but I’m going back to bed.”
Teddy hugged him with a back slap. “Shocked you turned up at all, mate.”
Everyone shared another laugh before the crowd thinned.
Some part-time and casual lifeguards surely had to get to day jobs.
Tim had been surprised that Teddy could get everyone to the tower so early with little notice, but it was a testament to his leadership.
He was a top bloke, and Tim had big shoes to fill.
It was like another slap to the face—or boot to the balls—as he spotted Lachlan in his uniform—lawyer my arse—hustling down the stairs to the beach in the dim gray light of dawn. The door to the storage shed under the tower rumbled up.
You’d better run.
Now that he thought about it, sure, he remembered the scrawny kid who’d always been hanging around. Lachlan had been polite and a rule-follower. A good influence.
And now he’s sucked you off.
Tim’s gut churned, that mess of anger and shock and humiliation simmering into a toxic sludge. What the hell had Lachlan been playing at? Coming home for the first time in fifteen years had enough drama to manage without feeling like a dirty old man.
Meanwhile, the primary reason Tim had wanted to return inspected the defib and first aid equipment with choppy movements, yanking at zippers. Ryan had never had a poker face.
A memory of him at five or six filled Tim’s mind. Ryan furious at his nan for not giving him a lolly from her purse when she’d said he could have one if he was good. Of course, Ryan’s idea of “good” and hers weren’t in the same universe.
They’d all laughed at his set jaw and balled fists, and Tim had sneaked him a biscuit from the pantry because he’d hated to see him upset, even over a lolly.
The thought of the crumbs on his lips as he’d grinned and thrown his little arms around Tim’s waist tugged at him. It physically hurt to not be able to go over and hug him tight.
He’d seen pictures over the years, but Christ, he’d missed his son so damn much. It was his fault they’d ended up miles apart in the same room, and he had to make it right.
Teddy caught Tim’s eye and approached to speak quietly. “Thought you were going to have a chat to him?”
“Tried, mate. He doesn’t answer calls or texts. Don’t worry. I’ll sort it.”
Before he could do anything, Ryan stalked over, bare feet slapping on the worn floor. To Teddy, he said, “Sorry you’re sick, but I know you’ll be right.” His encouraging tone sharpened as he glared at Tim. “But why didn’t you ask Foxy or Baz to take over while you’re gone?”
Teddy squeezed Ryan’s shoulder. “I considered it. Talked it over with Liam, and we agreed it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to be the boss with Cody working here too. Baz has no interest in being in charge. Too much paperwork for him.”
“What about Mark?”
Teddy smiled. “If he wasn’t a full-time ambo and only a casual lifeguard, I’d ask him in a heartbeat. But this is an opportunity for fresh eyes. Your old man’s the best in the business, and I know we can improve how we do things. We’re all on the same team, yeah?”
Ryan nodded, his jaw so tight it made Tim think of the retainer he’d been forced to wear in high school and had taken out every chance he’d had.
After they’d moved to Queensland, Tim had stopped nagging him about it, hoping it would help with the growing strife between them.
It had only meant the small gap between Ryan’s front teeth had never been fixed and that the retainer had been a waste.
Teddy jerked his thumb over his shoulder and asked Tim, “Remember where the council office is across the park? Come find me in my hole in the wall and we’ll go through the roster and what you need to know. Ryan, you sure you’re up to manning the tower today?”
Tim frowned as Ryan nodded and said, “Told ya I’m good to go back in the water too.”
“Not until the doc clears you, mate.” Teddy shook his head firmly.
“You’re hurt?” Tim asked as Teddy left. Beyond the tower windows, the rising sun glowed softly over the pale sand. Lachlan was out there digging holes for the flags, but Tim couldn’t think about him. One problem at a time. Not that his son was a problem…
Except he bloody was, and Tim had no idea how to fix it.
“You can’t just rock up here without telling me and pretend to give a shit.” Ryan returned to the defib and tested the battery.
Reminding himself that he’d known it would be an uphill battle, Tim followed down the three steps to the first aid area. “I tried to tell you. I rang. I texted. Multiple times over the past few weeks. You didn’t get my messages?”
“Guess you’re blocked.” He didn’t glance up from checking the epi-pens.
Tim bit back a surge of frustration. How was it his fault this was a surprise if Ryan had bloody blocked him? But he couldn’t blame him. He’d been a selfish, stupid dickhead for touching that money. Ryan had every right to hold a grudge.
Tim said calmly, “I might need to reach you for work.”
Ryan pushed up his sleeves. “Fine. I’ll unblock you for work stuff only.”
It was a start. Tim examined the ink on Ryan’s forearms and nodded to a newer horned tat. “Nice one. Looks like mine.”
“Does not!” He seemed genuinely offended. “I can have a bull too. You’re not the only Bullock.”
“Didn’t say I was.” Tim was supposed to be in charge, and he couldn’t even have a conversation with his son.
Liam Fox approached and offered his hand. “Good to meet you, Bull. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Same here.”
Liam’s smile tightened. “I’m sure.”
“Not because you’re—I just mean Teddy’s spoken highly of you.”
Liam’s posture loosened. “Thanks. He said you might want to check out the new granny flat Cody and I have out the back at our place?” He nodded toward the beach. “Cody’s on set-up with Lachie.”
“That would be great, yeah.” Don’t think about Lachlan.
“I’m at my cousin’s in Armadale at the moment.
Had my ute and some things transported by land a couple of weeks ago.
” He peered out at the water. “Can’t wait to surf Barkers again.
” He’d wrapped his board in so much padding it’d nearly taken up half the ute’s flatbed.
They agreed on a time before Liam headed out to patrol as the early morning swimmers and joggers trickled onto the beach.
Ryan muttered, “You’d better not be weird about gay people, because we have a bunch here these days.”
It would have been funny if it wasn’t so pathetically sad how little his son knew him. “Why would I want to live in Liam’s yard if I had an issue? I’m not ‘weird’ about anyone.” Tim wasn’t gay, but he sure as hell wasn’t straight.
“Good. Foxy still cops a lot of shit online. Journos made a big deal about Cody being younger. Acted like Foxy was some perv.”
On fucking cue, Lachlan’s voice crackled over the walkie-talkie sitting on the bench under the wide tower windows. “Orange ATV to central. Couple of surfers claim they saw a shark. Want to get the Jet Ski out to have a look?”
Adrenaline spiked, and Tim picked up a pair of binoculars as Ryan answered. Scanning the water, Tim tried to get his head together. He was a stranger to his own son, and apparently, he’d hooked up with the pimply kid he’d given surfing lessons and bought prawns and chips.
Christ.
He didn’t have to wonder if Lachlan had known who he was. It’d been written all over his flushed, guilty face that he’d known the truth in Bali when they’d—
Gripping the binos, Tim inhaled through a fresh surge of anger as he hurled away the mental images of what they’d done together in the lagoon. He’d deal with that betrayal later.