Chapter Thirteen
“Barking Beach Lifeguards, Tim speaking.”
Sitting at the bench with his binoculars trained on the water, Lachlan tried to ignore the shiver that ran through him. Just hearing Tim’s voice could bring him to his knees.
Literally if he had his way.
It was supposed to be out of their systems after last night. Done and dusted, closed the tab, over and out. That’s what he kept telling himself. He’d gotten what he wanted. Happy days.
Except he wanted so much more. Needed it like air.
The fact that they were alone in the tower didn’t help.
Lachlan had tried to convince himself when he woke with a rush of elation and nerves that it was all good.
That he wouldn’t ache to feel Tim’s arms around him or hear his commands and gentle praise, Tim’s lips brushing his ear.
Wouldn’t be dying to kiss him even though that wasn’t allowed.
None of it’s allowed, you dickhead.
It had been a long time since he’d gotten off like that.
Since Julian. He’d been young then, flattered when Julian pursued him.
Everyone had wanted gorgeous Jules; he’d had to beat the girls off with a stick—and secretly the boys as well.
And he’d gone after Lachlan. That relationship had been strictly under wraps, though of course Lachlan had confided in Ryan.
Not this time.
He squirmed in his desk chair at the flood of guilt, rolling side to side as he watched a tourist family have a play in the shore break, hoping they didn’t venture farther. Though it was autumn, the beach was still busy, especially on sunny weekends, and it was getting crowded.
Tim had come to the tower to cover as Baz and Ronnie took their lunch breaks. He stood to the left and slightly behind Lachlan, his presence feeling huge as he gave one-word answers to whoever had called.
“Understood. Thanks.” Tim hung up the phone on the bench as Lachlan watched from the corner of his eye.
In the silence, Tim sighed heavily. Eyes on the water, Lachlan asked, “Who was that?”
Tim sat in the chair a meter away, automatically reaching for the binoculars. “Nothing to do with you.”
Firmly put in his place—and not in a good way—Lachlan scanned the swimmers. After a minute of silence, he said evenly, “Those backpackers at fourth ramp could get in over their heads.”
“Yep.”
Another minute of silence. Then Tim said, “It was some arsehole from the council. I was meant to call him back last week but there was no time.”
“And you were procrastinating because when the council rings it’s rarely good news?”
After a moment, Tim huffed a laugh. “Guilty as charged.”
Lachlan allowed himself a little smile as he glanced at Tim, who held the binoculars to his face. The sleeves of his blue uniform shirt were pushed up to his elbows, and Lachlan wanted to brush his cheek against the faintly ginger hair on Tim’s nearest forearm.
Focus. “He rang on a Sunday? That’s not good.”
“Nope. An even bigger arsehole made a complaint about Mark trying to put his dislocated shoulder back into place last month.”
“What? I was there. He was begging Mark to do it. Poor bloke was in agony. We were afraid he was going to pass out. What’s he saying now?”
“He’s suing because he had to have surgery.”
“But Mark’s an ambo. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t get the shoulder back in. The intensive care paramedic couldn’t either when she rocked up. She said it seemed like it had been dislocated multiple times before and it was buggered.”
“And that’s what I’ll put in my report. Reckon this guy’s trying to make a fast buck.”
“Ratbag,” Lachlan muttered. “Like Mark hasn’t been through enough without dealing with this.”
Tim glanced over. “You mean what happened to his partner?”
Lachlan nodded. “He was devastated when she died. As you would be.”
“’Course. Is he with someone new these days?”
“No. Don’t think he’s dated anyone else since. I wasn’t here for a couple of years though, so I’m not positive. I’m sure he’ll meet someone else eventually. If he wants to, that is. I shouldn’t make assumptions.”
“Mm.” Tim scanned with binoculars. “Reckon we should know better than most.”
This made Lachlan’s heart skip. “Suppose so,” he said in a too-breathy voice. He cleared his throat. “Do you think it’ll go to a full-blown lawsuit? Or is this wanker just trying his luck?”
“Dunno. It feels like people today are out for money. Bad enough with big companies. Now you try to help someone and they’re crying to a bloody lawyer.”
Lachlan laughed humorlessly. “I would know. God, I hated that job.” It felt good to be able to say it.
“Ratbag central, I reckon,” Tim said, and Lachlan wanted to kiss him more than he already did.
Tim leaned forward over the bench. “Speaking of fucking ratbags, we could have a bag thief at second ramp.” He picked up the walkie-talkie and messaged Damo to keep an eye out.
For a few minutes, they watched the water in a silence that somehow felt easy. It shouldn’t have been given what they’d done the night before. Lachlan had been on his knees and naked in more ways than one.
He hadn’t been that open and vulnerable with anyone since Jules—and maybe not even then. Besides, that had been almost ten years ago.
Eyes on the water, Tim asked, “Why’d you ever think you’d like it? That fancy law firm full of arseholes.”
“I didn’t think in terms of liking or disliking. Achieving my goal was all that mattered.”
“Ah.”
That one syllable seemed to hold so much understanding. Lachlan rolled closer to Tim in his office chair. “You don’t think that’s stupid?”
Lowering the binoculars, Tim gazed at him and simply said, “No.” Looking back at the water, he asked, “Did you ever enjoy working there? Even at the start?”
“I was proud of it.”
“That’s not what I asked. Did you like it? Did it make you happy?”
He didn’t have to think about his response. “No.”
“Then you made the right call to chuck it.”
Lachlan wanted to believe that so much. “But I worked for years to become a lawyer. I ruined it.”
“Bullshit. That can’t be the only lawyer job in bloody Perth.”
“No, but… I need to think about that more seriously. Been too busy hiding here. Avoiding it all.”
Beneath the bench, their knees were centimeters apart. Lachlan widened his legs, pressing his knee into Tim’s as his breath hitched. For a heartbeat, their bare skin beneath the hems of their shorts touched, their eyes locked.
Then Tim was on his feet, moving with the grace and agility of a lifelong surfer. Picking up the radio, he said, “Central to Pink Buggy. Head to the north end. The Croc’ll be waking up any time now. Watch those backpackers.”
Lachlan ripped his focus from Tim’s meaty arse and tried to stop thinking about how he could dig his fingers into that flesh while Tim pounded him, his legs up around his ears and—
“Bull!” Damo called as he entered the tower.
Lachlan and Tim both jumped guiltily even though they were meters apart. Tim cleared his throat. “Yeah?”
“Just thinking about that uni student the cops are looking for. Did anyone check the cave on the rocks?”
“Cave?” Tim said. “There are no proper caves around here.”
Lachlan glanced away from the water and asked Damo, “You mean the spot past the spit at the north end?”
“That’s the one. Not really a cave-cave. It’s a ledge you climb up to. If she’s a Barkers girl, she might know about it.”
Lachlan nodded. “It’s a good place to think.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Sharky,” Damo laughed. “I’m not a big thinker.”
“What do you get up to there?” Lachlan asked before he could think twice.
As Damo’s face flushed pink, Tim said, “Probably not appropriate for work.”
“Yeah, nah,” Damo agreed. “I can go run up and check it if it’d help? Won’t take me long.”
Tim surveyed the beach and sat. “Okay, if you’re quick. Take your radio. Thanks, mate.”
Lachlan and Tim went back to silent watching, and Lachlan tried to remember the phrase “not appropriate for work” and burn it into his cerebral cortex to stop the flurry of thoughts about Tim he couldn’t seem to control.
Eyes on the water, Tim said, “Forgot all about that cave. Ledge—whatever you want to call it. Christ, that brings me back. You and Ryan and the boys hang out there?”
“No. I actually didn’t know it existed until year twelve. After my parents died, I used to go out there sometimes. It really is a good place to think. The waves crashing in right below. Feels like there’s nothing else in the world.”
The phone rang, and Tim answered. After a short conversation, he hung up and said, “They found her. She got in a row with her parents and was sleeping off a big night on the piss at her mates’. Had her phone off and didn’t even know she’d been reported missing.”
“I’m sure she’ll be copping another spray when she gets home. Glad she’s all right, though. I’ll call off Damo.”
Entering the tower with a signature deep laugh as he spoke on his mobile, Baz said, “That’s what you always tell me. Love you.” He called up to the viewing platform. “Lachie, you want to head out and join Damo and I’ll take over the tower? Just have to piss first. That okay with you, boss?”
Tim said, “Yep. You’re the senior lifeguard in charge today. I’m only backing up.”
Lachlan gulped the cold dregs of his flat white. He faced the water, painfully aware of Tim now standing nearby. His belly flipped as Tim leaned down, his warm hand on Lachlan’s shoulder, and murmured, “Don’t mention it to anyone else about Mark and that patient causing problems.”
It took a second to even remember what Tim was talking about amid the buzzing in his brain. Looking up at him, Lachlan promised, “I won’t tell.”
With the faintest touch, Tim stroked Lachlan’s neck with his pinkie finger beneath the open collar of his uniform shirt. Their eyes were locked, and Lachlan could see Tim’s breath stutter.
Bickie’s voice said on the radio, “Central, that bloke’s definitely stealing bags. Doesn’t know we’re on to him yet. Can you get the cops down here?”