Chapter 7
Nate
“You sure that’s a good idea, boss? Sheryl will flip.”
“Sheryl won’t know about this because we won’t tell her. Owen has experience with this sort of thing; I won’t find someone better for this job.”
Nate sighs quietly. He doesn’t like the sheriff’s plan, mostly because it might actually work. Owen has this kind of innocent look that could make the dealers trust him enough to open up. “Well, what do you want me to do about it?”
“You and he will work together. Tell him what he needs to do and who to befriend. You’re the only one who can guide him.”
“Well, yeah, in theory.”
“You’ve been watching those people for a long time.”
But not for the reason you think. “If Sheryl finds out, I’m not taking the blame, boss.”
The sheriff chuckles. “You’re a coward.”
“Just a man who values his nuts, and I’d rather keep both if that’s alright with you.”
“I’ll take the blame if she finds out. Speak with Owen on Monday. He started working at the library, so you might find him there.”
“Who the hell works at a library?”
“People who like to read. Have a nice evening.”
“I’m planning to.” He hangs up and mulls over this new assignment. He’ll need to tread carefully with all this undercover nonsense, but at least the sheriff trusts him to take the lead. He’ll figure out how to handle Owen in due time so he won’t end up causing too much damage.
But right now, Nate is heading out to Rodie’s to do some hunting.
*
It’s a Friday evening, and the place is packed with men and women who are looking to unwind after a long week. Nate makes his way to his favorite corner at the dimmest side of the counter.
Bill comes over, looking unfriendly. “What will it be?”
“A pint of Falstaff and some nachos.”
“And that’s it, right?”
Nate snickers. “Yeah, that’s it.”
Bill seems relieved. “I don’t get why you needed me to do that to Will in the first place.”
“Does it matter? It’s not like I killed the man. You’ve seen him here plenty since then.”
Unable to argue with that, Bill shrugs and goes to take care of the order. Nate turns to scan the large space, spotting what he came here to see.
Even after witnessing Will in all his glory a number of times, the sight of him still makes Nate’s heart beat twice as fast. He has the most perfect bone structure, even under his beard. Tonight, he’s wearing a short flannel shirt that sits nicely around his broad shoulders.
Nate is so mesmerized, he almost doesn’t notice the man whom Will is talking to. He’s so used to seeing Will with Bradley and Esteban that he almost misses the presence of another person with them.
Owen sits in front of Will, and he’s apparently the kind of guy who likes to talk with his hands.
Maybe he’s just excited about the thing he’s talking about—or the person he’s talking to.
Nate frowns as he watches the two of them talk.
Will seems a bit stiff, but is it because he knows who Owen’s aunt is, or because he wants to be inside Owen’s pants?
Bill brings the beer, and Nate takes a long sip while closely watching the two talking men. I don’t like this. He remembers Sheryl mentioning her nephew was gay. Does Will know that? Are they sitting there talking about cock-sucking and Cher?
He tries to convince himself not to get upset.
He got what he wanted, didn’t he? He got Will.
But as he watches Owen closely, it’s clear that he is smitten, and Nate isn’t sure he can compete.
It would be crazy of Will to have another go at a relationship with how things ended with Joel, but it has been five years since then.
Nate tightens his grip on the cold glass.
He waited years for this man, and he’s not about to lose his chance to the first pretty queer who walks into town.
The minutes pass, and Nate absently chews on his nachos.
He might have gotten a cheese burn on his upper palate, but he chews through the pain and drinks his second glass of beer.
He’s not even sure he’s blinking by this point with how concentrated he is.
Some time later, Will glances around the room, likely searching for a waitress. Nate knows he won’t be spotted where he sits, but he wants to be spotted. He waves his hand until he catches Will’s attention, causing the man to tense.
Nate signals with his finger for Will to bring his ass over, and although he’s clearly reluctant, he says something to his friends before getting up.
Nate removes his jacket from the seat next to him, and Will sits down, radiating tension. Nate doesn’t care—making Will comfortable is the last thing on his mind.
“Enjoying your evening?” He slides closer until his shoulder presses against Will’s, their arms resting on the counter.
“It’s been good so far.”
Nate lets the comment slide. “You look nice in this shirt.”
Will doesn’t answer, just continues to look agitated.
“I gave you a compliment. Are you being rude?”
“No. Thank you.”
“You know that Owen is Sheryl’s nephew, right?”
Will frowns. “I’m aware.”
“Good. Just something to think about before you try getting into his pants. You know his aunt isn’t a fan of yours after what you did to Joel.”
Will lets out an angry grumble. Back in the day, Nate would have gotten a punch for talking like that. But things aren’t how they used to be.
“I know who his aunt is,” Will says, “and I’m not looking to become his best friend.”
“Just a quick fuck, then? A pretty, gay boy walks into town, and you can’t keep your hands off of him?”
Will turns to look at Nate, his green eyes narrowed in confusion. “Owen’s gay?”
Well, damn my big mouth.
Nate shrugs as he mentally kicks himself. “Maybe. I dunno.”
Will turns to watch Owen, and Nate has had enough. He slips his fingers through the short sleeve of Will’s shirt. He jolts and starts to move away, but Nate hisses, “Stay where you are. You think I can’t touch you because we’re in public?”
Will breathes heavily but doesn’t try to move. Nate slides his fingers deeper. It’s warm in Rodie’s, and it’s also warm in Will’s pit. Nate swirls his fingers through the slightly damp hair, using his nails to scratch the skin.
“I should have you go down on your knees right here in front of all these people.”
Will shivers, his breath growing faster. “Not here.”
“Because what we do is private, right? Just you and me.”
Will gives a stiff nod.
“Good boy. You feel so good in there, baby. You know I love it when you sweat.” He pulls his fingers out and brings them to his nose. “Fuck, you smell good.”
“I need to head back.”
Nate was planning on taking Will home with him, but he can wait a bit longer. He’s made an important point tonight, one that Will ought to remember.
“You can go back to playing with your friends,” Nate says, then leans closer to whisper, “Come to my place tomorrow evening. It’s gonna be a Saturday, and unless I’m mistaken, you don’t work on Sundays. Guess I can be less… careful with how I handle things.”
The stressful look on Will’s face is priceless, yet Nate knows he’ll come over. He’s in too deep to back off now, all caught up in Nate’s web. Well, for now, at least. Nothing should be taken for granted. But even if Will does decide to back out on their arrangement, Nate will find a plan B.
There’s no putting this genie back in the bottle.
“Have a good night,” Nate says and gets up. “And cover my tab, would you, baby?”
He walks out, leaving Will to worry about tomorrow night. As he should.
*
A phone call wakes him up too early. Groggy, he makes his way to the living room to pick up the phone. “Yeah?”
“Shit, did I wake you? My aunt left to visit a friend, so I thought I’d call you.”
Nate needs a few moments to make sense of who the speaker is. “Owen?”
“Oh, yeah, it’s Owen. The sheriff told me to speak with you. Should I call later?”
“Nah, it’s fine. I’m up. Is it about the undercover thing?”
“Yes. He said that you were the guy to talk to.”
It’s a sad situation when someone like Nate is considered the undercover expert, but in Van Buren, all it takes is knowing a bit more than somebody else to be considered an expert. Not that Nate minds—it’s nice to be good at something.
He would like nothing less than to spend his Saturday morning driving Owen around and tutoring him, but he can’t ignore the chance to get to know the person who clearly has his eye set on something that doesn’t belong to him.
“Can you be at the main square in about twenty minutes? I’ll pick you up.”
“Sure thing.”
“Bring your gun.”
“Um, my what?”
“I’m kidding.”
“Oh, good one.”
Nate hangs up, wishing this was going to be more of a challenge.
*
He picks Owen up in his shitty Ford, since you can’t go undercover in a police car.
He rarely uses his regular car, so he doesn’t mind it being old and badly maintained.
It used to belong to his dad before he hooked up with a local waitress and skipped town when Nate was very young.
Knowing his useless mom, Nate can’t blame the man for getting the hell out.
Still, he hopes his dad has had a miserable life since then. It’s only fair.
“Good morning,” Owen says as he climbs inside the car. He’s wearing a simple white shirt and blue jeans, but people with such a pretty face can wear whatever.
“Hi, man. You good?”
“A bit nervous.”
Nate starts driving. “A bit?”
“Okay, I might be freaking out.”
Nate pats his knee. “Relax. We’re just going to drive for a while so I can explain some things. Nothing else for you to do today. Besides, those are small-time dealers, not gangsters. I got you, buddy.”
Owen smiles and nods. Of course he has to have dimples. “Thanks, man.”
As they leave Van Buren behind, Nate says, “We’re heading to Eminence. It’s north of here, about a thirty-minute drive.”
“Why there?”
“We’re good at keeping dealers out of Van Buren, but we can’t be everywhere. They have a major operation going on over at Eminence, so your best chance of getting drugs without being recognized is from there.”