Chapter Nine #4
The bookstore was completely empty, allowing them the freedom to roam without fear of bumping into anyone. Kieran took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of paperback books. “Almost as good as a library,” he said.
He’d gone to his local library after school nearly every day before his parents died.
No one argued or did drugs there. He could read until his heart was content without someone making fun of him.
One of the few regrets Kieran had of his childhood was sacrificing his love of books and reading to peer pressure as a surly teen.
Cool kids hung out, got drunk, and banged girls or boys.
By that point, everyone had given up on him and his future, so he had too.
“Oh,” Finley said softly. “That’s so sad.”
Kieran blinked him back into focus. “What?”
Finley’s cheeks turned pink, and Kieran realized he’d spoken some or all of his thoughts out loud.
Well, fuck. How did he do damage control when he didn’t know exactly what he’d said?
“Cash has an amazing library, and it’s available to the crew.
And a gym,” Finley added hastily. “But he probably already told you that.” Finley had tossed him a lifesaver, and he grabbed it with both hands.
“No, he didn’t. We didn’t get very far into the ranch tour before he was interrupted.
Thanks for telling me.” Kieran couldn’t explain to Finley that he’d rather eat a bowl of razors than accept anything else from Cash.
Then why wasn’t he trying harder to find answers instead of having fun with Finley?
Kieran turned in case his frustration was as obvious as his attraction to Finley.
He started roaming the shelves for bargain books to put some distance between them.
Luckily, most of them were used and marked way down, so he stacked a few in his hands.
“Here,” Finley said, handing him a basket.
Their fingers brushed when he accepted it, and Kieran felt like someone had hooked jumper cables to his heart. Damn, this attraction was getting out of hand. “Thanks.”
Finley headed to the opposite side of the store, allowing Kieran’s heartbeat to return to normal.
He’d nearly filled the basket when his eyes landed on the book that had gotten him through his jail term and given him a purpose.
He picked up the copy of The Count of Monte Cristo as reverently as he could muster.
Its presence now felt like serendipity, a reminder of his mission.
He gently laid it on top of his stack and headed toward the counter.
The clerk greeted him with a smile and rang up his purchases while Finley milled around at the opposite end of the store.
His entire haul of books cost him under fifteen dollars, and he was quite pleased with his bounty when he walked up to Finley with a bulging reusable tote.
“Ready to eat yet?” Kieran asked.
Finley replaced a book on the shelf and snorted. “Always.”
When they stepped back onto the sidewalk, the atmosphere at the festival felt vastly different.
An oppressive lull had replaced the carefree vibe, and it didn’t take long to figure out why.
Several members of the Salvation Anew group had clustered in the middle of the street near the casino.
The white-haired guy was back on his soapbox, preaching the evils of sinning.
Two men—one tall and brunet and one short and sandy blond—stepped out of the casino and stopped next to the protesters and kissed passionately.
The entire group of protesters turned to face them and started shouting.
Kieran couldn’t hear what they were saying because of the blood rushing through his ears.
He recognized the taller brunet who smiled against his lover’s mouth as the people raged around them.
He seemed fearless and brave, but Kieran knew him to be a deceitful coward.
The rage he’d stoked for months flared to life, making him dizzy and breathless.
His brain urged him to duck into a nearby store and seek cover, but he couldn’t move.
The two men ended their kiss and turned in Kieran’s direction.
His brain screamed for him to duck into the crowd, yet he remained rooted to the spot.
Firm hands gripped his biceps and pushed him into a narrow alley between two businesses.
His fight-or-flight instincts had failed him at the worst moment.
Finley spun him around and backed him against the wall.
His mouth moved, but Kieran couldn’t hear him over the ringing in his ears.
In his periphery, he saw Ritchie Alvarez and his lover walk into the gap between the two businesses.
If they turned their heads to look down the alleyway, they’d see Kieran and Finley.
Fuck! Fuck! Oh fuck!
Something in Kieran’s expression must’ve clued Finley in because the blond pressed his body against Kieran’s, gripped the back of his neck, and planted a kiss against his lips.
The rest of the world faded away—religious zealots and heartbreaking backstabbers alike.
The tote bag fell to the ground, and Kieran would have too if not for the gorgeous man pinning him against the building.