Chapter Seven
Keegan had just been about to drive his knee between Danny’s legs when the bathroom door flew open and crashed against the wall with a loud bang.
A supersized man in a suit barged into the room with a murderous expression on his face.
Wait! Keegan knew those eyes, but he’d never seen them burn with rage.
And he’d never seen Kerry all dressed up. What the hell was going on?
Danny pressed closer against Keegan, making a knee to the groin nearly impossible, but it wouldn’t matter.
Kerry was there and appeared to be seconds away from removing Danny’s limbs one by one.
He’d even said as much when the fool in front of him tried to brush Kerry away like an annoying gnat.
Danny had rolled his eyes when Kerry issued his commanding threat.
“Look, pal.” Danny angled his upper body to address his doom face-to-face and froze.
Kerry looked impossibly big in that tiny space.
Like Reacher kind of big. And not that lean Tom Cruise, but the other hulking Alan guy from the Prime show.
Kerry looked imposing, but he wasn’t taut.
Fighters knew better than to tense up because it slowed their reactions.
Owen had taught him that during boxing lessons, which he’d failed to implement when Danny crowded him against the sink.
Kerry had relaxed into the moment and was prepared to cause some serious damage on his behalf.
Humiliation might come later when he thought of Kerry riding to the rescue like Keegan was a damsel in distress, but right then, he was just so damn grateful.
Danny sidestepped to get away from Keegan and turned his body to keep Kerry in his sights. He put his hands up to show he wasn’t a threat and eased toward the door. “This is just a big misunderstanding.”
Kerry was not appeased in the least. He eased closer to the door, blocking Danny’s path.
“When someone tells you no, you stop. Period. Do you fucking hear me?” Kerry’s voice was cold and hard, something Keegan never imagined.
“There is no forcing your will on someone else and then justifying your actions afterward. No fucking means no.”
Danny nodded vigorously. “I got it, man. No means no.”
“If I find out you’ve forgotten, I will track you down and make you pay, Danny Rodgers.” The asshole’s eyes widened when he realized Kerry knew his name, and he darted for freedom when Kerry stepped aside to unblock the doorway. “And lose Keegan’s number, asshole!” Kerry yelled after him.
It was just the two of them, and Keegan didn’t know what to say, so he went with the first thing that popped into his mind. “This is a new look.”
Kerry closed his eyes and shook his head. “You’ve been spending too much time with Sven if the first thing you comment on is my outfit.” He muscled the bathroom door shut before closing the gap between them. Kerry paused just outside Keegan’s touching zone and opened his arms in invitation.
Keegan launched himself against Kerry’s chest hard enough to make him stagger back a half step.
Muscular arms enfolded him in the biggest, safest hug he’d ever known.
Keegan melted into his embrace and pressed his forehead against Kerry’s chest. “I’m so glad to see you.
” He closed his eyes and cycled through some breaths to calm his racing heart.
Kerry’s nearness made the latter part a challenge.
“I want you to know I was about to knee that asshole in the balls when you rode to my rescue.”
A chuckle rumbled through Kerry’s chest. “I have no doubt.”
Keegan lifted his head and met Kerry’s gaze. The rage he’d witnessed earlier was gone, and he was afraid to assign a name to the warmth shimmering there. “You must think I really am desperate and dumb.”
Kerry slowly lifted his hands to cup Keegan’s face but stopped before making contact.
“May I?” He wanted to be annoyed by the hesitance and gentle handling, but Keegan had to admit it was exactly what he needed at the moment.
He leaned into one warm palm, and Kerry closed in with the other.
“I have never thought those things about you. I think you’re—”
The bathroom door banged open again, and the two of them jerked apart and faced the new intruder.
A guy wearing slouchy clothes, a ball cap, and black-framed glasses entered the room.
He placed one hand on his heart and the other on the wall.
He panted like he’d run a mile. “Christ! That asshole nearly ran me over with his eagerness to get away.”
Keegan recognized the voice right away, but it didn’t belong to the dude in the room.
“Sven?” Wait a minute. He’d never seen Kerry in business attire, and Sven never wore dull, oversized clothes.
He sure as hell wouldn’t wear anything to mess up his hair.
All the relief he’d felt from Kerry’s rebuttal faded.
What were these two doing there, and why were they dressed weirdly? “What the hell is going on?”
A lull washed over the cramped space for a few seconds.
Then Kerry and Sven spoke at once, talking over each other, verbally and physically pointing at each other.
Keegan couldn’t make out much of what was said, but the wild gesturing and arguing broke the tightness in his chest. A giggle-snort burst from his mouth, catching the brothers’ attention.
They turned and looked at him with matching quizzical expressions that triggered a fit of laughter.
Whatever the reason for Kerry’s and Sven’s attire or presence didn’t matter because their actions came from a good place.
He’d get the truth out of them, but it didn’t have to be in the sketchy bathroom of a gay bar.
Keegan couldn’t imagine taking his pants down to piss in there, let alone bend over and offer his ass.
He’d only fled to the bathroom to figure out a way to extricate himself from the disastrous date without causing a scene.
“Way to go,” Sven said to Kerry. “You broke him.”
“I did not,” Kerry argued. “He’s just releasing tension. Ever heard of people laughing at a funeral?”
“Danny came close to needing a funeral a few minutes ago,” Keegan said.
Sven narrowed his eyes. “What the hell did that fucker do? It’s not too late to kill him? We’ll hide the body where no one will find him, and I bet no one reports him missing.”
“Take it down a notch, Dateline,” Keegan said.
“Dude,” Kerry scoffed. “You’re winded just from hustling down a small hallway. You think you’re going to sprint out to the parking lot and catch him before he drives off?”
“To avenge Keegan’s honor? Hell yeah, I could.”
The brothers bumped fists, united once again. Keegan got so caught up in the sweetness that it took him a few seconds to realize they were both watching him with concerned expressions.
“I’m fine, guys.” The date had been a disaster from the jump, but the aftermath was…beautiful.
Kerry held out his hand, and Keegan took it. “Let’s get out of here.”
Sven flapped his hand in front of his face like he got a whiff of something horrible. “No doubt. Drinks are on me.” He opened the door and stepped into the hallway. But when Keegan moved to follow, Kerry tugged on their joined hands to stop him.
“I meant let’s leave the bar,” Kerry said.
“And go where?”
“Anywhere you want, but I was thinking my place.”
Keegan could only blink for a few seconds. “Together?”
Kerry laughed and cupped Keegan’s face with his free hand. “Yes, together. We need to talk.”
“Talk?” He tried not to sound disappointed.
Kerry swallowed hard. “And I really want to hold you and kiss you, if that’s okay—”
Keegan darted toward the door, hauling Kerry behind him. Delicious chuckles met his enthusiasm. “I met Danny here, so my truck is outside. That’s one smart thing I did tonight.” Time would tell if going home with Kerry would fall into the same category.
“This way,” Kerry said once they stepped into the hall. He nodded his head toward the door at the end of the corridor marked as an exit.
Keegan wondered how often Kerry had left through that door with his hookups, but he didn’t let the thought ruin his good mood. “Should we tell Sven we’re leaving?”
“He’ll figure it out.” Kerry squeezed his hand, then added, “I’ll text him right before we pull out.”
Keegan would’ve preferred to ride with Kerry, but he didn’t want to leave the ranch truck behind.
The ordeal with Salvation Anew was finally behind them, but why risk drawing attention or retaliation from bitter followers?
Kerry didn’t release his hand until they reached Keegan’s truck.
He fished out the key fob and unlocked the door.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Kerry said.
Keegan didn’t need to ask where Kerry lived.
He’d passed his gorgeous log cabin every time he visited Seth and Rueben.
This would be the first time Keegan stepped inside Kerry’s house, and the thrill of that blocked out any of the nerves he’d normally experience.
Keegan moved to open the door, but Kerry stood in his way.
“Are you sure about this?” Kerry asked. “I don’t want to pressure you.”
Keegan cupped his neck and pressed his lips to Kerry’s. “I’m not going home with you because you saved the day and I owe you. Talking is the last thing I want to do with you right now, though I understand it’s necessary.”
Kerry’s cheeks flushed with warmth, and his eyes darkened. “Sounds like you have big plans for me.”
“I’ve had big plans for you since the day we met.” The moment called for complete honesty, so he added, “But tonight proved that I may not be as ready for intimacy again as I’d thought.”
Kerry brushed his thumb over Keegan’s cheek. “I will happily wait for as long as you need me to.”
A rush of euphoria made Keegan light-headed, and he swayed for a minute.
“Are you okay to drive? I can call Seth and Rueben to come over and pick up your truck.”
Keegan shook his head. “I’m fine. I think maybe your words gave me a mini orgasm or something.”