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“Liam Larsen?” the taller policeman asked.
“Yes?”
“Are you business partners with a Gerald Miller?”
“I am.” Liam’s gut clenched.
The man’s expression filled with soft regret. “We’re sorry to inform you that he was killed in a car accident in Las Vegas. We’re trying to find relatives and could only find your name.”
“Killed?” Liam felt like someone had punched him in the chest. He reached out and grabbed the doorjamb to steady himself when his knees trembled. “Car accident?”
“That’s the information we received. Are you aware of any relatives in the area?”
Liam shook his head. “No, he just moved here. All his relatives would be in Michigan.”
“Do you have any contact information?”
“We weren’t that close. I’m sorry.” Liam thought of the number Gerald had given him for an emergency. “Wait, I do have a number. I think it belongs to his mother. I’ll grab it for you.”
He jogged into his kitchen and opened a drawer with trembling fingers. Oh my God, his friend was dead and all this time he’d been angry with him. He dug through the junk for the pad of paper Gerald had given him before taking it back to the cops. He’d never met Gerald’s mother, but from all he’d been told over the years, they were close. This was going to kill her.
The police didn’t stay long after that, thanking him for the information.
When Seth shut the door, he stared hard at Liam. “I somehow doubt that was an accident.”
“Me too. And what was he doing in Vegas?” Liam rubbed his chest, his heart aching over the loss. “He may have run off on me, but he was still my friend. This is horrible.” He walked over to the couch and collapsed on it, burying his face in his hands. “I can’t believe he’s dead.”
Seth walked to the sofa. “You know this means those men are going to come after you for the money he owes since they believe he used it to buy his half of the shop.”
He looked up. “You think Gerald was trying to earn the money? That’s why he was in Vegas?”
Seth shrugged. “Who knows? Makes more sense than anything else, I suppose.”
“I don’t understand why he didn’t just come to me and tell me what was going on.” But the burst of frustration left him in an exhaled rushed of air. “And now, I’ll never know.”
Seth sat on the couch next to him and placed his hand on Liam’s thigh. “I’m sorry you lost your friend.”
“So am I. Despite everything going on, he was a good guy at heart. Somewhere, he just screwed up. He could have talked to me, dammit!”
Seth wrapped an arm around his shoulders and Liam leaned into him, enjoying the offer of comfort. He buried his face in Seth’s neck and put his arms around his waist.
“We have to be more vigilant. These guys aren’t playing around. I’m afraid Gerald’s death won’t stop them from trying to get the money from you,” Seth said, his voice low.
“Yeah, pretty much guessed that. Shit. If I had that kind of money, I would have bought the place by myself.”
“I won’t let them touch you.”
Liam pulled back to meet Seth’s gaze. The fierce expression on the man’s face gave fresh life to the ache he’d been ignoring for more than a week. He wasn’t used to anyone being protective of him, because he was built like a damn mountain. But that ferocity was sexy.
Before he could talk himself out of it, his lips met Seth’s. He needed the connection in that moment more than he ever had. He was tired of feeling stressed and worried about the shop. He was tired of feeling worried and angry about Gerald. But most of all, he was so damn tired of wanting Seth and not grabbing him.
Seth didn’t retreat. Instead, he tightened his arms and met Liam’s passion with a heap of his own. He rubbed his tongue over Liam’s, and an answering moan escaped his throat. Seth tasted of the coffee they’d just been drinking.
“Want you again,” Liam whispered against his lips. “Can I have you?”
“Yes,” Seth said, the word more of a groan than anything.
Liam stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go to my bedroom where we can spread out. I’m too big for sex on the couch.”
Seth took his hand and followed him into the darkened bedroom that was dominated by his overly large bed. Liam flipped on one of the lamps and turned to look at the gorgeous man standing in his room. The soft light created tantalizing hollows that Liam wanted to explore while gilding him in creamy gold. Seth tugged off his shirt, revealing that same ripped body that haunted Liam’s dreams. Seth’s hands went to the snap of his jeans and he slowly undid his fly, his gaze not leaving Liam’s.
