Page 113 of Oddly Fine

Gill took a deep, calming breath, as he usually did when he was desperately seeking a way to hold onto his last bit of patience with Beckett.

“I don’t have those kinds of skills,” he said, getting them back on track. “But I know someone who does.”

“Any chance we can get in contact?”

“She’ll be on the first flight out—you can pick her up from YUL this afternoon. Her flight lands at 16:30.”

“Really?” Hayes was stunned that Gill had made this arrangement so quickly.

“Don’t sound so shocked, Monroe. Did you really think my whole operation rested solely on the backs of a retired SEAL and a C.U.N.T.’s operator?”

“Kinda yeah,” Beckett readily admitted.

Hayes chose not to comment.

“YUL, 16:30. Don’t be late—she won’t like that.” And his tone told Hayes that Beckett wasn’t the only employee who irritated him on a daily basis.

Chapter 20

They got to the airport early. Hayes had insisted on it. Beckett had humoured him out of the kindness of his heart. They’d taken Nickel along, and he was currently strapped to Beckett’s chest. He got the occasional odd look, and a few kids asking to pet him, but otherwise he carried on with sleeping his life away.

“Do we even know what this mystery lady will look like?” Beckett yawned again, which was his fifth yawn since they’d arrived. Whatever sleep they’d managed to get the night before hadn’t been enough.

“Not a clue,” Hayes said, shaking his head.

“Maybe she’ll be hot—I’m thinking Bond girl,” Beckett said, cracking his neck from side to side. They were standing at the arrival terminal, both of them lounging back against the wall while scanning the influx of arrivals at the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.

“Why? You looking to update?” Hayes asked jokingly, but Beckett detected an undertone of concern.

Beckett shot his boyfriend a look, one eyebrow raised in surprise as he considered the man. He looked perfectly at ease, his posture relaxed and elegant, as usual, but there was a firm set to his jaw, like he was clenching his teeth.

“You think I’d stick around for a year, just to ditch you for the first hot girl I see?” Beckett asked, growing slightly worried.

Hayes snorted and shook his head.

“No, of course not—I’m just sleep deprived,” he assured him, but Beckett wasn’t fully convinced.

“I don’t miss women, in case you were wondering,” Beckett said.

“I wasn’t,” Hayes assured him.

“Do you?”

And Hayes’ head snapped to the side so fast Beckett was afraid he’d given himself whiplash.

“No!” Hayes exclaimed without a second of hesitation. His concerns vanished as soon as he caught the teasing smile on Beckett’s face.

“I’m too tired for your C.U.N.T.’s mind games,” Hayes answered, annoyed.

“Whatever you say, Daisy,” Beckett chuckled before getting back to his coffee. It was rather burnt tasting, but if it got him to wake up a little, he’d keep drinking it.

“I never had—it was never like this, with anyone,” Hayes admitted after a long moment of silence.

Beckett shot him a surprised look. He hadn’t expected Hayes to offer anything else on the matter. And while the urge to fire back a teasing remark pulled at him, he bit it back. This was Hayes at his most vulnerable. This was exactly what Beckett had told Hayes to be, and here he was, opening himself to him willingly, in broad daylight.

“This connection means much more to me than—” Hayes broke off, struggling to find the right words. “Looks and appeal.”

Beckett bit down on his bottom lip, practically vibrating with the urge to tease Hayes about his awkwardness in explaining his feelings.