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It had been nearly two weeks since he’d been assaulted and there’d been no developments or leads in the case. And it had been two weeks of the worst kind of torture – being in the constant presence of the one man he could never touch or feel or taste again. The one man who made him wish for things he couldn’t have…couldn’t be.
“Here, you dropped this.”
Dane was so distracted it took him several moments before he realized the deep, rich voice was directed at him. He turned to see the man behind him in line holding out the ladybug book that Emma had dropped at some point.
“Uh, thanks,” he said as he maneuvered Emma in one arm, the stack of books in the other.
“Why don’t I hang on to these for you till we get up to the register?” the guy suggested as he carefully took the books from Dane.
“Thanks,” Dane said as he did a quick once over of the man. There was something oddly familiar about him. He was quite good looking with rugged features, dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. He looked to be about Dane’s age though his build was more like Jax’s.
“No problem. How old is your little girl?”
“Almost seven months.”
“She’s adorable. What’s her name?”
“Emma. I’m Dane, by the way,” he said as he reached his hand out. The guy managed to maneuver both his pile of books and Dane’s into one arm so he could return the shake.
“I’m Gray.”
Dane hesitated, then shook his head slightly as he finally recognized the man. “Gray Hawthorne, the writer?”
The guy looked around as if checking to see if anyone else had heard Dane talking and Dane instantly felt bad for how loud he’d said it. “Sorry,” he said more quietly.
“It’s okay. Just trying to keep a low profile,” Gray said.
“Right,” Dane said as he remembered the scandal Gray had become caught up in recently. Dane wasn’t big on Hollywood gossip but even he’d seen the headlines. “What brings you to Dare?” he asked.
“Just a little R and R. I bought a cabin out here a few years ago and I finally have some time to use it.”
“Well, needless to say, I’m a big fan.”
Gray glanced at the ladybug book on the top of Dane’s pile of books. “I see that.”
Dane laughed and he was surprised by how good it felt. The line moved forward and Gray placed Dane’s books on the counter. “I hope this doesn’t seem too presumptuous, Mr. Hawthorne…”
“Please, call me Gray.”
“Right, Gray. Would you like to come over to our place for dinner tonight?”
“Everything okay here?” Jax interrupted and Dane didn’t need to turn around to hear the anger simmering in his voice.
“Jax, this is Gray. He’s new in town. Gray, this is Jax. He’s a friend visiting from out of town. Jax, I was just asking Gray if he wanted to join us for dinner.”
Dane flinched at the coldness in Jax’s eyes as he considered Gray. “Not sure that’s a good idea,” Jax said.
Before Dane could say anything, Gray turned his eyes back on Dane and said, “I’d love to.” He pulled out his cell phone and punched in a couple of buttons. “Give me your number and I’ll text you for the time and address.” His eyes went back to Jax, the challenge clear. Shit, what the hell had he just stirred up?
Dane took the phone and put in his number before handing it back. The clerk rang up his purchases and he was keenly aware of the two big men sizing each other up behind him as he paid the bill. When he turned around, Jax suddenly reached for Emma. “We should get going,” he snapped as he turned away.
“Sorry about that,” Dane offered as Gray put his books up on the counter. “He’s a bit protective.”
“I don’t blame him,” Gray said cryptically as he gave Dane a genuine smile before reaching out his hand. “See you tonight…unless you end up needing to cancel,” Gray said, his eyes flashing to where Jax was waiting impatiently by the door.
Dane shook his hand, briefly hoping he felt some kind of connection with the man he now knew was gay since Gray had come out early on in his writing career. But there was nothing and his heart sank as he realized why. “See you later.”
Dane reached the door and watched as Jax put Emma in her car seat. Even as the man worked, his gaze kept looking all around them, watching for some threat. Jax finished getting Emma strapped in, then shut the door.
