A Hunted Man (The Men of Halfway House) (40 page)

He looked up at his assistant who patiently waited.

"Are you up for a field trip?"

Hunter anxiously turned the corner only blocks away from the diner.

"We really don't need a break," Jessie said from the passenger seat as he tried to stifle a yawn.

They had spent hours going through paperwork and audio for the past three days. Jessie had nodded off at the table or had crashed in the guest room for short bursts but continued to work through the evening hours alongside Hunter. Aidan had helped bring the two stacks of boxes with documented telephone conversations, office memos, emails, and more from Lydia's storage room to Hunter's house and had helped in the evening hours each night, sneaking a few hours' sleep on Hunter's bedroom couch before going in to the station.

"We're taking a break while Aidan supervises the crime scene cleanup crew at the house. Besides, I want you to meet someone."

"Cameron?" Jessie asked with a smile.

"Yup," Hunter said as they drove into the parking lot.

They entered the diner and stood by the sandwich area. Hunter anxiously looked around, hoping to get a glimpse of Cam. Phone calls and texts just weren't enough.

Hunter's phone chirped and he looked at the display to get an update from Aidan on the cleanup progress. The cleanup service he hired was working on getting the blood stains out of the living and bedroom flooring that wouldn't budge.

"Is that him?" Jessie asked quietly with a gentle touch to Hunter's arm to get his attention.

Hunter looked up and saw Cam exiting the back room and smiled. When Cam looked over and saw him, his eyebrows arched downward. He yanked off his apron and threw it on the table before stalking over to Hunter.

Jessie visibly cringed and took a few steps back until he stood behind Hunter.

The fire in Cam's eyes shot a jolt of lust through Hunter's body. He'd missed Cam, that fire, that territorial streak. His body itched for Cam's touch as he approached. He imagined this was what a helpless animal was like at the mercy of a lion, and he was damn ready for that type of attack.

* * * *

Cam tried to not think about the billion different ways he wanted to rip apart that smaller man who felt the need to touch Hunter. He was obviously terrified.

Good.

And what the hell was Hunter thinking, bringing some guy into the diner and getting chummy with him. His blood ran so fucking hot he just wanted to grab Hunter, throw him over the counter, and completely, totally, absolutely claim him so it was unmistakable who Hunter belonged to.

Hunter had this silly grin on his face as Cam approached.

Cam reached Hunter, grabbed the back of his neck forcefully, and pulled him down for a branding kiss. Hunter moaned and reached for Cam's waist, pulling him flush against his body. Hunter broke the kiss, gasping for air.

"Who the fuck is this?" Cam snarled at the small shaking man.

Hunter worked his hand under Cam's shirt to his lower back and touched his skin in that rhythmic way he always did to soothe him. He didn't need soothing, he wanted to know who the fuck this guy was standing so damn close to
his
Hunter.

"This is Jessie, my assistant." He then looked over his shoulder. "Jess,
this
is Cam," Hunter said with a smile.

The color drained from Cam's face. He looked up at Hunter who still wore this silly grin.

"I totally hate you right now. You could have warned me," Cam mumbled, trying to hide his face at the side of Hunter's neck.

Hunter chuckled. "And miss this? No way."

"Hi, Jessie," Cam finally said with a wave, his face still buried at the side of Hunter's neck.

"Hi," Jessie said quietly, still standing behind Hunter.

"I'm so sorry. Shit. I just wasn't thinking when I saw you walk in here with Hunter."

Jessie's eyes rounded. "You thought me and Hunter—"

"Sorry," Cam responded. He looked up to Hunter who wore an even wider smile. "I swear, if you don't wipe that grin off your face—"

Hunter chuckled and kissed Cam's neck, cutting off his train of thought.

Cam looked over to Bill. "Sorry," he mouthed to the older man. Bill simply waved him off and laughed.

He was so going to rip into Hunter about this later. "Have you guys eaten yet?" Cam asked.

"Not yet. They're cleaning up the house so we figured we'd get a break and pick things up later on today," Hunter said with his arm still wrapped around Cam's waist.

Cam nodded and looked over at Bill.

"Son, I'm already on top of it," Bill responded then asked Jessie about his sandwich preferences. "Do you want some coffee to go with this?"

"Or a latte," Hunter added. "Cam makes an awesome latte." He circled his fingers on Cam's lower back. Cameron leaned into the touch, enjoying the contact he had missed for the past few days.

Jessie hesitantly looked over to Cam.

Great, the guy probably thinks I'm going to poison him.

"Um, okay," Jessie responded quietly.

Cam nodded in response, gave Hunter a quick peck, then walked behind the counter area.

As he heated the milk, he was still kicking himself in the ass about the way he had reacted. He seriously needed to get a grip on himself. Hunter wasn't going anywhere. He'd made that crystal clear, he just needed to let it sink in. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his shaking hands. There was no way in hell he would be able to make one of his designs if he wasn't a bit more steady.

"Go ahead and take your break, hun," Lucy said.

What the heck was he supposed to do? Sit with them and torture the poor man further? It was obvious the guy wasn't comfortable around him. "Nah, that's okay."

Lucy placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sweetie, take your break. Hunter's obviously here to see you, and regardless of what happened, I'm sure he'd like to spend a little time with you while he's here. Besides, I think he rather enjoyed your protectiveness," she said with a shy smile.

"Protectiveness?" Cam shook his head. "Lucy, I wouldn't call it that. It was embarrassing," he mumbled.

Lucy rubbed a circle on his back. "It was an instinct to protect what the two of you have. I've known him for years, and never, ever, have I seen him this happy. Even with everything going on."

"That's what he tells me," Cam said on a sigh.

Lucy squeezed his shoulders in a half hug. "You haven't had it easy, sweetie. So I'm sure he understands why you get territorial. Besides," she inched a little closer and whispered, "I think he enjoys being the center of such devotion."

Lucy, all grandmotherly with her hair picked up and apron tied around her waist, giggled like a teenager. Cam couldn't contain a chuckle that escaped.

"You're not helping," he said as he finished the second latte.

"Go, take your break and spend some time with them so that scared young man can see why Hunter loves you so much."

Cam knew Jessie was working his ass off this week to help Hunter, which meant he was helping Cam. He counted to ten to try and calm his nerves. He took the two lattes he had prepared and walked over to Hunter's corner where they sat.

"Is that a bear?" Jessie asked with a huge smile.

Cam sighed with relief. "Yeah."

"Cam keeps learning new designs each week and practices until he gets them perfect," Hunter said with a proud tone.

Cam's cheeks heated. He wasn't much of a bragger, but he couldn't deny how much he enjoyed hearing Hunter compliment him to someone else.

"It's called latte art. I figured it'd be nice to do something different with that big coffee mug."

"Just make sure you drink it, Jess. Cam's territorial about people drinking his coffee," Hunter finished with a smile as he bit his bottom lip.

"You're beggin' for it," Cam said under his breath as he plopped himself in the chair.

Hunter leaned over and kissed the side of his neck.

Cam playfully pushed away Hunter. "Stop it. I'm supposed to be mad at you."

Hunter laughed and leaned in again.

Cam couldn't help but laugh. He looked over to Jessie, hoping their playful display hadn't freaked out the poor man into having a heart attack. Instead, Jessie had a wistful look on his face and grinned as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Sorry about that," Cam said.

Jessie quickly shook his head and waved his hand. "Don't be."

"Thanks for all the work you're doing to help me this week. Hunter tells me you've been spending hours up to your eyeballs in papers and other stuff. I really appreciate it," he finished quietly, the knot in his throat preventing any more words from being spoken.

"You're welcome," Jessie said, hiding behind the big mug to take another sip.

Hunter reached over and pressed the back of Cam's neck. Cam leaned into the touch, enjoying Hunter's hands on him. The goose pimples rose on his skin as Hunter's thumb stroked the side of his neck. He glanced at Hunter and saw the same need for closeness staring back at him through the silver gaze. He leaned over and rested his head on Hunter's shoulder, hoping to convey how much he had missed seeing him these past few days.

They finished their lunch while recapping new developments in the case. Jessie caved and told Cam some office stories about working with Hunter. Cam genuinely laughed and eased into a comfortable discussion with Jessie, no longer threatened by his proximity to Hunter.

"Don't you get bored out of your mind going through all that paperwork?" Cam asked.

"Not at all, I actually enjoy it. And with Hunter and Aidan there," Jessie began then trailed off.

"Aidan's a nice guy," Cam said and cocked his head to the side when Jessie nodded.

"Yes, he is. He's very easy to be around which surprises me," Jessie added casually. "Do you think he'd like us to bring him a coffee?"

Hunter squeezed Cam's knee. He wasn't sure if that was his way of encouraging the line of questions or his way of telling Cam to back off. "Aidan's a great guy and easy to talk to. What part of him surprised you?" he asked in the most nonchalant tone he could fake.

Jessie shrugged. "Big guys usually aren't like that."

"I'm like that," Hunter said defensively.

This time, it was Cam's turn to squeeze his knee. It was obvious, even to Cam who lacked social interaction for a decade that something was up with Jessie. Now he felt really horrible about earlier when the man had arrived at the diner.

"You're not the norm," Jessie barely whispered.

"No, he's not and I'm thankful for that," Cam said then grabbed Hunter's face and gave him a loud kiss on the cheek. "I'll get that coffee ready for Aidan. You behave," he said to Hunter then turned to Jessie. "Thanks again for all your help. Sorry about earlier."

Jessie smiled and shook his hand. Cam instinctively knew to avoid the firm double pump handshake he usually did.

After a few moments, Hunter answered a call on his cell then they stood to leave. Jessie took Aidan's coffee to-go and headed out. Hunter immediately followed with a wave good-bye over his shoulder and a smile that promised much mischief. If Hunter was getting his house cleaned, then there was a chance they could have their weekend alone. He smiled when he returned to the coffee machine to fill a few new orders and think of creative ways he could pay back Hunter.

Hunter stared intently through the two-way glass, his teeth were starting to hurt from the pressure of his clenched jaw. He had spent endless hours with Jessie, reviewing boxes of information last week, breaking only for his weekend with Cam. They had found a wealth of evidence on Frank, nothing solid on Mackler.

He had taken Cam for his follow-up tattoo appointment on Saturday, then they spent a few hours at a music festival in South Beach after having dinner with Hunter's dad. Cam got his wish for Sunday and they spent the entire day in bed. Apparently Cam seemed to think tying him down while he had his way with him suitable punishment for Hunter goading his territorial streak.
Sucker.

Hunter inhaled sharply, his laser focus still pegged on the man in the next room arguing with Aidan.