Tony Hart's life has been quiet lately. He has good friends and a rewarding teaching job. Then the murdered body of another teacher falls into the elevator at his feet, and Tony's life gets a little too exciting.
Jared MacLean is a homicide detective, a widowed father, and deeply in the closet. But from the moment he meets Tony's blue eyes in that high school hallway, Mac can't help wanting this man in his life. However Mac isn't the only one with his eyes on Tony. As the murderer tries to cover his tracks, Mac has to work fast or lose Tony, permanently.
The Prius was easy to find among the few cars in the lot. The back was filled with boxes of kids' books, which matched Hart's statement. They'd have to check for that last box in the teacher's classroom. The gym bag was trapped underneath, but Mac worked it free. There was no smell of tobacco or grass. He popped the glove compartment and leafed through. After all, he had Hart's permission to be in here. The car registration matched Hart's address. There were a few receipts for gas and oil changes, a fast food slip, a receipt for socks from Target. There was a receipt from the Dakota nightclub, dinner for two nine months ago. No weapons, no drugs, no blackmail letters. Mac closed up and locked the car. He fetched an evidence bag and a fingerprint kit from his car on the way in. Time to let the guy get changed so he at least could go home.
Hart met him in the hall outside the computer lab and took the gym bag from him with another of those smiles. "You found it."
"Yeah." Mac cleared his throat. "I'll...um...just check the bathroom for traces before you use it to wash up. Down this way?"
Hart blinked at him. "Sure. You think the guy might have come this way? It's nowhere near the north stair."
Mac held the washroom door open for him with his cleaner hands. "No, I don't think so, or I wouldn't let you in here. But I want a quick check so the defense can't suggest there was blood in here before you used it. They like anything to confuse the picture."
Sure, that's why you want to follow this kid into the john.
To make it true he took a quick look at door handles, sinks and floor; no blood, nothing out of place.
"Okay. Get those clothes off." Great, that came out well. "I'll...um...hold the bag open and you can drop them in so I don't touch them." Mac shook out the bag and opened the top.
"Shoes too?"
"If you have others, yeah."
"Sneakers in the gym bag." Hart bent to slip off the loafers and dropped them in. He put his phone and wallet on the counter then turned away a little to unzip his pants. He flashed a quick look over his shoulder as he stripped. "Reminds me of some of my dates, although no one ever walked off with my clothes afterward."
Mac winced and glanced away.
"Sorry," Hart said apologetically. "TMI."
Mac turned further away.
Which gives you a fine view in the mirror, doesn't it?
He checked the kid out for bloodstains that didn't match the ones on his clothes, not finding any. Hart's body was thin, but not skinny, sleek and lightly muscled with just a hint of the softness of teenage years remaining. A scant trace of dark hair crossed his chest at the level of his nipples, and trailed downward into his briefs.
Mac coughed and turned away firmly. "We don't need the briefs unless there's blood on them."
"You don't want the full show?"
Mac glanced back and caught the kid's teasing gaze. He looked away quickly. "Not particularly, no."
Water ran in the sink, followed by splashing, and the kid made a snorting noise. Mac grabbed a handful of paper towels and turned to pass them over. The young man's black hair dripped around his face. Water beaded on his upper lip and cheek, caught in just a hint of evening stubble.
"Thanks." Hart grabbed the towels and rubbed at his face and hands. A little water ran from the hollow of his neck down his chest.
Mac pulled his gaze up from following that trail.
More than time to get out of here.
"Go ahead and get dressed," Mac said. "And then I need to get a set of your fingerprints before you go."
"Why?" Tony asked, suspicion in his voice as he pulled the sweatpants up over those long lean legs and tight ass.
Stop.
"You touched Westin, right? Checking for a pulse and all. Maybe you touched the knife."
"I don't think so," Tony said more calmly, "But yeah, I can't be certain."
"So we need your prints for comparison. So if we find someone else's prints, we know what belongs to who."
"Whom," Tony corrected, but he nodded. "Yeah, okay, how do we do this?"
Mac brought out the card. "Put your shirt on and I'll show you."
A little of the teasing returned to Tony's voice. "Guys usually ask me to take my shirt off."
Mac could see why. He was lean but fine, all sleek muscle and... "Shirt on and cut it out," he said, to himself as well as Tony.
Tony pulled the T-shirt over his head, tugged it into place, and toed on his sneakers. "Okay."
Mac put the inkless fingerprint pad on the counter and opened it, showing Tony how to roll his fingers correctly. It was a lot less messy than the old ink system, but he still had to hold those slender fingers and guide them. Artist's hands; he felt the heat in them as he placed and moved each one. It was a relief to step back and close up the card and pad.
"That's good. Thank you. Now if I could get Principal Johnson's phone number?"
Hart picked up his phone. For a second he stared at it and Mac saw the surface was stained. Hart paused to wipe it clean before opening it. His hand shook a little. Mac made no comment and wrote down the number he was given.
"You should be able to head home now," he told the younger man. "I'll send someone to escort you out. You'll use the south stairs and the front door. You won't be tempted to wander around, will you?"
"No."
At the door he paused to look at the kid one more time, couldn't help asking, "Are you going to be okay?"
"I'm fine." The smile was tired, but still a gift. "I'll just be glad to get the day over with."
Mac nodded and let the bathroom door close behind him. His day was just beginning.
Mac is a police officer who’s still hiding his sexuality and trying to raise his daughter as best as he can.
Tony never thought he’d witness a murder and most certainly never expected to meet the love of his life in the cop who’s in charge to investigate said murder.
The chemistry between them is strong from the moment they lay eyes on each other but nothing is that simple. Especially where Mac is concerned.
He wants Tony, he wants to keep in safe and he wants him in his life but he’s afraid. And asking Tony to hide again would not be fair.
Kaje made it so easy to connect with her characters. Many of us could find ourselves in Tony and Mac. They struggle with every day’s life, every day’s worries. They’re not perfect. Far from it. They’re flawed, they make mistakes and have the same struggles with making the right decision especially when it comes to family.
I liked Tony’s strength and determination. Even if he has had his fair share of disappointments he hasn’t lost his fight. And Mac, scared, sad Mac is definitely worth fighting for.
Amidst danger, life threatening situations and an investigation that seems to get more and more complicated every day, a beautiful love story will develop will warm your soul and make you realize that sometimes we just have to have faith and let it happen.
The journey is not over here. I can’t wait to read the second installment and find out what happens next because this was just the beginning of Mac and Tony’s journey. They still have many more challenges ahead of them.
Thank you, Kaje for this wonderful story. A perfect blend of suspense, mystery, action and romance that kept me awake until 5 am because I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend.
Happy Reading!!
I live in Minnesota (where the two seasons are snow removal and road-repair, and the mosquito is the state bird, and where sometimes in winter it is so beautiful you can't breathe for gazing at it). I have been writing for longer than I care to admit, and currently am focused on writing m/m romance. I have an interview from Sept 2012 on Reviews by Jessewave for those who are interested.
My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. This was the first thing I had submitted anywhere and I was thrilled when it was accepted. There are now three free short stories, and three more novels in the Life Lessons series.
My free Smashwords book was the first thing that actually released - I put it up a month before Life Lessons just for the fun of getting it out there. Lies and Consequences began as a reaction to the November 2010 election. It looked like the repeal of DADT might be derailed by the political shift and I put the insanity of that law into the book. Then as I was finishing the first draft in mid-December the repeal passed. Which was great, but prompted a rewrite to a lighter and more action/romance book.
And now I have other work in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. This writing thing is addictive. So read, comment, tell me what you like and what you don't, and help me make the upcoming books even better. I have a blog here on Goodreads, and a website with Wordpress, (http://kajeharper.wordpress.com/ ) which includes a complete book list.
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