A Hunted Man (The Men of Halfway House) (14 page)

"Neither do I, but we need to." Hunter rested his forehead against Cam's. "You're driving me crazy."

"You're driving me to have panic attacks so I think we're even."

Hunter smiled and gave Cam a quick kiss before standing. "I'll be back later. Want to have lunch?"

"I can talk to Lucy and Bill about having lunch in the back instead of out here."

"You don't want to go out somewhere else?" Hunter asked, brows furrowed.

Cam shook his head. He wasn't sure if leaving the diner would be an issue with Matt so he preferred to avoid a problem and stay. He figured a half truth was better than a lie.

"I'd prefer to stay here just in case Lucy or Bill needs me for something that can't wait."

Hunter smiled. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Cam shrugged.

"I've gotta go."

"You keep saying that." Cam smiled.

"Stop looking at me like that and maybe I can get my brain to focus on walking."

Cam chuckled. "Maybe I should hold you down and prevent you from leaving."

"Fuck," Hunter groaned. "I'll be back later."

Cam tracked Hunter as he walked out the diner and down the street until he could no longer distinguish his figure in the crowd.

He sighed.

He'd kept his distance from others as a necessity for survival, but the need to be close to Hunter consumed him. He'd never felt wanted like this by anyone.

As much as it scared him to discover this, the thought of losing it terrified him. He closed his eyes and exhaled a shaky breath. Cam knew it was a matter of time before he'd no longer be able to be with Hunter. It was inevitable. Once Hunter found out the truth, Cam figured he would keep his distance. If that didn't push him away, he knew those who wanted to keep him in prison would.

It was the same endgame regardless—him alone, just as he had been these past ten years.

He'd deal with it when that time came. Until then, he'd cherish every second he could steal with Hunter before losing him.

* * * *

Hunter returned that day for lunch as promised then made it a point to go by the diner at least twice a day—for mid-morning coffee and a late lunch break—the rest of the week. He had joked with Cam about more frequent visits and it seemed Cam had relayed the joke to Lucy.

Lucy saw him arrive that afternoon and did as she had done each instance since—she walked around the counter, hooked her arm in his and led him to the back room.

"Sit," she said and handed him a cookie.

He tightened his lips, trying to hold the smile. "Yes, ma'am."

He turned as she walked out only to see Bill guiding Cam into the back room, with his hand at the back of Cam's neck. Hunter couldn't contain the smile anymore.

"Keep him busy so he stops cleaning my diner," was all Bill would say before leaving them alone.

He loved seeing their tag team efforts in pushing them together; they had no shame in hiding their intentions. Come to think of it, the only thing they hadn't done was shove them into the storage closet and throw away the key.

With every visit, Hunter would sit with Cam and they'd have lunch or just sip a coffee while talking. Cam chatted endlessly about anything botanical. He'd smile wistfully when he'd mention his time in the garden with his mom as a child. Cam's mother had passed away when he was young, a subject Cam avoided.

"When your mom died, how did you handle it?" Cam had asked him softly.

"It was tough but my dad and I had a ton of great memories with her," Hunter had responded. Cam would then switch gears and steer the conversation elsewhere. Hunter recognized the pain in Cam's expression, so he knew not to push the topic further than he was willing to reveal on his own.

Somehow, being with Cam, Hunter was able to escape all the drama surrounding his work and recent issues with his cases. Ironically, he was sharper, more focused, and able to block everything else out when around him.

"How the hell is that possible," Cam had asked when he mentioned this. "I can't focus worth a shit when you're around me."

Hunter shrugged. "I don't know, maybe it's just that when I'm with you I can't think of anywhere else I want to be."

Cam raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't have pegged you for a sappy guy."

"If you'd like, I can keep my distance, avoid the touching, kisses, and all that other sappy stuff." Hunter smiled. He took Cam's hand, raised it to his lips, then kissed his palm.

"I didn't say I couldn't tolerate some sap," Cam said with a scowl, pulling his hand from Hunter's grip.

"Tolerate?"

"Yeah, it's a sacrifice, you know, but I'll put up with it."

Hunter chuckled as Cam leaned into his shoulder.

"I can see you absolutely hate enduring it."

"Yeah, it totally sucks. But I'll deal with it," Cam finished, nuzzling the crook of Hunter's neck.

"Funny, I wouldn't have pegged you for a sappy guy," Hunter reciprocated the tease.

"Yeah, well, I'm not. And if I happen to have any sort of sweet shit on me, it's all your fault."

"I'll take the blame for this any day," Hunter said, wrapping his arm around Cameron's shoulder and pulling him into an embrace. "Do you have any plans this weekend?"

Cam positioned himself more comfortably in Hunter's arms before responding. "Yeah, I'm working on some landscaping stuff where I'm staying."

"I'd love to see it."

Cam fidgeted. "Um, I'm not finished with it yet so it's just dirt and stuff dug up. It'll take a while to get to the point where it looks nice," he mumbled. Cam fell silent and tightened his hold on Hunter.

Cam's muscles were tense. Hunter sighed and pulled Cam closer into the embrace, hoping Cam wouldn't distance himself as he often did. He'd eventually earn Cam's trust with time. In the meantime, he relied on unspoken cues and learning his tells. Hunter didn't mind the challenge.

"Then when you finish," Hunter said.

Hunter nuzzled closer into the warmth of Cam pressed against him. He had an uncontrollable base need to feel the heat of Cam's skin, hear the timbre in his voice, see that soulful blue gaze stare back at him—just as much as he needed the air that filled his lungs. He wanted to be alone with Cam, but it seemed Cam was most comfortable within the confines of the diner. He'd deal with it if he had to.

Cam looked up from within the embrace and slowly sucked in his lower lip as his vision shifted to Hunter's mouth.

Hunter had learned this tell in Cam. Cam would endlessly joke and tease, but a serious verbal declaration of what he felt or wanted was something Hunter imagined wouldn't come easily…if at all. Hunter knew the request for a kiss would never come, but the desire in his eyes was unmistakable.

He cupped Cam's face and delivered a slow, lazy kiss—the ones that seemed to elicit the most sounds of approval from Cam.

The sounds that sent shivers throughout Hunter's body.

He didn't dare ask Cam how he felt.

Hunter just hoped Cam felt the same.

The sweat trickled down the side of Cam's face and neck. He scooped up the dirt with his hands and worked it around the flower bed full of impatiens he'd planted. He sifted the soil then sprinkled in a little slow-release fertilizer near the roots. He smiled as he worked, using the trowel to open the hole for each new colorful addition.

He couldn't believe it when Julian had surprised him with flower beds at the front and back areas of the house, exactly as he had described, even more shocked to see Matt with a shovel in his hand helping Julian dig a hole. They listened to him, allowed him to manage the project and direct them on what he needed them to do. He mattered for the first time in too long.

"Hey, Cam," Matt said, poking his head out the front door.

Cam looked up and squinted to block out the sun. "Hey."

"Can you take a break for a bit?"

Cam's chest immediately tightened.
Shit. Did I do something wrong?
He silently followed Matt into the kitchen and washed his hands while he watched Matt grab two glasses and fill them with cold lemonade.

Matt gestured for Cam to sit then grabbed the file at the end of the counter.

Cam sat and just looked at the manila folder with his name written on a tab. He exhaled heavily. He couldn't stop his leg's rhythmic jumping up and down.

Matt cleared his throat then smiled. "I just wanted to sit with you and go over a few things."

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Not at all. I just thought that since you've been working for two weeks, we'd sit and have a bit of a benchmark at this point. Just so we can see if there's anything we need to work on."

"Okay," he said hesitantly, stretching out each syllable, looking at the file Matt held.

"I had a chat with Lucy and Bill and both are extremely happy with your work. They think you're easy to work with, a quick learner, and have a wonderful way with the customers. They're very pleased to have you there and raved about their trust in having you long term if you'd like."

Cam breathed a sigh of relief.

"You've also passed the random tests you've been called to take and you've been doing some beautiful work here with the landscaping."

Cam quirked a smile. He hadn't heard this much praise in such a long time he wasn't sure how he was supposed to react. It was silly at how pleased he was with himself that someone who was probably only a few years older than him was complimenting him on his work. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say so he simply said, "Thanks."

"If you want to read my notes, you can. I have an open policy when it comes to the content of your files."

Cam nodded. This wasn't so bad after all.

"That covers the formalities. Is there anything you want to talk about or any questions you have now that you've had a chance to settle in for a bit?" Matt asked as he closed the file and waited for Cam to speak.

Questions. He had only one and it related to the subject that dominated his thoughts. Hunter. He was a little hesitant about the fact that Hunter was a lawyer, but wasn't that the same as others condemning him because he was an ex-con with a record?

He was tired of sharing him with the other patrons in the diner. He was thankful Hunter hadn't pushed to be outside the diner, but there was only so much mauling he could do there before it started to just get too weird, regardless of whether Lucy and Bill pushed them together every chance they got.

"What's the policy on staying out late and weekend stuff outside of here?"

Matt straightened. "Have you met someone?"

Cam's face heated. "There's a guy."

"Oh?" Matt teased. "Did you meet him at the diner?"

"I met him at the drug place," Cam deadpanned.

Matt blinked, with a blank expression on his face.

"That was a joke," Cam said with a wicked smile. "Yeah, at the diner. He's a regular."

Matt's cheeks reddened. "Sorry. J says I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes. So you like him?"

Cam nodded.

"Has he asked you out?"

Cam shook his head. "I kinda change the direction of the conversation when I sense he's heading that way. We've been hanging out at the diner during my breaks. I just want to know the rules on this. I don't know. It might not go anywhere but—"

"You want it to."

"You weren't slow on the uptake there," he finished with a grin.

Matt chuckled. "Does he know about you, about your record?"

"I met him the first day at the diner so it's been about two weeks. There's no way I'm going to spill my life story so soon. Besides, it's probably not that serious anyway." He added the last part, reluctantly. Cam needed to tell Hunter the truth, which would probably lead to Hunter walking away and any potential—whatever it was between them—would go away. He couldn't imagine a lawyer wanting to hook up with an ex-con, regardless of how much of a 'good guy' Hunter claimed to be.

"Not your life story, but this is important. It's a big deal and it's not good to keep it a secret."

"I'm not keeping it a secret, I'm just not wearing a fucking T-shirt that reads 'I'm an ex-con'," he snapped. He rose from his seat to wash his glass in the sink. He battled with himself. It was probably best to keep his distance and not get involved with someone but he couldn't stay away from Hunter. It didn't matter if they spoke or just sat there drinking their coffee while they stared each other down until one of them laughed.

Cam liked everything about Hunter and enjoyed just being near him, touching him, kissing him in that lazy way. He wanted more kisses and everything else that came along with the deal. He wanted to know what it was like to be on the receiving end of that much desire. Having one boyfriend as a teenager and kissing a few others hadn't prepared him for a man like Hunter. He suspected Hunter avoided those types of kisses when they were together for the same reason he tried to not think about it. If they kissed like that again, chances were they wouldn't want to stop. And even though Lucy and Bill encouraged them together every chance they had, they wouldn't appreciate the peep show in their diner.