A Hunted Man (The Men of Halfway House) (29 page)

Cam immediately rose from the chair and walked over, stretching as he made his way to the mirror. He looked at his arm and was amazed to see the old ink was barely visible. The scars that once looked as if an animal had fiercely clawed the flesh of his arm now appeared as rays of sunlight.

Hope.

He bit his lower lip. It was the first time he looked at his marred arm and didn't see the scars or its ugliness. He shifted his arm to see it from every possible angle.

Hunter walked up from behind and placed his hand on Cam's waist. Cam stilled, looking at their reflection in the mirror.

"We look good together," Hunter whispered in his ear. Hunter's eyes sparkled with mirth, passion, and unmistakable love.

Cam had to look away.

Leslie walked over and applied cream on his arm and wrapped a plastic sheet to cover her work. She told Cam how to care for the design for the next few days then scheduled the follow up appointment in three weeks.

Hunter immediately withdrew his wallet but Cam stopped him.

"I want to, it was my idea to come here," Hunter said.

"And it was a great idea, but I got my first paycheck, and this is something I need to do." He looked at Hunter intently, pleading with him not to argue. He hadn't made much at the diner and after the percentage to the halfway house, and stashing a little for expenses, there wasn't much left. He needed some sort of independence. Even if he could only pay for a portion of the tattoo, it was still more than what he had been able to do for himself in the last ten years. "I know it's going to be expensive, at least let me pay for part of it."

Hunter looked at him and nodded.

Outside the shop, in broad daylight, he ignored the slight ache in his freshly tattooed arm and pulled Hunter in for the tightest embrace he had ever given. He screwed his eyes shut, trying to contain the emotions bubbling within. No one had ever taken the time to do something like this to make him feel good about himself.

Hunter's arms tightened around him, tugging him closer.

He pressed a kiss to Hunter's cheek and held him close. "Thank you."

More than a week after their weekend together, Hunter could still feel the pressure of Cam's body against his, the way they fit so perfectly together, the sounds he made, the lazy smile so early in the morning—the one that radiated like the sunrise Cam loved so much. Hunter smiled wistfully as he remembered Cam's shock Saturday evening after spending the day at the tattoo shop.

"Where are we going?" Cam asked as they drove away from the shop in the direction opposite from Hunter's house.

"I'm taking you out?"

"We're already out, smart-ass."

"Out on a date." Hunter looked over and glared. "Smart-ass."

"What do you mean?" Cam asked, scrunching his brows. "Like a dinner and walks on the beach type of thing?"

"Yeah, dinner, a movie, and I'm going to hold your hand the whole time. So don't argue with me," he responded, holding back a grin.

Cam mumbled something inaudible as he crossed his arms and looked out the passenger side window.

"What was that?"

"I said I'm not dressing up or anything like that."

"Okay," Hunter responded.

"I want steak."

"Steak?" Hunter asked with raised eyebrows, surprised Cam was actually continuing the conversation.

"Yeah, no pasta stuff. Julian overdoses on Italian and Matt has too many salads and vegetable dishes. I haven't had a steak since I went in."

Hunter smiled. "Okay. Anything else?"

Cam looked over. "Pick a short movie."

Hunter laughed. "Average movie is about two hours. Is that short enough?"

Cam didn't respond to the question.

When Hunter looked over, Cam had turned in the seat to face him. "Is two hours not short enough?"

Cam looked at him intently. "I can do a lot to you in two hours."

"Fuck," Hunter groaned. It was too easy to give in to Cam but Hunter knew he needed to stick to his guns. "Dinner, then a movie…a short one. Afterward, we go back to my place and hibernate the rest of the night and most of Sunday if you want."

"All of Sunday."

"Most, not all. And that's not up for negotiation. I want to take you to Bayside for a while."

"What the fuck for?" Cam asked, exasperated. "You know I'll put out. You don't need to wine and dine me."

Hunter elevated his tone. "I'll spend time at the diner while you're on breaks during the week, but on
our
weekends, you're mine, and I'm showing you off, taking you out, and holding your hand the whole fucking time. Got it?"

Cam scowled and exhaled heavily. "I'm paying for something," he grumbled, finishing the conversation.

Hunter smiled as he remembered their date. The sounds Cam made while enjoying his steak were torturous. Cam was no doubt teasing him, trying to cut their date short, but Hunter was not giving in. He wanted Cam to know how much he enjoyed every moment he had with him, regardless of whether they were in bed. After finally realizing it was a losing battle, Cam eased into conversation over dinner and nuzzled Hunter while they sat in the theater watching a movie featuring The Rock.

"He's hot," Cam said casually.

"Not funny."

"You're hotter," Cam said before licking up Hunter's neck in the dark theater.

Hunter groaned. "Nice try. Watch the movie. There'll be a test afterward."

"You're impossible. I can't win with you."

"Nope, so stop trying."

"All of Sunday."

"Nope," Hunter said, trying to hide his smile.

"Okay," Cam said and settled back in his seat, still leaning on Hunter's shoulder.

Hunter knew Cam well enough to know there was something else spinning in his thoughts. "Okay?"

"Yup. You'll get Sunday but you're not sleeping a wink tonight. That way, we both win," he said nonchalantly as he watched the movie.

Hunter chuckled. There was no argument there. They'd both win with that arrangement. He slung his arm over Cam's shoulder and pulled him closer. "Okay," he said, smiling.

They watched the film for some time in silence. "Hunter?" Cam asked quietly after a while, before the movie was about to end.

"Yeah?"

"I like date night," he finished in a whisper before nuzzling closer in Hunter's embrace.

Hunter touched his lips and closed his eyes as he remembered Cam's mouth pressed against his—soft and gentle yet strong and demanding. The way they held hands walking in Bayside completely disregarding the crowd of people, the laughs they shared at the street shop items with the snarky sayings, and how they sat together closely as they listened to the Sunday band play a set by the water. He wanted more kisses, more smiles, and more than just weekends.

The knock on the door brought Hunter out of his daydream.

"Hey, boss?"

"Come in," Hunter said, and he waved in Jessie. "What's up?"

"The mayor's office called, he wants to meet with you today."

"We have our meeting for the end of the week. Did he say what this was about?"

"No, just that he would like to bump the meeting up to this afternoon. I told him you were in court this morning so he's leaving his afternoon open to speak with you."

"Have we received any more files?"

"Nope."

"What about Mel?"

Before Jessie had a chance to answer, Mel appeared in the doorway.

"What about Mel?" she asked casually.

Hunter looked over Jessie's shoulder as his assistant turned. "Have you gotten any more red files in the last three weeks?"

"Nope."

Hunter frowned. "Why would they have stopped all of a sudden?"

"Hey, honestly, we've got so many of them, I'm still working the files we have. I could use the breather," she said, taking the seat on the side couch.

Jessie took that as his cue to leave and looked back at Hunter.

"Thanks, Jess. I'll stop by later on. Here's the file from this morning's case and my notes at the end with the ruling."

With a nod, Jessie exited his office and shut the door on his way out.

"Mayor finally called for his meeting?"

"Yeah, today. Do you know what that's about?"

"Don't have a clue. He wants to meet with me next week as well."

"Why not just meet with the both of us here?"

"I don't know what's going on, but I can't meet this week. I've got to be in court in an hour and I'll be there all damn week on this case. I just stopped by to find out if you wanted to grab something quick for lunch before I have to head back to the courthouse?"

"I can't." Hunter sighed then looked at his watch. "I want to wrap things up here first then I'll grab something before heading off to see him. I don't know how long it's going to take."

Mel stood and glanced at her watch. "Frank can get pretty long-winded when he gets on his high horse." She stopped in the doorway before walking out and looked at Hunter.

"What?" Hunter asked after a few moments of staring.

"You look good. You look happy," she said with a teasing grin.

Hunter smiled. "I won another case this morning. That always makes me happy."

Mel shook her head and huffed a laugh. "Smart-ass. This is a different kind of happy, it's oozing out of every one of your pores. You're smiling too much. People are going to think you're a softy."

Hunter laughed and tossed the pad of sticky notes at the door before she ran out to avoid getting hit.

After some time, his phone vibrated across the desk. "Hey, what's up?" he said after seeing the phone display.

"Still nothing," Aidan responded in his usual direct manner. "I've got the day off tomorrow so I'm going to switch it up. Are you up for an all-nighter?"

Hunter looked at his morning schedule. "Yeah, I can swing it. I don't have court in the morning. What are you thinking?"

"Since our meet, every other day after work, I'm usually there seven to nine or ten at the latest…and nothing. I noticed a few changes between my last two visits so I know something's going on. I figured I'd call you and find out if you could go on a stakeout with me. Nothing's official so I can't get one of the guys in on this."

They coordinated the time and place to meet then disconnected.

Hunter's mind wandered, thinking of Cam, hoping they were closer to wrapping this up. He absently spun the woven blue bracelet on his wrist Cam had given him during their first weekend. They had walked past a shop at Bayside housing handmade items. Cam grabbed the dark blue braided bracelet with small silver beads. Cam inspected it as if he were some expert on the material and asked the shop owner if it was waterproof.

"Yes. All bracelets are wax coated."

Cam nodded, paid the person, then turned to Hunter and yanked his wrist. Cam remained quiet while he tied the material, securing the bracelet.

"It's the dark color your eyes get when you tease me," Hunter commented with a smirk.

Cam looked up after the double knot was complete and still said nothing. He pulled Hunter down for a demanding, branding kiss in the middle of the aisle of shops. He then grabbed Hunter's hand and continued walking down past the kiosks, as if nothing had happened.

Hunter rubbed his face in frustration, trying to return his focus. The stress was getting to Cam and it was only a matter of time before the man's anxiety kicked in again. He was putting up a great front for Hunter, but every now and then, Hunter could see the cracks in the façade when the fear would make its way to the surface.

He gathered a few files and his briefcase then headed out of his office. "I'm off. Lunch then meeting with the mayor," he told Jessie as he passed his desk.

Jessie nodded.

"I might be a little late coming in tomorrow so if something comes up, just give me a call, okay?"

"Yes, boss," his assistant finished with a smile.

Finally, he was out of the office and smiling as he made his way to the diner for a little piece of heaven.

* * * *

Hunter stood in line and watched Cam tend to the few lingering post-lunchtime customers. Cam's smile came a little easier and his stance less guarded.

His body, although still lean, was tighter and a little broader from the yard work at the halfway house. A slight tan colored his skin now, the faint golden tone further accentuating the blue in his eyes and the white of his smile. His hair had a sprinkling of highlights as if the sun had kissed his head. Sunrises gave him hope, but they also seemed to awaken a natural physical beauty that had been hidden for far too long.

"How can I help you? Sir," Cam said when it was finally Hunter's turn at the register.

Hunter leaned over the counter. "You know that drives me nuts."

Cam smiled and grabbed Hunter's tie to pull him closer. "I know." After a quick peck, Cam released him.

Hunter reached over and rubbed Cam's stubble. "Are you letting this grow out?"

Cam shrugged. He looked away and scratched his growing scruff. "It makes me look older."

"Since when do you want to look older?"

Cam shrugged again and fidgeted with the receipts.

Realization finally hit Hunter. He grabbed Cam's chin and forced him to make eye contact. "Are you doing that for me?"