Love Wins Anthology

Chapter 9

Chapter 9Mouth hanging open, Josh stared after Reggie, stunned. Had Adam’s ex actually just propositioned him? And that suggestive phrase about enjoying “pinning him down”? Josh shivered as he pictured the bondage gear in the bedroom.

He checked his watch—still time to go home and catch an hour or two of sleep. But as tired as he was, he might not wake up in time to get Adam out first thing.

Chewing on his lower lip, Josh glanced down the hall toward Reggie’s bedroom. Maybe it would be safer to wait in his car for the morning prisoner release. A mix of embarrassment and bravado surged through him. No, he wasn’t about to let Reggie have the satisfaction of thinking Josh was afraid of him. Even if it was true.

Josh was going to stay right there. Just not asleep. Because that niggling worry he might wake up naked and locked in purple padded handcuffs was just powerful enough to keep his eyes wide open.

Besides, he had plenty to occupy his mind.

He helped himself to a bottle of water from the bar refrigerator and got comfortable as he tried to process the wild story Reggie had told. Adam got drunk? In a fight? And hauled off to jail? Unbelievable. He grinned. Josh would have paid a lot of money to see Adam pop Reggie in the nose. A whole lot.

Money. Oh. Right. He’d have to pay a fine to get Adam released. Did cops take credit cards? He checked what cash he had on him and frowned. Not nearly enough, that’s for sure. Maybe Adam had some.

He picked up Adam’s wallet and rubbed the soft, supple leather. Josh had given the wallet as a gift a few months ago. No special occasion, just to please Adam. Although Josh had ended up with the greater pleasure of a delightful “thank you” he got that night.

He opened it and paused for a moment to look at Adam’s driver’s license photo. That sweet smile. Josh chuckled. He’d never seen a photo where Adam didn’t look wonderful. The ache in his chest resumed. Would he ever see that trusting smile glow in his direction again?

Josh shook his head to clear it. No point thinking the worst. He checked how much cash Adam had. Even combined with Josh’s, no way would it be enough. But Adam liked to keep emergency money, and being in jail certainly qualified as an emergency. Josh slid his fingers into the hidden compartment and pulled out a hundred dollar bill. That was more like it.

He dug further and pulled out a photo. It was of him and Adam wrapped around each other, outside their front door. That was the day Adam moved in with him.

Mitch had come to help. And to complain. “Damn, Adam, how can a man living in one room over a landscaping business accumulate so much crap?”

Adam had just laughed. “It could be worse.” As he danced back to the truck for another load, he added, “It could have been two rooms.”

Adam had been pure joy that day. And pure seduction that night.

Yes, that was a day worth remembering.

Smiling, Josh turned over the photo and saw Adam had written the date. And below the date, My heart found its way home today.

Josh stared at the words. Apparently his mother was right about how deeply Adam loved the house. He knew Adam had been orphaned as a child, but the man never talked about growing up in the foster system. It made sense he’d place a huge value on having a permanent home of his own.

Josh replaced the photo and slipped the cash into his own wallet. He’d find an ATM on the way to the police station and withdraw the maximum amount, just in case.

Leaning back in the chair, he sipped his water and tried to figure out how to fix this mess. Reggie was right about one thing—it was all Josh’s fault. So what could he do to make it up to Adam?

To start with, springing him from jail would be good. And many, many abject apologies. And then what? Maybe a dog? Or agreeing to let him remodel the bathroom. Or…?

Josh sighed. Adam didn’t want bribes. He wanted a husband. Someone who would always be there for him. For better, for worse.

And someone Adam could always be there for. Because the man had a deep need to nurture, whether it was plants or people. That might be what Reggie, with his whole power-dynamic thing, never understood.

Josh couldn’t imagine life without Adam. So what was so terrifying about saying “I do”? The gut wrench of reluctance hit him again as he thought about marriage. He ruthlessly squashed it. Enough!

Yes, both his mother’s marriages had been disasters. One had frozen his father into an emotionless iceberg. The other had transformed his stepfather into a raging nightmare. It didn’t mean he and Adam were going to come to hate each other, too.

Josh was overdue to grow up and start thinking like a man instead of a scared, angry child.

His mother had said it—marriage wasn’t for p*****s. Well, as much as his stomach was twisting just thinking about the prospect, he knew she wasn’t kidding. But Josh was through being a p***y.

He strode over to Reggie’s bar and poured himself a hefty serving of Scotch. He held up the glass as if offering a toast. Congratulations, Josh, you’re getting married.

Downing the amber liquid in one gulp, he choked. Face flaming, he grabbed for his water bottle and washed down the Scotch.

He cleared his throat. Whew, that had been a bad idea.

But marrying Adam, being able to protect him and keep him close?

That was brilliant.