Heartward Read online

  “That was amazingly fun,” Tyler said quietly from the driver’s seat. In the end he had driven because of the car seat. “I could use a coffee.”

  “Oh goodness, yes,” Alan agreed.

  Tyler pulled through a Starbucks, and they got their coffees before driving in the direction of Scottville just as the clouds finally parted and the sun came out full strength.

  “I had dinner planned for the three of us, but he’s out. Will he nap if we go to my house?”

  “I can put him down at home, and then he’ll sleep for an hour or so, and you and I can have some alone time.” Now, that was a special treat that Tyler figured was going to be something quite rare. Alan agreed, and he drove to the house, parked in the drive, and quietly took Abey inside and to his room. Thankfully, Abey didn’t stir, and Tyler closed the door most of the way, grabbed the monitor, and joined Alan in the living room. Alan seemed to have found his iPod and speakers as music started to play.

  “A lot of the time I forget what it can be like to be an adult and have a conversation that doesn’t revolve around Abey, House of Mouse, day care, or what I’m going to feed Abey.” Tyler chuckled. They had already had that kind of conversation. “So what’s going on in town?”

  “Besides the fact that your boss is a menace and people are talking about how great the new fire captain is?” Alan asked.

  “Come on, really?” Tyler dismissed the remark.

  “Why do you think the chief was so weird today? You’re here a week and you saved a girl from a collapsing structure, you’re willing to teach others some of the skills you have, the guys at the station all like you, and apparently the chief is feeling threatened.” Alan seemed way too pleased about that.

  “Great. I didn’t come here to take anyone’s job or make trouble. All I wanted was to find a place where Abey and I could make a home and he would have a chance to be a normal little boy.”

  “Of course you didn’t.” Alan took his hand, and all of Tyler’s cognitive abilities centered on that one little touch. “You’re good at what you do and the guys like you, so a man with limited experience like the chief is going to be threatened. But the town deserves the best services and people that we can find, and that was why we all chose you.” Alan squeezed his fingers lightly, and Tyler lifted his gaze from where their hands met to Alan’s eyes.

  “I’m….” His cheeks warmed. Tyler wasn’t a man to embarrass easily, but Alan seemed to have found a way.

  “Whatever you were going to say is probably wrong,” Alan teased. “Just take the compliment. You’re doing good work, and I believe in you.” He leaned closer, and Tyler didn’t hesitate this time. He kissed Alan, reveling in how easy it was, how special. Heat and a swirl of intensity clouded Tyler’s mind. He wanted as much of this—more, in fact—as he could get.

  Alan’s hand shifted to his chest, a spot of intensifying warmth that radiated in all directions. “Damn, you’re hard as rocks.”

  Tyler smiled. “I work out and stay in shape. It’s part of the job. Keeping yourself in good physical condition means that you have the strength and the reserves of energy when you need them. They can save your life or the life of someone else.”

  Alan rolled his eyes. “You say the sexiest things.”

  Tyler snickered. “I do seem to have a way with romance.” He rolled his eyes too. Tyler was well aware that he wasn’t generally the guy to make the big gestures and that he often seemed to fall short when trying to say the right thing. “But it’s true. Strength can be what saves you.”

  Alan leaned closer. “Let’s not talk about your work… or mine, for that matter.” He closed the distance between them once more, and Tyler wrapped his arms around Alan’s back, his hands doing a little exploring of their own.

  “You’re plenty hard yourself,” Tyler whispered against Alan’s lips as the headiness of Alan’s scent increased the slight quivering just under the surface.

  “God, you have no idea,” Alan said softly, but Tyler knew perfectly well the trouble Alan was facing, because it was identical to his own. He kissed him again, more passionately this time, pouring all he had into that touch because what he really wanted was out of reach, at least for now.

  Alan broke away and stood up, extending his hand. “I know there’s a bedroom down that hall somewhere, and….”

  Tyler nodded but had to remain seated. If he stood, then there was no way he’d be able to stop himself from following Alan, letting him lead him to his own bedroom and closing the door. It would be too easy to do, but he couldn’t turn his back on Abey like that. “He’ll wake up soon.” Tyler swallowed. “As much as I would like to see what you taste like and feel like in my bed, I can’t do that right now.” Parts of him urged him forward and on into the bedroom—to throw caution to the wind, and all that.

  “I understand.” The light in Alan’s eyes seemed to dim and then go out.

  “No.” Tyler shook his head. “I don’t think so. I want to spend time with you… and I mean to include that sort of time, but I can’t just let everything go with Abey around. That’s all. He’s going to wake up, and the first thing he’ll do is come looking for me.” He tried to smile and then it grew brighter. “Can you imagine his first question?”

  Alan’s eyes did this little dance, and then he too broke into a smile. “Oh God….” He snickered. “Maybe he’d think we were playing leap frog… or hide the sausage.” He turned away.

  Tyler tried to keep a straight face and lost it. He covered his mouth to try to keep quiet. “Neither of which are particularly good outcomes. I can imagine what he’d say at day care.” Tyler was nervous, and it seemed his lips were running away with him a little. He made himself stop, and Alan leaned over and kissed him once again.

  “Why are you jittery?” Alan asked, and Tyler stopped his leg from shaking. “I can tell. There’s something that’s got blood racing to your head, and at moments like this, it should be flowing the other way. What’s going on?”

  Tyler nodded and wiped the back of his neck. “One time I had to be rescued myself. Disasters don’t always leave the people who are trying to help untouched.” He swallowed hard.

  Alan’s gaze traveled down, and he winked. “It looks to me as though all of the vital equipment is there and in working order.”

  It definitely was, at least as far as Alan would be able to see. Tyler’s cock pressed to his pants, making itself known by the bulge. Not that Tyler had anything to be ashamed of. He knew that everyone had their flaws and that no one was perfect. He could tell himself that, but opening oneself up was hard, no matter what.

  “It’s there and it works. But….” A chill ran up his spine. “Things aren’t exactly pretty.”

  Alan paused and sat back. “I was kidding, you know… I…,” he stammered. Color rose in Alan’s cheeks.

  “Like I said, everything is there. But I was trying to help some people out of a collapsed building. There was concrete and rebar everywhere. I got a young child and mother out of the shifting rubble and was nearly out myself when a piece fell and impacted with my hip. It had a piece of rebar that sank into me. Let’s just say I was damned lucky. I have scars, and things maybe aren’t as pretty… in that area… as other guys.”

  Alan waved it away. “You’re telling me you’re worried about your battle scars?” He seemed almost amused. “You earned those scars, and you can wear them with pride. You got two people out of the collapsed building and got hurt saving them? Those are like war wounds in my book.” Alan shook his head and leaned near enough that Tyler could smell his sharp scent. “Have you been with anyone at all since you came back?”

  Tyler snorted louder than he intended. “I haven’t been with anyone since I left. Romance was something way too complicated when I was moving from place to place all the time. I loved what I did and I was helping a lot of people, but it cost me too.” He sat back. “When all you see is devastation and misery…. It’s hard for me to try to make you understand. But it touches you inside and l
eaves a mark that doesn’t go away.”

  “Papa,” Abey whined as he came down the hall, wiping his eyes. “I heared you.” He climbed onto the sofa and onto Tyler’s lap. “You talk loud.”

  “We’re sorry. Did you have a good nap?”

  “Dance more,” Abey asked, looking around. “With lights.”

  Tyler grinned. “We’re at home, and we don’t have one of those dance machines. I can put some music on and you can dance if you want.” He held Abey. “Why don’t I make us some dinner, and afterward we can have a dance party. Would you like that?”

  “Papa dance?” Abey asked.

  “Okay. Papa will dance too.” Tyler shifted Abey to the sofa. “Do you want to help me with dinner?”

  “I make grapes,” he pronounced, already sliding off. “Come on, Papa.” He pulled his hand, and Tyler got up.

  “Why don’t we all make dinner?” Alan asked, and for a quick second, the image of a family making a meal slid into Tyler’s head. Yeah, that was way premature, but it settled in his mind so easily. “What do you want?”

  “Grapes,” Abey said, jumping up and down.

  “Besides that? How about I ask Mr. Alan to start the grill, and we can have steaks with potatoes and beans, and you can have grapes.” Tyler tickled Abey, who squirmed and giggled. “Okay?”

  Abey simply giggled, and Alan grinned before adding to the mirth. Abey squealed happily as Tyler lifted him off the ground, holding him as he twirled him around the room.

  “Grapes, Papa.”

  “I know. I’ll get the grapes for you, and you can get them pulled off the stems.” He set Abey on his feet in the kitchen and started pulling things out of the refrigerator. Tyler explained where the grill his mom had brought over was, and Alan was nice enough to start the charcoal while Tyler seasoned the meat and began getting everything else set. Abey did his grapes, and then Tyler put on House of Mouse for him. Abey watched television while Tyler got the rest of dinner ready.

  “You know, it’s nice to have someone to do things with,” Tyler said as he finished up the seasoning and Alan cleaned potatoes for baking. He turned on some music, and soon they sort of half danced around each other. Tyler didn’t even care if he looked a little like a dying chicken when he danced.

  “I dance too,” Abey pronounced as he came in.

  Tyler set aside his utensils and wound his arms around Alan’s waist. Alan turned, and Tyler took him into his arms. Before he knew it, the two of them were dancing in the kitchen, with Abey shimmying and twirling near their feet.

  “Sometimes it doesn’t get any better than dancing in the kitchen,” Alan quipped, and Tyler closed his eyes, pulling Alan even closer. They shared a quick kiss, and Alan blinked. “Okay, so maybe it does.”

  Tyler chuckled, because it definitely got better, but right now, this was pretty danged amazing, and for as long as the song lasted, he was more than happy, right here.

  FIRST THING Monday morning, before heading into the station for his shift, Tyler entered the burned-out building from the previous day with Officer Marks. “I want to look at the stove. That’s where the renters said the fire started.” He made his way through the charred wreckage, careful not to go through the floor.

  “Looks pretty bad,” the officer said from behind him.

  “That’s because this is where the fire was hottest.” Tyler pointed out where the flames had traveled. “Stay near the walls. The floor should be stronger there.” He continued around the side of the room to what was left of the old stove. It looked like an antique, and it smelled of God knows what, even after the fire.

  Officer Marks handed him a set of gloves, and Tyler pulled them on. Then he carefully touched the oven door, which came off in his hand. He set it on the floor and peered inside. “It’s electric, which means that the burners and oven can generate a lot of heat very quickly, and she was actively cooking.” Tyler closely examined the stove. A burner still had what was left of the cooking pot half melted onto it, which meant tremendous heat was being generated, a lot more than should have been.

  “This isn’t right at all,” Officer Marks said, and Tyler nodded.

  “This appliance was in terrible shape and should have been replaced a long time ago.” He continued looking through what was left of the stove. “Here. See that.”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s caked with the remains of food and stuff. This was a fire waiting to happen.” He straightened up. “It’s not like this was arson or deliberate, but more of a case of neglect and a landlord being cheap.” Tyler motioned, and he and Officer Marks slowly made their way out of the remains of the building. Tyler sneezed as soon as they were once again in the fresh air. “At least the renters can’t be blamed for this.”

  “No. But I suspect the owner’s insurance company isn’t going to be very happy with him at all,” Officer Marks said. “I’ll go ahead and update the police records with what we found.”

  “I’ll do the same on our end.” Tyler shook his hand and then drove into the station.

  He was pleased to have a few minutes before shift turnover to update the report, but found the one on the fire had been closed with conclusions already entered. Tyler checked the records to see who had done the work and found the report had been finalized by the chief himself. Tyler made a copy of the record, reopened it, and added the appropriate conclusions, then reclosed the record and stared at the screen.

  He couldn’t help wondering what the chief thought he was doing and why he would take it on himself to close an incident record for a fire that he hadn’t attended and one that still had outstanding questions. Yes, what he added didn’t really change things. The fire was ruled accidental, but it still disturbed him. Tyler printed out copies of the before and after images of the report and slid them into his bag for later reference. Then he began his shift.

  Chapter 6

  SUNDAY HAD turned out to be quite a day, with a really special evening that Alan held on to during the week and on into the following weekend. He and Tyler had spoken a few times and exchanged texts, but Tyler had been busy on shift, and Alan had spent plenty of hours at the store. Life was busy, and to add to it, he had to prepare for the latest meeting of the town council. On the surface, the agenda seemed normal enough, but Alan went over all of it so he could be prepared.

  “Hey,” Tyler said as he strode into the store just before closing. He was still in his uniform and looked amazingly fine. There was something about him bring dressed that way that had Alan’s heart beating a little faster.

  “Is there something you needed?” He came around to where Tyler weaved through the sofas toward the back.

  “Not really. I haven’t seen you much and wanted to say hello.” Tyler smiled. “Everything here looks pretty good. You’ve obviously been busy. How was the trip to Grand Rapids?”

  “It was good. I found some really great pieces, and I have a lamp in the back that you might like.” Alan motioned. “I also found this really wonderful car light for Abey. It has a lamp, but one setting turns on the car headlights and dome light. I thought he might get a kick out of it.” Alan led the way into the back, with Tyler following. “Is something wrong? You seem really tense.”

  Tyler cleared his throat. “Someone called into the station today to report that the store was a fire hazard and violated codes. I know it doesn’t. But I thought you should know.”

  “I see.”

  “Jerry took the call, and he’s a really good man. He said the person who called was… unflattering in the way he spoke.” Tyler closed the back room door. “Jerry said that both of us were referenced by the caller.”

  Alan nodded and sighed. “Okay.” He wasn’t sure what Tyler was getting at. “Is there something you think I should do?”

  “Other than be careful… damned careful?” Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know.” He sat down on one of the chairs that Alan hadn’t put out yet. “This isn’t what I signed up for when I came back here. I didn’t mean to step into the midd
le of some kind of war. I’ve seen more than my fair share of those.”

  “I suppose you have. But some people will be shits, no matter what.” The bell rang on the front door, and Alan excused himself, heading out front. “How can I help you?” he asked as a single man weaved through the pieces of furniture.

  “I’m just looking a few minutes,” he said.

  Alan took his place behind the desk, and Tyler joined him a minute later. “What do you want to do about it?” Alan asked Tyler quietly. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong here.”

  Tyler shook his head. “No. Everything is fine. There is easy access in and out, a sprinkler system, etcetera. I’ll make a note on the complaint so it’s cleared up. I’ll also note that it seems like a nuisance call. We get those every now and then.”

  “I know you have to take each report seriously.” Alan tried not to be upset. Everything was fine.

  “Are you ready for another fun evening with the council?” Marcie asked as she came through from the back. She visibly shivered. “Better you than me, dude. Those meetings take too long, and they go on and on forever.”

  “I should head on home,” Tyler said. “I had forgotten that was tonight. Abey is having a sleepover with Grammy and Grampy. It seems my dad got Abey a play tent, and he wants to sleep in it, like camping. My dad has been telling him stories about camping and sleeping in a tent, so Abey wants to do that.”

  Alan swallowed hard, wondering if that was an invitation. It sure as heck sounded like one. Hell, his body took it as one, his heart already beating a little faster. “The meeting starts in half an hour, and they can go for a while. But the agenda for this one is short since it’s summer. Major business usually starts in the fall. Maybe we could get a late dinner afterward? Do you want me to message you when it’s wrapping up?”

  “I was going to go so I could see you in action,” Tyler said with a wink, and Alan nodded.

  “God. You two are a whole bundle of unresolved sexual tension.” Marcie shook her head at both of them. “Just go, have a good time making the town a better place.” She rolled her eyes. “And for gosh sakes, do something I wouldn’t do, or at least do something I haven’t done in quite a while.” She sighed. “Lord knows someone needs to have a little fun.” She winked.