Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

“True.” Duke got up and headed back to his office. “You look worn out, buddy. Why don’t you head out, start an early weekend? I got this covered.”

“That actually sounds pretty good. But….”

Before Quick could finish his sentence their front door opened, and Duke almost dropped his soda when his eyes feasted on the gorgeous male specimen that had just stepped through it. Just about the same height as him, but decked out like a GQ model. Even his aviator sunglasses looked expensive. Who the fuck was this guy? His lip was turned up in a half-smile, half cocky smirk as he stared just as hard back at Duke.

Duke finally pried his eyes off the man to look at Quick for an explanation. His friend was shaking his head at him like he’d lost his mind. “It’s been that long since you seen my boy, Duke?”

Shit. Boy, my ass. “There’s no way that’s Vaughan,” Duke said, more so to himself.

Not realizing he’d said it loud enough for anyone to hear, Vaughan began walking towards him. His gait was full of masculine confidence and maturity. Duke swallowed when Vaughan completely ignored his father’s work area and came straight in his direction. He pulled off his sunglasses and Duke just controlled his gasp. Beautiful, bedroom hazel eyes framed by long, dark lashes, locked solely on him. His beard was perfectly trimmed, but still gave his beauty a bit of ruggedness.

Fuck.

“Hello Duke.”

Oh shit. There was that voice. The same one from the phone. Only there was no background noise and no filter from the phone lines. Duke didn’t think it possible for Vaughan to sound any sexier than he did the night before. He was wrong.

Instead of Vaughan giving him the handshake Duke was expecting, Vaughan gathered him in his arms and pulled him in tight. Duke instinctively brought his arms up and hugged him back. He refrained from closing his eyes, although the smell of fresh, clean-scented cologne assaulted every one of his senses. When Vaughan spoke again, his deep voice was right at the base of his ear, and Duke was that he felt his lips tickling the fine hairs on his neck. “It’s really good to see you, Duke.” The words were spoken so wistfully they made him want to moan. Vaughan’s strong hands rubbed down his back, lingering before squeezing right above his hip. Duke forced a step back, remembering the kid’s father was in the room with them. Chancing a peek over Vaughan’s broad shoulder, he saw that, sure enough, Quick was watching them, his expression unreadable. Duke dropped his arms and put some distance between Vaughan and himself, backing almost into his office.

“Yeah. It’s good to see you too, Vaughan. It’s been a long time. I hardly recognized you.”

Vaughan unbuttoned his suit jacket and tucked one hand inside his pants pocket. He nodded his head, his eyes boring into him. He needed to say something, anything, to clear the tension in the air. Duke turned and looked back in his office at the black box with the gold ribbon sitting on his desk. “I, uh. I got you something.” Duke nervously ran his hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “A sort of belated graduation gift.”

Vaughan’s smile was downright sinful. “How sweet of you.”

Duke tried to shrug nonchalantly. “I’ll get it for you.” He turned and walked into his office, had just reached his desk when he heard his door shut behind him. With the small box in his hand, he spun around and saw that Vaughan had closed them inside. He took his time looking around at the books and picture frames on the wall-to-wall shelves. Long, graceful fingers skimmed the bindings of one of Duke’s favorite books: To Kill a Mockingbird. “I’ve read this too many times to count.” Vaughan finally spoke. “We seem to have similar taste.”

Ignoring that statement, Duke chose to talk about something else. “Your dad said you had an interview this morning. How’d it go?”

“Looks like I’m gonna be working in the DA’s office. It was my first choice after passing the bar, so I’m happy about it.”

“Wow. Congratulations. You must be….” Duke’s voice tapered off as Vaughan walked over to him. His rear was against his desk so there was nowhere to go. He held the box in front of him, thinking again that it was boxed like a diamond bracelet was inside and wrapped like something you’d present to a lover. Vaughan stood only a few inches away, so Duke extended the box to him.

Vaughan’s gaze never wavered from his as he pulled gently at the bow until it unraveled, and slowly lifted the lid off. When Vaughan finally looked down in the box, a soft, genuine smile appeared on that beautiful face. “This is great, Duke. I like it. A lot.” Duke watched Vaughan remove the monogramed, Parker Duofold black ballpoint executive ink pen and read the elegant cursive script along the side, Vaughan Webb, Esquire.