Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

They all turned in Quick’s direction when he came back into the living room and dropped noisily into his recliner, angrily shoving the handle back to kick his size thirteen feet up. Quick grabbed the remote from his armrest and turned the television up so loud that they could hardly speak without yelling. Catching himself staring again, Dr. Chauncey murmured an awkward goodbye to them, turned and left.

Vaughan closed the door and locked it, then turned heated hazel eyes on his father. He marched over and grabbed the remote from his father’s hand and turned the television off. “What the hell was that?”

“Mind your own business, son. This has nothing to do with you,” Quick ordered.

“What ‘this?’ What do you mean? What’s going on between you and the doctor? Are y’all old high school rivals or what, Dad? Because I’ve never seen you treat anyone like that, not even the criminals you arrest.”

“I said drop it!” Quick yelled. Vaughan reluctantly retreated, brushing past Duke and recklessly taking the stairs two at a time.

“Duke. We’re going to your place,” Vaughan yelled from upstairs.

Duke didn’t answer. Instead he went back over to the couch and sat down with his hands steepled in front of him. “Do you have no respect for the man that saved your best friend’s life?”

“My son saved your life and I have all the respect in the world for him.”

“Oh, okay. So Vaughan got special treatment through the whole donor process from himself and went inside the OR, pulled his own fuckin’ kidney out of his gut and put it in mine?”

Quick glared at Duke but he didn’t waver from his friend’s sneer for one second.

“There was no MD anywhere in sight,” Duke continued.

When Quick finally looked remorseful, Duke took the opportunity. “You hate him that much for flirting with you? I’ve seen plenty of women and men try to pick you up, you’ve never acted like this.” Duke lowered his voice like he was calming a skittish colt. “I think you like him, Rome. I’ve known you for twenty years buddy. Something is off with this guy.”

Quick shoved his hands back through his hair, pulling hard on the ends. “Damnit.”

“How long have you been attracted to men?”

“I’m not attracted to men,” Quick growled, slamming his footrest down and standing so fast he almost broke his chair. “And don’t say it again.”

“Is that so bad?” Vaughan asked from across the room. He was standing on the stairs with a large adidas duffle bag on his shoulder, looking heartbroken. “You almost sound mortified at a man being attracted to another man.”

“You know I don’t think like that. My best friend and my son are both gay, along with several of my other friends.” Quick sighed. “I just don’t want to be called something I’m not.”

“Gay or bisexual,” Duke chimed in.

“Yes,” Quick huffed angrily.

“Well if a man hits on you and calls you gay, then you just look him in the eye and call him gay right back.”

“Very cute, Duke.” Quick went to the breakfast counter, grabbing his keys and phone. “I’m going out for a bit. Since you two are leaving to Duke’s, I’ll assume you can take care of each other. I’ll call later.”

Duke had a feeling that was a lie. He’d give his friend a little time, but not much. He had no doubt Quick was confused by his feelings for the doc and as his best friend, it was his job to help him through this, just like Quick had helped him with every situation his heart went through.

“What was I thinking? What the hell? How could I be that stupid? Shit! Shit!” Cayson continued to beat on his steering while he sat in the McDonald’s parking lot a few blocks from Quick’s house. He’d been so upset he didn’t think he could drive anymore. He was already sick to his stomach from being humiliated and rejected, but the addition of the horrific smells that drifted into the air from the disgusting fast food joint made it so much worse. Over and over he’d reprimanded himself for doing something as stupid as using a patient as a reason to see someone who interested him.

As soon as Cayson got to the hospital that morning, his nurse was in his office going over Quick’s message regarding Duke. He tried to keep from fidgeting while she told him what he’d relayed to her over the phone about his patient. Just thinking of the big man he’d met only a few weeks ago had left a most intoxicating impression on him, like nothing had before.

Quick was everything Cayson had ever dreamed of in a man. Big, brawny, and hard-packed with natural muscles from working. And all that sexy ink on those massive arms. The thought of those big arms holding him down made Cayson bristle at what would never happen. Nor would he fulfill his fantasy of running his fingers through Quick’s long, thick hair that draped over his shoulders. He longed to tame those beautiful brown locks. Yearned to slowly strip off the sexy-assed leather coat and dark clothes, to get to the man underneath. It was like Roman Webb walked right off the set of his favorite porno site and fell into his life.