Promises: The Next Generation (Bounty Hunters 5)

“When I first met my heart, son, I was so tongue-tied and captivated by her beauty that I forgot how to speak, and how to behave. That’s when I knew. I knew she was my queen.”

Queen? For the first time in his twenty-eight years he doubted his father’s words. For years he’d looked at each suitable woman with an open mind, soul and open heart. None of them touched either of those things. Not even the couple of women that he’d lain with. There was no infatuation, no ache, no desperate urges to be with them. And certainly no crippling need to do things for them. Not like his need to feed Kellam when he was hungry. Not like his need to ease the hurt he’d felt this morning after their quarrel. Not like his desire to stand as close to him as he could so that no one else did.

Those were all feelings a husband felt. They were all things a good man was required to do… to provide and to protect.

He felt those drives for Kell already.

Perhaps my queen… is a knight?

Ty stood in front of Kell and ordered a turkey sandwich and a bowl of veggie tomato soup. When the clerk stared expectantly at Kell, he hesitantly pulled his scarf below his soft-looking lips.

“I um. Just a water and…” Kell paused again, glancing back up at the menu. Ty knew instantly what the truth was.

Kell didn’t have a lot of money for eating out. How could he have missed that angle? Ty put his hand on the small of Kell’s back. He stiffened momentarily before relaxing and leaning a little into the touch. Ty lowered his mouth to Kell’s ear hidden beneath his hood. “Do you mind if I order for you?”

Kell cut his eyes to Ty’s again and held him there. Time stood still. The other customers faded into the background and nothing mattered at the moment except Kellam. He appeared to contemplate Ty’s request, then turned his head toward him, the soft material of his hood brushing against Ty’s cheek. “Yes, please.”

Ty rose back to his full height. Satisfied to have this task. “He’ll have the green garden cobb salad with no bacon and a bottle of the Dasani, please.”

“Sure. Dining in?” the cashier asked pleasantly.

“Yes, thank you,” Ty answered, handing the woman the money for their meals before Kell could even reach in his back pocket.

“Here’s your number. You can wait right over there for your order to be called. It’ll only be a few.” She pushed a tray with the bottle of water and some utensils at them then quickly turned her attention to the next customer.

Ty took Kell’s elbow and led him to a vacant spot away from the crowd to wait for their food. He was making up all kinds of reasons in his mind why he kept putting his hands on his partner. To usher him across the street, to lean in to whisper something in his ear, or even to lead him to a table for lunch, he touched him. Now it felt like he couldn’t stop.

Kell put a few more inches of space between them and Ty understood. Kellam was gay and he wasn’t sure if he was. Or if Ty was simply making things confusing and complicated for no reason. He wanted to assure Kell that that wasn’t the case, either. Kell flipped his hood back and slid his beanie off. Ty wasn’t the only one riveted to Kell’s thick locks. A male counter clerk on the other end was damn near breaking his neck to get a better look, now that Kell was revealed. Another woman stopped on her way to refill her drink.

“Oh my gosh. Your hair is beautiful. It looks so soft.” She appeared as if she was about to try to run her hands through it. “Can I touch it?”

Hell no. Ty gritted his teeth, keeping his mouth shut. He had no right.

Kell casually turned his head away from her hand. “You don’t wanna do that. I haven’t washed it in a couple days.”

The woman gave him a confused grin. “Oh. I wish mine looked that good after two days. It’s usually an oily mess by then.” She waited as if Kell was about to give her some hair tips.

Instead, Kell moved closer to Ty. He didn’t know if it was to deter the woman from reaching again or if he naturally gravitated toward Ty now that he was uncomfortable.

“I thought you were a woman from behind.” She laughed, then moved on to the beverage area. “Have a good day.”

Did she think that was a damn compliment?

Kell still nodded politely and told her to do the same. Ty rolled his eyes when she was gone, making Kell smile for the first time since that morning. A man in a business suit stood next to them. He glanced at Kell’s hair then did a double take before schooling his expression. Now Ty knew what Kell was talking about when he said people, especially men, looked at him differently when his hair was out. However, Ty didn’t believe they stared because they didn’t approve, he felt they gazed in envy. The prematurely balding man in the suit stared at Kell’s hair probably wishing he was that blessed.