Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run 6)

Harrison looked up, his lips twitching. “Okay there, Ty?”

“Yes, sir,” Ty answered with a grimace. “Bad leg. Old football injury. Tripped over the water boy. There was Gatorade everywhere, it was horrible.”

Annie began giggling again, and even Zane grinned as Juanita came back in with a tray of churros and bowls of sweet dips.

As Sadie dove into the desserts with all the enthusiasm of a three-year-old, Beverly placed her napkin on the table at her elbow, leaning forward and watching Ty. Ty seemed to sense the attention and he looked up, meeting Beverly’s eyes.

Zane’s stomach flipped. His likened his mother to a wild animal sometimes; if you made eye contact, it was like a challenge. But Ty always made eye contact, and he didn’t back down from challenges. Watching his mother and his lover stare at each other was the proverbial irresistible force meeting an immovable object.

“So, Mr. Grady, how did you find yourself in the FBI?”

“It’s Agent Grady, Mother.”

Ty gave her a charming smile. “The Marines didn’t want me, and it’s hard to find a job where you can shoot things without getting arrested.”

Zane actually groaned.

Beverly was struck speechless for a moment, and Ty took advantage to change the subject. He looked around the table, addressing Harrison and the others.

“So, what exactly has been going on? Can someone fill me in?”

“Well,” Harrison started.

“Do we really need to talk about such nasty business at dinner?” Beverly asked. She still sounded flustered, and Zane couldn’t decide if it was unsettling or amusing. His mother didn’t like it when things were out of her control; that was where their similarities began.

“Your husband was shot on your own property. Doesn’t that make you a little angry?” Ty asked.

“Made me angry,” Harrison mumbled as he sipped at his water.

“Of course it’s upsetting,” Beverly snapped. She straightened and cleared her throat daintily, then looked to Harrison. “Don’t you believe we should wait until Mark is here to discuss it?”

“Mark won’t be here until tomorrow, Mother,” Annie said.

“Still. I believe we should wait for him. He does have a military background, after all. And don’t we need someone with a mind for this sort of thing before we go off half-cocked?”

“Mother, really. Zane and Ty do this for a living.”

Zane opened his mouth to tell her about Ty’s background, but he felt the tip of Ty’s foot at his shin. Ty shook his head and smiled.

“Harrison?” Beverly said, ostensibly deferring the decision to Zane’s father, despite her warning tone.

Harrison sighed and nodded. “Problem’s been going on for a good while now. I think we can afford one night to give Ty here a chance to rest before we put him to work for us.”

Zane smiled, impressed with his father’s quiet diplomacy. He looked at his partner and found Ty watching Harrison, head cocked. Ty nodded. “I appreciate that, sir, thank you.”

Harrison smirked knowingly.

Beverly wasn’t as impressed with her husband’s decision as Zane was, but she let it go at that. It was like watching a shark release its hold, and something in Zane began to relax.

She placed her napkin on the table and stood. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have plans to attend to in the study.”

She left the formal dining room, and Zane watched the doorway for a long moment. He reminded himself it would just be a few more days, and then they’d be out of here.

“Well, that went well,” Ty finally said, sounding far too chipper about it.

“Lie to her, Zane, it’ll help,” Zane grumbled in a high-pitched mockery of Ty’s drawl.

Ty chuckled.

“Speaking of lying,” Harrison said, leaning both elbows on the table. “You two care to come clean now, while your mother’s out of earshot?”

“What?” Zane asked, panic settling heavy in his stomach.

“I don’t know what it is you’re both hiding, but I can smell it.”

Zane swallowed hard and glanced at Ty. Ty raised an eyebrow, nodding. He looked calm, but there was no telling what was going on beneath the surface. Zane licked his lips and was surprised to find his mouth dry.

“Ty and I . . .” He looked at his father, the fear and uncertainty skittering through him. “We . . .”

Out of the corner of his eye, Zane saw the compass rose around Ty’s neck. He’d worn it almost every day since Zane had given it to him. He would do anything for Zane, and he deserved the same. Ty bit his lip and looked down at the table as Zane hesitated, and though Zane caught only the briefest glimpse of his lover’s expression, he recognized it: disappointment. It burned its way through his body and settled uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach, pushing him toward the words.

“Ty and I . . . we’ve been dating for about a year now.”

Ty’s head shot up, and Annie glanced between them, eyebrows climbing so high her bangs hid them.

“Dating?” Harrison echoed.

Zane met and held Ty’s gaze. “Ty isn’t just my partner at work. He’s my boyfriend. I love him.”

“Oh.” Harrison sounded thoughtful. “Well, that explains it.” He went back to cutting the churro on Sadie’s plate, and Zane and Ty both stared at him, incredulous.

“That’s it?” Ty blurted.

Harrison shrugged and chewed a piece of the sweet bread Sadie had stuffed into his mouth. “Had a g*y bull I had to sell last year. That was a damn nuisance. Gay son? That don’t cost me nothing.”

Ty laughed before he could stop himself. He had one of those boyish, infectious laughs that made the people around him giggle too no matter why. Soon they were all laughing raucously, the sound ringing through the massive house like bells in a cathedral.

Ty stood in the foyer, looking up at an oil painting tucked away in one corner of the grand entryway. He’d seen the painting before dinner, a fascinating vista of browns, oranges, and pinks that made up a surreal look at the Hill Country outside the door.

It was pleasing to the eye, and the colors were well-suited to the décor, so Ty couldn’t understand why it had been shoved into this alcove where no one would see it unless they made a concerted effort to do so.

He cocked his head and took a sip from the wine he was trying to finish before Zane came back from talking with his father and sister.

“You like it?” Annie asked as she came up behind him.