Chapter Nine
"Baby, tell me what's wrong." Dan knew something was wrong. Terry's hands shook, a clear indication that he was on the edge of a total breakdown. "What happened?"
"I can't see you anymore."
Dan forgot to breathe. "You can't…" Dan jumped to his feet, rage rolling through him. Rage and anger and fury…and maybe a little pain too. Nope, a lot of pain. "Why the hell not?"
"I can't…" Terry licked his lips as if they had gone dry. "I don't want you—"
Dan inhaled a sharp breath. He took a hasty step back, unable to be this close to Terry when the man was ripping his heart out of his chest. "You don't want me?"
"I don't want you hurt."
Wait.
What?
"You don't want me hurt?" he asked, trying to go for calm, but knowing he failed when Terry winced. He waved his hand between them. "This is hurting me, Terry. You not wanting me is hurting me. You not wanting to see me anymore is hurting me."
Tears sprang to Terry's eyes, making them glisten. "Someone filed a sexual misconduct charge against me. I've been suspended without pay."
Dan stilled. "What?"
Terry's shoulders slumped, and he dropped his gaze to stare down at his hands. It was as if the man was on the verge of caving in on himself. "Someone reported me and said I sexually harassed them."
"You wouldn't do that." He might not know Terry all that well, but he felt it down in his soul. Terry would never sexually harass someone. It just wasn't in the man's genetic makeup.
"That's what I told the chief, but he still had to suspend me until the investigation is done."
"What can I do to help?"
Terry's head came up. "You believe me?"
"Of course I believe you." Hadn't he said that?
"I swear I didn't do this. I wouldn't, even if we weren't seeing each other. I just wouldn't."
Dan walked over and sat down beside Terry. When he wrapped his arms around Terry, the man slumped against him. His body just folded. Dan pressed a kiss to the top of Terry's head as he stroked his hands up and down Terry's back and side.
"I don't want you hurt by this," Terry said. "If people find out we're dating and then they find out I've been accused of sexually harassing someone, it could look bad for you."
"So, what do you suggest we do?" Dan asked. "And forget not dating me. That's not going to happen."
"Maybe we should wait to tell people."
Dan didn't like it.
"Are you ashamed of me?" he asked.
Terry's head snapped up. "Are you insane?"
Dan raised an eyebrow. "If you're trying to hide me…"
"Because I don't want people pointing fingers at you for something you didn't do."
"You didn't do it either, Terry. Is it fair for people to point fingers at you?"
"No, but—"
