“Sorry, but it’s time for you to go pamper your wife. Be a good husband, Daddy.”
His phone buzzed, and it was Colson.
I’m here with David and Luis. We’re waiting for dinner.
An automatic smile tipped up his lips, and Nolan jumped all over that. “Yeah, well, you go home and be a good boyfriend. See youmañana.” He cackled and ran down the subway steps.
“I intend to. Very good.”
Laughing to himself, he began the walk home.
Chapter Twenty-Five
It was definitely odd to be in Harper’s house without him, but Luis assured him it was fine.
“Dude, you’re together. Of course you can be here. And let me tell you, I am so damn happy to see it. I was afraid for Harper. I can’t say that to him because he refuses to listen, but it’s the truth.”
“Afraid for him?” He knew Harper had changed from the hard, cold man he’d met months earlier, to someone loving and romantic. But he still didn’t like to talk much about the past.
“You see how he is. So overprotective and hovering.”
“You mean over David.”
Luis nodded. “Now don’t get me wrong. David being kept at home was a blessing for both of them. David receives one-on-one care, which he never could in a group setting, and Harper gets the security of knowing David is safe. But it wasn’t easy for Harper. He was torn between thinking he had to stay at home with David and leaving him with someone.” He brushed at his eyes. “I’ve been a home care attendant for a very long time, and I’ve never seen a relationship like Harper has with his brother.”
“He feels a heavy weight of responsibility because he’s all David has.”
“Because he doesn’t let anyone in,” Luis insisted. “And then he ended up with that Ronnie…I should’ve known from the start that one wasn’t a keeper.”
Colson wasn’t a gossip, but he couldn’t help wanting to hear what Luis—whom he respected—had to say. “How come? I know Harper loved him.”
“Pfft. Love. That’s not what it was. It was good old-fashioned lust. And I had no problem with it. Harper was wrapped tighter than a second skin. He needed an outlet. But he confused lust with love. Ronnie was never into him for anything other than having a gorgeous man in his bed. He preferred to have David out of the way because he didn’t want to see him every time he came to the house.”
Colson dreaded asking, but he had to know. “So how do you know—”
“Nah, you’re not going to ask why you’re different, right? Because you are. You want to fit into Harper’s life instead of changing it. You look at him, not past or through him. See, I had someone once I loved more than anything.” Luis covered his hand and patted it. “And the way you and Harper are? That’s how me and Maria were. Like there’s never anyone else in the room but the two of you when you’re together. And not only physically. You’re in tune with each other. In sync.”
“I think so.”
“I know so,” Harper said from behind them, and he peered over his shoulder to see a visibly tired Harper. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Luis rose to his feet. “I’ll go check on David. He was tired after therapy, so he’s taking a nap to make sure he can stay up after dinner with you.”
After Luis left them, Colson murmured, “You look like you could use a nap too.”
Harper’s answering grin held a note of wickedness.
“How about we go upstairs and I give you a massage?” Colson wrapped his arms around Harper and kissed him.
“I think that would be a good start.”
Chuckling, they took the stairs to his room, where Harper secured his gun, then kicked off his shoes and shucked his pants, socks, and suit jacket. Colson undid his tie and flicked open the buttons of his shirt, stopping to press kisses along the opening.
“There’s something about a man in a suit that does it for me.” He pushed the undone shirt off Harper’s shoulders and rubbed the muscles. “You’re so tight. Come lie with me.”
Harper held his arm. “I meant it. I can’t tell you how good it feels to come home after a long day and have you here to hold on to.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Now get on the bed, Detective. I’m not going to ask you twice.”
