“Okay, Uncle Eddie,” he said teasingly.
“I also know that you always wanted kids. Remember? We talked about having three of them. Two boys and a girl and all three of them would have your eyes and your blond hair.”
“You remember that?” Marty asked.
Eddie tugged Marty’s shirt over his head. “Sweetheart, I remember everything. I even remember the guy I saw you with. Dark hair, skinny, tall, sort of gangly.”
Marty laughed and smacked his shoulder. “That was Wes. He and I didn’t date. He was a friend who was helping me get settled in my place. He helped me get everything moved and stayed at my place with me for a few days because they were painting his after some water damage. I still keep in touch with. Wes has a husband and a dog, and they live on one of the islands off the sound. I go visit them in the summer, and we spend time wandering down the quaint streets and shopping. Wes is determined to find me someone.” Marty smacked him again.
“What was that for?” Eddie rubbed his arm.
“Because you didn’t even bother to check up or ask. If you had asked, I would have told you that I wasn’t seeing anyone. But no… you just saw what you saw, and a month later, I met Richard, the jackass of jackasses. It took forever to get rid of him.”
“I see. You’re saying that my timing sucks and so do my observational skills. You kissed this Wes guy.”
“Yeah. It was a peck. He and I always kiss each other. It’s our way of saying hello and goodbye. It doesn’t mean that I want to jump his bones. Besides, he and I dated for, like, a week and realized we were much better friends. Wes is a great guy, but he wants some things out of a relationship that I can’t give him.”
Eddie was intrigued. “Like what?”
Marty shook his head. “Wes really likes his bikes, leather, and everything that goes with it. You’ve seen me try to ride a bike. I can barely stay on. You’re the only one I’ve ever ridden with, and I wouldn’t trust him enough. And as for leather, it chafes.”
“Okay. That’s good to know. So, the Harley that I have in the garage is never going to get used again. Is that what you’re telling me?”
Marty met his gaze. “Are you kidding me?”
“Yes, I was pulling your leg.” He drew closer once more, pulling Marty to him. “Just relax. I’m not going to ask you for things you aren’t comfortable with. But I should probably warn you that the trunk at the end of my bed is full of things we could use if you were so inclined.” Eddie couldn’t help smiling.
“You really are an ass sometimes. I know that chest has all your winter sweaters in it because I checked this morning when I was cold. So you can quit trying to be funny because it isn’t going to work.”
“Fine.” Eddie worked open Marty’s pants, and they fell to the floor. “I guess I’ll just have to make love to you the old-fashioned away.”
Marty rolled his eyes dramatically. “You’re going to lay me on the bed, tell me to close my eyes… and think of England?”
“Now who’s being the smartass? I would never ask you to think of England.” He kissed Marty before he could say something else to tease, figuring that if his lips were engaged elsewhere, he could lay off with the jokes. Eddie kissed him down onto the bed and climbed onto the mattress, pulling off his shirt during short breath breaks. Damn, he wanted Marty. Somehow, he managed to get his pants off without hopping around the room like an idiot. “You know, there is no smooth way to get these things off. In the movies, they just disappear when they aren’t needed.”
Marty snickered. “And exactly what kind of movies have you been watching?”
“Oh, you are bad,” Eddie teased back. “I’m just saying. You want to be romantic and smooth, and it’s impossible.”
“How about you get naked and get into bed. We can worry about smooth and romantic then,” Marty told him, and Eddie did as he was asked. After all, he was good at following orders.
ChapterEight
Marty woketo the lights in the backyard, only this time, he burrowed back under the covers. “Tell the kid next door to stop sneaking in or else you’ll arrest him,” Marty grumbled as Eddie got out of bed. He peered out the window and hurried out of the bedroom.
Marty drew the bedding upward and closed his eyes to block out the light but gave up. So, he slipped out of the bed and dressed before leaving the room. Movement in the living room drew his attention. Marty didn’t know where Eddie was, but he knew he wouldn’t have moved like that. Eddie was more fluid. He wondered if he should return to the bedroom—if someone was in the house, he was trapped.
Still, he went back inside and closed the door, grabbing his phone off the bedside table. He sent a text to Eddie.There’s someone in the living room.He shoved it in his pocket and pulled open the closet door, found one of Eddie’s baseball bats, and said a silent prayer of thanks and a vow that he was going to grow to love the sport if it killed him. He closed the door and backed away, crouching around the far side Eddie’s dresser. He could only hope that Eddie saw the message and was on his way back.
Marty kept still as the bedroom door opened slowly. He held his breath and waited as the nightlight from the hall shone in the room. He hoped that whoever it was would see the empty bed and leave again, but they seemed to stand still. Marty knew his only chance was to outwait this asshole, so he held stock-still, not shifting his weight and breathing as slowly and steadily as possible.
A shadow retreated before the door closed once more. Marty allowed himself to breathe for a moment but didn’t move. The last thing he wanted was for whoever was in the house to return. After slowly pulling out his phone, he checked his messages quickly and sent one more to Eddie before messaging Brian and Kerry. Someone had to be up. Then he checked for a response from Eddie, but didn’t see one, and he wondered if something might have happened to him.
Units are on their way, Brian sent.
Marty put his phone away just as the bedroom door opened again. He took the bat in both hands, ready to lash out as soon as whoever was here got within range. Marty was well aware that he was only going to get one shot at this and had to make it a good one.
The intruder moved farther into the room, leaving the door open. Marty held still, his muscles flexed, until a figure appeared around the corner of the dresser. Not waiting any longer, he swung the bat with everything he had.
