“Protectme?” Joshua interrupted, spinning to face his husband once again. “Protect me fromwhat? The worst fucking thing that couldeverhappen to me would be watching the man I love getkilledby some random goddamn gunman! How ‘bout you protect me fromTHAT!”
“Josh, I—”
“If you’d wanted to protect me, you wouldn’t have shoved me to the ground and bolted into a life-threatening situation. You would have stayed with me and let the police handle the guy with a great big gun in his hand.” He bowed his head. “I hope you’re proud. You bagged the bad guy. You’re hot stuff. You’re a big hero to the whole damned town.” His head lifted, and his dark eyes burned into Colin’s. “But not tome,Colin. You’re not a big hero tome.”
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
BIG DAMNED HERO
Colin wandered back down the stairs and fell onto the couch beside David.
“Is he all right?” Nate asked, leaning toward him.
“Depends on how you define ‘all right’,” Colin muttered. “If you define it as being ready to hire a lawyer and file for divorce, he’sfine.”
“Colin,stopthat!” David snapped. “Joshua may be upset, but there’s no way inhellhe’s considering divorce or anythingcloseto divorce. Don’t be such an ass!”
“You didn’t see the way he looked at me, David,” Colin said, his voice heavy. “You didn’t hear how he talked to me.”
“I would imagine he’s pretty damned upset,” David replied. “And I will remind you that Iwarnedyou about hammering away at him before he’d had time to process what happened today. I told you to give him some space. But,nooo!Youhad to go charging into the lion’s den, flags a-flyin’!”
“He’s never talked to me like that before.”
“He’s never watched you damn near getshotbefore!” Nate exclaimed. “Jesus,givehim a minute!”
Colin grimaced and nodded. “OK. I—I get it. It just…” He huffed out a long sigh. “He talked like hehatedme.”
“Colin, your husband adores you,” David said, his voice weary. “I wouldn’t think I’d need to tell you that.”
“Yeah, c’mon, Irish,” Nate teased. “I didn’t think you werethatinsecure.”
Colin shot Nate a venomous glare. “I amnotinsecure!”
Nate snickered, then rose from his perch beside David. “Well, I’m going upstairs to talk to him.” He pointed at Colin. “Youstay the fuck away!”
Colin heaved out a groaning sigh. “Fine!”
Aileen walked into the room with a tray holding tea-filled mugs, which she set on the table in front of them. “Tea,” she stated, her voice firm. “It’ll settle your nerves.” She poured a cup and motioned to Colin. “Drink.”
“Ahn-tee, I can’t.”
“And whynot,may I ask?”
“I’m upset about Joshua.”
“Which renders you incapable of swallowing?”
Colin met his aunt’s eyes. “I’m afraid I’m going to lose him, Ahn-tee.”
“Oh, stop acting the eejit!” She picked up the tea and held it out to him. “You’ve got a better chance of losing the dimples on yourbutt. Drink your tea!”
David snickered while Colin took a swallow of the tea. “Thanks, Ahn-tee.”
Aileen recaptured his hand. “Collie, don’t insult that boy’s love for you by suggesting he’d toss it away like yesterday’s stew over one stupid quarrel. Shame on ya.”
Colin lifted her hand and kissed it. “I hope you’re right, Ahn-tee.”
“Losehim! Silliest goddamn thing I’ve ever heard,” David muttered, sipping his tea. “Jesus, Colin, youcanhave fights, you know. People do. Married couplesneedto fight now and then. Clears the air. You’re more apt tolosehim if youdon’tscrap it out now and then.”
