Mrs Calloway’s smile softened as she looked at Atlas. ‘You’re right. Thank you, Atlas. You are a credit to Rowan.’
Marcus noticed Rowan’s features change, but Rowan quickly dropped his head, and Marcus wasn’t able to read him.
‘Once a police dog, always a hero.’ Jack said.
The people behind cheered and started to clap.
Rowan quickly got to his feet, and before Marcus could voice his own praise, Rowan slipped through the crowds, walking towards the exit, he, Jack and Marcus had fixed the day before.
Marcus’s brow creased, puzzled. He turned to Jack. ‘Can you let Veronica know I have something to deal with, and she might have to host the remaining competitions as well?’
‘Sure thing.’
Marcus smiled and nodded once, then he followed after Rowan.
Applause erupted from inside the marquee, drowning out his calls. ‘Rowan! Rowan!’
Rowan was on a mission, and the gap between them increased. All Marcus could do was follow.
Inner turmoil was pulling him in both directions. He needed to be at the competition. Veronica had only meant to host the first half a dozen competitions, and then Marcus was to take over, but he’d also witnessed the change in Rowan when Jack had refereed to Atlas as a hero. He just hoped the comment hadn’t triggered something Rowan was trying to overcome.
Finally, he spotted him leaning against the harbour wall, his head back and his eyes closed, Atlas lying at his feet.
Marcus reached out to touch him, but quickly withdrew his hand. ‘You okay?’
Rowan dropped his head and opened his eyes, which followed Marcus with sniper accuracy until he came to a standstill before him.
‘Sorry... Yes. I just needed time alone—to reflect.’
‘I called after you.’ Marcus paused. ‘Tell me the truth. Were you trying to get away from what just happened, or were you trying to get away from me?’
Rowan licked his lips nervously. ‘Both. I needed time alone to think about what made Atlas...and me,I guess, the way we are.’
Marcus noticed the way Rowan rubbed his hands together. The way his eyes darted nervously between Atlas and him. ‘Today was a break through. Atlas found Beau of his own volition. I can feel... I can feel mutual respect between us.’ Rowan’s voice was thick with emotion. ‘And once again... trust.’
Marcus didn’t know whether to speak. ‘I-I can sense a positive shift as well.’
Rowan met his eyes, and for once, his strong exterior had crumbled, and vulnerability appeared behind his eyes. ‘You do?’ Marcus nodded. ‘He always trusted me—trusted my command. Always did what he was trained to do.’ Rowan’s eyes seemed to look straight through him, as if remembering. ‘Then, that final time... The last mission we were on together. I made the wrong call. He trusted me, and because of that trust, he was damaged. Not physically... it was so much worse than that... I-I had to leave the force. Because every time I looked at him, I saw the trust I had betrayed. We were both broken, and I was too broken to fix him.’
‘But you’re almost there, Rowan. Look at him. He’s a credit to you.’ Marcus took a step closer, so close he could see the chestnut brown of Rowan’s irises had shrunk to slim rings around his large pupils. ‘I don’t need you fixed, Rowan. I need you honest.’ He drew in a long breath. ‘I want you. But I won’t be your almost. I won’t be another place you pass through.’
Rowan choked back a sob, and the way he stared into Marcus’s eyes made his knees tremble.
‘You know my temporary house rental is almost up.’ Marcus felt his heart deflate. ‘I was wondering.’ Marcus daren’t breathe.‘Do you think Ruff to Regal could refer anxious dogs to a new animal behaviourist who wanted to get himself established in Seagull Bay?’ Marcus’s mouth dropped open. ‘And, whilst the animal behaviourist tried to establish himself, do you think he could stay with you weekends whilst he tried to figure out what to do with his house in the south?’
He didn’t know what had come over him when Marcus cupped Rowan’s cheeks and kissed him deeply.
Atlas whined and they both pulled away and laughed.
Rowan pushed himself off the harbour wall. ‘Come on. We’d better get back.’ He took Marcus’s hand and led him back towards the beach.
Marcus looked down, unable to believe what he was seeing. His feet felt as though they weren’t making contact with the ground.
Just before they passed through the entrance back to the competition, Rowan loosed Marcus’s hand. Marcus felt his chest tighten. Didn’t Rowan want people to know his sexual orientation? Or was he embarrassed to be seen holding hands with Marcus?
As if reading Marcus’s thoughts, Rowan turned around to face him. ‘You’ve never said whether people are aware you are gay, so I don’t want to put you on the spot. But whenever you are ready to hold my hand in public, I’m ready.’
Marcus’s heart swelled in his chest. ‘Thank you, Rowan. Let’s get through this competition without any further hitches, then I’ll be ready to... show up.’
