Shaken that he’d forgotten his reason for visiting, he managed to say, “Jill, err… A woman named Monica gave me a ride yesterday. She still has my iPhone. I saw her truck parked outside.”
“Ahhh.” The warm energy seemed to flow back into Dustin, leaving Seth bereft. “She’s my assistant, but she’s next door at the moment. Your phone’s on my desk. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go get it.”
Believing he’d just been summarily dismissed and unable to figure out what he’d done to receive the sudden cold shoulder, Seth blurted, “Have dinner with me while I’m in town? Catch up on old times. Maybe tell me more about Aunt Irene. You were pretty friendly with my aunt, right?”
The stiff set of Dustin’s shoulders melted slightly to a less defensive posture. “How long are you planning to stay?”
“Not long. Just to get her things in order.”
“You’re not staying.”
Seth averted his eyes. “No. My life’s in Chicago.”
“Oh.” Dustin paused, his weak not-quite-a-smile spreading across his face but not reaching his eyes. “Then I reckon we’d better make it soon. I’ll go get your phone.”
Dustin returned a few moments later and handed over Seth’s lifeline, along with a neon orange Post-it note. “Here’s my number. Why don’t you give me a call when you want to get together? I’d love to chat some more, but my next appointment is due any minute.”
Seth watched Dustin round the corner, unable to help noticing a shy backward glance.
WELL, well, well. Little Seth McDaniel, all grown up, and he grew up well too. Dustin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to lose the memory of how damned good the man smelled. The scent of passel enveloped Seth like a fine-fitting jacket, and Dustin bet Seth hadn’t a clue that a potent strain of the changeling virus lay dormant inside his body. Had it shown itself? Was the town’s secret no longer a secret to the Chicagoan? No, it couldn’t have. He reeked of passel, but the distinctive scent of mature jack didn’t cling to him.
Seth’s open appraisal also spoke volumes. Dustin hadn’t been so flagrantly undressed with eyes since he’d marched in a Gay Pride parade in Atlanta wearing only western boots, a Stetson, and a thong after losing a bet. He’d never expected such regard from his childhood friend. Interesting. Very interesting. And also too much a study in futility to even dwell on.
He’s not staying.Dustin gripped the edge of an examining table, breathing slowly in and out, trying to reel in his raging lust. He reached one hand down to rearrange his cock. He’d become aroused by the mere scent of someone in the past, but had never sprouted wood in ten seconds flat. The fact Seth was the one whose presence electrified each nerve ending in his body was magnified by the fact Dustin hadn’t seen the man in twenty years. The immediate recognition was primal, instinctual, like how he’d somehowknownSeth’s hiding places while playing hide-and-seek as kids. Only now the magnetism was even stronger. He wanted to bend Seth over the exam table, rip his pants off, and bury himself deep inside. The sheer intensity of his hunger frightened him, for he didn’t simply want to fuck Seth—he wanted to possess the man.
Was it a territorial compulsion? Dustin would have to ask Andy, who focused more on the town’s animalistic side than Dustin did. Whatever the cause of his craving, promise of dinner or no promise, he needed to avoid Seth McDaniel like the plague. Any association beyond friendship couldn’t possibly end well. Sooner or later, Seth would go back to Chicago, hopefully being none the wiser about the town’s little secret.
Chapter 6
ENSCONCEDin his aunt’s pickup truck, Seth opened the browser on his phone, eager to touch base with life outside of Georgia. His elation at seeing Dustin again crashed and burned in the wake of an outpouring of well wishes for Michael’s engagement. Depression turned to anger. How dare they? Michael had practically waltzed from Seth’s bed to another man’s arms, and they labeled Michael’s double-dealing “sweet” and “romantic”? Oh hell no! Just when Seth was ready to hit “send” on a scathing rebuttal, his screen flashed and went out. He punched the power button. Nothing. Crap. Dead battery. Tossing the useless phone on the seat beside him, he turned the engine and backed away from the building, kicking himself for not asking Dustin for directions to the nearest hardware store.
About to go back inside the office, Seth spotted a sign for Jimmy’s Feed and Seed down the street, and though the business appeared a touch run-down, he figured if they didn’t sell what he needed, they might know someplace else that did.
“Good morning, stranger.” A thirtyish man in faded blue jeans and tennis shoes stepped out from a loading bay. “What can I help you with?” He turned his head to the side, expelling a mouthful of what appeared to be tobacco juice.
“Do you carry plywood?”
“Sure do. How big a sheet you need?”
Seth scratched his head. He never even considered measuring, but had no intention of spending another night in a house with a hole in the wall. “Let me take a look at what you have.”
The man stepped aside, allowing Seth to enter the store. Was it Seth’s imagination, or did the man sniff him in passing? The man nodded toward the truck. “You’re Irene McDaniel’s nephew, ain’t ya?”
“Great-nephew, yes. Did you know her?”
The guy cackled. “Everybody in town know’d Ms. Irene. Come on back here, and let’s see if we got what ya need.” After spitting another carefully aimed stream out the door, the man turned and led Seth through rows of farm implements and loose seeds, ready for bagging. “Too bad about the old lady. You gonna pick up where she left off?”
“No. I’m here to settle her estate and head back home.”
Suddenly the man turned around, nose to nose with Seth. His voice dropped to a mere whisper. “You could do a whole lot worse than putting down roots here. There’s somebody I’m betting would flat out love to meet ya. Why, together, you and my uncle’d run this whole joint.”
“Huh?” Seth took a quick step back.
“And don’t you worry none about people giving you no trouble for being gay or nothing. Uncle Junior, well, he likes someone who can give as good as they get in the bedroom, if you get my drift. Folks done learnt not to say nothing against Junior.”
Seth took another step back. “How…?”
A greasy smile appeared on the man’s face. “You forget where you are. Ain’t no secrets in this here town.”
