What You Do to Me (A Breathe Epilogue) Read online

  He laughed to himself and set to work unpacking Jay’s tools from the boxes. He almost missed the hand on his ass. He didn’t miss the words whispered in his ear, though.

  “You gotta stop coming out here if you expect us to get anywhere on time.”

  Lincoln glanced over his shoulder at Jay. His hair was still damp from the shower. Who knew the scent of cheap-ass soap and aftershave lotion from the local discount store could smell so damn good? Or maybe it was the way those scents mixed with the man underneath that was so tempting.

  Lincoln asked, “You got a thing for garages?”

  “I got a thing for sex with you on a bike, and we haven’t broken mine in yet.”

  Forget the table. They’d christen the garage and Jay’s bike next. Lincoln moved in to kiss him.

  Jay took a step back. “Don’t you dare start something. We’ve gotta get going or we’ll be late.”

  “Me? You really going to put an idea like that in a guy’s head and not follow through?”

  Jay smirked, a playfulness in his expression unlike any he’d worn yet. Then the look grew into something more. Lincoln wasn’t sure what. More serious, maybe. Determined. Confident. “I’ll follow through. As soon as we get home.”

  They’d both learned a lot about living in the moment. Lincoln gave a nod of understanding. Some things they got without having to offer more. From day one they’d understood each other’s pain and need in a way few others had.

  Contentment lingered on Jay’s face as he grabbed his helmet from the workbench, got on his bike, and took off through the open garage door into the sunlight. Lincoln started his bike and followed. He loved this—Jay looking free, at peace as they rode through the streets of Edgefield.

  A few blocks later they pulled up to a two-story house. There was a realty sign marked with a SOLD banner out front and a car in the driveway that Lincoln didn’t recognize. The car was parked behind the moving truck he and Jay had loaded up the day before. Nancy and the kids hadn’t accumulated much since the fire—the apartment they’d been renting had been furnished—but they did have a few boxes with new clothes and toys and kitchen crap.

  “Jay!” Jessica ran at Jay and threw her arms around his legs as soon as he got off the bike.

  “Hey.” Lincoln swung off his bike. “Did you forget about me already?”

  She ran to him and jumped into his arms. “Uncle Lincoln, you’re funny. You don’t forget family.”

  “Good point.”

  Adam exited the cab of the truck, lugging a cat carrier through the open door. Davy crawled out after him. He had Sparky on a leash, and they all headed to where Jay and Lincoln had parked their bikes off to the side at the end of the driveway. The furniture delivery truck would be there in an hour with the new sofa and dining room set Nancy had picked out the week before.

  A man stepped out of the house with Nancy. He handed over the keys, hesitated, then shook her hand, holding on a little longer than necessary. Together they crossed the lawn to gather up the realty sign, and then he and Nancy continued slowly side by side, chatting as they made their way toward his car. He loaded the sign into the trunk. Then he paused again and spoke more to Nancy, both of them smiling and nodding, the guy’s gaze lingering on Nancy’s face.

  He was definitely interested in more than helping her get settled in her new home. Lincoln exchanged a look with Jay. He was thinking the same thing.

  Eventually the real estate agent got into his car and began backing out. When he neared the end of the driveway where everyone else stood, he stopped the car. “Enjoy the new home, kids.” He waved and pulled out onto the street.

  Lincoln smirked at Nancy as she approached. “He was nice.”

  She nodded. “He is. And really patient. We must’ve looked at more than thirty houses all across the county.”

  Davy groaned. “And then you bought the first one we looked at here in town.”

  Adam bopped his brother on the top of the head. “Leave Mom alone about it.” He gave Davy a playful push toward the truck, then said, “He’s a nice guy, Mom. If you want to see him again, I think you should. You know…without the lame excuse of looking at houses.”

  “Adam!”

  He rolled his eyes and headed for the truck, calling back, “Like it wasn’t obvious.”

  Lincoln tried to fend off the laughter. He couldn’t hold back the relief washing over him, though. More than anything, he wanted Nancy to be safe and happy and…loved. She deserved someone who’d treat her and the kids with respect.

  He dropped a kiss on Nancy’s forehead, then headed with Jay for the back of the truck to start unloading. Jessica skipped after them. The boys had the back door open, and everyone began sliding boxes to the end of the truck bed.

  “Stop!” Nancy called out as she came around the side of the truck. She went to Jay. “I really hope you don’t mind.” Louder to everyone else, she added, “The first thing in the house is the angel.”

  “What angel, Mommy?” Jessica asked.

  Nancy retrieved a box from the back of the truck and pulled out a large figurine that was over a foot tall. A woman in a green dress with long red hair. She handed it to Jessica. “You can carry it, sweetie, and why don’t you keep her in your room so she can look after you.”

  Jessica wrapped both arms around the angel, the figurine nearly too tall for her to carry. “But she’s so pretty. Don’t you want to see her all the time?”

  “We don’t need to see her every day to know she’s looking after us.” Nancy looked to Jay. “All of us.”

  Jay nodded, a pleased smile on his lips, the expression one of appreciation, not sadness or grief. “It’s perfect.”

  Lincoln wound an arm around him and pressed his lips to Jay’s temple. “She’s a part of all of us now.” As much as he wanted Jay to move on, to build a new life, he’d never let him think he couldn’t remember her, love her.

  Leaning into him, Jay offered appreciation that Lincoln got without words. Again that understanding that defied logic—and maybe sanity—passed between them.

  Or maybe it was the sanest connection either of them could’ve found.

  Jessica sped off toward the house, the angel in her arms. The boys followed with Sparky and the cat. Nancy hesitated for a moment. Then in a flurry, as if she had to act before she changed her mind, she lunged for Jay and wrapped her arms around his neck. She whispered her next words, but Lincoln heard her clearly.

  “Thank you for everything, but mostly, thank you for helping him find his way.”

  Jay held her in return and met Lincoln’s gaze. “He did the same for me.”

  She stepped back, wiping tears from her eyes. She looked to one, then the other and sighed. No matter what his little sis had been through in life, she believed in love and happy endings. She watched them for another moment, then grabbed a box from the truck and went inside the house.

  “Your sister is pretty great.”

  Lincoln stared after her at the open front door of the house. “She is.”

  “Runs in the family.” Jay stepped in front of him, blocking Lincoln’s view until Jay was all he could see. “I think…”

  “What?” Lincoln searched Jay’s face, for once believing he was exactly what Jay needed in his life. He knew that now with a certainty he hadn’t been sure he could ever feel before this moment. He wouldn’t let him down. “You can always talk about Katie, whenever you need to.”

  “Thanks for that, but this isn’t about her.” Jay reached for him, running his thumb along Lincoln’s jaw. “My future is you. And I think I might just be the luckiest guy around. I’ve been loved by two of the most beautiful people. Inside and out.”

  Lincoln scoffed. “You talk too much.” He paused, grew serious. “You’re the one who’s beautiful. The best of all of us.” And without a doubt he knew she’d agree with him.

  Jay stepped closer. He looked toward the street and then back to Lincoln, gesturing between them. “There’s not many people who’ll unde
rstand this.”

  “Who cares?” Lincoln let out a long breath. He felt more at ease than he had in months, not wanting to be anywhere else in the world. They’d had this discussion before, but maybe they both needed a reminder from time to time. “I think if I owe her anything—if she’d want anything from me—it’s for me to love you with everything I am. Fuck what people think.”

  That had Jay laughing, a huge grin on his face.

  Lincoln drew him into an embrace, holding on, letting the certainty wash over him again. He wasn’t worried about who saw them or what anyone thought of the two of them together.

  Despite all his mistakes, he’d been given a gift, and he planned on being worthy of it for the rest of his life.

  Loose Id Titles by Sloan Parker

  Breathe

  More

  Take Me Home

  * * * *

  What You Do to Me

  (A Breathe Epilogue)

  * * * *

  THE HAVEN Series

  How to Save a Life

  Sloan Parker

  Sloan Parker writes passionate, dramatic stories about two men (or more) falling in love. Sloan enjoys exploring the lives of people who are growing as individuals while falling in love.

  Her novels More and Breathe are winners of the 2010 and 2011 Rainbow Awards for Best Gay Contemporary Romance. More is also the 2011 EPIC eBook Award Winner for Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Erotic Romance.

  Sloan enjoys writing in the fictional world because in fiction you can be anything, do anything…even fall in love for the first time over and over again. She lives in Ohio with her partner and their neurotic cats. Her greatest moments in life are spent with her family, her friends, and her characters.

  You can learn more about Sloan and her writing at http://www.sloanparker.com.