“Except I can’t figure out what he sees in an avocado-obsessed, four-eyed nerd with—”
Nolan cut that thought off with a fast kiss. “You’re brave, and gorgeous even soaking wet, and resourceful, and… and any other ego boosting you need will have to wait till your brother isn’t glaring at my back.” His neck was prickling.
They both turned to look at Micah, who, sure enough, although still on the phone with emergency services, was giving Nolan a death glare.
Fynn tugged Nolan back toward him. “If he’s going to disapprove, let’s give him something he can really object to.” He wrapped one leg around Nolan’s calves, bringing their damp groins together, slid both hands behind Nolan’s head, and pulled him down into a long, hot kiss.
“To be fair,” Nolan murmured when they took a break, not letting go of where he’d locked his hands on Fynn’s ass, “this isn’t what he hired me for.”
“Neither was bodyguarding him and rescuing him. He’s getting a bargain.”
Behind him, Micah said, “Fynn, don’t you think—”
Fynn interrupted, “Nope. I do too much thinking. Right now, I’m going to feel.” He guided Nolan back into the kiss.
Ten minutes later, Nolan heard the rotors of the first helicopter approaching. He and Fynn broke apart to wave up at the cop peering down from the chopper, and Nolan grinned. A shot man bleeding on the deck, a duct-taped kidnapper, and Fynn’s older brother watching had been enough to keep his dick under control. But his lips tingled, he’d probably put permanent fingerprints on Fynn’s ass, and he felt happier than he ever had in his life.
Chapter 11
Fynn led the way into his apartment, kicked off the sneakers that Sheridan had brought to replace his squelching shoes, and collapsed on the couch. He dug in his pocket, pulled out his damp wallet, and spread the contents on the coffee table to dry. “Home, sweet home. I thought we’d never get back here. That police station was awful.”
Nolan followed him in and locked the door. “You could’ve been back here hours ago with one of my people, if you wanted.”
“Not without you.”
“You could’ve hung out with your brother.”
“I’d have shredded his last nerve. He’ll be happier at his friend’s place. Thanks for sending Amelia with him, by the way. I’m sure he feels better having protection, even if the worst threat’s over.”
Nolan came to stand in front of Fynn. “I wanted him to feel safe. I wanted you to know he was safe.”
Fynn blinked up at him. The replacement eyeglasses Sheridan had also fetched were larger lenses, less fashionable, and not quite the same prescription. Nolan looked equally wonderful through them, though.He was still thinking about what I needed while under interrogation.Or whatever you wanted to call that half-hostile questioning by the detectives, who were apparently angry they’d gone after the kidnappers instead of standing back for theprofessionals. Even if those professionals hadn’t been around when they were needed. “They took forever letting you go.”
“I shot a man. They had to be careful.”
“It was self-defense. Micah and I were both there.”
“Which is why I’m here now, instead of still in some interview room going through my story for the sixteenth time.” Nolan eased down on the couch beside Fynn and performed the same sad wallet routine.
Fynn liked how their stuff looked scattered side by side, his warped co-op affinity card next to Nolan’s disintegrating carwash punch card.The bits of our lives, mingling.He tried to force his thoughts out of that sappy rut, fishing a foil-wrapped XL condom out of Nolan’s haul and slipping it into his pocket. “This might be useful. Good thing the packet’s waterproof.”
Nolan laughed.
Fynn fidgeted with damp bills, arranging them in neat rows.Is the threat over?He didn’t know how to quit worrying. “Do you think Quenby really was behind the kidnapping? Will they arrest him?”
“Yeah, didn’t they tell you?” Nolan slid an arm around Fynn.
Fynn leaned back into the support of Nolan’s shoulder.Mm. I like this.“They didn’t tell me much of anything. Asked a lot of questions.” After the third round, Fynn had started going off on tangents deliberately, to make the steam come out of the uptight detective’s ears, which might be why he was let go sooner. Being annoying for the win. “They said they were ‘looking into’ Quenby.”
“I guess me being ex-LEO meant they were less close-mouthed. Not-shot-guy spilled all the beans, hoping for leniency. Quenby was supposed to bring you down to the waterfront where they would fake hitting him and grab you. When you wouldn’t go down with him, he decided to grab Micah instead. Everything was in the kidnapper’s text messages. Quenby told them he was coming down and to take Micah, but offered a bonus if they got you too. I guess he wasn’t sure if the company would pay out as much for Micah. Plus he hates you. They busted him a few hours ago and apparently he began ranting about how you stole his idea and made ill-gotten millions.”
Fynn straightened indignantly. “I didn’t steal his idea!”
“I know you didn’t.”
That bastard.“He hasn’t had an original idea since before dinosaurs roamed the earth. The ’CadoBox was all mine. I wonder if he’s stolen other scientists’ inventions. I should pass the word. Maybe they can sue him.”
“He’ll be in prison for kidnapping. A lawsuit might be overkill.”
