Page 16 of The Beautiful Mess

Kerry’s spirits lifted as his desktop pinged with an inbox alert. “What’s in the file?”

Dom’s grin grew impossibly more wicked. “I started with a search of his financials because it tells you a lot about a person.”

“But how’d you do that? I only gave you his name?”

“It’s my business to find the things people don’t want you to know,” Dom replied. “Don’t worry. I get my information legally. Once I have his name and address, it’s easy to find the other information I need to run a credit check.” He let out a whistle. “Bozeman is a bozo with his finances. His negative equity is in the mid-six figures. I’m talking maxed-out credit cards, overextended lines of credit, a mortgage teetering on foreclosure, and a car that got repossessed just this morning.” Dom nodded toward Kerry’s computer. “I’ve included photographs of him literally chasing the tow truck in his bathrobe.” Dom grimaced and fidgeted in his chair. “Dude needs to learn to cinch his belt tighter. Anyone in his neighborhood who was awake at six this morning got to see Bozeman’s cock and balls bouncing as he sprinted down the middle of the street.”

Kerry had been reaching for his mouse to open his email, but he recoiled. “Dude! I don’t want to see naked pictures of Keith Bozeman.”

Dom chuckled at his distress. “The mad dash down the road was enough to question Bozeman’s claims of diminished physical activity.” The downright devilish gleam in Dom’s green eyes did nothing to erase the ick factor. Kerry was a big fan of cock and balls, but not those belonging to the man suing him. He had standards and wasn’t that hard up, for fuck’s sake. “And those weren’t the first nude shots I took of Mr. Can No Longer Please His Partner.”

Kerry had called Dom after he and Steven thoroughly reviewed the lawsuit paperwork. His friend had sounded amused at the time, but Kerry’s spiraling mind hadn’t let him linger on the reaction and ask questions. This time, Kerry scooted his chair back from his desk.

Dom cackled, leaned back in his chair, and regaled Kerry with everything that he’d witnessed during his stakeout. “His frolicking began in the hot tub and ended up on the patio table. And I got crystal clear pictures since the moon was full.” Dom paused for effect with a cheeky grin. “And I mean both the one in the sky and the white ass pounding away at the girlfriend who’d supposedly broken up with him when he couldn’t get an erection after the accident.”

“Yeah, I figured out what you meant.” The rest of Dom’s statement registered, and Kerry sat up straighter. “Wait. How do you know the woman he was with was the same girlfriend who supposedly dumped him?”

Dom snorted. “Any amateur sleuth with a Facebook account could’ve figured that out. There are thousands of photos of them together going back nearly five years. I captured screenshots before they could delete the evidence of what they’d been up to since the accident.”

“Which was?”

“Ski trips, mountain hikes, and skydiving, to name a few,” Dom replied. “These two are very active.” He wiggled his brows suggestively. Kerry didn’t want his thoughts to go there, but Dom’s mouth was moving before Kerry could stop him. “She has an OnlyFans account for their more intimate moments on the trips. Bozeman has a thing for water. Bet he gets aroused just firing up the dishwasher.”

“Gross,” Kerry said.

“I’m not out to harm the woman’s reputation, so I applied a filter in the photographs on the videos. No one will see her private bits, but you’ll definitely get a gist of what’s going on.” Dom snickered and shook his head. “I also documented her loading the trunk of her car with her belongings from Bozeman’s house this morning. If anyone inspected the house, it’s doubtful they’d see any sign of her existence. My photographs and the recent lease agreement I located should take care of proving they had not broken up, as Bozo claimed.”

Kerry’s hope soared. “You’ve got proof that his biggest claims are bullshit. That should force Bozeman to drop the suit and accept the settlement my insurance company offered him. I can’t believe he thinks he can get away with this.”

Dom didn’t react to his remark with equal enthusiasm, which tempered Kerry’s excitement. “Desperate men do stupid things. Bozeman probably thinks you’ll be quick with a settlement offer to make it all go away. Most civil cases never reach a courtroom. I don’t know what will happen when your attorney reveals what you know. Stay alert and watch what you do and say. Bozeman might have someone keeping an eye on you too, which is how they knew where to serve your papers.”

“I rarely go to the Thirsty Cowboy anymore,” Kerry said. “Last night was a fluke.” Kerry’s gaze landed on the flyer Sven had given him. Or someone with outdated information tipped Bozeman off about Kerry. He leaned forward and tapped the piece of paper. “About this…”

Dom snatched the ad off the desk and tucked it into his messenger bag with his laptop before getting to his feet. “I’ll see what I can find out.” He nodded toward Kerry’s computer. “Let me know what your lawyer says on Monday.”

Kerry stood up, rounded the desk, and hugged his friend. “Thanks, brother. I owe you.”

Dom saluted him with two fingers and headed for the door. He stopped with his hand on the knob and looked over his shoulder. “Hey, Ker. Stop living in emotional purgatory and take a chance on the cute guy that makes you all growly.”

Kerry’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

Dom sighed, shook his head, and left Kerry to his own thoughts, which unsurprisingly turned toward the hazel-eyed hottie who’d enthralled him from the jump.

Keegan’s hands shook as he pulled his T-shirt off. Not because he was afraid but because the act of undressing reminded him of seeing Kerry’s naked, sweaty chest. He’d somehow stayed busy enough not to dwell on the interaction all day long. His reprieve ended when he arrived at the Feisty Bull early to get a tour and a basic rundown on his game plan before his shift started. Most new hires began in specific positions, but he was there to learn all aspects of hospitality. Keegan didn’t know where they’d start him, but he’d hoped it would be in the kitchen so he wouldn’t gawk at Kerry all night long and remember his bare, slick skin and all those intriguing tattoos. His fingers itched to trace the dark lines and follow them wherever Kerry allowed. The restaurant manager had handed him black slacks and a red dress shirt with the Feisty Bull logo embroidered in black. It was the uniform for the front of the house, though some wore it better than others. Keegan ran his fingertips over the fabric and recalled the way Kerry’s shirts stretched over his powerful chest and thick arms. He imagined stripping the fabric off him and letting it fall to the floor.

And then what?Would he ever be brave enough to physically go where his mind frequently traveled? Keegan would never claim to be an expert at relationships, but even he’d recognized the desire burning in Kerry’s dark gaze that afternoon. He’d expected Sven to razz him about it, but he’d been too distracted by the surprise visitor. Any attempt to learn more about Dom was met with grumbling responses Keegan couldn’t decipher, which only made him more curious. Sven seemed like a completely different person around Kerry’s friend. His flirty, devil-may-care attitude disappeared in an instant, and Sven became more antagonistic, especially when Dom turned his charm in Keegan’s direction. It had taken a solid hour for Sven’s fabulous attitude to return. It was clearly a sore spot, and he wasn’t about to poke it, though his friend wouldn’t offer him the same grace.

Sven wasn’t the only one rattled by Dom’s flirtations. The glower Kerry had sent his friend made the thundercloud expression from the bar look like rainbows and sunshine. Desire and jealousy meant Kerry wanted him. Keegan would admit that, at least to himself, but that didn’t help him figure out what to do with the knowledge. His new thrive mentality didn’t come with an instruction manual. This was when Keegan needed to think like Sven. He’d know when to push and when to pull back to achieve the desired reaction. A knock sounded on the employee changing room door just as Keegan pushed his jeans down his thighs.

“Hey, Kee. You in there?” Kerry’s voice made Keegan’s breath catch. The gasp was audible in the small room, but could Kerry hear it through the door? The silence stretched on for only a few seconds, but it was long enough to trigger an avalanche of emotions, each one gaining strength as they tore down the mountain. Lust, longing, loneliness, and fear jockeyed for who’d come out on top when they reached the bottom. “It’s Kerry.”

As if his identity needed clarification. That delicious voice came to Keegan in his sleep and whispered the wickedest things. Lust was the victor when the landslide ended, burying his doubt and willingness to play it safe. Keegan knew exactly what to do. “Give me a sec,” he called out as he shoved his jeans down his legs and kicked them aside. A quick glance at his body made Keegan extremely proud of the muscle and definition he’d added since moving to the ranch. His gaze landed on his white socks, which were the furthest thing from the sexy impression he wanted to make. Keegan stripped them off, then crossed to the door before he or Kerry could change their mind about this impromptu meeting. He took a deep breath for courage as he unlocked the door and pulled it open. “Hey. You’re here early.” Keegan’s casual voice made it seem like he greeted people in his underwear all the time.

“I, uh…” Dark eyes devoured the bare skin on display.

Keegan placed his hand on the doorframe and let the big guy look his fill while he studied the reactions his near nudity triggered in Kerry. That big, beautiful body was pulled tight enough to snap, and a dark blush dusted Kerry’s cheeks. Full lips moved but formed no words, and Keegan momentarily worried he’d gone too far until those wicked, dark eyes snapped up to meet his again. “Did you want to talk to me?” Keegan prompted.

“Talk?” Kerry’s raspy voice hinted that talking wasn’t the action on his mind.

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