Page 143 of Resting Beach Face
“It could be better,” I said.
“Oh?” He sounded concerned. Either I was wrong about Nate, or he was a damn good actor. “What’s going on? Maybe I can help.”
“We’ve been having a rash of vandalism out here,” I said. “Some supplies and tools were stolen last week.”
“Shit, man, that’s bad luck, but it’s not too late to sell and get rid of all those headaches.”
“Yeah, about that…” I said. “We installed cameras, so we were ready when he showed up again last night. We caught him.”
“Oh yeah? Well…that’s good then.”
“He was hired by someone in Chicago.”
I let the statement drop between us. I glanced at Cash. His eyes were narrowed, jaw tight. Obviously, he understood my suspicion, and it was taking all his restraint not to jump in.
I squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back. He had my back, however this talk went.
Nate broke the silence with a nervy laugh. “Why would anyone in Chicago care about vandalizing your property?”
“Good question. I was just sitting here wondering the same thing, and the only connection to Chicago I still have is you and 360.”
“Shit, you think 360 is behind this?”
“Not really, Nate. They’re too big to care about this one little deal.” I took a breath and forced out the words. “I think it was a bigger deal to you, though. Right?”
“Me? You think I’m behind this?”
“You brokered the deal. That meant a payday for you. It must have been a big one too, because you just couldn’t let it go, could you?”
“Jesus Christ, Declan, I can’t believe you’d accuse me of something like that based on some semantics bullshit. And after everything I did for you. I’m youronlyfucking friend because no one else wants to be around you!”
Cash leaned toward the phone I held between us. “Declan has plenty of friends, asshole.Realfriends.”
“Who the hell is this?”
“I’m Cash, his boyfriend.”
“Ah, the reason he backed out on me. Let me guess? You wanted him to keep the B&B so he could take care of you. Is Declan your sugar daddy now?”
All Cash’sdaddyjokes flitted through my head. I repressed a hysterical laugh. The image Nate was trying to paint, the gaslighting he was trying to do, was ludicrous.
Cash met my eyes. “I’d gladly let Declan spank me anytime he wants.”
“Jesus, Cash,” I grumbled.
“But our relationship is built on trust and mutual respect. I’m guessing you don’t know much about that, Nate.”
Nathan scoffed. “Sure it is. Declan, don’t let your dick lead you, man. You need to do what’s right for you, not what will please some piece of ass.”
Nate clearly had no idea I was graysexual or he might have tried a different argument.
“Even now, you’re still trying to sell him,” Cash said in disgust. Then he winced. “But I’m supposed to be staying out of this. Sorry for interrupting, Dec.”
“That’s okay,” I said with a tight smile. “You’re not wrong. Nate’s first priority is always closing a deal.”
“So the fuck what?” Nate growled. “Selling that lakefront land would have made us so much fucking money. I put my ass on the line to make it happen, and I was counting on that deal to go through. Did you even think about that before you backed out on me?”
“I didn’t formally agree to anything,” I said. “I told you not to rush me.”
