On Duty by A.R. Barley

Author:A.R. Barley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-01-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

In an alternate universe where down was up and Troy Barnes had introduced himself to Dr. Daniel Lafitte as Alex’s boyfriend, the New York skyline was brighter than any stars. It was like their first night together in reverse. This time it was Troy’s turn to take Alex by the arm and pack him into a yellow cab, but they weren’t hugging opposite ends of the bench either.

Troy’s arm wrapped tight around Alex’s body, pulling him in close as he gave the driver instructions back to the apartment.

“Bueno,” the man said. “Mi primo—my cousin—he used to live around there in the nineties. It was nice back then too, but the rents got out of control.” He frowned at them in the rearview mirror. “You two work over on Wall Street.”

“Fire department,” Troy said.

“New York’s Bravest.” He let out a low whistle. “You guys are awesome. Seriously.”

“We do our best.” Troy swiped his debit card through the machine hooked to the back of the driver’s seat, prepaying so there’d be no lag time when they got to the apartment.

When they finally arrived at their destination it was a matter of thanking the driver and hustling out onto the street. Alex’s head was still fuzzy from the night’s events. He gulped for air and ambled slowly, but Troy didn’t let him fall behind as they made their way into the converted brownstone and up the grand stairs to the second-floor apartment.

Hell, Troy didn’t take his hand off Alex’s arm once the entire time, even though it meant fumbling awkwardly with the locks.

“Come on.” Troy coaxed Alex into the apartment. “Let’s get you something to drink. What do you want? Juice? Beer? I make a mean mug of hot chocolate.”

“We don’t have any cocoa powder.”

“I saw some peppermint tea in one of the cabinets. I’ll make us up a pot. Sound good, honey?”

“You can lay off the pet names, Hero. Daniel’s still back at the restaurant, probably working on his third vodka martini.”

Troy’s shoes landed in a pile next to his surfer boy lamp.

Alex frowned. Troy had been living with him for how long? And all he had to show for it was a dark blue comforter on the daybed and the ugly lamp. “You can decorate if you want.”

“Mess up your pretty things?” Troy shook his head. “Not a chance.”

“It’s just stuff.” Alex could move it. Maybe. He didn’t have a ton of storage space, and he liked his furniture. “Daniel’s apartment is like twice the size. It’s all overstuffed rich guy.” He sighed. “I hated it.”

“What the hell did you ever see in that asshole?”

“It was a long time ago. Ancient history.” Alex slid onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar to watch Troy pad barefoot around the kitchen, turning on the electric kettle and rummaging through an upper cabinet until he finally found the boxes of tea.

It was so freaking domestic.

“I’ve seen him around, but we haven’t spoken in over two years. You believe that? First thing the asshole says to me in two years, and he’s asking if we really live together.

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