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Another loud, insistent knock sounded on the door, and he went over to the peephole Who could be calling so late? He’d learned a long tio it paid to be careful until he knew exactly what he was dealing with

At first, Kevin couldn’t believe what he was seeing Tucker stood in front of the door, his head slightly lowered as he waited, fidgeting a little Behind hi, dark-haired man Kevin had never seen before As Kevin watched, this man leaned across Tucker and took hold of the door knob, shaking it impatiently

Kevin took an involuntary step back What the hell? Part of him wanted to rip the door open and enfold Tucker in his aruy with Tucker? At the first sight of hi

Tucker called out, “Bryson, open the door It’s me, Tucker ”

Kevin’s heart leaped again at the sound of his voice Whoever the other man was, Kevin didn’t like the look of hiun on him, but it was all the way across the roo enough for hi the door open, tensed and juh it Instead of the trouble he was expecting, Tucker stood in the doorway, looking like he always did, a big sh Kevin, so strongly it s a little weak

Tucker’s eyes darted nervously around the rooh Theprotectively behind him, a little too close in Kevin’s opinion, cauy w

as definitely not Gavin Kevin had seen Gavin a couple of times behind the yellow cri the murders which remained unsolved The last time Kevin had talked to Tucker he’d ih when he’d pressed hi over and co up on him Indeed, there had been no more murders in the area, and the consensus was the perpetrator had been a transient and had moved on

This was another reason to be wary of the guy who cauy was no one he’d ever seen, but the expression on his face told Kevin he wasn’t exactly pleased tothe room, as if to discover someone else hidden away, or some as yet unseen threat to them both

Tuckersht up to Kevin and into his ar him Tucker had never been physically affectionate with hi, just breathing in his sweet scent with relief and reveling in the feel of the hard body against his The big guy who had walked in behind him made a noise deep in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl, and Kevin reluctantly let Tucker go Kevin cast a glance at the otherwho the hell he was and what claim he seemed to feel he had on Tucker

“It’s good to see you, Bryson,” Tucker said, taking a step backward, his cheeks turning pink “I…uh…got word you were looking for me ”

Kevin couldn’t prevent hiain, and reached for his arot word, huh? But how did you knohere to find me? God, I’ve been worried about you, Tucker You said you’d call, but I haven’t heard anything in weeks You can’t just disappear like that,for you to come back home I paid the rent on the apartment for you last month ”

A definite growl ca near them this time, and Kevin looked up at him in exasperation He stood between theht snatch Tucker up and make a run for it Not a bad idea at that…

“I’m so sorry you had to do that, Bryson I’ll pay you back, of course And I aht you understood I live here now I’otten in touch sooner ” He waved one of his hands in that slightly old-fashioned, elegant way of his that should have looked fes I left behind, Bry In the apartment, I h and pay off the lease ” He brushed his dark hair off his forehead Kevin watched hiht be trying to send hies in his demeanor

“Tucker,” Kevin tried again after a few moments “Won’t you come back home with me and think this over a little?”

“I think that question has been already been answered, Detective ” The ressive step forward as he spoke, and Kevin rose to his feet toto think over ”