The Other Side Page 3
Nick threw a glance in Ray’s direction, then cleared his throat. “Don’t say that.”
“Yeah,” Vanessa said, tears now streaming down her face. “Well, fuck you, too, Nick.”
Nick grimaced as she stormed away toward the side of the house. “Uh, sorry you had to witness that. You might want to stand outside next to your car. I promise, I’ll only be a minute.” Without waiting for Ray to respond, Nick went into the house.
Ray leaned against his car. It was none of his business what was going on with Nick and his family. A man seldom wanted another man to butt in. Ray wouldn’t appreciate it coming from a man he was dating. Hell, this was only their second date. And they hadn’t even had that yet. But whatever Nick was dealing with must be bad. The tension radiating off him while he spoke to his sister was huge. Ray guessed his mother must still be doing drugs. Maybe even still doing tricks.
The door opened again and Nick came outside, his hands shoved into the front pockets. “Okay, all set. Thanks for stopping here. I know it was out of the way.”
“No problem. Are you hungry? We can stop for a hamburger on the way to the movie.”
Nick nodded. “Thanks, sounds good.”
* * * *
The movie had been stupid, Nick decided. Their portrayal of the police had been laughable, but he’d let Ray choose the movie. Small wonder law enforcement came off looking either like pricks or chumps. No doubt the image Ray himself had of the police. He wondered which category he fell into and guessed it was probably the latter.
Nick didn’t voice his discontent for the inaccuracies of the movie in great detail, however. When Ray asked him what he’d thought of the movie, Nick gave his opinion in simple words.
“It sucked.”
Ray laughed. “Okay, next time you can choose the film. There’s a little bar over there at the end of the strip mall. Want to go in for a drink?”
“Sure.”
Nick and Ray walked through the sparsely lit parking lot toward the bar. Being a cop, Nick looked around carefully, back and forth and behind them at all times. The neighborhood was a nice one, but Nick knew it didn’t pay to be careless.
One thing he really liked about bars in California was the lack of smoke. The best damn law they ever made as far as Nick was concerned. He liked Las Vegas well enough on his visits there, but the thick smoke swirling everywhere choked him.
They walked directly to the bar and took two stools next to each other on the corner. Nick ordered a beer and Ray ordered a martini from the bartender.
Nick looked around. He knew this area pretty well. It wasn’t too far from the police station he worked at, which was why Ray had chosen the location for the movie. It would be easy enough to drop Nick off at the station afterward. He’d been in the bar before, though not for several months. It was a regular hangout for some of his fellow officers and he quickly noted three of them in the back corner. Bad ones. He shifted uncomfortably and looked away, hoping they wouldn’t notice him and Ray.
“So, this being our second date,” Ray said, sipping from the martini the bartender had just set before him, “do we have a chance of sex this time, or do I have to wait for the third?”
Nick choked on a swallow of beer. “Um. Well.”
“I’m kidding.” Ray waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t expect you to give me a specific date and time or anything.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Nick watched the police officers get up from their table. They looked right at Nick and Ray and their expressions were grim. Damn.
“Nick?”
He realized Ray was saying something to him, but his attention was too focused on the cops now heading their way. His knuckles tightened on his beer bottle.
“Sorenson.”
Ray swung around on the stool to look at the three off duty officers. “Can I help you gentlemen?”
The nearest one, Ramirez, a large, beefy guy, who’d called Nick’s name ignored Ray, and looked at Nick. “What the fuck are you doing with this bastard?”
“Yeah, Sorenson. Do you know who this asshole is?” Another of the cops, Lawrence was his last name, asked.
“Look, guys, we don’t want any trouble. We’re just here for a drink.”
“Nick, you know these guys?” Ray asked.
“Yeah, they’re some police officers from my precinct.”
“You a traitor, Sorenson?” Ramirez snarled.
Nick’s stomach twisted. He pushed down the queasy feeling. “Of course not.”
“Jesus, Sorenson, I know you’re a fag, but can’t you find someone better than this fucking guy?” Lawrence, a man easily over six feet tall, took a threatening step toward them.
“Hey, now, just a minute,” Ray said, starting to rise from his bar stool.
Nick got up and put his hand on Ray’s arm. “You guys have been drinking. Can I ask the bartender to call you a cab?”
The third cop, Jackson, finally spoke up, “Nah, I can take them home. I’m okay to drive. Let’s go, guys. We should leave Sorenson and his guest alone.”
Ramirez looked like he wanted to argue, but finally he nodded. “Yeah, come on, Lawrence. Don’t want any trouble from Internal Affairs.”
Lawrence took another step forward and Nick’s hand went to his gun. Jackson and Ramirez each grabbed one of Lawrence’s arms to keep him from going farther.
Without another word, the three cops turned and left the bar. The bartender, who’d been cautiously watching from the sidelines, shrugged and headed down to the opposite end of the bar.
Ray grimaced. “You still think cops aren’t corrupt, Nick?”
Nick returned to his seat and shook his head. “Look, just because those guys are jerks, it doesn’t mean all police officers are corrupt. Every profession has assholes in it. Are you trying to tell me there aren’t any unprofessional doctors?”
Ray sipped his martini. “Sure there are. But not as widespread as cops. I haven’t come across a single profession that is.”
“Oh, come on. You’re running for city council. How can you sit there with a straight face and tell me the police are more corrupt than politicians?”
“I’ll admit there are corrupt politicians. But there’s far more trouble in the police force. That’s why when I get elected,” Ray paused to grin, “if I get elected, I’ll make fixing the police department my number one priority.”
Nick gritted his teeth and turned away, pretending to take a drink of his beer. The truth was he’d lost the taste for alcohol when the idiot officers came over to harass them. And a conversation like this one was just further proof that a relationship with Ray wasn’t going to work. He’d only end up wanting to punch Ray in the face. He reached into his back pocket for his wallet.
“I got this,” Ray said.
“No, I can pay.” Nick threw money down on the bar. He glanced at Ray, just waiting for him to argue or mention how much more fucking money he had than Nick. To his relief, Ray shrugged and finished his drink. “We should probably go. I have to be in pretty early tomorrow.”
“Yeah, me too.”
They didn’t say anything as they walked across the parking lot toward the car, but Nick felt the thick, heavy tension between them. He wondered if he should have had sex with the good doctor when he had the chance. It seemed clear enough that chance wouldn’t come again.
He couldn’t help but feel stupid when he walked up to Ray’s Lexus. Yeah, he could probably afford a newer car than the Pinto he had. He’d been thinking about it for a while. He wouldn’t get rid of the Pinto. Couldn’t do that. The damn piece of junk was the one thing he had of his dad’s.
Nick hated himself for the way he felt just then. Nick hadn’t been ashamed of the way he lived for a long time. It felt horrible.
Clearing his throat, he called over the top of the car, “Hey, thanks, I had a good time.”
Ray actually smiled. “You did not. You hated the movie and then those clowns bothered us. You had a bad time. Admit it, Nick.”
Ray clicked the locks on his car and chuckled.
They got in, Ray started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. Almost sensing Nick didn’t feel like talking, Ray turned up the radio. The latest hot pop song blared over the airwaves.
Nick yawned. It had been a long day. He was off the Devon Carmichael case, but he had a number of other cases that were a bitch.
Ray’s car entered the station parking lot and he drove over to Nick’s beat up Pinto. He felt himself blush as he opened the passenger door and got out.
“Thanks again for making that extra stop at my mother’s house, Ray.”
“Not a problem. Good night, Nick. Drive carefully.”
“Night.” Nick got in his car and started it, very glad the engine roared to life.
* * * *
Two days later, Ray closed the door of his private office and lowered his aching body into the desk chair. He’d been seeing patients all day and now had a moment to make some necessary phone calls. He checked the messages one of the nurses had left for him. Most were from patients with questions about medicines or symptoms. He’d call them after he checked his private voice mail.
There were calls from his campaign manager, Detective Johnson, and his brother, Devon. No calls from Nick. He tried to push away his disappointment. He knew Nick hadn’t enjoyed their date, but he’d been hoping he’d give Ray another chance.
Shaking his head, Ray called his brother.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Dev, how are you feeling?”
“All right. Back’s still a bit sore. But I’m back at the restaurant almost full time.”
“Great, I’m glad to hear it. What’s up?”
“Well,” Devon said. “I know it seems strange for me to set my brother up with another guy, but I’ve got this man that comes into the restaurant and I think you two would get along great. He’s a lawyer at Smith & Harris. You interested?”
“Hmm, I would be, except I’m sort of seeing someone.” Or at least Ray hoped he was. He wasn’t ready to give up on Nick just yet.
“You are?” Devon sounded surprised. “Who? How come the family hasn’t met him?”
Ray laughed. “It’s a little soon for that, I think. But if things go okay I might invite him to the anniversary party for Mom and Dad.”
“Sounds serious.”
“We’ll see. Anyway, I’ll see you on Tuesday at the meeting with the attorney.”
“All right, later.”
Ray sighed and decided he’d probably have to make the move to call Nick himself. Damn, he hated being the pursuer.
* * * *
Nick sat at his desk filling out paperwork, telling himself he wasn’t disappointed he hadn’t heard from Ray again. After all, it was for the best. Even if they had seen each other a few more times and had sex, it wasn’t going anywhere. Nick liked being a cop and Ray hated cops. End of story.
Yet his gaze kept going to the phone on his desk. Every time it rang, Nick’s heart raced, wondering if finally it would be Ray. It hadn’t been. Not once. He hated feeling vulnerable.
Nick dug inside his desk drawer for the little slip of paper he’d written Ray’s number on. The wrinkled bit of paper had managed to make it all the way to the back of the drawer. He smoothed it out on the desk and picked up the phone to call Ray’s cell.
One ring. Two rings. Three rings.
Nick was about to hang up.
“Dr. Carmichael.”
“Uh.” Okay, now he felt really stupid. His finger hovered over the end call button.
“Nick? Are you there?” Ray’s voice stopped him.
“Yeah.”
“For a minute, I thought I imagined seeing your number pop up on my cell,” Ray said. “I’ve been waiting for you to call.”
“You have?” Ray had his number programmed into his cell phone?
“Yes. I figured after the way I’d been pursuing you and our not so successful date of the other night, well, maybe I should leave it up to you to decide if you wanted to see me again.”
Nick swallowed. “Oh. I was sort of waiting for you to call me, too.”
Ray laughed. “If you hadn’t called me by the weekend I probably would have.”
“So, can we maybe try again?” Nick asked, surprising himself.
“I’d like that. Why don’t we go to dinner at a nice restaurant Saturday night? If you’re not working.”
“I’m not.”
“Excellent. I’ll come and pick you up at your apartment.”
Nick grimaced. “I think I’ve told you I live in kind of a dump.”
“Yeah, you did,” Ray acknowledged. “Nick, I’m not a prima donna. I’ve been in plenty of bad neighborhoods. Give me the address.”
Nick did, though he wasn’t sure it was such a great idea.
“All right. I’ll pick you up Saturday at say six-thirty?”
“Okay, see you then.”
* * * *
Ray had seen worse neighborhoods than Nick’s. The one the other day where Nick grew up and his mother still lived for example. Back in his residency days he’d even gone to some of Los Angeles’s gang areas to provide medical attention to those in need. Somewhere along the way, Ray realized he’d lost touch with these poorest citizens. He vowed to himself to get back to volunteering in the community even if he didn’t get elected.
He parked his car and clicked the locks, checking the area in front of Nick’s apartment building. No one seemed to be paying particular notice to him or his car.
Ray hurried up the walkway toward the building. He’d been very relieved when Nick called him. He wasn’t sure it would happen. He didn’t miss the way Nick had pulled back when they’d had their confrontation with the cops at the bar.
He couldn’t deny he and Nick came from different worlds. Still he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about Nick. And Ray was pleased that maybe Nick felt the same about him.
He took the somewhat decrepit metal stairs up to the second floor where Nick’s apartment was located. Turning left, he avoided a tricycle abandoned in the pathway. Ray rapped on the door.
Nick opened it almost immediately, as though he’d been watching for Ray. “Hey there.” He stepped aside to let Ray inside.
“Hey there, yourself.” Ray couldn’t help but check him out. The man was simply a masterpiece of masculine beauty. He’d cut and spiked his sandy hair and shaved, so he almost had a clean-cut boy next door look. Except the tiny gold hoop in his ear together with the snake tattoo on his arm dispelled that. Nick wore a neat, black polo shirt and black slacks that, Ray could not help noticing, hugged his ass. Ray’s mouth watered. Ray had dressed in a long-sleeved blue dress shirt and khaki pants. “You look really good.”
Nick smiled a little. “I wasn’t sure where we were going so I didn’t know how to dress, but you did say somewhere nice.”
“No, you’re dressed perfectly. We’re going to a very nice little Japanese place.” Ray paused. “Do you like Japanese food?”
“Like a place where they chop and cook the food in front of you?”
“Yes, Teppan style.”
Nick nodded. “Yep. Sounds great.”
If Ray had it his way, Nick would be dessert. But of course he was getting ahead of himself. He glanced around the apartment. There didn’t appear to be much to the living room. A nice, big screen television. An old, lumpy looking leather couch and matching loveseat and a coffee table. He could see the kitchen from where he stood and it appeared to be the typical apartment sized kitchen.
As though he could read minds, Nick said, “There’s not much to the place. It’s just a one-bedroom. You can go take a look if you want the tour.”
Ray grinned. “Sure, why not?” He walked through the living room, past the kitchen, and into a short hallway leading to the bedroom and bathroom combination. He quickly noted Nick’s bed wasn’t made.
“I’m not much of a housekeeper,” Nick admit
ted behind him.
“Me either. That’s why I hire people to keep up my house for me,” Ray said.
Unfortunately for his hungry stomach, the sight of the bed perked up the interest of his cock. It rose and hardened. Wouldn’t look too great in the restaurant. Just when he was wondering what he could do about it, Nick’s fingers brushed his arm. Jolts of pure, naked lust flowed through him. Thoughts of eating anything other than the man next to him went out of his head. He turned to Nick, careful not to break the contact with the man’s fingers. He didn’t miss the mirrored lust in Nick’s baby blue eyes.
Thank God.
Ray leaned toward Nick at the same moment Nick leaned toward him. Their lips met, touched, scorched across each other. Ray’s lips moved to the pulse of the other man’s throat, searing a path there to his collarbone. Nick had on way too many clothes. Ray’s hands found the hem of Nick’s shirt and tugged upward.
“Dinner?” Nick gasped, tilting his head, providing Ray better access to his throat.
“Later.” Ray yanked the shirt over Nick’s head and dropped it in a pile at their feet. His fingers reached for the belt at the other man’s waist. He was suddenly as eager as his first time. His hands were shaking so much he was having trouble unfastening the belt.
“Let me.” Nick pushed away Ray’s hands. He kicked off his black loafers before he undid the belt, then dropped his pants and stepped out of them.
His mouth watering, Ray admired the erection straining against Nick’s boxers. He swallowed, trying to calm his racing pulse. He didn’t want to rush this, didn’t want to embarrass himself by coming too soon.
“Lube and condoms?” He went to work on removing his own clothes.
Nick nodded, licking his lips. “Be right back.” He disappeared into the bathroom.
Ray supposed he ought to ask Nick who would be topping. For some reason, Ray had assumed he would be fucking Nick, but it was entirely possible Nick had the same assumption about him. He pulled the sheet and blanket down to the foot of the bed.
Nick came up behind him and wrapped his arms around Ray’s middle. “You smell really good.” Nick’s lips scorched across Ray’s throat, his teeth grazing his pulse.
Ray shivered, tilting his head to the side, pushing back against Nick’s lips. “God, I can’t wait to get you onto that bed.”