Private Dicks by Katie Allen Read Free Book Online

ordered from his bedroom.
    Wandering around the living room, too restless to sit,
Rhodes bit back a smile. “Too bad you don’t have stairs. Kind of ruins your
grand entrance.”
    “Fuck off.”
    Rhodes gave a snort of laughter and made another lap of the
living room. He picked up an electronics magazine from the coffee table and
flipped through it without seeing a single word or picture. He gave an
exasperated grunt and tossed it back down.
    As Carlos had predicted, their meeting with Mrs. Herrero
that afternoon hadn’t gotten them any new information. The woman was a wreck,
almost hysterical with worry but not able to take any time off from either of
her two jobs for fear of being fired. With an anxious Carlos looking on, Rhodes
had told her they were working for the police, which hadn’t really been a lie,
although it wasn’t the exact truth either. She had accepted his story at face
value and answered all their questions. She’d repeated the same thing they’d
been hearing over and over—Miguel was a good kid, he wouldn’t have run away.
    “Let’s go then, Rhodie,” Wash said from behind him.
    “About damn time…” Rhodes’ grumble trailed off as he turned
and got his first look at his partner.
    His expression must have been telling, because Wash grinned.
“That good, huh? Told you I’d look hot tonight.”
    Mouth too dry to swallow, Rhodes tried clearing his throat
instead. “Whatever,” he rasped, trying for nonchalance but not able to rip his
eyes away from the man standing in front of him. Wash’s smile slipped away and
the two men stared at each other for a long moment until Rhodes jerked his head
to the side, breaking eye contact.
    “Are you finally ready?” he growled, trying to take deep,
slow breaths without being obvious about it.
    “Sure.” Wash’s cocky tone had slipped. “Are you…?”
    “Fine! I’m fine.” And he would be. He just couldn’t look at
how the black fabric of the shirt stretched across Wash’s chest, highlighting
each rounded groove and lift of muscle, or at the way his hair, arranged to
look so artfully mussed, fell over his forehead, a few strands tangling with
the long sweep of his eyelashes. Rhodes knew he definitely couldn’t look at anything below the waist if he wanted to survive the evening with his sanity intact.
    When Wash stayed silent, Rhodes blew out a hard breath and
forced himself to meet his partner’s gaze. “Okay, fine. You were right. You
look hot.”
    Wash’s grin snapped back. “Told ya. Would you even describe
me as looking ‘fine’?”
    “That’s enough—let’s go,” Rhodes groaned, heading toward the
door.
    Wash trailed after him. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
    “Whatever.”
    “No, seriously, man. You’ve got a great body—ripped. Nice
tight ass.”
    Rhodes flushed, resisting the urge to cover his butt with
his hands. “Okay. Time to fuck off now.”
    “Wait,” Wash told him, grabbing Rhodes’ wrist and pulling
him around to face him. “All kidding aside, you’re a catch. Don’t let any guy
tell you otherwise.”
    Meeting Wash’s gaze, seeing the sincerity in his partner’s
eyes, Rhodes couldn’t say a word. He just nodded.
    Wash laughed. “Let’s go turn some heads.”
    “What’s so funny?” Rhodes asked, feeling his own smile
tugging at his lips. Wash’s humor was infectious.
    “I’m going cock-hunting with you. It’s just so crazy. After
all the times…” Wash’s glance fell away as he trailed off.
    “After all the times what?” Rhodes asked, his curiosity
spiking as a flush darkened his partner’s face.
    Waving a hand, Wash dismissed the comment, still not meeting
Rhodes’ eyes. “Nothing.” He headed for the door. “Get a move on. We need to
find some male tail!”
    Rhodes snorted. “Watch out. You know the saying—once you go
gay…”
    “What?” Wash asked when Rhodes trailed off.
    Shrugging, Rhodes admitted, “Couldn’t think of a rhyme.”
    “With ‘gay’? C’mon,