Sage's Mystery by Lynn Hagen Read Free Book Online Page A

girl.” William pointed to the house, but Terror ran the other way. “Thanks for having our backs!”
    Terror barked, but didn’t come back his way. William stared at the house, praying Sage kicked whoever’s ass. The man could do it.
    William knew he could. He breathed a sigh of relief a few seconds later when Sage came strolling back.
    “It was the pipes, slim,” he said with amusement in his voice.
    Yeah, William had small balls. He’d own that. Big deal. It kept him alive this long. There was nothing wrong with running away screaming in his book. “But I’ve been here for a while, and they never made that noise before,” he pointed out.
    Sage shrugged and then sat back down. “I don’t know what to tell you. But it was the pipes in the basement.”
    There was a basement?
    “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from the pipes,” Sage said and then chuckled.

    Sage’s Mystery
    45
    “ Hardy-har-har .”
    Sage didn’t say anything else as he grabbed the meat package, tore it open, and tossed the chicken into the frying pan. It sizzled loudly. William’s stomach did a happy dance as he licked his lips.
    How long had it been since he had a decent meal?
    Since forever.
    William sat down on the ground across from Sage, crossing his legs as he watched the meat cook in the frying pan. Even Terror wandered back over at the sizzling sound of the meat cooking.
    William sat there picking at his pants, sneaking glances at the handsome man sitting across from him. He wanted to all-out gawk, but knew that wasn’t possible. At least not while Sage was awake.
    “Do you want to try a piece of meat?” Sage asked as he cut into the large breast portion. Fuck if that wasn’t a loaded question.
    “I’d love to try some of your meat.”
    Sage’s hand stilled as he glanced over at William. Oh, holy hell.
    Now he’d done it. There was no way he could have stopped the answer from springing from his lips. No way . Sage had left himself wide open for that answer.
    “Would you now?”
    William wasn’t sure if that was an invitation or a question for clarity right before he was pounded into the dirt. He bit his bottom lip and gave a slight nod, feeling his face heat up like a ball of fire was attacking it. He wasn’t sure where the hell the bravery was coming from, but he’d confessed.
    He just hoped it wasn’t his last confession.
    The side of Sage’s mouth pulled back into a sexy-as-fuck smile as he held the fork up, a small piece of chicken displayed for William.
    He reached across to grab it from the fork, but Sage pulled it back.
    “Take it off with your mouth.”
    William’s eyes locked onto the fire, refusing to look Sage in his eyes as he leaned sideways, closing his lips around the chicken.

    46
    Lynn Hagen
    Spices burst on his tongue, but William was focused on his racing heartbeat instead.
    He might have been hearing things because his heart was beating so loudly in his ears, but William could have sworn he heard Sage groan softly. He slowly sat back, swallowing hard around the chicken as he forced its way down his dry throat.
    “I–It was good,” William said to the ground.
    “Yes, it was,” Sage said in a voice that dipped lower than his already thick and deep timbre that William had grown to appreciate with every word the man spoke. A shiver raced down his spine.
    When Sage didn’t say anything else, William jumped up from the ground. “I’ll go get the plates.” And that was saying something. He’d rather move closer to the house with the spooky noises than keep his ass planted right where he was.
    William darted across the yard, taking a moment to clear his head as he grabbed a few paper plates from the plastic sleeve that rested next to the cooler. He looked over his shoulder, making sure Sage couldn’t see him, and then reached into the cooler, grabbing a few pieces of ice. He slid his hand down his pants, dropping the cubes in place.
    “Oh hell!” he shouted before he could stop himself. That