Sin City Uniform 01 - All Fired Up by Morticia Knight Read Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t a big toothy one but more of an amused sideways smirk. It fit him.
    Trent put the second half of his sandwich down then took a swallow of his tea sans straw. He set down his glass. “When’s your next day off?”
    An unexpected swell of giddiness surged through Shawn. Trent would only be asking such a thing if he wanted them to get together.
    “I have the next couple days off. Why?”
    “Good. I have tomorrow off then don’t go back in until noon the following day. Have you been to Red Rock Canyon since you moved here?”
    “Actually, I haven’t. I’ve wanted to check it out, though. I’d love to take some pictures there. It’s a bit of a hobby for me.”
    Trent nodded at him. “I know.”
    Shawn straightened. “You do?”
    “I asked Vicki about you.”
    He arched his eyebrows. “You’re kidding.”
    “That bother you?”
    He considered it. “When did you talk to her?”
    “Before I saw you at the station.”
    Shawn pressed his lips together, frowning. No wonder she’d been so pushy about him talking to Trent.
    “I don’t know if I’m bothered as much as surprised.”
    It’s actually kinda hot. And here I thought I was going to have to go after him.
    “We gettin’ together then?”
    “Sure. But is this someplace you want to go to also?”
    Trent stared at him in the way that made Shawn feel very exposed.
    “It’s one of my favorite places around here. She also said you enjoyed hiking. So do I.”
    “Jesus. Did she write an essay or something?” He shifted in his seat when Trent didn’t say anything. “We’d have to get there pretty early to get any hiking in before it gets too hot.”
    “I’ll pick you up at six in the morning. We can grab some breakfast then do some hiking. After that, we should go to the visitor center. There’re some interesting things you might like to photograph, rust colored striped rocks or Mojave Max, their desert tortoise.”
    “Mojave Max, huh?”
    Shawn exhaled slowly, relaxing in the booth. He had the oddest sensation of being completely at ease with Trent. Despite all the avoidance Trent had done and the weirdness of the previous couple of days, there was a marked connection between them. They melded together well. He supposed spending all day with only one another to talk to and going somewhere completely removed from their normal everyday lives would be a good test. If their spark was no more than a simple physical reaction, they would find out quick enough.
    But he doubted that was the case. He was sure there was something more than simple lust occurring. However, if things went the way he was certain they would, he had a feeling there would be a lot more physical activity than hiking going on between them.
    “Sounds great. Red Rock Canyon it is.”

    * * * *

    Dawn was breaking the horizon as Trent pulled up to Shawn’s apartment house. After he parked the truck, he paused for a moment, gripping the steering wheel. There was a tightening in his abdomen, a sensation he hadn’t felt for years. Elation. Desire. Warmth toward another human being.
    I’m alive and Shawn’s right here.
    Closing his eyes, he thought of his beautiful former lover—how Paul had filled his life with so much love.
    “Thank you. I’ll always love and miss you, but it’s time to move on.”
    He took a deep breath and exited the vehicle, nervousness worming its way in with his other emotions. Crossing the street, he noted that the newer building Shawn lived in had closed glass doors that could only be opened with a security code. Good. He found Shawn’s name on the digital screen and tapped the numbers. He was buzzed in right away, Shawn never verifying who it was. Frowning at the screen, he grabbed the door before the noise stopped. Shawn’s apartment was on the ground floor and he wound his way along a cement path that boasted stones embedded within. The whole property was meticulously kept with an interesting variety of cacti and succulents. The early hour meant