Bad Behavior (Bad in Baltimore) Read Online Free PDF

a laugh, and Gavin tossed a glare back at them as he continued, “…for homeless GLBT teens and young adults.”
    The realtor’s reaction was somewhere between an ah and a hm . While Beach couldn’t see the point in wallowing in so much guilt you felt you had to take on the world’s problems, he also couldn’t imagine anyone would object to sheltering homeless children.
    “Is that a problem, Miss Hadley?” Gavin’s voice dropped the room temperature several degrees. Considering that it was an un-air-conditioned space in Baltimore in July, the chill was almost pleasant.
    The realtor rushed in to take the edge off. “Of course not, Mr. Montgomery. Though with that information ahead of time I would have guided you to a space more suitable for that sort of living arrangement.”
    “I’d prefer a space we can adapt to our needs. You said there was a kitchen on this floor?” Gavin’s strides moved him ahead of the realtor. He was playing it cool, but Beach had known him for over twenty years and Gavin wanted this place.
    The space to the left of the entryway was much less debris filled, empty and dusty. “You’ve never seen him like this, when he gets involved in a project.” Beach stopped and leaned on his cane, leaving Jamie with the choice of walking around him or kicking the cane out from under him. Based on the narrowing of Jamie’s eyes, Beach had better make this fast if he didn’t want to find out how the mortar dust tasted. “Our Gavin may not be very expressive, but he does feel things deeply. When he finds something worthwhile, he gives it his full commitment.”
    As the disgust curled Jamie’s lip, Beach wondered if perhaps that was the wrong opening for a conversation with the boyfriend.
    “You think you gotta tell me that? Hell, you’re not even worthwhile, and he’s still friends with you. Though you tried to kill him twice.”
    “I wasn’t—” Beach began, but he knew Jamie wouldn’t hear the facts, that Gavin had chosen to come after Beach, both times, that there was honor at stake. Something he doubted was part of whatever passed for a policeman’s training. “And I am heartily suffering for it,” Beach assured Jamie with a palm raised in surrender and a cane thump for emphasis.
    “Not nearly enough.” Jamie heaved a sigh, sending some more dust swirling, his gaze already moving past Beach, on to his homeless-shelter-obsessed boyfriend.
    “But I am.” Beach tugged on his jean leg to reveal his anklet. “Worse, the probation officer they’ve assigned me has serious boundary issues. I do believe he’s coming on to me.”
    “Christ, Beauchamp, you get any more melodramatic, you’ll be fanning yourself and fainting. What the fuck you mean coming on to you?”
    At least Beach had secured Jamie’s complete attention. “I mean, the way he came up behind me, pressing against my ass while he was helping me get a sample for my urine test. And the things he said.” Come. Now. The memory of that voice sent heat pouring over him like Carolina sunshine.
    Jamie studied Beach’s face. “That’s out of line. Illegal kind of out of line. You’re technically in custody.”
    “I thought so. If I were to report this—”
    “He’d be screwed. What office they send you to?”
    “Dundalk.”
    Jamie reared back. “Aw hell. They’re already so fucked over with the drunk-driving mess. They’ll be all over that like flies on shit.”
    “On the other hand, maybe he’d be willing to loosen the ball and chain.” Beach tapped lightly on his ankle cuff.
    “God, you don’t take responsibility for anything, do you? Half kill your friend, drag him into burglary—”
    “We weren’t stealing anything. I was merely making an effort to retrieve my family’s property.”
    “What would you call it if people were wandering through your house?”
    “A reason to reach for a rifle.”
    “Exactly. Because it’s burglary. You’re lucky the charges aren’t worse, lucky as hell Gavin’s not