Cade Creek 11 - Race Against Time Read Online Free PDF
Author: Stormy Glenn
those he met, and no one could ask for a better friend. He was always there to back up those he cared for and worked with. He was a good man to have in a crisis, never showing fear.
Except Ari was afraid.
There was a part of the handsome man that he hid away from everyone, a small scared part that was afraid of being rejected, afraid of disappointing, afraid of being left alone. It had taken Vinnie nearly two years to break through the wall Ari built around himself, and learn of the fears he hid from the world with his friendly manner and easygoing smiles.
When they reached the house they had shared for the last six months, Vinnie pulled into the driveway and turned the truck off. He took the keys out of the ignition and clutched them in his hand.
There was a tension in the cab of the truck, one that hadn’t been there when they left the house earlier. Vinnie didn’t like that it was there now. Things had always been so easy with Ari. He wanted that back.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, love,” he encouraged. “Don’t shut me out.”
Ari was silent. Vinnie tried to give the man time to gather his thoughts. He knew Ari needed to think before he spoke. Ari could laugh and smile and be the center of attention as long as things stayed light. Once emotions were involved, he grew quiet, often not saying a thing because he couldn’t figure out how to say them.
When Ari’s hand clenched into a fist, Vinnie knew. “You’re angry.”
“Yes,” Ari choked out. His beautiful brown eyes were anguished when he turned. “He looked so scared when he saw us at the airport. I thought he was going to bolt. The bravery he showed when he stayed was amazing.”
“He fascinates you.” It wasn’t a question. Vinnie was positive Ari was fascinated by Race because he was just as drawn to the battered man.
Ari glanced away, but not before Vinnie saw the flush that filled his face and colored his cheeks. “Maybe,” Ari uttered in a low voice as he looked down at his hands.
Vinnie quickly hid the smile that came to his lips by rubbing his hand over his mouth. He drew in a breath before letting it out slowly. He slid his hand across the seat and entwined his fingers with Ari’s again. He liked holding Ari’s hand. It always made him feel just a little bit more connected to the man.
“I’m fascinated by him as well.”
Ari was quick to turn back to face him, hope blossoming in his eyes. “Yeah?”
Vinnie grinned. “Yeah.” It felt good to be able to express what he was feeling and not try to hide it. “I think he’s perfect for us.”
Chapter Four
Ari wouldn’t have been able to wipe the grin off his face even if someone had paid him a million dollars. Heck, he felt like he had just won the lottery, so what did the money matter anyway?
Knowing Vinnie was just as fascinated by Race as he was not only lifted the weight on his heart, but made it fly. Ari had always known he was gay. That had never been a question for him. He had never been interested in girls.
But he had been interested in having more than one man in his life, and that had made for some confusing times as he started exploring his sexual life. He had tried staying with one man, but always seemed to need something more.
He wasn’t ever unfaithful. That went against everything he believed in, but the need for that something more created a rift in his past relationships that widened until the man he was with bailed, telling him he was emotionally warped.
There were always reasons, and they were always his fault. He couldn’t be faithful, even when he was. He couldn’t give his lover what he needed. He couldn’t commit. Time after time, he was left alone and wondering what was wrong with him that he couldn’t keep a man.
And then he had met Vincent Rizzo and his life had been changed forever. Vinnie had not only accepted the fact that Ari needed more, the man had told him what it was that always seemed to be missing from his life.
Until
Except Ari was afraid.
There was a part of the handsome man that he hid away from everyone, a small scared part that was afraid of being rejected, afraid of disappointing, afraid of being left alone. It had taken Vinnie nearly two years to break through the wall Ari built around himself, and learn of the fears he hid from the world with his friendly manner and easygoing smiles.
When they reached the house they had shared for the last six months, Vinnie pulled into the driveway and turned the truck off. He took the keys out of the ignition and clutched them in his hand.
There was a tension in the cab of the truck, one that hadn’t been there when they left the house earlier. Vinnie didn’t like that it was there now. Things had always been so easy with Ari. He wanted that back.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, love,” he encouraged. “Don’t shut me out.”
Ari was silent. Vinnie tried to give the man time to gather his thoughts. He knew Ari needed to think before he spoke. Ari could laugh and smile and be the center of attention as long as things stayed light. Once emotions were involved, he grew quiet, often not saying a thing because he couldn’t figure out how to say them.
When Ari’s hand clenched into a fist, Vinnie knew. “You’re angry.”
“Yes,” Ari choked out. His beautiful brown eyes were anguished when he turned. “He looked so scared when he saw us at the airport. I thought he was going to bolt. The bravery he showed when he stayed was amazing.”
“He fascinates you.” It wasn’t a question. Vinnie was positive Ari was fascinated by Race because he was just as drawn to the battered man.
Ari glanced away, but not before Vinnie saw the flush that filled his face and colored his cheeks. “Maybe,” Ari uttered in a low voice as he looked down at his hands.
Vinnie quickly hid the smile that came to his lips by rubbing his hand over his mouth. He drew in a breath before letting it out slowly. He slid his hand across the seat and entwined his fingers with Ari’s again. He liked holding Ari’s hand. It always made him feel just a little bit more connected to the man.
“I’m fascinated by him as well.”
Ari was quick to turn back to face him, hope blossoming in his eyes. “Yeah?”
Vinnie grinned. “Yeah.” It felt good to be able to express what he was feeling and not try to hide it. “I think he’s perfect for us.”
Chapter Four
Ari wouldn’t have been able to wipe the grin off his face even if someone had paid him a million dollars. Heck, he felt like he had just won the lottery, so what did the money matter anyway?
Knowing Vinnie was just as fascinated by Race as he was not only lifted the weight on his heart, but made it fly. Ari had always known he was gay. That had never been a question for him. He had never been interested in girls.
But he had been interested in having more than one man in his life, and that had made for some confusing times as he started exploring his sexual life. He had tried staying with one man, but always seemed to need something more.
He wasn’t ever unfaithful. That went against everything he believed in, but the need for that something more created a rift in his past relationships that widened until the man he was with bailed, telling him he was emotionally warped.
There were always reasons, and they were always his fault. He couldn’t be faithful, even when he was. He couldn’t give his lover what he needed. He couldn’t commit. Time after time, he was left alone and wondering what was wrong with him that he couldn’t keep a man.
And then he had met Vincent Rizzo and his life had been changed forever. Vinnie had not only accepted the fact that Ari needed more, the man had told him what it was that always seemed to be missing from his life.
Until