Keep Swimming (5 page)

Heath suddenly felt like a heel. “Hey, I’m sorry too. I try not to be a big man whore with go to ‘moves’. I just also don’t get
involved
. Y’know”

“
I do. I knew what this was. I promise I wasn’t expecting a ring when I came over. I just… was monogamous for a long time. I’ve been out of the game since… well, since college.”

What the hell?
“That... uh, sounds like…”
Baggage.
“Sounds sucky.”

Cary snorted. “It has good points and bad ones.”

“Hey, look…” Heath stopped the words because he could see Cary was gearing up for a brush off, a rejection. Heath’d never had problems brushing off someone before, but that look… Cary was a decent guy. And he said he knew the score. So maybe it wouldn’t hurt to be nice, maybe be friendly.
Not like you haven’t fucked the other people you call good friends.
And he wasn’t quite ready to give up this piece of ass yet.

“
Want a beer?” Heath laughed at the surprise the bloomed on Cary’s face.

“
Sure?”

“
You still have a couple hours before you have to get back to the munchkin. You said something last time about not getting much grown up time. We’ll grab a beer, sit on the deck, shoot the shit. It’ll be nice to talk to someone other than the old roughnecks I’ve been around the last couple weeks.”

Cary still looked skeptical.

“Seriously. I’m not saying ‘let’s be friends with benefits’,  just 'let’s be friends.'”

Cary seemed to think on that a moment, then nodded slowly. “Okay. Who doesn’t need more friends, huh?”

“Exactly. Though, I won’t complain if you want to hit me up for some more of those benefits. That’s a fine ass you’ve got,
friend
.” Heath winked, earning an eye roll and a blush from Cary.

Heath fetched a few beers and stuck them in a bucket they could take up top with them. When Cary followed him up they took a seat and looked out over the Gulf, sun having just dipped down out of the sky, leaving a pink burst in its wake.

“This is why I love living here,” Cary said. “The views are always gorgeous.”

“
You from here?” Heath asked.

“
No. Originally from New York City. Moved down with my ex about six years ago.”

“
Ex… like mother of your child?” Heath had always been curious about that situation. Didn’t seem like a question that would be out of bounds for a friend to ask.

Cary scrunched his nose. “Uh, no. I’m a gold star. Gay as it gets.” When he saw the questioning look he was getting from Heath he laughed. “Oh, you mean Gus. His biological mother is a surrogate from Ocala who needed tuition for her kid’s college and had good genes. The ex, Marshall… let’s not go there.”

“Understood. My ex and I are still on pretty good terms. She’s an attorney in Tallahassee, which would be where I’m originally from.”

“
That’s nice.” Cary’s frown spoke volumes. And Heath didn’t know why he was so concerned with what that frown meant.

Well, that was a lie. If circumstances were different, if he did relationships, Cary would be someone he’d go for it with. Minus the kid, of course. He worked hard, volunteered to feed dogs, and had that ass. So far Heath was hard pressed to find many qualities he didn’t find endearing, which was about a kick in the nuts.

“This
yacht
is great,” Cary said.

“
Thanks,” Heath preened. He loved his boat so yeah, another point in the Cary column. Dammit. “She’s my pride and joy. The
Keep Swimming
.”

“
Interesting name.”

“
Well, that’s what my philosophy is in life. Life’s gonna give you shit. So you can either let it drown you, or you can keep swimming.”

Cary was studying Heath close enough to make him want to squirm. His expression was unreadable before he looked back out over the water. “Gus would love this. He’s always talking about boats this and boats that. He’s been on his grandpa’s boat, but he lives down in Miami so I don’t get to take him often.”

“Well, why don’t you bring him out one day?”
What did you just say?

Cary was obviously as surprised at the offer as Heath.

“Uh, no. No we couldn’t put you out like that. He’s a good kid, but… he’s a kid and I’m sure he’d get in the way.”

“
It wouldn’t be a big deal. Not like he doesn’t know me.”
What are you doing?

Cary looked back out at the water thoughtfully. “He would love it. We could come on a Saturday after feeding the dogs. Doggies and boats in one day. He’ll be beside himself.” Cary laughed, mostly to himself. He had a gentlest smile on his face, one that gave Heath the urge to both hug him and toss himself overboard.

“Well, I’m off on my two weeks so next weekend, I guess.”

“
Only if you’re sure.”

Yeah, strangely he
was
sure. For now, he’d just let himself think it was because he couldn’t disappoint the kid.

Cary turned an unusually saucy look Heath’s way. “I think you just earned yourself some benefits, 
friend
.”

Well, I’ll be damned.
“Well, hell, if I’d known that’d keep you coming back I’d’ve offered sooner.”

Cary snorted, but moved to straddle Heath, both of their bodies responding to the other, rocking and growing heated. “Don’t overuse the kid card. I can separate the bullshit from sincerity.”

“Noted.”

“
Now. I think it’s my turn to taste you.” And Cary went to his knees.

“I don’t know what I’m even doing,” Cary complained, banging his head on the desk in Celine’s office. She laughed musically as she tapped on the keyboard to her computer.

“
You are having good sex,” she said in her flirtiest voice, French accent lilting just so. Cary couldn’t help the giggle that caused. No doubt about it, she was right. She considered herself his personal love guru at this point. If he got a message from Heath, she was shooing him out the door. He’d only taken her up on it once more in the week since Heath had come home, and they’d had more mind blowing sex. Cary had never been with someone quite so toppy and it could easily become an addiction for him.

But Heath was also good company. After last time they had sex, they’d once again spent a while just talking about nothing of importance, drinking a beer, and enjoying looking at the ocean. He’d never felt quite so free as he did enjoying his friendship with Heath. He was a little bummed it couldn’t go any further, but he understood Heath’s reasons. And Heath was a nice guy. But seriously…

“I’m taking my child to hang out with my fuck buddy.”

“
Stop being ridiculous. He is a nice man and you are not introducing him as anything other than a friend. Gus already knows him, anyway. It’s not like you are always with a new boyfriend, rotating man after man in front of him.”

He snorted. “No doubt. This is the first person he’ll ever be around that I’ve even kissed.”

“Which has not been many since
that man
left.”
That man
being Marshall. She’d actually met Cary through Marshall, his veterinary clinic being the shelter’s go to clinic until he’d up and left town. And Cary. She had swooped right in, offering to rent him the other half of her duplex. She’d been angry for her animals being abandoned, and having grown so close to Cary, was fierce in her anger on his behalf as well.

“
You’re right. But I should really back off. He has become someone I talk to, a friend of sorts. I should stop with the benefits part because I really suck.”

A mischievous smile curled her lips. “Is that not the point?”

Cary guffawed, tossing a dog treat at her. “That’s not what I meant. I meant I have a crush.”

“
Well, you’re a grown up. You’re allowed to enjoy yourself so long as it is not affecting the well-being of your child, and you are so very responsible with him. There is no harm in enjoying this crush so long as you remind yourself it will go no further than that. You are a smart man. Don’t over think.”

She was right. He was being ridiculous. He certainly wasn’t in love and Lord knew Heath may be a go to guy for good sex and beer at the beach, maybe a night at the bar with buddies, but you didn’t marry guys like Heath. Heath worked hard so he was rarely home, and played harder so he wouldn’t stay home. And Cary had to admit, the whole bisexual thing was still a niggle for him. He hated feeling that way, but any time Heath mentioned a woman he’d previously been with, Cary felt a little burst of anxiety. He knew it was for no good reason and he didn’t think being bisexual made the guy some sort of cheating jerk. But it was an insecurity on his part, plain and simple.

And why was he even worrying about whether the guy was cheating, be it with woman or another man? Nothing about what they were doing was exclusive.

“
Daddy! Look!” Gus’s voice brought Cary’s attention back to where he was. His son and Celine’s daughter Savannah were coming in from the kennels. They both looked far worse for wear, sweaty and dirty. Cary had no idea how Savannah was wearing her usual black jeans and black t-shirt and not melting when it was over a hundred degrees outside.

Gus toddled over to the chair Cary was sitting in and struggled to climb in his lap. Cary knew better than to assist, though. Gus was at that stage where he’d get the old, “No daddy, I do it.”

“He just had to come show you,” Savannah drawled. Typical teenager, put out by the heat and being run to death by Gus. She could put on all she wanted, they all knew she adored the little boy.

“
What you got there?” Cary asked when Gus had finally settled on his lap. He held out his hands and waited for Savannah to settle a newborn puppy in his hands. Gus was thrilled with the little thing. Cary helped him hold it, reminding him to be gentle. After a few moments of discussing how they could not take the puppy home, and getting an angry glare from one disgruntled toddler, Savannah offered to take the puppy back to the kennels.

“
That’s a cute little guy.” Cary’d recognize that voice anywhere. It licked him from head to toe, deep and warm. He looked up, smiling at Heath. He’d been out in the kennels helping with the heavier lifting. Gus had actually deigned to speak to the man a few times since Cary’d told him they’d be going to see ‘Heaf’s’ boat today. Heath pulled off the sweaty, dirty look well. His bronzed skin glistened while his sun bleached hair looked airy and refreshed. His arms were amazing in the sleeveless shirt and Cary really wanted to reach up and just squeeze a bicep.

Heath winked at him, it being plain that Cary was checking him out. Busted.

“You can take him home then,” Cary said.

“
Ah, no dogs. I really would love to, but two weeks on, two weeks off is not conducive to pet ownership. I’d love to one day, though.”

“
Oh, I meant the kid. Me and Celine can go for drinks. It’s hot.”

Heath looked momentarily horrified at the thought before cocking a brow. “You two have been sitting in the air conditioning the last half hour. I don’t know what you’re complaining about.”

“You boys can take your flirting right out of my office,” Celine said, smirking. “Don’t you have a play date or something?” Cary glanced at Heath whose expression was what he imagined they were talking about in romance novels when they said ‘rakish’. Cary couldn’t stop his grin when he thought how hot it was he’d put that look on Heath’s face.

“
Boat!” Gus said. Yeah, he wouldn’t let anyone forget what they were supposed to be doing today.

“
Right,” Cary said, turning back to Celine whose smile was positively smug. He rolled his eyes at her. “Yes, Gus has a play date with Mr. Heath today.”

“
Mr. Heaf has a boat,” Gus said happily to Celine.

“
Yes, a very messy boat,” Heath said. Cary quirked an eyebrow.

“
Sorry,” Heath said, shrugging. “I ran a charter last night for some people I’m trying to get to sign a contract— You don’t care about all the business talk. So if you guys can hang back about thirty minutes, Kyle and I should have all the mess cleared out.”

“
Sure thing,” Cary said, giving him an understanding smile. “I appreciate you taking us out today.”

Heath dipped his head. “Not a problem. It’s good anyway. Wouldn’t want the munchkin to burn. Give the sun some time to move out.” He then gave a report to Celine as to what he’d gotten done that day and headed out.

“Oh, chéri,” Celine said with a wistful sigh. “I do believe you are not the only one with a crush.” At Cary’s scoff she smirked. “I have known that man many years. I can say I’ve honestly never seen him so…” She looked thoughtful, using her slender hand to wave like she was searching her mind for something. Then she looked at him evenly. “Satisfied.”

Cary scoffed again. “Anyway… I think me and the boy should help Savannah finish up out there, since we have time to kill.” He set Gus back on his feet and patted his rear to get him to move.

“Go find Savannah,” he said. Gus bounced a couple times, then asked, quite seriously, if they’d still be going for a ride on the boat. Cary gave an equally solemn reassurance which appeased his son enough to have him running out and calling for Savannah.

“
Going on a boat!” Celine and Cary both laughed at the excited proclamation Gus made when he’d found ‘his Savannah'.

“
That one will be trouble one day,” Celine said, laughing.

“
Will
be?”

Celine waved him off. “Now he is sweet and loving. You are in for trouble when he stops with the quiet and the minding of manners.”

Cary groaned. “Please, let’s not talk about it. I’m not ready for him to get any bigger.” He looked through the window in the door, watching Gus help Savannah in the kennels outside, talking excitedly with his hands. Cary had been the one that didn’t want children, too young for the commitment, too fun-and-fancy-free. Now he loved the boy so much he just couldn’t fathom a day when the pint-sized love of his whole life would be tired of him.

“
Cary, be careful.”
What?
Cary’s attention snapped back to Celine, trying to catch up.

“
Be careful of what?”

“
I said he has a crush, I know you have one. But you know him as he is now. I have known him much longer. Heath will not settle down. Once bitten, they say.”

“
Oh, yeah. I know about the ex-wife and all.”

Her expression was dubious. “You will be careful, no? I know I say it is okay to fall in love, but remember to do it with the right man.”

“Love? Who said anything about that? I barely have time to sleep with the guy, much less date and/or fall in love with him.”

“
If you say so,” she said, doubtfully, turning back to her computer. “Now, out. If I want to have any sort of day off tomorrow, I must finish.” He laughed when she started shooing him so he went to help the kids with the final feedings.

Love. He scoffed to himself. Who had time for love? Yeah, while it’d be nice to find someone, not only for himself but for Gus, he had no illusions that Heath would be that man. Heath was the 'cool uncle' sort, the one who did fun things with Gus, was friends with daddy and his partner, but didn’t do twenty-four-seven parenting. He was the guy that got you off, gave you a beer and an ear, then sent you back to real life. There was no point in even fantasizing about more. And Lord knows the perks were just what he needed right now, so no way was he going to get attached and scare the guy off.
****

Cary held Gus’s hand as they walked down the now-familiar docks of the Santa Rosa Dock & Marina, where Heath’s yacht was berthed. Gus chattered on, oohing and aahing over the boats they passed. Cary could hear Heath’s correction in his head each time. “
It’s a yacht. A boat is that thing your grandfather uses when he fishes in a pond.”

When they rounded to where Heath’s boat was docked, Cary noticed him talking to a man in a cheesy boat captain’s uniform. It wasn’t until they got right up to the pair, he realized it was Heath’s friend from the bar, Kyle. Kyle turned with his biggest, most lecherous smile. Even in his costume—no way he was expecting anyone to buy that was a real uniform—the man was sinfully hot. He had a similar build to Heath, while being a few inches shorter than Heath who was easily eye-to-eye with Cary. He thought he remembered Heath saying something along the lines of them having served in the Coast Guard together, though Kyle was probably more Cary’s age than Heath’s. He honestly didn’t look much older than your average baby faced frat-boy, though, and had the mischievous glint in his eye to match.

“Damn, Heath. You didn’t tell me we had a hottie coming by.”

Heath gave his friend a shove from behind, making Kyle laugh. Cary chuckled but tipped his head to point out Gus. “Tiny human alert.” Kyle’s smile went from lecherous to disarmingly kind as he took a knee, getting eye level with Gus.

“Wow,” Gus said reverently. “You drive a boat?”

“
Yes sir, I do. Captain Kyle at your service.” He held out a hand but Gus, in his true shy nature, remembered he didn’t know the man and moved back a step and sideways behind Cary.

“
You driving today?” Gus asked.

Kyle shook his head with exaggerated sadness. “No, not this time. I have to take a bunch of old guys out fishing. But Heath over there is going to take you. He’s okay, but I’m better so I’ll have to take you next time.” Kyle tilted his head and gave Cary a wink. Cary snorted and gave Heath a grin.

“You’re going to be
late
, Kyle,” Heath said, tone dripping with exasperation.

Kyle took his hat off and put it on Gus’s head. “Hold that until I see you next time, little man.” He got to his feet and held up his hands at the glare he was getting from Heath. “I got it, I got it. Hint taken. I’m out.” He started walking, winking at Cary again. “Y’all don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Cary laughed. “Do people still say that?”

Heath grunted. “He’s a brat.”

“Oh, yeah. The young whippersnapper must get on your nerves,” Cary teased.

“
That’s why I give him all the BS clients,” he said with a wink.

Gus started tugging on Cary’s hand. Cary picked him up and got a put-upon sigh for his effort. “What’s up Gus?” he asked.

“Can we go now?”

Heath laughed and directed them to the boat. After they’d gone aboard, Heath took over instructing Gus on how to put on his life-jacket. Gus wasn’t thrilled with the bulky thing but he didn’t try to take it off after Heath tightened the straps for him.