Page 98 of Dream a Little Dream

Jack stepped closer, remnants of his familiar aftershave clinging to the foggy air settling between them. “You’re attracted to him.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does. Because you can’t see beyond that. I know you. You’ll crack. You want him so badly it’ll consume you. And what’s worse is…” Jack exhaled a weary sigh, gathering his thoughts and coming to terms with the truth of it all. “He wants you, too.” He then stepped back, veil of professional integrity descending over him as he leaned around Kenny for the fire door. “I can’t have you on the case.”

“You need me.”

“I’ve learned how not to.”

Kenny sighed, low and long. “This caseneeds me. Needs someone who understands what this all is.”

“No, Kenny. What this case needs is someone who isn’t halfway to putting their dick in the lead suspect.”

Jack stepped inside the building, the fire doors clanging shut, the finality of their reunion shattering over Kenny and the grip on his own professional integrity slipping with every heartbeat.

If he hadn’t before, he now desperately needed to sort this thing with Aaron out. Before it caused irreparable damage.

* * * *

Aaron sat hunched on the doorstep, hood up, idle hands wringing.

The chill of evening clung to him, the silence heavy. The outside house lights had turned off a while ago and he’d remained still so they couldn’t pick up his movements, keeping him practically invisible in the faint glow of the distantstreetlights. Until headlights turned into the driveway, flooding over him and breaking his cover.

Kenny’s Discovery pulled in. The car door clicked open, and the man himself stepped out, pausing, visibly surprised by the sight of Aaron waiting on his doorstep. Aaron stood and their eyes met, and in that instant, he felt the pull between them. A blend of charged anticipation and unresolved emotion neither could control. Kenny’s intake of breath was sharp, and with a grim look, he locked the car, stepping around to meet Aaron under the porch.

“Doc.”

“Aaron.” Kenny reached around him to unlock the front door, then shunted him inside.

Aaron entered without a word, already moving to the familiar contours of the kitchen diner where they’d shared many charged, silent moments. He slipped onto his usual stool at the counter and watched Kenny move through the kitchen with a tense, controlled energy. Aaron couldn’t tell if he was on edge or in command, but something in Kenny’s every gesture held his attention.

“A sandwich would be great,” Aaron said, tapping his hands on the counter. “It’s been a heck of a day.”

Kenny gave him a measured look, but pulled out the bread and reached for the fridge. The silence between them crackled as if it was a physical thing. Aaron could feel the intensity radiating off Kenny in spades. The battle with what he should do.

“So, the cops think I murdered Rahul.” Aaron kept his tone light, testing the waters.

Kenny paused, tightening his grip on the bread knife. “Yeah.” He then spread butter over the bread with a controlled precision, as if focusing only on the task and not all the things running around in his head.

“Doyou?”

Kenny peered up under his lashes, and Aaron held his breath in wait. “No, I don’t.”

The simplicity of his words made Aaron soften. He took the sandwich Kenny offered and bit into it, the quiet thrill of being taken care of despite his behaviour at the station a minor win, even if it was only something as simple as food. He savoured the taste, but it was Kenny’s attention on him he craved more than ham and cheese on artisan bread.

“Were you watching?”

“Yes.”

“Analysing?”

Kenny leaned back against the counter, his eyes never leaving Aaron’s. “Always.”

The words sent a shiver down Aaron’s spine, and he set the sandwich down. “What’s your assessment, doc?”

“You have a lack of respect for authority and get a rise out of antagonising those in positions of power, testing boundaries to see what’ll happen. Yet you crave discipline. But resent anyone who tries to exercise it over you.”

Aaron grinned, pulse racing as he swayed from side to side on the stool, deliberately casual. “It’s like you’re already in here.” He tapped his head, then took another bite out of the sandwich.

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