Page 79 of The Easy Way
“Don’t thank me, kiddo,” Sean said, shaking his head. “I’m fucking glad you realized youshouldcall. Like something I said finally penetrated that hard head ofyours.”
Cort smiled. Someonehad gotten through to him, alright, but it had nothing to do with Sean’swords.
They resumed walking until they got to the front entrance of the airport. Outside, the setting sun reflected off the windows of a few cars, and tall palm trees swayed in the hot breeze. Off to one side, there was a small seating area and a picnic table with benches on either side. Cain Shaw was curled up awkwardly on one of the wooden chairs, his weight on one side. When he saw the men appear in the doorway, he stood up slowly and began walking towards them, clearlyhurt.
Cam sat on the far side of the picnic table, facing away from them. He was hunched over, elbows-on-knees, staring into the distance. He was so real and soalive,Cort had to stop himself from jogging over and wrapping him up in ahug.
You’re gonna have to do some convincing, he reminded himself. But it would be worthit.
He put a restraining hand on Sebastian’s arm. “Hey, can I?” he said, nodding atCam.
Bas looked at Cort grimly. Cort bristled as he prepared for some sort of threat or warning which, frankly, the guy didn’t deserve to be handing out. But Bas surprised him. “Hold him tight,” was all he said. He looked over at his brother sadly, then clapped Cort on the shoulder. “And don’t fuckup.”
He turned and walked back into theairport.
Cort took a deep breath, walked toward Cam, his feet moving faster and faster, until he was full-out running. Cam turned as soon as he heard someone approaching, and stood with a bright smile on his face as Cort crashed into him, throwing his arms around his man and picking him up off theground.
“Hey,” Camsaid.
“I was so fucking scared.” Cort spoke the words into Cam’s thick hair. It wasn’t what he’d intended to say, but then nothing seemed to go according to plan when he was with Cam. He’d learn to just enjoy the ride. “And I love you,” he blurted out. “Not… not because I was scared, okay? Just… I should have said it before. I knew it yesterday… hell, I probably knew it last week, and I was just too afraid to tellyou.”
He set Cam back on his feet and pulled away slightly so he could see his face - the liquid blue eyes, the constellation of freckles, the blush Cort loved to put on his cheeks. “I know this has all been my fault Cam. It was my fault you weren’t standing beside me in the hangar. Hell, my fault you were on the fucking island in the first place. I lied to you, and took the easy wayout.”
Cam shook his head and Cort panicked.Be more convincing,Cortland.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Listen, I know this is deja vu, me convincing you to give me another chance. What am I on now, my fourth? My fifth?” He winced. “And it’s not like I can say this is gonna be the last chance I need, either. I mean, I’m probably gonna need six more before we get back to Boston. But I learn from my mistakes, Cam.” He swallowed. “I just need you to trustme.”
“You called the FBI,” Cam said, when Cort finally gave him a chance tospeak.
Cort frowned.Oookay.Not quite the return declaration he’d been hoping for. He let his hands drop from Cam’swaist.
“Yeah, of course. I called Sean Cook,” he said, hooking a thumb towards the building. “The second you guys took off. I was scared to death. I had no idea what else todo.”
“No, Cort,” Cam said, his own arms still wrapped around Cort’s neck. “You called the FBI. You called your team to come and save us, even though you knew it might get Damon in trouble.” He grinned. “I’d already figured out you loved me. I promised myself if we landed safely, I would tie you up and force you to tellme.”
Cort’s chin went back. “Is thatso?”
“Yup. Maybe I still will.” His gaze was teasing, and Cort became lost in it. “But when we landed and the authorities were here, that’s when Iknew. There was no way you’d risk Damon unless… unless you already realized you loved me,too.”
Cort shook his head. “I couldn’t let anything happen to you. I love Damon, but you… you’ve become everything somehow. It’s crazy,huh?”
Cam’s smile was bright as the sun. “Yeah. Totally illogical. But this really smart guy once told me, the most illogical things are sometimes thetruest.”
Cort leaned forward and gently took Cam’s mouth with his, nibbling at the gorgeous lower lip that had fascinated him from the very beginning. “We’ll see who ties up who, badass,” he warned Cam. And then he leaned forward and claimed the laughing mouth with his own - slow and easy andforever.
