Sweet Topping CV3 (2 page)

SWEET TOPPING

Carol Lynne

7

Sheridan in the morning and get a flight out from there. It’s cheaper than flying before Christmas. Most people are already at their destinations by then.” Gill smiled and nodded. “Where’s home for you?”

“Here in Cattle Valley, but my parents live in Irvine. What about you? Big plans?”

“Naw, I went home for Thanksgiving. I’ll probably spend the day watching television.”

“Hey, Gill, can you come over here for a minute?” Hal shouted from across the room.

Gill looked from Kyle to Hal and back to Kyle. “Sorry, I won’t be long. You staying for awhile?”

“Yeah,” Kyle answered as his leg was squeezed again. He watched Gill walk across the room. The small alarm on his watch chirped and Kyle sighed, time to visit the bathroom. He wheeled his way towards the restrooms, nodding to people as he passed.

“What do you want,” Gill asked Hal. He didn’t mean for it to come out as gruff as it did but Hal knew he was talking to Kyle.

Hal held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, buddy. Didn’t mean to pull you away, but Pam’s car won’t start and she needs to get the kids home for bed.” Gill turned back towards Kyle. He watched as the object of his interest rolled into the restroom. “Okay, but keep an eye on him. I don’t want Kyle leaving until I get back.” Hal chuckled. “Will do, Romeo. Should I stand guard outside the restroom?”

“Smart ass,” Gill mumbled as he went to the coat rack.

It was thirty minutes later when Gill walked back into the party. He spotted Kyle in the centre of the room. From the looks of it, he was getting ready to leave. “Oh no you don’t.” Gill stalked towards his prey, happy to see Kyle’s position in the room. He came to a stop in front of Kyle, blocking his forward progression and gestured up.

Confusion on his face, Kyle looked up and rolled his eyes. “Mistletoe. You know what the tradition is regarding mistletoe, don’t you?” Gill asked getting down on one knee.

With a subtle nod, Kyle blushed.

SWEET TOPPING

Carol Lynne

8

“Do you mind if I kiss you?” Gill inquired.

Kyle’s answer was to lean towards him. Staring into Kyle’s eyes, Gill pressed a kiss against those oh-so-soft lips.

“Wow,” Kyle whispered.

“I think we can do better than that.” Gill’s hand moved to the back of Kyle’s neck and kissed him again. This time, their kiss caught fire and Gill moaned as he felt the swipe of Kyle’s tongue across his own.

It was Kyle who finally broke the kiss. “I need to go,” he said, looking down at his lap.

“Go home with me,” Gill said, almost begging.

Shaking his head, Kyle refused to meet his eyes. “I can’t.” Laying his hands on the useless legs, Gill kissed the tip of Kyle’s nose. “Is it because of these?”

Kyle’s head popped up, eyes wide. “My legs? No. I just…I gotta go.” Kyle backed his wheelchair up and quickly manoeuvred around Gill, heading towards the door.

Gill scratched his jaw and watched as Kyle rolled away from him. “What the hell?” he whispered.

SWEET TOPPING

Carol Lynne

9

“Hello?”

“Did you see that Kyle’s back in town?” Hal asked

“What? When did he get in?” Gill wiped the grease from his hands. He walked into the office and looked down Main Street towards the bakery.

“Sometime yesterday. I went in for a dozen glazed doughnuts earlier and he was there instead of Chuck.”

“Thanks for the call. I think I need a doughnut.” Gill hung up and went to the sink to wash his hands with soap. As he scrubbed his short nails with a brush, his thoughts returned to Christmas Eve. It had been nearly five weeks ago, but he could still taste Kyle’s mouth if he concentrated.

Flipping the sign to ‘Closed’, Gill darted across the street. He’d had a lot of time to think since Kyle took off that night. He determined it was fear, rather than non-interest that drove Kyle away.

He’d spent a lot of time on the computer since then, trying to find out everything he could about paraplegia and some of its side effects. Gill shook his head, hell he’d even joined a chat group in hopes of understanding what Kyle was going through.

A smile crossed his face as he neared the bakery. Kyle had another think coming if he thought Darshawn Gilling would give up that easily. The old-fashioned bell over the door announced his arrival as he pushed through the door.

“Just a second,” Kyle hollered from the back.

Instead of doing what he’d been asked, Gill went to find his man. He wasn’t prepared for the sight of Kyle that greeted him. At least ten pounds lighter, Kyle’s face looked shadowed and gaunt.

“Gill.” Kyle’s hand went to his chest. “You startled me.”

“Sorry,” Gill replied as he continued to study Kyle. “You’ve lost weight.”

“A little, I suppose. Is there something I can help you with?” Gill’s eyes narrowed. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say to me after leaving for nearly five fucking weeks?”

SWEET TOPPING

Carol Lynne

10

Wheeling himself around the industrial-sized dishwasher, Kyle turned his back on Gill.

“What do you want from me? I told you when I left that I couldn’t get involved with you. I’m sorry if it hurt your feelings but that’s the way it is.” Forced to take several deep, calming breaths, Gill tried to remember everything he’d learned. “So is it dating you’re not interested in or just me?” He watched as Kyle’s shoulders rose in a deep silent sigh. “What’s the point of dating?

I’m better off trying to forget that part of my former life.” Oh, his little man was in the middle of a pity party. Walking around the worktable, Gill stood in front of Kyle once again and crossed his arms. “So the idea of ever being held or kissed again doesn’t appeal to you?”

“Gill,” Kyle said with a shake to his head.

“No, listen first. Dating doesn’t have to end just because you can’t walk. There are plenty of men out there in your condition who go on to lead perfectly normal lives. Hell, some of them even father children.”

Kyle’s brow rose. “I don’t think fathering children was ever a goal of mine.”

“One question. Are you attracted to me?”

“Don’t be stupid. I have a pulse don’t I?” Kyle looked towards the side, unwilling to meet Gill’s gaze. “Attraction isn’t the problem. It’s my inability to be able to do anything about it.”

“Bullshit.”

When Kyle started to turn his wheelchair away from him, Gill put a hand out to stop him. “Don’t run away from me.”

“Oh, ha, ha, real funny, Gill,” Kyle said with a level of disgust in his voice. “Look, let’s just forget about it. We can still be friends, but it’s all I have to give you.” Towering over Kyle, Gill got right down in his face. “That’s two lies you’ve told me.

Now I want you to listen up. There’s nothing that says the two of us can’t go out and enjoy each other’s company.”

“And then what? What happens at the end of the date? You give me a kiss and then drag your blue-balls home? Don’t you get it, man? I’m trying my best to save you from a life that’s not pretty or sexy. I’d rather have you walk away from me now than later. I know my own limitations, both physically and emotionally. I won’t begin to care about you only to have you look at me with disgust when I piss the bed the first time.”

SWEET TOPPING

Carol Lynne

11

“Don’t you wear an external catheter to bed?” Kyle’s head snapped back like he’d been slapped. “You’ve been researching me? Why?

Am I your new pet project? Get the fuck out of my store.” Kyle wheeled himself backward at such a rate of speed his wheelchair struck the industrial mixer.

Gill rushed forward to help only to receive a punch to the jaw. Damn, his man may be small but he had one hell of a right hook.

He shook his head and grabbed his jaw. “Keep that up and I’ll begin to think you don’t like me much.”

“Get out,” Kyle growled.

Deciding he wouldn’t get any further with Kyle in his present mood, Gill nodded. “I’ll leave, for now, but you can rest assured I haven’t given up. You can yell at me all you want for looking stuff up on the internet, but maybe, just maybe, you should give a guy a chance. I know a lot of what I’m getting into, and I still want you. If you decide that means something to you, give me a call.”

Four days later, Gill was on his way in to open the station and slammed on the brakes in front of the bakery. Ryan’s Sheriff’s SUV was out front along with one of the deputy’s cars.

Pulling into a parking spot, he crossed the street and pounded on the door. The bakery was obviously closed, so Ryan and his deputy definitely weren’t getting doughnuts.

Rick Buchanon appeared at the door and shook his head. “Sorry, Gill, the bakery’s closed today.”

“Let me in or stand back while I break this motherfucking door down,” Gill screamed through the glass.

He watched as Rick held up a finger and went towards the back of the shop. He was back just in time to spare Kyle’s door from a well placed kick.

Unlocking, he opened the door. “Sheriff said you could come in but you’re to wait here until he comes up, understand?”

“Where’s Kyle?”

“Upstairs with Doc Browning.”

“Ryan,” Gill yelled. “You’d better get out here before I tear this place apart.” SWEET TOPPING

Carol Lynne

12

The heavily tattooed sheriff walked into the room shaking his head. “Gill, you’ve got the sense God gave a jackass. What do you think you’re doing coming into a crime scene and shouting orders?”

Puffing up, Gill towered over Ryan. “What happened to Kyle?”

“Nothing, he was just a little upset so I called Dr. Browning. I’ll call upstairs and see if it’s okay for you to go up.”

“What happened here?” Gill asked as Ryan pulled out his cell phone.

“Someone tried to break in again.” Ryan held the phone to his ear and talked to the doctor for a second. “Okay, I’ll send him up.” By the time he was given the go ahead, Gill was already half-way to the staircase that opened off the eating area. He took the steps two at a time, not bothering to knock when he reached the top.

Shutting the door behind him, Gill came face to face with Dr. Browning. “How is he?” Gill asked. His eyes darting down the short hallway towards what he assumed was the bedroom.

“He was a little shook up. I gave him something to help him rest.” The silver-haired doctor shrugged into his coat. “I take it your planning to stay until he wakes?”

“You betchya.”

“Well I’ve got to get to the clinic.” Dr. Browning handed Gill a card. “My numbers are on there if he wakes and needs anything.” The doctor looked closely at Gill and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “I had to put one of his catheters on him. Usually during the day he remembers to go regularly, but being sedated…”

“I’ll take care of it,” Gill was quick to reassure the man. The doctor gave him one last nod before heading out the door.

Gill wasted no time walking back to what he figured was the bedroom. Kneeling at the side of Kyle’s bed, Gill ran his fingers through the spikey dark blond locks. He couldn’t help but to notice the dark circles under those beautiful long lashes. With a light touch, Gill ran the pad of his finger over the delicate skin. “Why won’t you let me take care of you?” he whispered.