Safe Harbor (Pine Cove Book 1) Read online

  SAFE HARBOR

  HJ WELCH

  Safe Harbor

  Pine Cove Book One

  Copyright © 2019 by HJ Welch

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  CONTENTS

  Prologue

  1. Dair

  2. Robin

  3. Dair

  4. Robin

  5. Dair

  6. Robin

  7. Dair

  8. Robin

  9. Dair

  10. Robin

  11. Dair

  12. Robin

  13. Dair

  14. Robin

  15. Dair

  16. Robin

  17. Dair

  18. Robin

  19. Dair

  20. Robin

  21. Dair

  22. Robin

  23. Dair

  24. Robin

  25. Dair

  26. Robin

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also Available

  Also Available

  PROLOGUE

  Three Months Ago

  Robin

  “WILL THE TORTURE NEVER END!” Robin Coal cried, slapping his hands over his face in despair. “The horror! The nightmare!”

  Peyton, his best friend, patted his head as he flailed about on their couch. “There, there,” she said in a deadpan voice.

  Robin dropped his hands as his lip wobbled. “I can’t take one more. Please, don’t make me. If you love me at all, make it stop.”

  Peyton tutted and checked her phone. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we still have a final applicant to see.”

  Robin collapsed against the arm of the sofa. “Tell my parents I loved them! It was a good life!”

  Peyton laughed and tickled his sides. Robin shrieked and retaliated, not letting her get away with such a ruthless assault. But in the end, when they were disheveled and on the floor, he had to face facts.

  They were never going to find someone to fill their spare room.

  It had been vacant for a couple of weeks now and they were getting dangerously close to when they needed to pay next month’s rent. It would probably be okay this time, but if they didn’t find anybody for when March rolled around, they would be in trouble.

  Robin pulled himself back up to sit on the sofa. “Okay. Fine. Let’s review. The guy with the weird fungus collection was a hard ‘no,’ right?”

  Peyton nodded, sitting by his side. “As was the girl who was too high to function.”

  “And the girl with the notebook who measured our dust levels in millimeters.”

  “And the fitness fiend who said he’d ban junk food from the fridge.”

  Robin sighed and rubbed his nose under his glasses. “What about that couple? They didn’t seem too bad.”

  “Are you kidding?” Peyton looked horrified. “The older guy wanted to divide every last egg and ounce of water down to the penny! I know we’re not rich, but we don’t need a tightwad like that!”

  Robin looked miserably over the notes he’d made in a small hardback notebook. “What are we going to do, then?”

  His best friend sighed and put her arm around him. As he was smaller even than her slim frame, he fit neatly. Not having had a boyfriend for quite some time, Peyton’s hugs were the best Robin usually got these days.

  “We’ll figure something out. Hey, how about after this last guy we order some Thai food and open a bottle of wine?”

  Robin bit his lip, already imagining what kind of train wreck their final applicant of the evening would be like. “That sounds great, but I do have work tomorrow.”

  Peyton kissed his hair. “You worry too much, darling. A couple of glasses of wine won’t harm. You know I’ll look after you.”

  “I can look after myself,” Robin grumbled, not really meaning it.

  The truth was he’d love to have someone fuss over him from time to time. He just wished that could be a boyfriend for once. Instead, he allowed himself to be hugged by Peyton as they skimmed the last guy’s application email.

  “Alasdair Epping,” Robin read out loud.

  “Ex-Marine,” Peyton added, raising her eyebrows. Her whole family was involved with the Corps in one way or another. She herself had gone into nursing. Robin could tell she saw that as a plus. But Robin wasn’t too sure.

  “What if he’s all macho? What if he’s not okay with…us?”

  Peyton rolled her eyes. “If he was homophobic, why would he have responded to an ad looking for someone to join a queer house?” She looked up at the rainbow flag they had hanging above their sofa. “Besides, he’s not serving anymore. This says he’s a mechanic here in Seattle. How do you know that homophobia wasn’t what drove him out of the military?”

  Robin shuddered. “I hope not.” That would suck.

  “Look. He likes cooking and playing video games…” There was a knock at the door. Peyton checked her watch. “And he’s punctual!” She skipped up to let this guy in.

  Robin huffed. “Five dollars says he starts clipping his toenails right here in the living room.”

  Peyton rolled her eyes and opened their apartment door.

  To a god.

  Robin almost fell off the sofa again.

  The guy standing on the threshold was beautiful. Shaggy blond hair framed his sculpted jaw and warm brown eyes. He towered over Peyton at well over six foot, and his body, despite being covered up, was obviously impressive. Robin could practically see all the muscles rippling as he shifted his substantial weight from one foot to the other. He took a hand out of his bomber jacket and gave them a dorky wave.

  Robin’s heart melted into his slippers. Unfortunately, they were shaped like koalas and were probably the most embarrassing thing he owned, but until now, he hadn’t cared. The potential housemates should know what kind of a geek he was.

  Regretfully, now so did hunky Alasdair Epping. Robin tried not to blush.

  Alasdair grinned, though, apparently unfazed by Robin’s choice of footwear. “Hi! You must be Peyton? And Robin? I’m Dair.”

  “Dair?” Peyton repeated with a frown as they shook hands. “Oh! Short for Alasdair – cool. Well, come on in.”

  She let Dair walk ahead of her. As she closed the front door, she gave Robin an ‘oh my god, he’s gorgeous’ face behind him. Robin tried to ignore her and smile at Dair instead, but when he reached for his little notebook, he somehow managed to flip it up and smack himself in the face.

  “Ow,” he said sheepishly, rubbing his cheek.

  “Are you all right?” Dair asked with genuine concern, sitting on the sofa opposite him.

  Robin laughed. “It’s cool.” He picked the notebook off the floor where his dignity was probably also lying around. “So, um, you’re looking for a room to rent?” he asked, then cringed. Of course he was, that was why he was there. What other reason would Robin have to be in the same room with a guy who looked like that?

  Peyton came and sat beside him again. Dair linked his large hands together between his knees. His large frame dwarfed the couch he’d lowered himself into. Dear lord, the things Robin could do under a body like that-

  Inappropriate! He shoved that thought into a box in his chest and slammed the lid down.

  Dair didn’t seem to notice Robin struggling not to have a minor seizure. He smiled ruefully at them. “I’ve b
een living alone since me and my girlfriend split up, and rent is damned expensive in Seattle. I was hoping to share, meet some new people. Not just find four walls to sleep between.”

  Ex-girlfriend. Damn. Robin managed a smile, realizing that was actually a very good thing. If they were going to live with this guy, it would be better if he was straight.

  Not that they were sure if they were going to accept him yet. Other than the fact that as soon as Peyton had opened the door, Robin’s heart had leaped and screamed ‘yes!’

  He and Peyton shared a glance. “That’s exactly what we’re looking for,” Robin agreed. “A friend.”

  “It turned out the last guy wasn’t shy, he was an asshole,” Peyton informed him, nodding sagely. “We’re hoping to find someone we vibe with this time around.”

  Robin swallowed. It was always scary to have to come out, no matter how many countless times he’d done it in his life. But sadly, it was a necessity of any queer person’s life.

  “So, um, the ad mentioned we’re both gay.” Robin pointed at the rainbow flag above their heads. “Is that, uh, all right?”

  Dair blinked and frowned. “Of course. Unless – did you specifically want someone else gay too?”

  Robin’s eyebrows rose and Peyton mirrored him. “No,” he said truthfully. “So long as the person was comfortable with it, it wouldn’t matter if they were straight.”

  Dair’s face split into a beautiful smile. Robin’s heart ached. “Great! That’s awesome. One of my best buds in the Corps was gay. He and his husband have this Instagram account where companies actually pay them in products and, like, to go on trips and stuff. Just for posting pictures of themselves being all happy and with their tops off showing their abs. Isn’t that cool?”

  He laughed and shook his head. Wow…Dair was kind of adorkable. Robin tried very hard not to sigh audibly.

  Dair made a little ‘oh’ noise and pointed toward the kitchen. “So I’ll be honest. I kind of like cooking. For other people, not just me. It’s like my yoga. Would it be a problem if I was in the kitchen a lot?”

  Those inappropriate crush-like feelings rattled against the lid of the box in Robin’s chest.

  “A problem?” he squeaked.

  “Mine and Robin’s specialty dish is having the Thai place around the corner on speed dial,” Peyton explained.

  Dair gave them that kilowatt smile again. “I have a recipe for green curry I’ve been meaning to try out.”

  Peyton’s face was completely serious. “Forget taking the room. Will you just marry me?”

  Dair’s laugh was infectious.

  Uh-oh. This was a problem. Dair was obviously a perfect housemate. He was fun and generous and had a steady job, which made him reliable.

  But something very dangerous was unfurling in Robin’s chest. It was like the whole world was brighter just from having Dair in the room. Robin’s chest ached and his heart pounded and his palms were damp.

  Robin was falling head over heels for a guy he’d met all of five minutes ago.

  A straight guy. Who Robin was going to have to see every day.

  But Peyton was already walking back over to the sofas with three beers, discussing the lease. It was as good as a done deal. So Robin smiled and did his best to join in the conversation without getting tongue-tied.

  Time, that was all he needed. This silly little crush would fade soon enough, he was sure. Until then, all he’d have to do would be to wrap a chain around the box in his chest and make absolutely sure no one ever found out about these feelings. They’d be gone soon enough.

  At least…he hoped so.

  1

  DAIR

  “THERE YOU GO, MA’AM. ALL FIXED.”

  Dair wheeled himself out from underneath the Chevrolet Spark he’d been laboring over, wiping his oily hands on a rag. The car’s owner bit her lip and rubbed her chest anxiously. She was an exhausted-looking middle-aged mom with a toddler testing the length of the leash attached to their dinosaur backpack. They were desperately trying to reach Dair’s toolbox to play with the grimy wrenches. He subtly moved the kit a few more inches away before getting back to his feet.

  “What was wrong with it?” the mom asked over the racket of the other guys in the auto shop. They were joshing with each other and clanging against the vehicles they were working on. Dair scowled but quickly smoothed it out to address his client again.

  “You had a coolant leak. The hose came loose – maybe when you went over a bump or a ramp? Over time, the coolant began to leak, making the engine overheat, and then the fluid that had been leaking also heated up, causing all that smoke.”

  “Oh…my.” The mom looked stricken. “I had no idea.”

  “There was a warning light,” Dair said gently. He led her to the driver’s seat and opened the door to point where the indicator had been flashing. “Just in case it happens again. Now you’ll know what that little fella was telling you.”

  “That’s what that light meant.” The mom shook her head and looked devastated. “I just thought it meant…well, I didn’t realize it was anything urgent. I feel so stupid.”

  “Hey, it’s fine,” Dair said sympathetically. “It could happen to anyone.”

  “But I had to call that tow truck. And now the repair. How much will all that cost? My husband is going to be so mad. Oh god, what am I going to do? I’m so stupid.”

  Then your husband’s an asshole, Dair thought privately. Why would any guy make his wife feel guilty for something she didn’t know about? Not everyone was into cars.

  Dair’s military-trained observation skills kicked in before he’d even thought about it. The model of the mom’s phone was at least four years old. Her sneakers were all scuffed up, her jeans fraying, and her sweater had a couple of small holes in it. The car itself was several years old and not in great condition. The toddler ran one way, then another, wrenching the mom’s arm left and right as she clung on to the leash. She was so worried, she didn’t even seem to notice.

  Making a decision, Dair quickly scanned the garage bay to make sure his boss wasn’t around. “Oh, don’t worry. We don’t need to charge you for this. It was just a simple little fix on the hose, and the tow is a complimentary service. I’ll just write up the paperwork on your behalf.”

  The joy on the mom’s face was overwhelming. “Are you sure? Oh, I, thank you – thank you so much. I swear I’ll never ignore another little light again. I’ll come get it serviced on time.”

  Dair smiled. He wasn’t sure how he’d square this, but the tears of relief in her eyes were worth it. “I also gave your oil a quick top-up and checked the washer fluid. You should be good to go.”

  The mom didn’t need telling twice. “I really need to get home and get dinner on. Thank you so much. You’ve been an absolute star. I bet your wife doesn’t have these silly little problems!”

  Despite the wave of melancholy that rolled through him, Dair smiled. “You drive safe now, ma’am,” he said as she began wrestling her child into the car seat in the back. “Are you okay reversing out of the shop, or would you like some help?”

  Having clipped the squirming, wailing child in, the mom turned to Dair, her keys clutched between both hands. “No,” she said determinedly. “I’ve got it. Thank you again. You really saved my day.”

  Dair smiled and waved her off. Then he turned to head to the office to try and figure out how he was going to balance out a couple of things. If he didn’t charge for his time (which honestly hadn’t been that long anyway) he could just put the tow truck down as a company expense that he himself could pay back, then…

  “Hey, Double Dair!”

  The catcall was accompanied by several snickers that made Dair roll his eyes. When the guys in his unit had called him that nickname, it had been with affection and respect. But the jerks he had to work with in the auto shop had discovered it and used it with a decidedly more mocking tone.

  Dair knew he had to take the ribbing, even if he found it childish and irritating.
Otherwise, the guys would call him a sissy and a bunch of other pathetic shit.

  The guy that had called out to him was messing about on his phone despite it not being his break. “You gonna pay for the freebie you just doled out from your own check?”

  Dair grit his teeth. He was hoping he’d be able to get away with just docking his own time and paying back what he owed for the truck. But now he’d have to pay the shop’s cut on top as well. “Of course I am,” he said out loud. After all, no good deed went unpunished.

  “You’re such a pussy, man. At least tell me you got her number? She was hot, in a desperate kind of way. I bet she’d let you do all kinds of freaky shit.” That got a round of cackles from the guys.

  Dair grimaced. “It really was a simple job. I was just trying to help her out.”

  “Oh – I’d help her out all right!” Several of the guys hooted and began miming thrusting hips and cocks in mouths. Dair rolled his eyes and left them to it.

  He was fully aware that a lot of the guys had talked shit back over in Afghanistan, but that was different. When you faced death every day, everyone knew it was okay to let off steam and try and out shock each other in the crudest ways possible.

  These guys were just morons.

  Dair sighed as he got to work and billed himself for the whole damn service call. Shit. That was going to make him a bit tight this month. Never mind. He’d find a way around it, he was sure. He would never have taken money from the business, just himself, so paying the whole cost probably wasn’t that much different. It just summed up the whole ethos of the garage.

  Profit before people.

  He really wished his coworkers weren’t such immature jackasses. Especially when Dair often worked late on Friday and Saturday nights so they could go out or go home to their families. He had hoped he could be a bit of a good influence on them. But after a couple of years, they were still no better.

  He didn’t regret leaving the Marines when he had. It had just been the right time for him to move on. Or so he’d thought. Since returning to Seattle, he and his longtime girlfriend had finally had The Talk. When he’d been deployed for such long stretches at a time, they had been happy to coast along. But when it came down to it, he wanted kids and she didn’t. There wasn’t really much they could do about that. At least the breakup had been amicable.