Hearsay (34 page)
Authors: Taylor V. Donovan
"You don't need to ask." Roman took Derrick's hand and moved toward the library door, but Derrick stayed put. "Are you okay?" he asked with a frown when Derrick avoided eye contact.
"Can I stay here while you make the sandwiches?" Derrick asked softly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sure," Roman agreed, confused by Derrick's attitude. He wouldn't look Roman in the eye, and he was acting a bit jumpy. As if he was hiding something. "I'll be back soon."
Derrick grinned, gave him a quick kiss, and sat in front of the computer.
Shaking his head, Roman went to the kitchen and spent the next ten minutes putting some food together. He made Swiss cheese and turkey sandwiches, grabbed a few bags of natural potato chips, and added a couple of apples. He then made coffee, took fruit water out of the fridge, and placed everything on a tray.
On his way back to the library, he wondered why Derrick had wanted to be left alone in a room full of books. Interestingly enough, Roman didn't fret. He wasn't worried. Derrick definitely was up to something, but it didn't even cross Roman's mind Derrick might've changed his mind about their relationship. In fact, he was eagerly looking forward to finding out what was in his boyfriend's mind.
He noticed the first paper taped to the wall in the hallway leading to the library when he turned the corner. At quick glance, there seemed to be at least five more. Roman slowed his pace and tightened his grip on the tray. Taking a deep breath, he turned and studied the paper.
It was a color print out of a picture Derrick had taken of them during their fifth lunch date at The Pond. They had their heads together and huge grins of their faces, and the Gapstow Bridge stood magnificently behind them.
Roman swallowed hard and moved on to the next picture.
It was them again, in the car on their way to the speakeasy club. The next was one of just Roman that Derrick had taken when he was in the middle of explaining the deterioration of the music industry. The next one was taken at the gala, the two of them looking absolutely dashing in their tuxedos. Then there was one of Derrick with Roman's parents, and another of them both with Roman's sisters. The last one was a selfie Derrick had taken, holding a paper that said
"the house didn't have a heart before, but today it's been filled with love. We'll never stop adding to it."
Had Roman not been holding the tray with Derrick's food in his hands, he would've broken down into tears.
Don't cry
, he ordered himself before entering the library.
Don't you dare start crying.
It was hard not to, but he managed.
He blinked rapidly, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.
He found Derrick sitting on the library sofa, TV remote in hand, surfing through channels.
"I think I'm in the mood to watch
Breakfast at Tiffany's
. Do you like that movie?" Derrick asked casually, as if he didn't have a clue he'd just turned Roman's world upside down for the millionth time in the past three days. "What did you make us to eat?"
"Swiss cheese and turkey," Roman said in a voice so hoarse it hurt the back of his throat. He placed the tray on the table in front of the couch, wiped his hands on his pants, and sat down next to his man. He stared at the food while he ordered his thoughts.
"Babe?" Derrick caressed the side of his face, then rested his chin on Roman's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Roman opened his mouth and closed it again. He cleared his throat. He reached for Derrick's hand and held it tightly between his own.
He was still staring at the food, but he couldn't see it clearly anymore.
"Roman?" Derrick asked again, sounding a little unsure. "What's wrong?" He rubbed his other hand up and down Derrick's thigh. "Babe, you're shaking."
Roman glanced down at his hands. Yes, he had a fluttering in his stomach, and he was shaking so badly, he might fall apart.
He breathed through his nose, noticing he sounded like a horse. He leaned his head on the back of the sofa and kept his eyes closed. Desperately Roman pulled Derrick onto his lap and crushed him to Roman's chest.
They held each other until the pounding of Roman's heart slowed down to a steady hammering. Until the hurricane of emotions passing through Roman's body went away, and only a clean slate and the opportunity to start building something new was left. They held each other until Roman's lips stopped trembling and he was able to talk.
Roman framed Derrick's face with his hands and looked deep into his liquid golden-colored eyes.
"I love you," Roman rasped.
Derrick hugged Roman tighter and pressed their foreheads together. "And I love you."
"We'll beat all charges against you," Roman promised.
Derrick nodded slowly. "With you by my side, I'm ready to face anything tonight."
Roman flashed a slow, one-hundred-percent-proud-of his-man smile. "I never doubted you were."
The Beginning…
Coming Soon...
Gainsay
Bylaws Series, Book 2
About the Author
Taylor V. Donovan is a compulsive reader and author of gay romantic suspense. She is optimistically cynical about the world; lover of history, museums, and all things 80s. She is crazy about fashion, passionate about civil rights and equality for all, and shamelessly indulges in mind-numbing reality television.
When she is not making a living in the busiest city in the world or telling the stories of men in love, Taylor can be found raising her two daughters and their terribly misbehaved furry baby in the mountains she calls home.
You can find out more about Taylor at
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of the following trademarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Victoria's Secret – L Brands
Disney – The Walt Disney Company
Made in Manhattan – Columbia Pictures
Beauty and the Beast - The Walt Disney Company
10 Things I Hate About You – Touchstone Pictures
Cinderella – The Walt Disney Company
Administration for Children's Services – The City of New York
Manhattan District Attorney – The City of New York
Waldorf Astoria – Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts
Starbucks – Starbucks Corporation
Maserati – Fiat S. p. A.
The Notebook – New Line Cinema
Barneys – Perry Capital
Other Books by Taylor V. Donovan
Six Degrees of Lust
*WARNING FROM THE AUTHOR:
Six Degrees of Lust is both an ensemble novel and the first installment in the By Degrees serial. This means the story will continue. Thanks.
Blurb:
New York City FBI team leader Samuel Shaughnessy lives for his immediate family and his job. After a marriage gone wrong he has stuck to a firm rule when it comes to relationships: he doesn't have them. Sexually active and emotionally unavailable keeps him satisfied, especially now that he is in hot pursuit of a serial killer targeting gay men.
Former firefighter Machlan O'Bannon now manages a successful sports bar in Houston and after years of waiting he's ready to stand up and be the man he always wanted to be: out, proud and drama-free. His politically-aligned family wants to keep him locked in the closet, but Mac just wants to meet the man of his dreams.
One man is as high strung as the other is laid back. A chance meeting brings the two men together, and one night of passion ignites a fire neither can fight. Their lives are not only miles apart, but as different as day and night. They don't want to get involved...but will they be able to stay apart?
Six Degrees of Separation
*WARNING FROM THE AUTHOR
:
By Degrees is an ensemble serial with continuing story lines. Six Degrees of Separation is the second installment, and it must be read after Six Degrees of Lust. Thanks.
Blurb:
In the sequel to Six Degrees of Lust, F.B.I. team leader Samuel Shaughnessy and bar manager Machlan O'Bannon are exploring a new phase in their non-relationship. The intention is to take it slowly but power plays are still their favorite activity, and it isn't long before lines begin blurring. After ending their friends with benefits agreement no rules are left in place to guide them, and soon enough the only thing that's clear is that neither man is fighting hard enough to reestablish the boundaries.
Their particular situations haven't improved in the three months since their first encounter. Sam is still focused on his immediate family issues, and everything indicates Mac will have to go to war with his own family before he can reclaim his freedom. The last thing they need is additional complications.
But when the opening of a night club brings Mac to New York City and a break in the Leviticus investigation leads Sam to Houston, they discover how closely their worlds have been connected from the very beginning. Hiding from the life-altering collision is not an option. Will they take the easier road and go their separate ways, or will they come to terms with their past and take a chance on each other?