Read Online Safe Harbor 2: Hiding in Plain Sight by Cassandra Carr - Free Book Online Page A

priority list. The kitchen was the worst, since he had a bad habit of leaving crumbs on the counters and dishes in the sink. Already the “always neat and tidy” mantra drilled into him in the army was fading.
    His phone pinged.
    Miss you too. Can’t talk. In locker room with game about to start. Will try to call tomorrow.
    With his mind more at ease, Joe cleaned the little cobwebs out of the corners of the kitchen, working from top to bottom—wiping down the cabinets, scrubbing the countertop and sink, and lastly sweeping and mopping the floor. Joe looked up at the clock. Seven thirty. Plenty of time to do more, even though his back was screaming. The line of work he was in didn’t help keep the pain away, since it was so physical with lifting parts and pushing the full carts around, and he’d already put in a full shift at the airport, but Joe wasn’t trained for anything else.
    Maybe I should go back to school. But to study what?
    Joe sighed and went to work on the bathroom next. The question—what to study—had been bouncing around in his head for months, and he still had no answers. He was grumbling about the gross look of the caulk on the tiles and wondering if the landlord would recaulk the bathroom, or let him do it, when he faintly heard his phone ringing. Throwing the sponge into the middle of the tub, Joe sprinted toward the living room, wiping his hands on his T-shirt as he went. The phone was merrily bumping across the coffee table. He snatched it up.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, it’s Vlad.”
    Joe grinned and caught his reflection in the television screen. Ugh. Get a hold of yourself.
    “Hey, you. What’s up?”
    “Just got back from dinner with the guys. I am full of steak and potatoes.”
    “Is eating so much food at one time good for you?”
    “Probably not, but we went to Morton’s. They have fucking good steak.”
    Joe laughed. “Never been, but I’ll take your word for it.”
    “Oh man, it’s really great stuff. I will take you when I get back into town. There is one in Pittsburgh.”
    “Sounds a lot better than the burrito bowl I had for dinner.” Joe’s mouth watered. He loved steak. He bit his lip. Don’t be a pussy. Ask him . “So are you asking me out on a formal date?”
    Vlad chuckled. “Do I have to wear a tuxedo if it is a formal date?”
    “Very funny.”
    “To answer your question, yes, I am. You didn’t think I was only going to use you for sex, did you? I mean, if that is what you want…”
    “No, it’s not what I want. I’m just a little, um, surprised.”
    “Why?”
    “Two men eating alone?”
    “Many business dinners are at Morton’s.”
    “If you say so,” Joe replied. “I just want you to be comfortable.”
    “Shit, I have to go. My roommate is coming. Later.”
    Vlad hung up before Joe could even say good-bye. After setting the phone back on the coffee table, he plopped down on the couch and leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling. When Vlad had said it was a date, Joe’s dick had gone rock hard and was still throbbing. He wished like hell Vlad was there. He closed his eyes, trying to recapture the feel of Vlad’s mouth on him.
    Before he knew it, he’d shoved his sweats down and taken his erection in hand, concentrating more fully on the memory. He spit into his hand and used the lubrication to speed up his stroking. The familiar stirrings of an orgasm began in the base of his spine, and he went even faster, adding a little extra pressure on the head each time. He was about to blow when the text notification sounded and broke his reverie.
    Joe’s eyes popped open, his dick jumping in his hand. He considered ignoring it, but if it was Vlad, he wanted to see it. With his cock still in hand, he reached with the other one for the phone and was glad he had.
    After talking to you, I need to take a shower. I can only hide the boner underneath the covers so long, and I definitely do not want my roommate to think it’s for him. Ick.
    He laughed. With