Staying Power Book 14 in the Action! Series by G.A. Hauser

crossed
his arms.
    "Ah yes. Alexander." Randy sipped the drink
and glanced at Steve. "What about him? What's his point?"
    "Alex is only twenty-four." Steve walked
towards the coffee table. Billy knew he was inspecting the
magazines for clues of a preference.
    "I know. And?" Randy set the glass down and
closed the sliding door.
    "Do you live here alone?" Billy asked.
    "I do. Why?"
    "Are you dating anyone?" Steve asked.
    "Not at the moment. Look, gentlemen, I know
Alex is married. And I'm straight."
    Steve made a noise in his throat of disbelief
but Billy kept a poker face. "Of course you are. We know that."
    "Then why the surprise visit? Do you think
Alex will be tempted?" He sat down on a soft suede chair, crossing
his legs.
    "No." Billy bristled and tried not to stare
at the man's great body.
    "No." Randy looked from Steve back to Billy.
"Then you think I'll be tempted?"
    Steve stepped closer. "Will you?"
    Randy laughed. "You know how many people I
have kissed in my film career? I don't have affairs with them all.
Believe me."
    "None of them were like Alex," Billy said,
moving closer, his badge and gun near Randy's eye level.
    "I understand your concern. But I'm not
gay."
    "Alex is very attractive," Steve said, "In an
androgynous way."
    "He is. Yes." Randy nodded. "That still
doesn't mean I want cock." Randy gave Billy a once over. "Is this
really a threat? You two coming here to warn me…if? If something
occurs between Alex and I, you'll? What? Bury me in a cement suit
in the ocean?"
    "No." Billy showed his teeth.
    "Expose you," Steve said.
    Randy's countenance changed drastically. He
stood and closed his robe with the belt. "I think it's time for you
to leave."
    Billy nodded to Steve and they walked to the
door.
    Before they left Randy said, "I don't
appreciate this. I want it on record that this was harassment."
    "Duly noted," Steve said, smirking.
    "And Alex can be replaced. He was just hired
on a whim. George Ford's daughter has a thing for him."
    Steve grabbed Randy by the shoulders of the
robe and slammed him against the wall roughly. Billy figured the
comment was just meant to enflame them so he reached to stop
Steve.
    Steve drew closer to Randy and snarled. "You
fuck up my son's career and I will get even."
    "Steve." Billy nudged him.
    Randy didn't say a word, looking completely
intimidated.
    Steve released him and Randy straightened out
his robe and ran his hand over his brown hair nervously.
    Steve walked out of the door and Billy
paused, making eye contact with Randy. "I didn't want it to be like
this. I just wanted to meet you."
    "Sure, Lieutenant." Randy laughed at the
absurdity.
    "It's Captain, actually. I've been promoted."
Billy was glad he was slightly taller than Randy, and able to look
down at him.
    "LAPD is known for their bullies. I'm not
surprised."
    "And Hollywood is known for their closet
queens. You keep my secret, I'll keep yours."
    "Goodbye." Randy pointed to the door.
    Billy left and heard it slam behind him. He
met Steve at the electronic gate and they gave each other a timid
glance.
    "Well, we either set him straight or got Alex
fired." Steve blew out a loud breath.
    "I told you. Contract signed." Billy put his
arm around Steve's shoulder. "I need a fucking drink."
    "Ditto." Steve shook his head and patted
Billy's back.
    ~
    Jack pulled into Mark's driveway and parked.
He shut off the car and looked at Mark, who hadn't said a word the
whole ride back. Frowning as he opened the door, Jack took the car
keys and walked around to open Mark's side of the car. He reached
out his hand.
    Mark took it and allowed Jack to haul him up
out of the low slung car. With his arm around Mark's lower back,
Jack walked with him to the front door, trying the knob. "Is Steve
home?"
    "He should be." Mark removed his keys from
the pocket of his britches and turned the lock. When he noticed the
alarm had been set, he punched in the code and said, "Well, seems
not. Thank you, Jackie."
    "I'm not leaving." Jack removed his