Page 32 of Love at First Rep

He has a key. Fuck, does that mean they’re serious?

Why didn’t Garrett tell me?

“Sorry about that,” Rafe said sheepishly as he helped Lucas to his feet. “I didn’t expect anyone to surprise me.”

Once Lucas stood in front of him, a deep scowl on his face, Rafe sized him up.

He hated the jealousy coursing through him as he took in Lucas’ solid frame.

The guy looked like he stepped out of a magazine cover. He was taller than Rafe, barely, with brown tousled hair, bright brown eyes, a clean-shaven face, tattoos peeking out from underneath one of the sleeves of his gratuitously tight shirt, and jeans that were practically painted on. He was no slouch. Rafe could feel the muscle under him as he held Lucas against the floor.

With everything else going on, Rafe didn’t think he’d have to deal with competition for Garrett on top of it all.

“Are you gonna tell me who you are and why you’re in Garrett’s kitchen?” Lucas asked, his voice rising. “And why the fuck you move like a damn ninja?”

Rafe ran his hand through his hair, wondering how much to reveal.

“Uh, I’m an old friend of Garrett’s. We were in the Navy together. I’m here because he’s helping me out with something so I thought I’d make him dinner to thank him,” Rafe said as he gestured to the groceries laid out in the kitchen. He still didn’t know if Garrett was dating this guy or not, but if he had a key to his place he must have been important, which meant Rafe needed to be on his good side. “You’re welcome to join us, of course. I bought plenty.”

Lucas gazed around the kitchen, taking in Rafe’s words.

“Garrett didn’t mention you were stopping by,” Rafe said with as much regret as he could manage. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Lucas raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

“Honey, you’ll have to do more than that to hurt me.”

Even the guy’s voice was sweet and melodic. Garrett certainly had good taste.

Rafe exhaled a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“What’s your name, sailor?”

The scowl disappeared from Lucas’ face, replaced with a seductive leer. Shit, was this guy flirting with him? Now, he really hoped Lucas wasn’t dating Garrett.

“I’m Rafe,” he said as he extended his hand. Instead of shaking it, Rafe watched the color drain from Lucas’ face. His smile dropped, leaving nothing behind but concern.

It took a moment before Lucas unfroze, taking a step back.

“Rafe?” he asked quietly, his voice rising until he was shouting. “The Rafe? The Rafe who died decades ago and left Garrett behind in pieces? That Rafe?”

Well, shit. Apparently my reputation precedes me.

“Oh my God, was it you leaving behind all those things for Garrett to find on his doorknobs and his car and in his mailbox?”

Rafe cleared his throat before he could answer. “Yes?”

He didn’t mean to make it sound like a question, but he feared Lucas was about to punch him in the face. And Rafe would let him after everything he’d done.

“I thought the messages would help him realize I was still alive and watching over him.”

Suddenly, Lucas stepped into his space, stalking toward him as Rafe retreated until his back banged into the edge of the counter. Lucas stood toe-to-toe with Rafe and poked him in his chest as he berated him.

“You know that’s how we met? He found one of your little ‘messages’ on his door when he got home,” Lucas said, putting air quotes around the word messages and making Rafe wince. “He fucking broke down in the middle of the hallway and I had to hold him while he sobbed. I had to physically drag him into my apartment and console him until he told me the whole fucking story. You fucking broke him.”

Tears welled in Rafe’s eyes as he listened to the venom in Lucas’ words. It was one thing hearing this from Garrett, but hearing it from Lucas, who watched Garrett fall apart, broke his heart.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t have a choice. If I told him, we both would have been dishonorably discharged and maybe worse. My death was a cover-up because I got recruited by the government, and I couldn’t talk to anyone from my previous life. It killed me every day knowing Garrett was hurting and not being able to do anything about it. I’m so glad he had you to help him through it,” Rafe said through tears, his voice catching as he wondered how he could possibly make this right. Unfortunately, he couldn’t. Not really. But he’d damn well try his best to make it up to Garrett. And to Lucas, for that matter. “Please stay for dinner. I’ll cook it every night for you if it helps.”