Finding Safe Harbor (Rugged Coast #2)

Chapter 1

The wind whipped his hair as he stood at the base of the cliff, and the tide was coming in quickly. He knew he had only a few minutes, but he wanted to see any activity possible. This was one of those rare evenings when the air was just right, and fog didn’t form and come inland. Usually, it rolled in thick and covered everything, but tonight, it was fairly clear. The marine layer provided cover for things both good and bad. She brought wetness inland, coating the forest to the top of the coastal mountains with moisture. It was what allowed the coastal redwoods just a few hundred yards behind him to reach hundreds of feet toward the sky. It also made this narrow strip of land along the coast green and lush, while thirty miles inland it was brown and sunbaked. In a way, everyone here was in a world of their own, and that was what Thor Magnus was working to protect.

He raised his binoculars, looking for boats from the north or south. More than anything, he wanted to make sure that the portion of the operation he and his now—to his delight—significant other had discovered and broken up five months earlier hadn’t sprung up again. Product was still being moved out through the area, that he was sure of… but they seemed to have changed tactics. That meant Thor had to figure out how it was being done, which sucked, because he would much rather be home with Michael, curled up on their couch, watching some old movie that Michael had picked out, then….

“Fuck…,” he swore, pulling his head out of the warmth that surrounded him, and his now-wet feet out of the encroaching surf. The tide was getting too high. He ran along the shore to the ladder and began the climb to the top of the cliff that loomed over him. At twenty feet, he checked the horizon once again before continuing his climb to the top, where he scanned everything as far as he could see. A big fat nothing. That was both good and bad. Good, in that he had made things difficult for the meth-cooking operation he knew was operating in the area. Bad because he couldn’t seem to find them.

As darkness began descending around him, he made sure his phone had a signal, sent Michael a message that he was heading home, and hurried to the truck, his feet sloshing with each step he took. Thor cranked up the heat and directed it to the floor as he drove into Little River and the home he and Michael were looking after while the owners were traveling. The original plan had been for them to stay six months before finding a home of their own, but the Westons’ travel had been extended twice, and now the plan was for them to be away for a year, the older couple taking a trip of a lifetime around the world.

He made the left turn onto the narrow road that wound upward, away from the coast, passing other homes and continuing under towering redwoods until he came to the drive in the woods. Making another turn, he continued carefully along the driveway and finally to the garage. Thor parked behind it and got out, then continued into the wood-paneled space.

Michael opened the oven as he came inside, the scent of pasta and garlic making his mouth water. “You cooked?” Thor said. Neither of them was particularly good in the kitchen. Mostly they grilled out and had simple meals.

“Rosa did. I had to stop by the house today, and she sent this with me. She told me that I was getting skinny and that someone had to make sure I was eating right.” He smiled and put the dish back in the oven. “Dinner is taking a little longer than expected. Maybe ten or fifteen more minutes.” As soon as the oven door closed, Thor tugged Michael into his arms, kissing him hard, reveling in the warm taste of him.

“You know, we could eat later,” Michael growled before nipping at Thor’s bottom lip.

“We could,” Thor agreed, his fatigue gone, and at the moment, there was enough heat and desire racing through him that he’d forgotten about his wet feet. “Hell, I could fuck you across the sofa, and we could still make dinner.”

Michael’s eyes darked. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.”

Thor slid his hands across Michael’s hip, cupping his hard, perfect ass, his jeans growing way too damned tight. “It most definitely is.”

Michael slipped his arm around Thor’s back, and Thor guided them through the open room to the door to the bedroom they were using, just as his phone rang. “Let it go to voicemail,” Michael said gruffly.

“It’s Miller,” Thor said, and Michael groaned and pulled away as Thor answered the call.

“We got a line on a couple locations for our meth lab,” Miller said without preamble. She was a great boss and a no-nonsense woman whose timing most definitely needed work. Michael thought so, too, by the way he stalked back into the kitchen and took his frustration out on the oven door. “Is this a bad time?” she asked.

“What’s the intel?” Thor countered.

“We were able to get some satellite images of the area, and we finally got the power company to provide us with data on power usage. It isn’t likely they’re making meth on open flames—otherwise, they’d blow themselves sky-high. So they have to be using power. I’m sending you the information, along with some hotspots we think have possibilities for you to check out.” A few seconds later, his phone dinged with an email and then another message. “But be damned careful. We don’t know what these people will do once they are cornered. You know the drill. Get the info, verify it, and the DEA will take it from there.”

“Got it.” He ended the call. “It looks like I have more work to do,” he said with a sigh.

“What does Miller think you’ve been doing for the past months—sitting on your hands or wasting time? You’re always out, and right now, you’ve been beating the bushes trying to get to the bottom of the meth flowing out of the area. We cut off one avenue….”

“And another springs up,” Thor said, doing his best to put aside thoughts of drug trafficking and work as Michael joined him slipped closer and back into his arms, just as his stomach growled. Thor chuckled. “Maybe we should have dinner after all.”

Michael nodded, and after giving Thor a kiss, he left the room, heading to the kitchen. “What does Miller suggest?” Michael asked when Thor followed the amazing scent of dinner.

“She sent me a map and asked me to investigate some locations that are using excess power. And there are some satellite images that might give us an indication of possible locations. Miller expects me to check them out.”

Michael nodded. “Alone? That seems risky. I know not a great deal happens here, but what if you do find this drug den? What do you think they’d do if you were found out?”

Thor smiled softly. “I know what I’m doing. I’ve done this sort of work before, and I know how to get the information I need without anyone finding out.” He slipped his arms around Michael’s waist, pressing his chest to his back. “I really do.”

Michael stiffened in front of him. “I don’t like the idea of you going out there alone. What if something happens, and there’s no one to watch your back?”

“I spent years watching my own back, and I can do that perfectly well.”

Michael turned away from the oven to face him. “That must be quite a talent, for you to see your own ass.” That smile was radiantly hot as Thor rolled his eyes. “Besides, I’d much rather be the one watching your ass, both literally and figuratively.” He stepped nearer. “I have a client meeting tomorrow morning, but I could help you.”

Thor growled under his breath. He loved spending time with Michael, but the thought of putting him in any sort of danger sent a cold chill up his spine. “You have your work, and I have mine.”

Michael’s eyes grew hard. “I helped you before, and you know I can help you now.” He sighed. “But you don’t want me to.”

“I don’t want you in danger.” Thor knew his feelings about this, but he also knew that when Michael got that stony look in his eyes, he was much better off letting him do what he wanted than to trying to fight him. Michael could be just as stubborn as Thor. They were a good match in that way.

“Fine. You can help, but only if you promise to be careful and remember that I’m the one in charge.” As usual, he found himself giving in. As much as he worried about Michael, he also had to admit that he had good instincts.

“Some of these locations are really remote,” Michael said from right near his shoulder as Thor studied the map that Miller had sent him. Michael’s hand rested on his shoulder, clearly peeking, and Thor found it difficult to concentrate on the task in front of him. “We could go out after I finish my meeting. It’s on Friday, and I’ll probably work over the weekend to check these out, but I know where some of these places are.”

Thor nodded. “I think I have a better idea. We can pack up the truck like we’re going camping. That way, if we’re spotted, no one is going to think twice about us. I know of a few places that are perfect for an overnight.”

Michael smirked. “You just want to get me alone in the wilderness so you can have your wicked way with me.”

Thor nodded and grinned. “Not that I need to get you out of the house. I can pretty much have my way with you any time I want.” He had been told by a previous boyfriend that his sex drive was too… well, too much. He used to wonder if maybe there was something wrong with him, but after a few months with Michael, he had come to understand that his ex had been the one with an issue. At least, Michael seemed to keep up with him, and there were times when Michael completely wore him out.

“Okay. While I’m at my meeting, you can pack the things for camping. Then once I’m done, you and I can go right away. I think I’d like to get away for a while. My father has been pressuring me to move back home. I think he figures if I do, then he can bully me into returning to work for him, and I have no intention of that.”

“Good. Your father—”

“Has been subdued these past few months. Peter came clean with him, and I think it rocked my father’s world. He had always thought of Peter as the perfect son, and with the drug connection, it seems Peter has fallen off his pedestal somewhat. My father is keeping a close eye on him, and now my father is trying to control everything in his life. It’s driving Peter crazy.” He sighed softly and shifted closer. “But at this moment, I have no intention of living anywhere other than here. You make me happy.”

“You make me happy too,” Thor admitted. He had never been particularly good at expressing his feelings, but Michael made him want to be better in that regard.

He returned his attention to the map, making a plan for how he was going to check out all these sights. But when Michael leaned forward, slipping his hands under his shirt, his thoughts scattered to the wind until his damned phone rang again. It wasn’t Miller’s ring, so he was tempted to ignore it until Michael pulled away,

“Go ahead while I finish dinner.” At least Michael seemed to be taking this latest interruption well.

“This better be good,” Thor barked, only half paying attention as he watched Michael.

“Is that how you answer the phone?” his father snapped. Thor was tempted to end the call right there.

“It is when it’s a goddamned interruption,” he growled for a second. “What is it you need?” he went on, trying to diffuse the moment. After all, his bad mood was more about being pulled away from his sexy lover than having anything to do with his father.

“Nothing,” he answered. “It’s been a month and I haven’t heard from you. So I thought I’d call and see if you were still alive.”

Thor cleared his throat to cover his surprise. His father had never reached out before. “I’m doing well. Just working a lot.” He honestly wondered what his father was up to. Maybe he wanted something, and this was his way of trying to butter him up. He turned toward Michael, who cocked his eyebrows in curiosity.

“Are you still living with…?”

“Michael… yes.” He rolled his eyes. “I know how you feel about him and me, but that isn’t going to change.” Thor stood a little straighter. “It’s never going to change, and I’m not going to pretend or not talk about him in order to soothe your puritanical beliefs.” Years ago, his father had made his feelings more than clear, and Thor had left the area and stayed for eight years. There were times when Thor thought his father’s feelings might have softened, but he was never quite sure. “Michael is important to me.” He left the rest of the thought unsaid. “Now, what is it you need?”

“A little help around this place, if you have some time this weekend.”

“Michael and I are going camping tomorrow for the weekend. But maybe we can stop over next week.” He wasn’t going to back down, and maybe he could let Angie know, and she could join them and act as a buffer of sorts along with August, his baby nephew. His father acted happier and less like a dick around him.

The sigh was audible. “Okay. I’d appreciate the help.” He ended the call, and Thor stared at his phone for a second before setting it on the table, shaking his head slowly.

“Puzzled?” Michael asked as he pulled the garlic bread out of the oven.

“Yes… no… I have no fucking idea.”

“I think that’s the definition of puzzled,” Michael told him, chuckling softly. “What did he say?”

“I don’t understand how my father thinks that being a dick is going to get him anywhere.” Thor scratched the back of his head. Maybe he didn’t want to know what the hell was going on in his old man’s head. Sometimes ignorance truly was bliss.

“Dinner is almost ready,” Michael said, slipping his arms around his waist. “Don’t spend too much energy trying to figure him out. As much as I hate to say it, expecting your father to change his views isn’t realistic. He feels the way he does.” He nuzzled the base of Thor’s neck for a few seconds. “Get the plates and things so we can eat.”

“How can you be so calm about this?” Thor asked. “You’re the one he seems so intent on minimizing out of my life.”

“Because as long as you don’t feel the same way he does, I have nothing to worry about.” Michael seemed so unperturbed.

“But….”

“My father is just as big a pain in the ass as yours is. Dad wants what he wants, and he doesn’t see any reason why the entire world shouldn’t bend to his will. Your dad is the same, but they need to get used to disappointment. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. So they can huff and puff all they want….”

Thor set the plates on the table. “Sometimes I hate it when you’re so damned reasonable.” He wanted to be angry, and Michael was pulling those legs out from under him.

“One of us has to be. And think about it. Being mad at him wastes energy you could put to other uses.” He wagged his eyebrows before returning to the kitchen. Fuck it all, Michael was right. Thor did his best to let go of the anger. After all, it had nothing to do with Michael, and he didn’t need to be on the receiving end. Michael carried everything to the table, and they sat down across from each other. Thor closed his eyes, breathing deeply, and did his best to just let it go.