Charity Starts at Home (4 page)

Quinn let himself drop to his back. He’d never realized how far apart his world was from Haden’s. What had possessed him to fall in love with this guy?

“My mother died when I was eight,” Quinn heard himself say. “When I was twelve my father abandoned me. I haven’t seen him since.”

Haden took Quinn’s hand. “You’ve been on your own since you were twelve?”

“Sort of. My father left me with a group of people who lived in a squat. That was the closest thing to a house I ever had.”

“Here in the city?”

Quinn nodded. “Pretty close to the shelter, actually. One of the men in that group was an accountant in a former life, and he taught me to read and write and pretty much everything I need to know for running the shelter. I got a GED when I was eighteen, and after we got evicted from the squat, we would sleep at the shelter from time to time. I’d make myself useful there, and one day they suggested I help run the place. They must have thought I did a good job, so when the manager retired, they offered the position to me.”

“Regular success story.”

“Don’t mock me,” Quinn said quietly.

“I’m not mocking you. You’ve done something not a lot of people can copy.”

Quinn shrugged. “I see it every day. My security guys, Karl, some of the women. There are always a few that make it, Haden.”

“Karl sees your example as something worth following, I think.”

Quinn turned back to face Haden. “You think so?”

Haden nodded.

“I found out something tonight, though. I think he can’t read.”

“Oh?”

“I gave him the resident list, to check off that everyone made it out? And when I returned from checking the back rooms, he was helping everyone with their stuff and asking them their names, but his daughter was checking off the list.”

“Well, it’s possible, I suppose.”

“Until Danny taught me how to read, I had a hundred and one ways of hiding the fact that I couldn’t.”

“No wonder he’s so adamant his kids go to school,” Haden agreed. He pulled on Quinn’s hand to make him come closer.

“Are you sure?” Quinn asked.

“Just sleeping. Maybe a little cuddle. Can’t promise anything else,” Haden said softly.

Quinn crawled closer, snuggling into Haden’s embrace. It had been a long time since he’d slept in anyone’s arms.

“It’s late,” Haden said, kissing Quinn’s dark, curly hair. “We should get some sleep.”

*  *  *

Quinn
woke up alone, the room still dark. He got up and found Haden sitting in the lounge, drinking a cup of coffee and reading his newspaper. He couldn’t look at Haden, so he pretended to rush to the bathroom.

Once inside, he had time to think. Wouldn’t it be easier to just cut his losses? Their talk the night before made it all too clear they really didn’t know each other. They were miles apart. The Prince and the Pauper. Haden had a fortune in the bank, while he barely had a checking account. Quinn didn’t even make enough money to rent a small, one room apartment and Haden lived in a turn-of-the-century house with live-in staff. They’d invariably stumble over the money issue somewhere along the way. But wasn’t he getting ahead of himself? A quick orgasm in a communal shower barely constituted a relationship, and Haden had made it all too clear that he didn’t want to have sex with him. Maybe Haden simply wanted to be friends? Maybe he should just play it by ear and enjoy the unusual luxury for a little while. Not like it was anything he would let himself get used to.

After a quick pee, Quinn walked back out.

“I’ll call Wilson and ask him to make us breakfast,” Haden said softly, looking up from his newspaper.

Quinn nodded.

“Your clothes are washed and should be ready in about,” Haden checked his watch, “half an hour.”

“Sounds good,” Quinn replied. “Thank you.”

*  *  *

Quinn
didn’t get the chance to get used to the luxury of Haden’s house. The day after the fire, the fire chief declared the building sound and after a good scrub down, Quinn’s room was habitable again. The rest of the shelter took some more work, but Haden, Camille, and some of the regulars helped out. After three nights of sleeping at Haden’s warehouse, the shelter was almost back to full capacity, with the exception of the small back room where an illicit cigarette had caused a mattress to catch fire.

As promised, Haden brought Christmas decorations and before long the shelter felt like home again. Haden and Quinn were back to being just friends, sleeping in different beds and separate buildings in entirely different parts of town.

Quinn’s dreams were still filled with Haden, though, and he kept waking up remembering how he'd slept in Haden’s arms that night after the fire.

*  *  *

The
morning of Christmas Eve, a truck stopped in front of the shelter. All the residents had left already and Quinn was about to leave as well, since he’d arranged with Camille to go pick up some of the food for the big Christmas party that evening.

When they walked outside, Haden was standing in front of the truck.

“I think I need a hand here,” Haden said smugly.

“We were just about to….”

“I think we should help him, Quinn,” Camille interrupted.

The back of the truck opened and three men in uniform jumped out.

“We just need a place to hide all this until we can put it under the tree after everyone’s asleep tonight,” Haden continued.

Quinn could tell Haden had a hard time hiding his amusement. “What do you have in there?”

“Christmas presents,” Haden answered, clearly pleased with himself.

Quinn shook his head and turned on his heels, leaving Haden, Camille and the three lackeys outside on the curb.

After a little hesitation, Haden followed him inside. “What’s wrong?”

Quinn was still shaking his head. “It’s so easy for you, right? Throw some money at it. Fork out a small fortune and give them something for Christmas. Does that make you feel good? Playing Santa Claus?” Quinn walked away from Haden toward the back room that still stood empty.

The three men walked past them, arms full of identical looking, brightly wrapped packages. They put them down in the far corner and walked out again as if they didn’t notice the arguing men. A moment later Camille did pretty much the same.

Haden waited to answer until Camille had left. “Yes, it makes me feel good. This shelter and its inhabitants saved my life. I was drinking myself to death and not having a lot of fun doing it, but that week here this summer changed my perspective on life.”

“News flash. Life isn’t a lot of fun, generally,” Quinn spat at Haden. “It’s damn hard if you don’t have any money. And no fancy Christmas gift is ever going to change that. Tomorrow after breakfast, they’re going to have to go back out there and face the real world, which is cruel and cold and wet. And doesn’t have servants making breakfast.”

Haden grabbed Quinn to make him look at him again. He also picked up one of the presents, shaking it in front of Quinn’s face. “I got everyone blankets. Warm, lightweight, camping blankets in a weatherproof bag. The kids get backpacks with books and pens and writing paper. Things they can use for school. There’s a few vouchers in there to pick up more free stuff for school as well. I didn’t just buy this stuff foolishly, Quinn, and I don’t expect a thank you. Yes, some of this stuff comes from the companies I own, and there’s more surplus material where that came from, but I talked to the people who stay here at night, and this is the stuff they said they needed most. They’re still just people like you and me, Quinn. They just need some basics in life. And a little kindness, just one day in the year.”

Quinn didn’t know what to say. He stood there, swaying on his feet, grateful for the fact that Haden’s hand still had a firm grip on his elbow; otherwise, he was sure he wouldn’t be able to stay upright. He loved the passion in Haden’s eyes, in his voice and felt he was being so stupid, he couldn’t even put it into words. He was the ass, not Haden. He was the one who’d let his personal feelings of frustration and jealousy make him lash out at the one man who was the cause of those feelings; a man who didn’t deserve this.

“Now let’s get everything ready for tonight. Let’s give these people a dinner to remember and a good night’s sleep and then they can wake up to a present for everyone. That’s Christmas, Quinn. A little kindness for everyone.” With that, Haden pulled Quinn into his arms and Quinn let him. They stood like that for a while, not even letting go when Camille dared to come inside with another box, slowly followed by the three men with more of the wrapped blankets. Eventually the small room became so full they had to move to allow for the last presents to be stowed away.

“I’ll go get the food, Quinny,” Camille said, softly putting her hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “You stay here with Haden and hold the fort.”

“Take my truck, Camille,” Haden offered without letting go of Quinn. “Just tell the driver where to go, and my men will help you load it. The truck and the men are ours for the day.”

“Oooh,” Camille quipped teasingly. “You shouldn’t have told me that.” She winked as she left.

Quinn let his head rest against Haden’s. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I feel like such a fool.”

“Why?” Haden asked, moving his head back so he could look Quinn in the eye. “You do this work with such passion, Quinn. I should have checked it with you first, but I wanted to surprise you as well. I’m the one who should apologize.”

Quinn shook his head. He was still feeling dizzy and couldn’t fathom why. When Haden let go of him, he shivered violently and almost fell.

“Wow! Are you okay?” Haden asked, voice full of concern. “Come on.” Haden put his arm around Quinn’s shoulder again and led him to his room.

“I’m fine,” Quinn protested weakly.

“It’s going to be a long day and we’ll need to help Camille with the food this afternoon,” Haden said softly but firmly.

Quinn wasn’t used to giving up control, but he let Haden tuck him into bed, under the covers no less. He was still fully clothed, and he felt a bit ridiculous, but he had to admit that Haden was good at fussing over him.

Haden crouched down next to the bed and caressed Quinn’s cheek. “You went all white, Quinn. You don’t have a fever. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll be okay if you crawl in here,” Quinn heard himself say. He hated himself when he was this needy and had never voiced it to any lover before, but with Haden, it seemed to be all right. “Keep me warm?” he added with a hesitant smile.

Haden smiled back and snuggled under the covers with Quinn. It was a little strange to lie in bed, in the middle of the morning, both of them fully clothed.

“Let me take care of you, Quinn,” Haden asked softly, pulling Quinn closer into his embrace. “I know you’re the one always taking care of everyone, but you need someone to take care of you as well and I think I can do that.”

His head tucked under Haden’s chin, Quinn pulled Haden’s sweater down so he could kiss his collar bone, then his neck and his jaw. “I want to let you, but I don’t see how it can work out. We come from different worlds, Haden. You live in luxury, and I work twelve hours a day, seven days a week for a wage that doesn’t even allow me to rent my own apartment.”

“One day at a time, Quinn. We’ll see how it works out. One step at a time, one day at a time.”

Quinn had his misgivings, but he had to admit it felt good to lie here in Haden’s arms, languidly kissing. He wanted to feel Haden’s skin, wanted to take it further, but Haden didn’t seem to want that. Despite the fact they’d never really made love—if you didn’t count their rushed encounter in the showers—Quinn had to admit that taking it slow had its perks. A little voice in the back of his head told him to be wary, wondering why Haden kept holding off, but he pushed it away, enjoying for the first time in his life a lover who saw him as more than a piece of ass.

Quinn didn’t know how long they’d stayed there together, warm and cozy under the thick winter blankets. He might even have dozed off for a minute, but woke with a start when he heard Camille’s voice outside his door directing where the food needed to go.

“We better go help her,” Haden said, caressing Quinn’s hair.

“She’ll think we made love while she was gone,” Quinn replied as he raised himself up. He turned to sit on the side of the bed.

“Let’s keep it between us?” Haden asked.

Quinn nodded. Camille had eyes on the back of her head and since the door to Quinn’s room was right opposite the kitchen, she would no doubt see them emerge together. There was no doubt in Quinn’s mind that Camille would tease them about it no matter what they divulged to her. Quinn almost welcomed it. He just hoped Haden could take it.

To Quinn’s surprise, Camille simply sported her knowing smile. She waited until Haden was in the dining room, folding their green and red paper napkins, before she came up to Quinn in the kitchen.

“And was it everything you hoped for?”

Quinn tried not to smile too widely. He had promised Haden he wouldn’t say too much, but Camille was his closest friend and he trusted her beyond reproach. “Not much happened, Cammie. We didn’t even need to get dressed again.”

Her face turned sad. “It didn’t work out?”

Quinn smiled wider to reassure her. “We’re working things out. Taking it slow.”

“Slow is good, right?”

He nodded.

“At least if he has all the right bits.”

Quinn raised a questioning eyebrow. “You’re a perv, Camille.”

She raised her hands and shoulders and rolled her eyes, giggling. “Don’t you just want to nail him to the bed and fuck him into the mattress?”

“Camille!” Quinn called out, giving her a look of mock indignation. He couldn’t help laughing along with her, though.

“Well, I would,” she said, her arm around Quinn’s shoulders. “That tight frame of his, those fine shoulders and narrow hips. That tight little ass….”

“Those gorgeous dragon tattoos,” Quinn added.

“He’s got dragons on his skin?” Her eyes were wide. “Oooh, he’s hiding treasure. If you see a chance to persuade him to show them to me, I’d be eternally grateful.”