Every Breath I Take

By J.P. Bowie

Troy Kendall was a bad boy, an addict with attitude, but, since Detective Mark McLennan entered his life, all he wants to do is help others—even if they really don't want him to.

Life for a recovering drug addict isn't easy. Fortunately for Troy Kendall, he has handsome Detective Mark McLennan to lean on for love and support. When Mark asks Troy to move in with him, Troy is over the moon, sure that now his future will be everything he has dreamed of.

Now that he's able to think about the bigger picture without himself as the main feature, he starts taking an interest in others. Like his ex-roommate Kevin. Troy feels a bit guilty about finding happiness when it's obvious Kevin is lonely and miserable. Or Teresa, the food server working at the corner diner. Troy is sure she's a victim of domestic abuse.

Ignoring Mark's opinion that he's being annoyingly nosy, Troy goes on a mission to try to help those he feels are lacking in the happiness department. He's given excuses from Teresa when he asks her how she came by all the cuts and bruises he sees her suffering from on a daily basis. Is it the boyfriend or her domineering father who's making Teresa's life a misery?

After a conversation over a drink with Kevin, he's worried that his ex-roomie is on the verge of signing up for gay conversion therapy. When Kevin goes missing, Troy and Mark along with Kevin's new roommate, Roger, go on a search that leads them to a basement in the suburbs where a homophobic couple are holding Kevin captive.

Is Troy's plan to find happiness for others doomed to failure? Or can he and his friends change the course of disaster both Kevin and Teresa are on?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: May 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781786513977

J.P. Bowie

J.P. Bowie: I was born and raised in Scotland. Moved to London and worked in several West End shows before immigrating to the United States. First port of call was Las Vegas where I worked backstage with the Siegfried and Roy Show at the Mirage Hotel as Head of Wardrobe for the legendary stars. Another move more recently took me and my husband Phil to San Diego where we intend to stay! Love sunny San Diego.

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Every Breath I Take

ISBN # 978-1-78651-397-7

©Copyright J.P. Bowie 2016

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2016

Edited by Sue Meadows

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2016 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

EVERY BREATH I TAKE

J.P. Bowie

Troy Kendall was a bad boy, an addict with attitude, but, since Detective Mark McLennan entered his life, all he wants to do is help others—even if they really don’t want him to.

Life for a recovering drug addict isn’t easy. Fortunately for Troy Kendall, he has handsome Detective Mark McLennan to lean on for love and support. When Mark asks Troy to move in with him, Troy is over the moon, sure that now his future will be everything he has dreamed of.

Now that he’s able to think about the bigger picture without himself as the main feature, he starts taking an interest in others. Like his ex-roommate Kevin. Troy feels a bit guilty about finding happiness when it’s obvious Kevin is lonely and miserable. Or Teresa, the food server working at the corner diner. Troy is sure she’s a victim of domestic abuse.

Ignoring Mark’s opinion that he’s being annoyingly nosy, Troy goes on a mission to try to help those he feels are lacking in the happiness department. He’s given excuses from Teresa when he asks her how she came by all the cuts and bruises he sees her suffering from on a daily basis. Is it the boyfriend or her domineering father who’s making Teresa’s life a misery?

After a conversation over a drink with Kevin, he’s worried that his ex-roomie is on the verge of signing up for gay conversion therapy. When Kevin goes missing, Troy and Mark along with Kevin’s new roommate, Roger, go on a search that leads them to a basement in the suburbs where a homophobic couple are holding Kevin captive.

Is Troy’s plan to find happiness for others doomed to failure? Or can he and his friends change the course of disaster both Kevin and Teresa are on?

Dedication

As always, I want to thank Claire and Nicki for their ongoing support of my writing, and everyone else at Pride Publishing who are always so helpful, and of course my editor Sue Meadows who guides me carefully to a better place each time she reviews my manuscripts. She’ll probably edit this sentence as too long! LOL. To my wonderful hubby, Phil, who puts up with me spending so much time either at my PC or dreaming up new plots instead of listening to what he’s telling me he wants for dinner. Dear readers, please buy a lot of my books so I can afford a butler!

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Mustang: Ford Motor Company

Marriott: Marriott International, Inc.

Band-Aid: Johnson & Johnson

BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke

Google: Google, Inc.

Lexus: Toyota Motor Company

Camry: Toyota Motor Company

Whole Foods: Whole Foods Market Inc.

Prologue

Troy Kendall paced the floor of his apartment’s living room like a nervous cat. He was glad he was on his own. Kevin, his less than sociable roommate, had gone out, and Edward, his now BFF, had moved out to live with his boyfriend, Alex. He was glad, because in about a half hour there would be a knock on the door and the man he’d been dating and having the most incredible sex—ever—with, would be here. From the moment Detective Mark McLennan had planted one very long and hot kiss on his lips, Troy had been totally lost in lust and love.

The first time Troy had seen Mark he’d thought maybe he’d been dreaming. He’d been sedated, after all, in a hospital bed. Mark had been gazing down at him, a concerned expression on his handsome face.

Hi, good lookin’, Troy had said, still slightly dazed. Who are you? And Mark had told him he was the detective assigned to find out what had happened to Troy. Why he’d ended up in a wilderness gully after being reported missing three days earlier.

Troy, despite his groggy state, had been unable to resist flirting with the detective, and had been thrilled when Mark had responded in like manner.

On the day Troy had been released from the hospital, Mark had picked him up and taken him home, making sure he had everything he needed for his ongoing treatment. He had called on him every day after his shift at the precinct, and when Troy was well enough they’d had sex—and as far as Troy was concerned there would never be another who could surpass Mark’s lovemaking. Troy in his drugged out days had not been too clever about whom he’d taken to bed. Most of his liaisons he couldn’t even remember—something that, now he was clean, troubled him from time to time. Still, he was sure that if anyone had come close to Mark’s prowess, he’d recall that person. So far, no one had come to mind.

He glanced in the mirror for the umpteenth time to make sure he looked his best. He’d combed his dark brown hair in the hope of taming the sometimes wild curls. He wished now he’d gone for the haircut he’d been putting off for over a week. Well, Mark said he liked curly hair… So here it was. The pale green shirt he was wearing was a good choice, though. Kinda makes my eyes look greener.

He and Mark had been dating for two months and the reason for Troy’s nervousness was that Mark had called to say he had something important to tell him. Their call had been cut short and Troy’s attempts to wheedle what Mark had to say out of him had come to naught.

Damn, but what could it be? That thought had persisted and pestered him all day. What if Mark was going to end things between them? What if he wanted to slow things down? Troy knew he could be a giant pain in the ass, always impatient, always wanting things his way, and right now. Maybe Mark had just gotten sick and tired of him. What would he do, if that was the case? Shoot himself? No, he didn’t like guns. Take an overdose? No, there no longer were any drugs in his possession. Throw himself off a bridge? No, he was scared of heights…

The knock on the door made him jump, but at least stopped him from thinking any more of those crazy thoughts. He rushed to the door and flung it open, and there he was, the most handsome man in the entire universe. In Troy’s estimation anyway. Even now, two months after they’d started dating, Troy couldn’t quite believe he’d snagged such a hot guy. Tall, six-two to Troy’s five-ten, wide shouldered with sandy blond hair and warm hazel eyes, Mark was the epitome of everything Troy admired in a man.

Hey, beautiful, Mark murmured against Troy’s hair once he had disengaged himself from the lip-lock Troy had forced on him before he even got through the door. Can I come in?

Yeah, sorry. Troy backed up, reluctant to let go of Mark.

What’s all this? Mark asked, glancing around. Troy had set the table for two with candles and wine glasses.

I thought we’d have dinner in. He pouted a little. It’s not like I haven’t done this before. You said you liked my cooking.

I do, I do.

So what is it you wanted to tell me?

Mark chuckled. You mind if I take my coat off first?

Sorry… Here. He took Mark’s coat and laid it over the back of the couch. Want to take anything else off? he asked, leering.

Later. We should talk first.

Uh, oh… That sounds ominous. Like a glass of wine?

Sure, and it’s not ominous. He watched while Troy poured two glasses of red wine. "And it’s not something I’m going to tell you. As a matter of fact, it’s something I’ve been mulling over ever since Edward left to move in with Alex."

Oh yeah? Cheers. He clinked his glass against Mark’s. He was feeling a little less nervous. Mark had called him ‘beautiful’ and had taken off his coat and had said ‘later’ when Troy asked if he was going to take more than the coat off.

"Cheers. It’s something I want to ask you. Troy didn’t fail to notice the slight hesitation in Mark’s voice before he added, How would you like to move in with me?"

Troy quickly swallowed his wine to prevent it from shooting out of his mouth. Of all the things Mark could have said, this was the last one Troy had expected. When they’d started dating, Mark had confessed he was a bit of a loner, better off living by himself, so Troy had not expected this offer. Early on in their relationship Mark had told him about the one love affair he’d had and how the guy had let him down by sleeping around.

Troy had found that hard to believe. What an idiot that guy must have been. He’d told himself that if he got to keep Mark there wasn’t a chance of him ever cheating on him. But because of what Mark had told him he’d more or less resigned himself to them living apart, just seeing Mark on what he’d hoped would be a regular basis. He’d convinced himself that it would be enough, and in a way it had been. They’d even said the ‘L’ word and neither of them had run in the opposite direction. But living with Mark would be so much better, wouldn’t it?

Oh, my God, he said finally.

Oh, my God, yes, or oh, my God, no? Mark asked, his expression grave.

Oh my God, yes! He started to launch himself into Mark’s arms then remembered they were both holding nearly full wine glasses. Damn, put that down, so I can show you how much I love you.

Mark laughed and put his wine glass on the table then pulled Troy into his arms. Love you too, he said, after their long, lingering kiss.

Show me how much.

We need the bedroom for that.

Lead the way.

Chapter One

Troy stared at Mark, who sat across the table from him in the small neighborhood diner where they were having breakfast. Troy loved it when they could do this, have breakfast together. Sometimes their work shifts were at opposite ends of the spectrum, but the added bonus was they both had this day off and Troy was determined to make the most of it. It had started well. Troy shifted on the hard seat, the slight burn in his ass reminding him