Read Promises: Part I (Bounty Hunters Book 1) for Free Online

change my mind.”
    His father stood and walked over to him. “I just want you to be happy.”
    “I know. But I won’t be until I have Duke.”
    Quick breathed out slowly and nodded his head. “Okay, then.”
    Vaughan darted up the stairs.
    “Hey. Where you going? I thought you were gonna work out.”
    “I need a new jacket for the party tomorrow.”
    He heard Quick’s laughter before the reply. “You have more suit jackets than a congressman.”
    When Vaughan came back down twenty minutes later in a pair of jeans, an untucked beige collared shirt and a camel colored blazer, his dad whistled at him. “Let me guess. You’re going to Macy’s.”
    Vaughan winked, tucking his wallet in his back pocket. “Not usually where I shop, but I’m sure I’ll find something.”
    “I’m sure you will,” Quick said softly, still nursing his coffee.
    Vaughan went over and looked down at him. He was still a magnificent man. Why he chose to stay home night after night and not date was beyond Vaughan’s understanding. His father was tall, thick upper body and lean hips, built just like him. His hair was a little gray at the temples, but was still long and full. His tattoos were cool as shit and went up both arms. He could surely pull a hottie. What was his deal? “Why don’t me and you go paint the town red tonight, huh? It’s the weekend, let’s let loose.”
    His dad looked up at him with an identical charming smile to the one that he saw in the mirror each day. “Really. Just me and you?”
    “Just me and you.”
    “Sounds good.” His father clapped his big hands together and rubbed them like he was already set to go. “Father and son on the prowl.”
    “I’ll be back soon. We’ll start at a happy hour somewhere and see where the night takes us,” he said, almost to the front door.
    “You got it.” Was the answer he barely heard when he was already half-way out the door.

Duke hated malls with a passion, but sometimes they were a necessary evil. He went in through the mall entrance and fought the weekend crowds to get to Macy’s. He didn’t shop much, but he heard that Macy’s had a nice selection of men’s business and casualwear. Maybe a bottle of cologne would be a good idea, too. Duke was just able to keep himself from smiling. He felt like he was going on his first date. He remembered fussing over his outfits, pulling everything he had out of the closet. His dad had got tired of him trying stuff on and ended up calling his mom over to help him. They were divorced most of his life, but they had stayed good friends.
    He always thought he’d be married by his age. Maybe even with a child, who knew. He thought it’d be Judge, for sure. Although they never actually dated, went out in public or whatever, he was fine with that. He thought it simply wasn’t Judge’s way. Even though he wanted those things: date night, sharing a tub of popcorn at the movies, making out together in a dark booth at a jazz club, holding hands on the beach as the sun set. Duke had thought that as long as he had Judge at home, it’d work out. He’d since realized how wrong he was. Judge knew what Duke really wanted, and instead of stringing him along, he dropped him. It had hurt more than he cared to let on, but he was a big boy. Life went on. 
    Looking around in Macy’s gave him a tension headache. There weren’t a lot of people in the men’s department, but he was never good at picking clothes. A nice lady in a startling white ruffled blouse and a black pleated skirt came up to him. “Can I help you?”
    Duke fingered through the shirts on the rack. “Actually, I’m just looking.”
    “I can help him if he needs it, Cindy. Thank you.” A strong voice cut over the young lady. Duke looked up and saw a man in a nice suit standing on the other side of the rack. His Macy’s name tag said Mark R. Duke smiled and told him the same thing as Cindy scurried off, doing little to hide her annoyance.
    “Really, I’m good.