Reynaud's Redemption Read online

  Joe watched Cameron disappear with two people behind the white French doors and into the restaurant. He glared at the building for a while longer as the betrayal rose and festered within him. Finally, Joe spat the gum out of the side of his mouth into a bush and took off down the pathway.

  “I’ll be back later, Cam. We’ll talk then.”

  * * * *

  “The kitchen is done, Cameron,” the sous chef announced, coming into the room. “Here is tomorrow’s menu for your review,” he added, sliding a few sheets of paper on the table before Cameron.

  “Thanks, Pierre. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight.” Pierre shut the door behind him.

  Cameron went back to the article he’d been reading. The Louisiana Food Today gave him five stars, mentioning that he had great ambience and food to match. With a sigh of contentment, Cameron closed the newspaper and sipped his glass of wine, bringing the menu closer to him.

  “All right, everything is shut down, cleaned up and put away. Did we miss anything?”

  A smile touched Cameron’s lips at the voice. Reynaud’s sultry Cajun accent still sent shivers of delight down his spine whenever he heard it. Cameron watched him approach. Reynaud moved with the fluidity of a tiger on the prowl, full of power encased in grace.

  Reynaud had entered Cameron’s life and everything had seemed to change for the better. He’d become a constant source of joy and enlightenment. His mind, body and spirit were at ease when Reynaud was around. Cameron couldn’t have asked for a better partner. He constantly bombarded Cameron with love and affection, always there giving a helping hand or offering an encouraging word. Even at night, when Cameron woke with fear gripping his heart from another nightmare, Reynaud was there, holding him close until he fell asleep again.

  Reynaud had become Cameron’s virtual right-hand man when handling the daily duties of owning a restaurant, freeing Cameron of undue stress. He offered ideas for creating new recipes and perfecting old ones. The staff took to him almost instantly, accepting whatever assistance he offered. Reynaud had no issue helping wherever there was need as a waiter, cook or janitor.

  When the workers asked about Mel, remembering the fondness their boss had had for the dog, Cameron merely said they’d found his true home and he was happy. He and Reynaud chuckled about it whenever the conversation came up, because it was the truth. The day Reynaud explained how he’d become Mel seemed like a lifetime ago. Cameron didn’t know if he was already in love with Reynaud when he’d been Mel, or if love had grown over the last six months. He only knew for sure that his heart swelled with love when he looked up at Reynaud now. With a smile, Cameron stood to greet him.

  “No, Reynaud. Everything is done. I’m just going over the specialty menu for tomorrow.”

  “Do we have everything we need?” he asked, looking at the paper. “Mmm, caramel-glazed apple dumplings. That’s one of my favorites.”

  Cameron chuckled. “Yes, Pierre is very diligent, you know. He always checks the supplies before he makes menu suggestions.”

  “All right then, sweetheart. What were you reading?”

  “Another article about us,” he said, turning the paper Reynaud’s way. “The arts and food section in the Times-Picayune has listed Cameron’s Bistro as the best new restaurant with five stars for the food.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Reynaud yanked him into his embrace.

  Cameron’s cock instantly came to life. Just being near Reynaud seemed to inflame Cameron’s desires, but when Reynaud touched him, it increased immensely. He was a walking, talking aphrodisiac.

  “Yes it is, but—”

  “But? But what? That’s great news, sweetheart.”

  “It is, but… It makes me nervous.”

  “Why?”

  Cam sighed and returned to his seat. “So much good has been happening. I just don’t want it to end.”

  Reynaud knelt before him and took his hands. “A lot has occurred in your life for so long. Don’t you think it’s time you hit a good streak?”

  Cameron looked up at him. Reynaud was always so positive and grateful for whatever was given to him. Ashamed by his negative attitude, he leaned forward making a mental note to be more positive.

  “You’re right. This is our good streak and it’s going great. No more dark-cloud talk from me.” He pulled his glass closer and emptied it. “I’m going upstairs to get ready for bed.”

  Reynaud stood with him. “I want to switch out these tablecloths for clean ones then I’ll meet you up there,” he said, dropping a kiss on Cameron’s cheek.

  “All right. Will you put this on the bulletin board? I think it looks fine.”

  “Of course.”

  Reynaud took the papers from him, and they went their separate ways. Cameron took the hallway dividing the house and the restaurant. He stopped in the bathroom first. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, he left the room with a towel pressed to his face. On autopilot, he walked across his bedroom drying off. The door shut behind him a moment later.

  That was quick.

  Cameron spun with an excited smile, expecting to see his beloved Reynaud. A gasp escaped him. His smile disappeared, and the towel fell from his hands. Dread rose within him. His brain screamed for him to run, or at least yell for help, but fear robbed him of his voice and froze him in place. Before Cameron’s mind could formulate what his next move should be, a large hand grasped his throat for the first time in three years.

  “You seem surprised to see me, Cam.”

  “Joe,” he managed to squeak. “I thought you were in jail.”

  “I was and now I’m out.”

  “H–how did you find me?”

  “I had a little chat with your friend Simone. Everyone else I asked had a sudden case of amnesia, but I figured if anyone would know where you were, it would be her. You guys go too far back for you to just disappear and not tell her where you were going.”

  “Simone wouldn’t tell—” The pressure Joe applied to Cameron’s throat stopped his words.

  “I had to use some of my more persuasive techniques, but she eventually told me where she thought you might be. I didn’t believe a word of that bullshit, so I checked her emails and found one from you. You never mentioned where you were, of course, but the picture you sent her of you standing in front of the grand opening sign was enough to track you down.”

  Cameron swallowed. His Adam’s apple bobbed against Joe’s palm, the action painful.

  “All I had to do was Google Cameron’s Bistro —and voila!—here I am. Oh, by the way, you should give her a call in a few days to ask her how her hospital stay was.”

  Cameron’s heart ached for his friend. He and Simone had been like brother and sister since meeting back in grade school. Though life and careers had sent them in different directions, they’d remained close and kept in touch often via text and email. The last thing he had expected was for her to be hurt for simply knowing him.

  “I have an order of protection against you, Joe. You’re not supposed to be within five hundred feet of me,” Cameron reminded him on a gasp. “You’re breaking the law.”

  “You think some piece of paper is going to keep me away from you? No court has the right to tell me when I can see my man or not. We’re going home.”

  Cam shook his head. “I’m— I’m not going with you, Joe. I have a good life here. My restaurant is doing well and I— I have a new man. One who loves me.”

  Joe’s hot breath caressed his face when he pulled Cameron close to plant an almost tender kiss on his cheek. The sensation was the equivalent of bugs running just beneath his clothes and over his skin. Cameron tried to shake the feeling off, but Joe’s voice only intensified it.

  “Baby, what are you talking about? I love you.” He calmly flexed his fingers around Cameron’s neck.

  Cameron pulled at the wide digits, trying to relieve some of the pressure on his windpipe.

  “No, you don’t. I know what love feels like now. What we
had was not…love.”

  Anger flashed like lightning in Joe’s eyes. “You’re mine, Cam.” He shook his arm for emphasis. “You belong to me, and if I can’t have you… No one will,” he added through gritted teeth.

  Beating his hands against the steel grip, Cameron gasped for air when Joe tightened his hold. Tears filled Cameron’s eyes as unconsciousness welled up, threatening to claim him.

  “Relax, baby. When I get you home everything will be just like before… Back to normal.”

  “Get your hands off him, you despicable bastard!”

  Joe jumped, startled by the voice behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he released his hold on Cameron and shoved him backward.

  Cameron stumbled to the wall, leaning on it for support as he massaged his sore throat. “Reynaud,” he said on a hoarse whisper.

  Reynaud reached his bedroom and his blood instantly caught fire. Not only was there another man in his bedroom but he dared to put his hands on his sweet Cameron. The fear in Cameron’s eyes gave away the man’s identity. He had to be Joe. Rage rushed through his veins like a rampant river after a storm. His breathing quickened and he flared his nostrils, as he looked Joe up and down.

  Joe stood at his full height, eyeing Reynaud as well. The glower in Joe’s eyes reminded him of the glare Baptiste had, filled with hatred, jealousy and anger. Men like Baptiste and Joe never changed. Even if they had all the control, power and everything else they thought they desired, it was never enough. He knew Joe would have hurt Cameron, his Cameron, had Reynaud not shown up. Reynaud promised himself he would not lose another lover to hatred. Not again.

  “If you have an issue with Cameron, I suggest you bring your fight to me,” Reynaud offered, contempt dripping from his words.

  Joe laughed, but without humor. He walked slowly, trying to circle Reynaud, but Reynaud strolled in pace with him.

  “So who are you? Cameron’s new man?” Joe snorted.

  “That’s exactly who I am.”

  “Is that right? Well, I have a problem with that, bucko. In case you didn’t know, Cameron doesn’t need a new man. He already has a current one—me. I’m the only man he’ll ever have.”

  Reynaud scoffed. “I beg to differ. For you to claim Cameron as your own, he has to want to be your man. And he doesn’t want—or need—you.”

  “You beg to differ?” Joe repeated mockingly. “What the fuck does that mean? Oh, I see. You’re one of those educated men. That’s cool. I can work with that. Just so you know, Cameron is too stupid to be happy with an intelligent man like you. But I’m not like that. No, I know how to deal with educated folk. You just gotta know how to talk to people.” He smoothed his T-shirt and dusted invisible lint from his shoulders. “Now look, uhhh…”

  “Reynaud,” he supplied.

  Joe screwed his face up in irritation. “Ray—what? All right, whatever.” He shrugged. “Look, dude, this ain’t your problem,” he continued in a soothing tone. “You look like the type of guy who has his shit together and you ain’t bad on the eyes either. I’m sure you can get any man you want. You don’t need this kind of drama, Ray.” Joe waved his hand toward Cameron.

  “Reynaud,” he corrected.

  “Whatever,” Joe said dismissively. “Look, all I’m saying is why don’t you just step off the scene, let me take what’s mine and we’ll be on our way. Cool?”

  Cameron slid to the floor where he had landed against the wall. The confusion on his face was apparent, and the apprehension on it hadn’t eased either.

  Reynaud continued walking with Joe in the challenge circle, but stopped when he blocked Joe’s line of sight to Cameron.

  “There are two things wrong with your scenario, Joe. Cameron doesn’t belong to you, and I don’t want another man. I want Cameron.”

  “Cameron is a weak man, Reynaud.” Joe’s voice grew stern and his gaze hard. “He needs a strong man like me to keep him in line. I can show him where his boundaries are and remind him when he crosses them.”

  Reynaud laughed and shook his head. “Clearly we are discussing two different Camerons, or are you truly as dumb as you look?”

  Joe’s stunned expression prompted Reynaud to laugh again.

  “Allow me to enlighten you on the difference between the two. This Cameron”—he pointed behind him—“had enough strength to leave a man who was no good, and enough courage to move out of state, alone, to start his life over and live out his dream. That not only demonstrates a high degree of intelligence, but also perseverance.”

  Reynaud crossed his arms over his chest. “The combination of that along with Cameron’s exceptional good looks, plus his gift as a chef, puts him way out of your league,” he concluded with a disbelieving scoff. “If it wasn’t for his lack of experience when you two first met, you wouldn’t have been able to talk your way into his life at all.”

  Joe’s narrowed eyes flashed furiously. “So you think you’re better than me, huh?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I think. The only opinion that matters in this situation is Cameron’s.” Reynaud nodded in Cameron’s direction. “He has made his choice clear… And in case you missed the memo, it isn’t you,” he added with a condescending grin.

  “Cameron doesn’t get a choice. I say he’s coming back with me,” Joe snarled.

  Reynaud dropped his arms to his sides and widened his smile. “Try to take him.”

  The moment had finally come. The one he had waited for so many years to happen. This man wanted to take his second chance away and he wasn’t about to let it happen. Couldn’t let it happen.

  Reynaud braced himself for Joe’s imminent assault. He didn’t have to wait long. Joe launched himself with an announcing growl. Reynaud easily sidestepped his wild lunge. He grasped Joe’s shoulders and shoved his knee up into his chin. With a grunt, Joe fell backward on the floor.

  “Fuck,” he shouted, holding his jaw. Scrambling to his feet, he wiped away the dripping blood. “All right, that’s cool. You got that one.”

  Breathing hard, Joe bounced on his knees with his arms wide, readying himself for the next attack. Reynaud mimicked his movements. Just as Reynaud was about to raise his hands, Joe stepped forward, landing a perfectly executed punch to the left side of his jaw. Reynaud staggered back from the blow. Before he could react, Joe connected with another to the right side.

  “Yeah, motherfucker,” Joe shouted. “How about some more of that shit?”

  He threw two more punches, both landing on the sides of Reynaud’s chin again. Connecting the blows made Joe overconfident as he danced around. Reynaud licked his lips and tasted blood. He raised his fists again, watching Joe attentively. Joe continued with his trash talk but Reynaud blocked it out. Joe bobbed, wove and waved his arms wildly before Reynaud’s face, taunting him. Reynaud patiently waited for his opening, keeping his hands up and dodging faux swings designed to take him off his guard. As soon as Joe dropped his arms to say something ridiculous, Reynaud threw his punch, catching him square on the nose.

  Silenced, Joe staggered backward. Reynaud advanced, throwing four consecutive jabs, hitting both sides of the man’s face. He held his hands higher to balance himself then kicked Joe in the gut. Joe collapsed to the floor, grunting painfully. He rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself unsteadily to his hands and knees, breathing hard. Blood flowed from Joe’s mouth and nose, pooling in front of him. Reynaud stepped forward again, but Joe held his hand up to stop him.

  “Hold up,” he pleaded. “Wait a minute, man. We don’t gotta do this,” he panted out.

  “You’re right, we don’t. All you have to do is leave and never come back,” Reynaud told him, then he turned to Cameron. Concern, fear and relief all played across his love’s handsome features. Reynaud offered him a comforting smile. “Go call the police, Cameron.”

  Cameron hesitated, but Reynaud gestured toward the door with a nod, urging him on.

  “I’m fine, baby. Go ahead.”

  Finally, Cameron nodded, but before he could
move, a wild expression appeared in his eyes and his jaw dropped. Reynaud caught a gleam in his peripheral vision and spun on reflex. He reached out, catching Joe’s wrist in motion before he could strike, knocking the knife from his hand. Reynaud slammed his elbow back as hard as he could into Joe’s chest. Gripping the guy’s upper arm, Reynaud threw Joe over his shoulder, where he landed hard on his back with a loud yelp.

  “Go,” Reynaud screamed.

  Cameron jumped to his feet and disappeared through the door. Reynaud grabbed Joe by the arm, returning him to his stomach. He continued twisting the limb. When he heard the bone snap, Joe howled in pain, and Reynaud leaned down to whisper near his opponent’s ear.

  “I’m going to give you over to the authorities because it is the right thing to do, but be warned. Cameron is with me now. You will never hurt him again. I will protect him and love him for as long as he will allow me to. If the police happen to release you and you have the gall to return, I will kill you. Make no mistake about it. Is that clear?”

  Joe’s agonized cries garbled his words. Reynaud pushed his injured extremity into his back forcing another shout of pain from him.

  “I didn’t catch that, Joe.”

  “Yes, dammit! I said yes. I understand.”

  “Good, now let’s go.”

  Reynaud yanked Joe to his feet and shoved him toward the door. It wasn’t long before the loud sirens of the police cars could be heard. When Reynaud and Joe appeared in the main room of the restaurant, Cameron was there with two officers. One walked over, taking custody of Joe, while the other remained with Cameron. Reynaud sat in a nearby chair to wait. When the policeman finished questioning Cameron, the officer then made his way to Reynaud. An hour later and finally alone, he and Cameron stood before each other in the dining room.