Free Colorado Fire - Colorado Heart 2 by Sara York

Grant stayed silent as they both sipped their coffee. After a few minutes, Grant sighed.
    "I guess I knew you were infatuated with me before I got together with Craig."
    "What?" Marshal asked. The urge to rush away filled him but Grant's hand was on his arm.
    "Don't leave. Just hear me out."
    "Okay." Marshal took another sip of his coffee and tried to relax but it was difficult.
    "I knew you had a thing for me, but I wanted Craig. He was out and you weren't. Hell, you still claim you're straight."
    "I'm bi."
    Grant blew out a huge breath. "Okay, at least now you admit it."
    "I guess I've always been a bit bi."
    "We wouldn’t have worked out."
    "How can you say that?" Marshal had hurt so much after Grant paired up with Craig. It had devastated him, and hearing Grant tell him they wouldn’t have made it brought back those bad feelings and the ache.
    "Marshal, think about how we've butted heads in the past. You're a great guy, but we really are too much alike."
    "So all this time, all these years, you've known I had a thing for you?"
    "Yes."
    "And you never did anything? Didn't you think I was good enough?" Marshal asked.
    Grant took Marshal's hand, squeezing twice. "You're too good for me. You deserve someone who can really love you. I'd never be able to love you deeply enough."
    "I think you could have if you wanted to."
    "No, Marshal, I would have been bad for you." Grant lifted Marshal's hand and kissed the knuckles. The door opened behind them and Marshal turned to see Zander with his mouth open, his eyes wide.
    Dread filled Marshal. The one man whom he actually felt something for just saw him get kissed on the hand by Grant, the guy he admitted to having a thing for. The situation was so screwed up he wanted to scream.
    Zander turned to leave and Marshal ripped his hand away from Grant. He jumped up and ran to his lover.
    "Don't go." Marshal had to clamp Zander's shoulder to get him to stop. "I don't know what you're thinking, but it's not that."
    Anger rolled off Zander and his shoulders began to shake. Marshal loosened his grip and started to rub Zander's back in small circles. Since Zander didn't take off, Marshal felt encouraged and moved to stand in front of him.
    "Talk to me."
    Zander's face screwed up in pain and he slammed his eyes closed. He shook his head once and bit his lip. He looked completely wrecked and Marshal felt like shit. He'd been the one to hesitate, not wanting to get involved because he feared he'd be hurt and here he was hurting Zander.
    "You and Grant should be together. I know you've wanted him for longer than you've known me. Now he's free."
    "It's not like that. I—"
    Zander shrugged off Marshal's touch. It was almost if he grew a few inches as he puffed out his chest, anger flashing in his eyes. "What? He was fucking kissing you."
    "Now wait a minute," Grant interjected.
    Zander turned to him, and growled. "You fucking bastard. How dare you treat Marshal like this. He was wrecked when you got together with Craig. You don't deserve him."
    Grant's brows shot up and his eyes grew wide. Zander threw up his hands and moved to leave but Marshal blocked him. "Don't go."
    The first fist thrown was a shock to Marshal. Zander got him square in the jaw. His head snapped back and he stumbled, catching himself before he fell. Marshal saw the menace on Grant's face and held up both hands, hoping to forestall an all out fight.
    "Don't."
    Zander narrowed his gaze. "I'm done."
    "Zander, don't leave," Grant spat out.
    "Don't fuckin' tell me what to do."
    "Please, don't leave. Talk to me," Marshal begged.
    "You can fuckin' talk to Grant. That's who you care about, isn't it? You've wanted this for far too long and now he knows."
    "You're wrong about that." Grant took another step closer and Marshal glared at him, shaking his head to warn him off.
    Zander caught Marshal's move and turned to face Grant. He advanced on him. "You fucking jerk. He's so much better than Craig ever was and you hurt him. He's too good