“How’d you find him?” Mick asked. “She never mentioned having a brother.”
“She wouldn’t, because he died.” Evan held up the letter. “Will you help me figure out what happened? It’s been years since he died, so the trail might be a dead end, but I want to know how he perished.”
“I’ll help.” Mick accepted the letter. “This is fifty years old, though. The records might not be available.”
“I know.” He composed himself and sat up. “He met a guy. I don’t know what caused his death, other than being shot, but I know he left Cedarwood. Sounds like he left town because he was gay and run off.”
“No shit?”
“No shit,” Evan echoed. “I guess the same bullshit we’ve been dealing with for the last few years isn’t new.”
“Guess not.” Mick rubbed his chin. “We can contact the police and request the information. I’ll get on it today.”
“Thanks.” Evan sighed. “Do I have to designate you as my lawyer for you to gain access?”
“You do.” Mick smiled. “I’m happy to help, and since I’m already working for your grandmother, it’ll be easier.”
“I’ll pay.” He would have to sort out the finances and convince his asshole manager to cough up his money. If they had to park the bus at the farm and let the band go, then they did. He had few choices. Someone had to run the farm. Besides, he wanted to find his uncle. Cost wasn’t important.
“I wouldn’t charge you for this.” Mick leaned against the sofa and crossed his ankles. “What are you doing today?”
“I met with the funeral home this morning and was instructed to find photos for the viewing.” At the moment, the task overwhelmed him. “What about you? What brought you by? Did you know I needed you?” It was crazy to think so, but oh well.
“I had a feeling.” Mick smiled. “I needed to get out of the office and I wanted a break. You’re a great person to take a break with.”
Evan toyed with the letter. “Is the estate that confusing?” Mick couldn’t be giving him a compliment. No way. The attraction had to be all in Evan’s head. He wanted the connection to be real.
“No. My fellow lawyer is a prick and kept giving me hell about you,” Mick said. “He likes to be nosy.”
“I’m sorry.” He hadn’t wanted to cause Mick trouble. Damn. The connection wasn’t as strong as he’d thought. Oh well.
“No, he’s a dick.”
“What’d I do that bothered him?” Evan asked. He’d put up with the slings and arrows from haters before. He’d do it again. “I’m too country? Not country enough? I’m a lousy musician? I’m slumming by returning to Cedarwood? Or I’m not sticking around and he’s sure of it? Or is it because I’m gay? Did he figure it out?”
Mick grinned. “You’re too old-school country and won’t stick around—so he says. He thinks you should’ve stayed here instead of wasting your time.” He paused. “You’ve put up with a lot of shit from people, haven’t you?”
“More than my share.” Evan winced. He’d heard every one of the lawyer’s arguments a hundred times. That didn’t mean the insults weren’t painful. “Do you believe it?” Had Mick even heard his music?
“No.”
What a relief.
“I also didn’t appreciate it.”
“Thanks,” Evan said. “It’s nice to have someone in my corner.”
“My pleasure.”
The long silence between him and Mick didn’t bother him. No, he considered it sweet. To anyone passing by, they looked like they were a couple. Boyfriends. He swept his gaze over Mick. Having a friend pleased him.
“The guy told me your songs were okay and you’d never have another hit. I wasn’t sorry when I told him I didn’t agree. I enjoy your music. I’m not much of a country music fan, but your album was good. I listened to the whole thing all the way through.” Mick blushed. “I might have gone fan boy for a little while.”
The tips of Evan’s ears burned. He loved his fans and lived for them, but having the compliments coming from Mick was better. “Thank you.”
“I like the twang,” Mick said. “It works for your style.”
“It’s considered my Achilles’ heel.” He chuckled. “Grandma liked it, too. She’d tell me to stick to my roots.”
“I’m glad you did.”
The tenderness in Mick’s words resonated in Evan. He toyed with the letter again. “I’m sorry you were given hell because of me.”
“Bud’s an ass.” Mick shrugged. “Maybe I needed some you time and this was just the cosmos’ way of pushing us together.”
“Me time?” Warmth surged through Evan. “You told me yesterday you wanted to wait and I got the feeling you were saying it just to make me happy.”
“I had my eyes opened today.” Mick scooted closer to Evan and held his hand. “I was afraid you were just leaning on me because you’re stuck with me.”
“Ah, proximity.” He should’ve known.
“Yeah.” Mick kissed the top of Evan’s hand. “I tend to end up dating guys who want to be with me for free legal advice. They don’t really see me and they get repulsed when they realize I deal with wills. It creeps them out.”
“What you do is important.” People could be strange. He had some who wanted to rip his clothes off just to say they’d had a piece of him. Women wanted to sleep with him to say they’d slept with someone famous.
“Yeah, but no one wants to think about dying,” Mick said. “It’s a buzz kill.”
“I suppose it could be.” He spied the photograph of Martha and Edwin. “But look at things like this. Edwin had his whole life ahead of him. I’ll bet he never really thought about dying. He did his thing.”
“He did.” Mick rested shoulder to shoulder with Evan. “Speaking of dying…all you have to do
