Unmasked by Kate Douglas

remembering. They’d been through so much together. Growing up with a guy in the same crappy foster home created a link like nothing else. Even though they were complete opposites, Mac loved Dink in a way he couldn’t explain. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for him.
    Well, almost nothing, though Mac couldn’t deny he’d thought about it. Dink was gay and loved Mac, and while the thought of sex with his buddy had crossed his mind, Mac himself hadn’t crossed the line. Yet.
    Maybe it was all the beer he’d had tonight, but for some reason the thought of loving Dink that way didn’t bother him as much as it had. You’ve had way too much to drink, Dugan.
    It was definitely time to go home. Quietly, Mac closed the door to Dink’s tiny apartment. Fueled by more beer than he’d needed, he hoped he’d be able to make it back to his apartment without getting arrested for public intoxication.
    He rarely drank this much, but seeing Jen and Phil together tonight had thrown him. The more he thought about it, the more he was sure she’d stolen those pages of notes the night they’d fucked like bunnies until he finally fell asleep. She’d been gone when he finally dragged himself out of her bed and went back to his own place. Maybe she hadn’t slept as soundly. Was she the one who’d ripped out the pages that had turned up in Phil Bennett’s precise handwriting?
    Had Phil used those hours to break into his apartment and steal the floppy disks with the research and all his notes?
    There was no way to prove it. The pages were gone, along with the disks, something he hadn’t noticed until it was time to prepare the grant application. And then it was too late.
    Only Dink believed him, but their bond went deeper than mere friendship, sometimes so intensely visceral it was barely a step away from sexual attraction. Sort of how he’d felt tonight.
    Except Mac knew he was straight. He’d never questioned his own sexuality, never doubted how much he loved women. In fact, tonight he’d gone off on a riff, rhapsodizing over the ultimate fantasy female. He could still see her—tall and athletic with long black hair and violet eyes. Dink had thrown in a computer nerd personality. What had he called her?
    “A nerdette.” Mac laughed, his voice echoing in the quiet night. “Just what I need.”
    Mac figured he was nerdy enough for two.
    Dink, of course, had fantasized over the ideal guy—a guy who sounded suspiciously like MacArthur Dugan—tall, lean build, thick waves of caramel hair, a killer smile and sapphire blue eyes—Dink’s terms, not Mac’s.
    Dink had never hidden his feelings from Mac. So why did Mac feel as if he were keeping secrets from Dink? He loved Dink. Just not that way. Or did he? Damn. Mac stopped, grabbed the front of his jeans and adjusted the crotch. Why the hell was he getting hard? Thoughts of Dink, or his fantasy woman? Shit.
    He focused on Bennett and the stolen project and fury spurred him on. With his gait not quite steady, Mac made it up the stairs to his fourth-floor apartment in a matter of minutes.
    Still pissed.
    He and Dink had discussed how absurd it was. Why would Mac lie? If he didn’t know the material, his ignorance would prove him wrong, but the dean refused to allow Mac to defend himself.
    He’d never cared much for the dean and the feelings had obviously been mutual, but the man’s response to Mac’s claims went beyond mere dislike. He’d been absolutely irate with Mac and had immediately taken Phil’s side. What could Dean Johnson gain from his nephew winning the grant instead of Mac? Family unity or something stupid like that? Was that worth risking his tenure? Possibly, but probably not. But what else? Shit . . . Mac knew the program inside and out, with or without the notes and floppies. Did Bennett? No. No way.
    Yet Mac still hadn’t been allowed to defend himself.
    Which left him guilty with no recourse. Cursing, Mac dug through his pants pocket for the key, fumbled