by Turner, CJ
“What happened, Jesse?” growled Theo.
“I may have gotten a little too friendly with your new friend.” He looked away, acting put out by the question.
“And did he want you to be friendly?” said Theo. His heart stuttered at the question he didn’t want to ask.
“Why do you bother to ask?” said Livvy. “Lennox is just like that last grifter you gave your heart to. Someone needs to watch out for you.”
Theo crossed his arm and gazed pointedly at Jesse.
“Well, Jesse.”
“He pushed me away before Miss Olivia stomped in.”
Theo nodded his head. He shouldn’t have distrusted Lennox even for one second.
“Livvy, I love you, but you’ve gone too far. Lennox is much different from Armand. Armand wouldn’t bother to take care of his landlady’s shop while she was in the hospital or fill a huge order not to lose the business. Armand wouldn’t give me, without asking for consideration, one of the best business ideas I’ve ever seen. Armand took. Lennox gives with his heart. And if you can’t see that, then that’s your problem.”
He turned and started the walk to the Porsche.
“Wait. Where are you going?”
“To fix this.”
“But the party.”
Theo stopped and sighed. He turned once more and leveled his gaze at his best friend. “Livvy, you are a woman who will be married in a year. Put on your big girl pants and handle it. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Theo took quick steps to his car and drove into town, rehearsing what he would say to Lennox. Damn it. He realized that Lennox didn’t feel comfortable with Theo’s wealth or position. He had hoped he had smoothed that over. Theo wanted Lennox in his world, but damn it, if he must, he would live in Lennox’s.
He heard Bonkers barking at the back door when he walked past the truck parked in the alley. Lennox was here. He had to be. And if he weren’t, he’d sit at this door until he returned. Theo didn’t give up easily.
He knocked, and there was no answer. Bonkers kept barking, and Theo became worried that Lennox was in trouble.
Theo pounded harder, and the force of his blows rang through his hands and up his arms.
“Damn it! Open up, you stubborn bastard. Don’t make me beg, because I totally will, and embarrass both of us.”
The door flew open, and Lennox stood in the doorway with anger in his eyes. Bonkers jumped on Theo, but Lennox pulled him away. “Upstairs,” he ordered. With a whine, Bonkers climbed the stairs. Then Lennox glared at Theo.
“Go home,” he said.
“I can’t,” said Theo.
Lennox narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“Because you are ‘home’ to me, and if you send me away, I’ll be homeless.”
Lennox blinked and covered his hand with his mouth.
“Don’t do this. You barely know me. You don’t know if it will work between us.”
“Granted. But what I do know I like. And when I think of you, I see the future stretched out with you there.”
Lennox shook his head.
“This is crazy.”
“You’re right. Crazy. Stupid. I even did a stupid thing when I was in New York.”
Lennox crossed his arms. “What’s that?”
Theo took out a box in his pocket. “I didn’t know when I’d give it to you, but I damned sure hoped that it wasn’t in the back alley of a florist shop.” He flipped it open and held it out to Lennox, who gasped at the thick gold band with an inset diamond.
“You didn’t buy me a wedding ring?” he said incredulously.
“I did.”
“Are you nuts? I can’t take it.”
“Oh, damn,” said Theo. “That you said that just made me fall in love with you.”
Lennox shot an incredulous look at him, and then shook his head as he crossed his arms. Theo felt as if Lennox had punched him in the gut. Damn it. Theo overshot the mark again.
“At least. Not yet. Let’s give it a year and see what happens. Maybe then I’ll take it.”
Epilogue
Eleven months later
Lennox resettled the duffle bag on his shoulder as he waited for Theo to open the door. Theo jerked open the door with annoyance on his face while talking on his phone until he saw Lennox with his belongings on his back. Bonkers dashed in and chased his tail several times in doggie joy. Then he jumped on Theo, who patiently bent and patted him absently.
“Gotta go,” said Theo. “But you’ll be here, right? Good.” He clicked off the call.
“Livvy?” said Lennox.
“Yes. She’s in a Carlton funk again but will bestir herself to attend.”
“Good.”
“So, you’re doing this.”
“You said it was half mine. I’m here to claim my share of the treasure.”
“Just in time. The investors will be here in two hours.”
Lennox stepped into the modern luxury home composed of different container modules. The main module was a double container with an open floor plan. On one end, where he entered through an insulated glass door, the kitchen with a free-standing island looked out over the living room. At the far end, a gas fireplace faced with fieldstone sat against the wall. To the left, a sliding glass door looked over Waterside’s small harbor glistening with lights. On the right, sliding glass doors opened onto a courtyard filled with a heated pool. The two people from the caterers were busy setting up food on the kitchen island.
“Shall I show you the way?” said Theo with a twinkle in his eye.
“And you think I wouldn’t know the way to the bedroom, why?”
Theo took his hand and led him through the dining room that faced one bank of floor-to-ceiling- plate glass windows looking out onto the pool. The model for a development filled with container homes sat on the long black table. In contrast, a model for one of the weather, earthquake, and fireproof “Caribbean Homes” sat on a black sideboard that Lennox had “dressed up” with hand-painted vines of red, yellow, and blue. Over the sideboard was a portrait of both of them standing side-by-side that Lennox had painted. Lennox thought he had captured Theo’s smile radiating happiness perfectly.
The three initial investors had given Theo enough money to develop the eco home concept, but now Theo and Lennox needed new funds to build and distribute the units. This house, their home, was the showcase for the potential of eco homes. The luxury homes, Theo explained, would build cachet for the brand.
Lennox switched on the light in the bedroom and smiled. Bonkers was already on the bed, instead of his own, curled up and pretending to nap.
“Move over,” said Lennox as he pushed Bonkers to the side. He stretched out as he watched Theo put Lennox’s duffle bag in the walk-in closet. Theo fiddled with something on a high shelf.
“How’s Mrs. Pearson? She’s not upset with you moving out?” said Theo.
“She already rented the studio. She told me to kiss you for her. She misses you more than me since you moved in last month. How do you have that effect on people?”
“I guess I’m lovable,” said Theo with his trademark grin.
“Then show me,” said Lennox.
“I will.”
Theo crawled on the bed and leaned over Lennox and smiled with one hand behind his back.
“What devilment are you up to now?”
Theo smirked. “I’ve been talking to my lawyers.”
“Oh, God, spare me from lawyers.”
“They told me that if I just put your name on the deed, it could end up badly for both of us, should this partnership go south.”
“Isn’t that what you pay lawyers for?”
“I’m not worried about me. I want to protect your interests.”
Lennox arched his eyebrow. “And you want to do this how?”
“Not me. It was my lawyer’s suggestion.”
“Uh, huh, blame it on the lawyers.”
“No. I blame it on you, Lennox Sewell, because I can’t help but love you.”
“You’re killing me here, Collins.”
“You’re supposed to say, “I love you, too.”
Lennox grabbed Theo’s shirt and pulled him to topple on him and gave him a searing kiss. Even after a year, those kisses made his head swim.
“Okay, you do love me.”
“I do.”
Theo grinned. Just then, his phone rang, but Lennox snatched it from his hand as he tried to answer it.
“Why did you do that?”
“Someone will make you get out of this bed, and that doesn’t seem right with that thing you are holding in your hand."
“You know what it is?”
“Yes.”
"Cocky bastard. So, you won’t let me leave?" said Theo.
Bonkers snuggled against Theo, blocking him from getting off the bed.
"No, the dog is not letting you leave, but I agree with him."
Theo got to his knees over Lennox and opened the box with the ring he offered eleven months ago.
“I want you to wear my ring when we go to Livvy’s wedding. I don’t want a social media model thinking you are easy pickings. So, Lennox Sewell, will you marry me?”
Lennox smiled. “I thought you’d never ask. And I will but only on one condition.”
Theo frowned. “What’s that?”
“That you marry me.”
Theo laughed, and Bonkers jumped between them, giving both men doggie kisses.
Bonus Epilogue
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The Mountain Man and His Billionaire
His Billionaire Series, Book 2
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The BONUS second epilogue contains spoilers.
Chapter 1
Alister
“Daniel, I’m dying. Get me out of here.”
As Alister’s head pounded with a massive headache from drinking one too many lemon drop martinis on a hot day, he could hear the restrained huff of his personal assistant over the phone. With a groan, Alister sunk further into the sofa he sat in. The room, typical of his parents, was overly ornate and had too many furnishings for its function. But his parents never found excess a burden.
“You are not dying,” said Daniel with exasperation. “Where are you?”
“The bathroom on the first floor. I just couldn’t stand it anymore. Everyone is so damned happy. Livvy is in her glory because Carlton is home for the weekend barbecue. And Theo—” Here he sighed dramatically.
“And Theo, what?” said Daniel. “He’s like your big brother, for heaven’s sake.”
“Exactly! With a hunk of man on his arm, unlike me. Both my virtual big brother and my actual big sister are living their Happily Ever Afters while I’m crying over Insta.”
“Why are you looking at ‘he-who-should-not-be-named’s’ social media account? Have we not talked about this? Damn it. You shouldn’t have done all that free work for him on social media. If his sad little account petered out, you wouldn’t feel so bad.”
“I can’t help it if I’m a social media genius. It’s a natural talent.”
“That you got a master’s degree in. Who gets a Master in Communication?”
“Everyone these days,” sighed Alister.
“Stop looking at that skank’s Insta,” said Daniel. “Must I take your phone away?
“Please, you cannot confiscate my phone. Livvy tried that already.”
“That’s because you are a brat and memorized everyone’s safe combinations.”
“I am not,” Alister said haughtily. “I’m suffering here, Daniel. I can’t stay in Waterside one minute longer.”
“You could go to your family’s castle in Scotland and play golf.”
Alister sniffed. “It’s too cold there now, I suck at golf, and the locals do not think Primae Noctis is a fun idea.”
“That’s because you are not a feudal lord, and that only applied to women on their wedding nights.”
“Oh, yeah. That would be a problem.”
“You could go to your house on St. Croix.”
“The last time I went, I got sunburn and heartburn. Now I’m nauseated at the thought of it.”
Alister could hear Daniel rolling his eyes. “Besides,” continued Alister, “my family would know where to look for me.”
“And this is a problem?”
“No. The refugee from the SEALs is the problem.”
“He is not a refugee. He’s a highly qualified security consultant tasked with keeping you safe.”
“And therein lies the problem. How can I nurse a broken heart with wildly inappropriate men with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Forbidding standing guard in the corner?”
“First World problems, Alister. So many would like to have them.”
“Why do I put up with you?”
“Because I’ll do anything for you. Well, almost anything.”
“Then help me get out of here.”
“I can arrange a plane ticket and a car, but where do you want to go?”
Alister groaned and sunk his head to his hand. This caused more discomfort since his forehead hit his Vertu Bentley smartphone’s sapphire crystal face, reigniting his pounding headache. He stood and opened the medicine cabinet with a sigh to see if an analgesic hid within its bowels. Finding none, Alister rummaged through the drawers of the massive vanity. Here, frustratingly, he found only hand towels, a lipstick tube, a travel-size bottle of mouthwash, toothpaste, and a toothbrush.
“Great,” he groaned. “I see my family’s priorities. Forget your pounding head, but make sure you come to the dinner table with sparkling teeth and kissable breath.”
“What?” said Daniel. He sounded distracted.
“My family’s priorities are screwed up.”
“Alister! Pull it together. I’ve got another client blowing up my phone.”
“Ditch them.”
“You don’t pay enough to ditch this client.”
“Rude, rude, rude.”
“Truth and word, Alister. I can call you back.”
“No!” erupted Alister. He didn’t want to end this phone call with the only person that cared what Alister wanted.
“Where, then?”
Alister sucked on his lip and flipped through his emails.
“No, no, no,” muttered Alister as he thumbed through one message after another from friends sensibly ensconced in other countries enjoying their lives. It hit him another country would not do because he would need to retrieve his passport in his room upstairs. And Mr. Grim-With-A-Gun would follow him and figure out Alister’s plan. After all, he had been a SEAL and hunted terrorists or some such thing.
“Where can I go, Daniel?”
“Wait a minute,” Daniel said.
“What?” Alister huffed. He knew that traitor now texted another client at this minute, double-dipping on Alister’s time. So much for his Christmas bonus.
“Denver.”
“Denver?”
“Your friend Sebastian. He’s been after you forever to visit.”
“How do you know about him?”
“You told me last week he sent you an email inviting you to visit anytime.”
“You have the memory of an elephant.”
“Keep that in mind. I know where you buried all your peccadillos.”
“You leave my dildos out of this. Besides, I can’t go to Denver.”
“Why on earth not?”
“Sebastian lives at the top of a mountain. I’m no good with heights. What if I fall off?”
“Don’t tell me you never skied Aspen.”
“Please. With my delicate complexion? It’s too close to the
sun.”
“Alister, the earth is still ninety-three million miles from the sun, even at Aspen.”
“Isn’t there a hole in the ozone or something?”
“That’s in Antarctica.”
“Well, isn’t Colorado close to Alaska?”
“You’re thinking of the Arctic. And no, neither the Arctic nor Antarctica is close to Colorado. The ozone layer is just fine there. Alister, get a grip. I’m booking the plane now. And calling the car. Where do you want to meet it?”
“Wait. Why should I go to Denver?”
“Because there is alcohol on the plane.”
Alister considered the advantages of alcohol on the plane even if he had too many lemon drop martinis today.
“Fair point. But what will I wear?”
Daniel gave a long-suffering sigh. “Only you would worry about your wardrobe when making a jailbreak. I’ll order clothes from the Neiman in Denver and send them to Sebastian’s house. You need new clothes anyway.”
“Don’t I always?”
“It’s why you are my favorite client. You need to leave now. The car is on his way. Your flight leaves at 7:55 p.m. at JFK.”
“First class?”
“Please, you’re lucky I got you booked in business class, which is the highest upgrade you can get on this airline.”
“Oh, no—”
“Don’t say it. You’ll fly it and like it. I told the cab to meet you at the gate, so get walking. Do you have your ID?”
Alister patted the pockets of his pink flamingo print swim trunks. To his relief, his wallet rested in the right-hand pocket.
“Yes.”
“Then go. Now. Before the Grim Keeper discovers your nefarious plan to escape. And I’ll send a charger for your phone. I almost had a heart attack the last time you traveled and forgot it.”
“You did not.”
“Alister, I’m hanging up the phone now. And if you aren’t in Denver tomorrow, I’m charging you double for the time today. No. Triple.”
