Chase was startled out of his thoughts when two of his friends, Simon Tyler and Dale Miller, nudged him. “Chase! Did you know about the painting? It’s amazing,” Simon gushed.
Chase shook his head. “I didn’t. He can’t really see me that way, can he?”
“With as much as you’ve done over the years to help and protect him, yeah, I think that’s exactly how he sees you,” Dale replied. “Of course, he’s obviously blind. But then, if he showed you as you really are, no one would buy his artwork.” Dale and Simon cackled, and Chase glowered at the both of them.
“Maybe he’s trying to make up for conning you into working with Rhys,” Simon suggested.
“Harrumph! I still can’t believe I said yes, but you really think all this was planned? Seriously?”
“Eh, ignore Simon.”
“We’re going out tomorrow night to forget about the sexy ox, so don’t sweat it,” Simon said and winked. “Now, go congratulate James and smile. You look totally wrong with the scowl on your pretty face,” he instructed, turning Chase and pushing him toward the now advancing James.
Chapter 2
DALE MILLER shook Chase awake when he pulled up to the curb in front of Chase’s apartment building. Chase realized, belatedly, that he probably should have stayed in the night before. The sleep deprivation was not going to make spending the next nine hours or so at work, dealing with Rhys, any easier. He’d regretted agreeing to the date the previous night about ten minutes after John, his blind date, arrived. He’d told Simon setting him up was a bad idea, but those big, brown puppy eyes always got him into trouble—every damn time! Of course, he regretted agreeing to work for Rhys Sayer too, but his ability to tell James “no” was worse.
“Come on, buddy. You have work to get to. So do I.” Dale didn’t look much more awake than Chase felt, but he dutifully nodded and managed to remember to unbuckle before he got out of Dale’s little green Toyota Yaris.
“Thanks,” Chase mumbled as he grabbed his jacket and shuffled off toward his apartment on the second floor.
He stopped in his kitchen long enough to start the coffeemaker before heading to his room to strip. Chase glanced at his alarm clock and winced at the time. It was a little after six, Monday morning. Once his clothes were off and in the hamper, he padded into the bathroom to take a hot shower. He firmly believed sweat and smoke on a body were not attractive the next day. He cleaned up and got dressed, only fumbling with his slacks twice. He took one last look in the mirror and grimaced at the somewhat haggard look in his eyes. Bad date followed by friend crying over a broken heart…. Never again, please!
Chase made sure to put his leather cuff back on his left wrist, covering the scar there, and willfully ignoring the memories that always threatened to resurface when he was too tired. It and the silver spoon on a choker, he never left home without. He idly toyed with the double buckle as he thought about what John had said the night before, but wearing a leather cuff did not make him a sub or a bottom, no matter what anyone else thought.
Chase was thankful for the light traffic on his way to The Coiled Dragon Agency, the PI and bodyguard company Rhys and Mark owned. His mind wandered as he drove, reflecting on the changes in his life since he’d left Skye Designs. He’d only stayed so long in the first place to be there for James, but now that James only worked for them on a consulting basis and had dedicated himself to his art career, there was nothing to keep Chase there anymore. Starting his own consulting firm had terrified him at first, but he loved the freedom. Besides, it allowed him to still act as James’s assistant when needed.
He made it to the site right on time. He hoped his annoyance and exhaustion wouldn’t be too visible.
Shoving his keys into his pocket, Chase stepped out of his light blue Cruze, tilted his head back, and welcomed the crisp cool air and bright morning sun as it beat down on him. He knew he needed to wake up more and stop scowling before he met with Rhys, but his nerves had been on edge ever since he’d said yes two days ago.
He took a deep breath, then turned and headed toward the office. Chase’s phone rang as he reached for the door. “Manning,” he answered, no longer hiding the lilt he normally spoke with. He was his own boss now, and he refused to tone down or hide who he was ever again.
“Chase Manning?”
“Yes, this is Chase.”
“Good. I have the right number.” He recognized the voice but couldn’t put his finger on who it was, not with the loud, rumbling background noise.
“Yes, you have my number. Now, do I get to know who you are, or should I hang up?” he teased.
It kind of sounded like Dal, but the chuckle that came through the phone went straight to his gut. “I had you pegged for the studious type that always checks the screen before answering.” He knew that voice now: Rhys.
“What can I do for you, Sayer?”
“You can stop right where you are and not go in that door.”
Chase’s head popped up. He looked around the driveway and the street quickly, not amused when he noticed nothing around him but normal morning traffic. The office was in a converted house; the first floor was the agency. He knew the two floors above were living quarters, though he didn’t know who lived up there.
“Why?” he ground out. “I’m here as a favor to you because James wants us to work together. For now.” He needed more caffeine and sleep if the man was getting to him this fast.
“Mark was called away on another job. I’m on my way back now, so if you go in, you’ll be breaking in, as no one’s in the office.”
Chase ground his teeth as he counted to ten in his head.
“You could have— Whatever, just hurry up or I’m going back home. Even empty, my bed is more enjoyable than you.” Chase snapped his cell shut and slipped it back into his pocket, but immediately drew it back out again and sent a short text to James.
»I SO hate you right now! XOXO«
Right after he hit send, he heard the unmistakable sound of Rhys’s Softail.
His cell chimed.
»LOL« was all James replied.
Chase had debated riding his metallic blue Sabre to work, but between his exhaustion and the fact Rhys would probably think he was “trying too hard” or something equally asinine, he’d driven his car.
Rhys rode up and parked his bike next to his Cruze. Watching the mountain of a man move to stand and dismount the bike had his mind wandering everywhere it shouldn’t and his gaze glued to the hard, tight jeans-clad ass before him. Chase spun around fast to face the door when Rhys started to turn, not about to let The Ego know how much he was lusted after.
RHYS TOOK his time parking and dismounting his motorcycle. He hoped to maintain his aloof demeanor, though God knew it was hard to do with Chase standing there waiting on him. Chase was dressed in a light blue button-down shirt with fine dusky blue vertical stripes that conformed to his lean and lithe chest and abs. On his slender hips hung a pair of low-rise black jeans that were faded on the thighs, ones he was certain Chase knew showed off his form well. His black leather belt had a twin, double buckle that matched the leather wrist cuff he always wore.
Rhys’s gaze flicked up to Chase’s face, and he looked into his eyes, mesmerized by the swirling colors framed by thick chestnut lashes. Chase’s eyes were one part blue and three parts green, with the most beautiful flecks of gold in them that seemed to follow the path of where one color merged into the other. He had never seen eyes with two distinct colors like Chase’s, much less with the intricate, almost lace-like patterns throughout the iris. Then he fixed on the silver hoop through the full, pouty bottom lip on the most beautiful, delicate, yet masculine face he had ever seen.
He broke from gazing at Chase with a slow blink, trying desperately to regain his self-control and professionalism. Keeping a firm grip on his helmet, Rhys strolled to the office door, unlocking and holding it open for Chase to enter ahead of him. He quickly disarmed the alarm and turned on the lights.
“Nichelle,
our receptionist-slash-office manager, will be here in a few minutes. Until then, let me show you around and introduce you to your new office area. It’s set up how Kailee wanted, but you’re free to modify it however you desire. Computers aren’t my thing really, but Kailee swore this was the best for what we needed.”
“I checked out this Kailee of yours yesterday, and while I brought some of my own equipment, she’s got a killer rep. So if she designed it, I’m sure it will suffice.”
Chase restrained his words and voice a little more than he expected. Rhys couldn’t help but be enchanted at the wide eyes roaming over the equipment or at Chase bouncing in place as he started touching different items.
“Come on. Let me show you where things are before you go all geek on me,” Rhys said with a rumbling laugh.
Chase froze, hand outstretched. He turned his head toward Rhys, licked his lips, and then asked, “Go geek? Really?”
Rhys swallowed hard at the flare of heat in Chase’s eyes but quickly shook it off. “Is it nerd, not geek?”
Chase growled, his lips compressed as he squinted up at Rhys. “Why don’t you go lift something, or whatever it is you lumbering brutes do, and I’ll go back to my car,” Chase snapped.
“I wasn’t trying to insult you, Cha—” Rhys stopped midword at the look on Chase’s face. “I mean, Mr. Manning. You just seemed so… I don’t know, giddy. I didn’t want to get in the way once you started working on the system. But, um, Nichelle has all the codes and things you’ll need, so….”
Chase looked past Rhys, stomped back out to the main area, and slowly turned in place. After a few moments, he stopped, faced Rhys again, and started talking. “Reception,” he said, pointing to the large, curved wood desk near the front. “Waiting area, obvious by the chairs, couches, table, and reading materials,” he continued, again gesturing with his slender hands. “Tech is here, of course,” he added with a mischievous little smirk that made Rhys want to lick it off his face. “And I would hazard a guess that the two doors over there lead to Mark’s and your offices, yours being the one closest to the front door. Kitchen, restrooms, and of course, storage. Did I miss anything?” Chase added with a grin.
Rhys sighed, shaking his head. “No, not really. You’re good on details. Impressive. I’ll just get out of your way, then, so you can get everything set how you want.”
“Might be nice to know what I’m setting up to do, Rhys.”
“You’ll be doing net research some,” Rhys explained. “We’ll also need you to do some digging through computers, phones, et cetera. It just depends on the case at the time.” He rubbed his eyes before continuing. “And yes, that means hacking into things here and via the net occasionally. I didn’t mess with how Kailee left things, but I figured it’s like anything else—you’ll want things where you want them and not where someone else would.”
Rhys turned to go to his office when Chase nodded his agreement, but drew up short when he heard the bell chime, letting him know someone was entering the office.
He moved around to the front and spotted Nichelle coming in, weighed down with goodies. “Lord, woman, what all did you get? It’s just the three of us for now.”
“Oh shush, you. You said the boy loved mocha but didn’t bother to find out what kind, so I called Mr. Bryant and asked him. So I have a peppermint-and-white-chocolate mocha for him, a regular coffee for you, my drink, and a chocolate cheesecake brownie for you each. Now, where’s our new computer boy?”
Rhys laughed at her rambling. He had adored her since the first time they met, back when she was dating his little brother, Dal. However, he was happier with her working for him than her dating Dal. “You two will get along great. Chase is already in the tech cave.”
“Actually, I’m right here.” Rhys turned and found Chase walking up behind him. Chase extended his right hand to take Nichelle’s, bending to kiss the back of it before placing his other hand lightly on top. “Charmed. You must be the infamous Nichelle I’ve heard so much about.”
She giggled, blushing slightly. “And you, sir, are quite the little charmer, aren’t you? James and Dal warned me about you.”
Chase flashed her a bright smile, which drew more giggles. “My dear, I am many things. A few of them are even safe for public consumption. Now, did I hear something about a mocha, ’cuz I know I smell one,” Chase purred, sniffing the air lightly.
Oh God! Rhys grabbed his coffee and brownie and quickly fled to his office, closing the door before letting out the breath he’d been holding. I am never going to survive having him work for me. Why did I listen to Seth and James?
“Why does he have to be so beautiful?” Rhys mumbled as he sat down at his desk, wanting to find his work for the day distracting, though he didn’t hold much hope.
LEANING BACK in his office chair, eyes closed, Rhys struggled with his mixed desire and fear. He had long ago given up on doing the books. On his best day, numbers barely held his attention, but today Rhys’s chest ached from the expression of hurt and frustration on Chase’s face that kept drifting into his imagination. He opened his eyes and drew in a deep breath, hoping to banish the phantom look. It didn’t help any. The pains of his past and his fear of accidentally harming the young man again drowned out his appreciation of Chase’s sheer beauty and sensuality.
Comparably, Chase was so fragile, so fluid in his movements and emotions. Rhys knew that were he to give in—if Chase would even consent to try a relationship with him—Rhys was certain he would come away more brokenhearted than he already was or be sent away for being too base a man. It had happened before, and he was determined not to go there again. Ever.
CHASE SPENT the next couple of hours continuing to set up and rearrange the tech area, impressed with everything already there. As Chase thought he had things the way he wanted them, he was snapped out of his musing by the loud clearing of someone’s throat behind him.
“Um, Chase?”
He peered up from the floor where he was kneeling, having finished binding the cords up and out of the way completely, and noticed Mark Gentry standing in the entryway. “Oh, Mark, you scared me.” He smiled to show he was teasing. “What do you need?”
The rumbling laugh Mark let out tickled Chase, who was glad he could interact with Mark without the drama and stress he had with Rhys. “Right. You, scared? You have to be the most non-scaredy cat person I know.”
“Aw, you say the sweetest things,” Chase cooed, batting his eyelashes and smiling.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, I need two things from you, if you can crawl out here for a bit.” Mark stood over Chase, brow raised and a smirk on his lips.
Chase grinned wider and began to crawl forward.
“Like this?” he asked innocently.
“You’re evil and you know it.” Mark chuckled and took a step back, then motioned Chase to stand, which he did with his usual grace and fluidity.
“You are so not fun.” Chase fake pouted. “Better now?”
“Yes, oh naughty one. Now, I need to see what you can dig up on this guy,” Mark continued. He handed Chase a thin folder.
“Sure, but that’s only one request. You said there were two.” Chase sat at his desk and opened the file, checking what information Mark had provided. “What am I looking for exactly?”
“Financial issues mostly. He’s the reason I wasn’t here when you arrived. He’s causing trouble for a client, and I have a suspicion on the why. I’m hopin’ you can help me find the pieces I need to shut him down.”
“That should be easy. I thought you guys needed help with something hard.” Chase pouted, this time for real, as he still didn’t see why Rhys needed him here.
“Ha-ha. I do, just not for this case.”
“Oh, do tell.”
The sudden flush that spread over Mark’s face and down his neck surprised Chase. “I, um, it’s nothing to do with work. It’s a personal request?"
Chase smiled, motioning him to continue, curious what else his friend could need hel
p with.
“I know it has nothing to do with work, but I hear you’re good with cooking and wine and such, and I really need to impress my guests this weekend and kinda hoped you’d help me?” Mark explained, saying it all together as if it were one long word.
“Company? You’re still seeing Aurora, right?” At Mark’s nod, Chase continued. “So, whatcha need?”
“Her folks are coming to town.” The miserable look Mark gave him had him fighting not to laugh. “And it’s my first time doing the whole dinner-with-the-parents thing. Well, where I’m in charge, at least.”
“All right, hun. Step one, breathe. Step two, let me get some work done and we can chat later about what all you need. Oh, and step three, relax. They are gonna totally love you! Now go, shoo, go on. Don’t want my bosses getting upset with me for slacking off,” he added with a wink.
Mark grinned as he turned away. Chase could hear him laughing all the way back to his office.
Chapter 3
RHYS WALKED beside Mark as they wandered the aisles at the Pick ’n Save, fighting the urge to laugh. Mark stood in the baking aisle, looking bewildered and clutching a typed list of ingredients. “Why do I need brown sugar, white sugar, and honey? And why does it matter if the salt is kosher or from the sea or not?”
“I don’t know, man. It’s your list,” Rhys answered, failing to keep a straight face.
“But he swore I needed all this and that it would be easy to fix,” Mark complained. “Should have let him do the shopping part like he suggested,” he added under his breath.
“So why didn’t you? And who is this mystery ‘he’?” Rhys had been curious all week about whom Mark had roped into cooking for him. He knew Mark could cook but would be a basket case if he did so while trying to impress Aurora’s parents.
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