I watch him lick his fingers as promised and I whimper. And then he’s helping me clean up and readjusting my clothes, using every excuse to kiss me. Touch me. He does this. Treats me sweetly after taking over during sex. I like it more than I should.
I love it.
“Not to break the mood, but I still need to go through a few of these deliveries. Make sure the orders match up with the receipts. Want to join me?”
“Fun.” I smirk at him as I button my pants. “More unpacking? It’ll be just like old times.”
His smile is almost tender. “I’ll rub your back after.”
“It’s a date.”
He pats the desk and heads for the stairs. “Let me grab us some waters from the cooler and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
As I watch Elliot disappear, it takes me a minute to notice my pocket is buzzing. I slip out my phone and see several missed text messages from Tani.
T-Diddy: Did you see what’s happening?!
T-Diddy: Where are you? This is urgent!
T-Diddy: Derek is on his way. I want you to get in the car and come straight home. DO NOT tell Elliot anything and under no circumstances let him come with you.
T-Diddy: He’s outside. Please, Joey. Get home now.
“What the hell?”
But I’m already rushing down the stairs. I’ve known Tani long enough to know when she’s serious. If she tells me to get home, I’m getting the fuck home.
“Joey?”
Shit. I turn, clutching the phone to my chest. “I’m sorry. I need to pass on those boxes. Tani needs me. Work emergency.”
I hate lying, but at least I’m not sure what I’m lying about yet, so it doesn’t seem like I’m lying. I think?
Elliot is instantly at my side. “Do you need a ride? I can come with you if it’s serious. These boxes can wait.”
“No. I mean, I don’t need a ride. Derek is outside already. I apparently missed some calls while we were breaking things in.”
“Right.” He scrubs the back of his neck, his brow furrowed. “Then you shouldn’t keep him waiting. Can you call me later? Just to let me know Tani is okay and you don’t need me for anything?”
This man is too good to be true. “I will. And I’ll owe you a backrub. Probably naked.”
His lips curve, a spark of relief in his eyes. “Sounds promising. Probably.”
I lean in and kiss the corner of his mouth. “See you later.”
Derek is already opening the door for me when I get to the curb. “Do you have any idea what’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you what I can on the way, sir.”
When I’m in the car, I text Tani with shaking hands. Ten minutes ago, I was in heaven. Now I’m a nervous wreck.
Did I see what? What’s so urgent? And why couldn’t I tell Elliot about it?
“Is she hurt? Is it my mom or Rick, Derek? Is everyone safe?”
Derek offers a quick assurance. “No one’s hurt. It’s nothing like that. It’s about the reporters.”
“The reporters?” Oh. That. “They found out Elliot was here, didn’t they? Is that what’s wrong?”
“That’s part of it, sir.”
I was hoping for another week, but it was bound to happen. We both knew it after he bought the building and started contacting some of his old coaches about his idea. Elliot told me not to worry about it more than once. He and his manager were already communicating with the team owners, discussing family-friendly venues for his single-father debut. He decided putting it out there in the right way would be better than them discovering the truth on their own.
But it looks like they waited too long.
“Part of it? What’s the rest, Derek? You know I need specifics.”
His sigh is so profound I feel it knotting my stomach. This isn’t good.
“The reporters want to know about you, specifically. The man connected to EJ Ransom.”
“Me?”
He hesitates. “Someone saw you two together and things escalated from there.”
Because the universe sucks balls.
We were so careful. Weren’t we?
I got the hotel room in my name while Elliot was pretending to peruse the gift shop. We were either in my office, our building or his. Before that the only time we were out together was at the pub.
This was the worst-case scenario I was trying to avoid. Not for my sake. All of my clients know I’m gay. I have it in my damn bio on our website, precisely so we won’t have to deal with preconceived notions or phobias. It’s Elliot and Rue I’m thinking about. And those baseball fans. Anxiety about them in particular has kept me up at night.
“Have they said anything about Rue?”
“They have. In fact, I heard someone on my way over wondering if that wasn’t how you two met. Since you’re the Manny guy. Their words, sir. Not mine.”
On the way over? So we’re on the radio now?