“My brother’s on the way to take me out tobrunchwith aninvestor.” He put heavy sarcasm into the words. “I thought we’d established ourselves, and I wouldn’t have to do meet-and-greets anymore.”
“Where are we going for brunch?”
The “we” made Fynn perk up a bit.Right, I get to have Nolan there. I won’t feel like such a social loser around him. But I’ve better things to do with him than brunch.“We have fifteen minutes till Micah get here. I’ve had sex quicker than that.” Talking to his brother had taken the edge off his hard-on, but a minute or two with Nolan would fix him right up.
“Nu-uh.” Nolan looked tempted, but he backed up instead. “The first time I have sex with you, there’s not going to be a limit before your brother comes walking in the door. I’m going to take my time with you.”
Fynn sucked a breath because that wasnotmaking him patient. However, he realized he desperately needed the shower he hadn’t taken yet, with the sweat of his nightmares still lingering. He discretely sniffed his armpit.Yeah, if Nolan was willing to snuggle that, he really is interested.Fynn waved toward his pile of clothes on the hallway floor, whichweren’ta good polo and slacks.Crap.“I’ll go shower and get different clothes, I guess.”
“I’ll make us some coffee before we go.”
“You’re a lifesaver. And one other thing.”
“Name it.”
Fynn briefly let himself imagine some of the things he could ask for with a wide-open offer, but there was only one they had time for. “Kiss me again first.”
Perhaps Fynn did a better job of kissing back, or maybe they got the angle exactly right, but when they were done, Nolan’s arms around him were the only thing keeping Fynn upright. Fynn’s vision sparkled and Nolan’s erection against his stomach didn’t make walking away easier. He blinked hard, let go of the thick biceps he’d been clinging to, and backed off a step. Then another.Better than breakfast. Although I need my coffee. I’ll pacify Micah for now, but hot damn, I’m going to get Nolan back in my bed ASAP.“And it won’t take a nightmare.”
Nolan cocked his head, a frown forming, then fading from his forehead. “With luck, we’ll have far better things to do in your bed than nightmares.”
“Hold that thought.” Fynn took one more look at Nolan, at the brightness of his eyes and the hard cock straining at his zipper.For me.Nolan was some kind of miracle. Fynn hurried off to shower and dress and get back to Nolan’s side before disaster stepped in and took his miracle away.
Chapter 10
Nolan straightened up in the back seat of Micah’s car as they turned in at the gates to Southwinds Marina and Yacht Club. In the driver’s seat, Micah pulled out ID to show the gate guard.At least there’s some security.
Nolan had thought about insisting on driving, but he’d wanted to keep his hands and attention free. He figured they weren’t likely to need his defensive driving skills. This excursion had arrived out of the blue, unplanned, which meant no kidnapper should’ve had time to set up a roadside ambush. And brother or not, Nolan didn’t want Micah Dempsey lurking behind him.
Nolan hadn’t told Fynn his brother was on the suspect list— low down, but still on it. Micah had hired Stone Security but that could be a cover-up. Nolan remembered the D-list TV star who’d supposedly hired them because she was being stalked. The whole thing turned out to be a hoax to get media attention. She’d only destroyed her own property, so once they realized what was going on, they’d closed out the contract and backed the hell away. Let the cops figure her out.
Whoever’s behind the attempts on Fynn, though, I’m bringing them down, even if it’s Micah.
Oliver had discovered Micah was overextended on a property purchase and counting on next quarter’s profits to dig him back out of a hole. RipeBox had essential employee insurance on Fynn. That made sense— FynnwasRipeBox, and if something happened to him, the company would need money to close down ethically, paying its debts and severance owed to its staff. But the policy also had ten million in kidnapping and ransom insurance, which meant if Fynn was held for ransom, the money wouldn’t come out of Micah’s pockets.
Might it go into them instead?
Sometimes, Nolan hated how his profession made him suspicious of everyone. He hoped for Fynn’s sake that the tingling spider senses he had around Micah were just because Micah treated Fynn like a combination between a prized possession and a child. Already today, he’d criticized Fynn’s choice of polo shirt—too bright blue— and slacks—you should’ve picked something tailored— and hair—how long since you had a cut and style?Then he’d told Fynn to stick to superficial conversation and avoid the details of the portable design.“He’s a science type himself, so he might understand you, but I guarantee he doesn’t want to hear fourteen pages of design specs over brunch.”
Fynn had sniped back that he could’ve worn his red “Trust me. I’m a biochemist,” T-shirt, but now he slumped in the passenger seat, picking at his cuticles. Nolan hated the slouch of Fynn’s shoulders. They should be back in bed with Fynn properly caffeinated, talking about where their relationship went from here. Instead, Nolan didn’t even dare reach over the seat to squeeze Fynn’s shoulder, because Micah would notice. Nolan couldn’t risk that without getting the okay from Fynn.
Micah parked and led the way into an open, airy dining room. Despite the supposedly casual brunch, the tables were set with linen cloths and vases holding single chrysanthemums. Nolan brought up the rear, sweeping his gaze around the space. Most of the tables were occupied with two or more diners, the high-fashion logos on their shirts and three-hundred-dollar haircuts shouting their wealth.
When the hostess came over, Micah said, “Two tables please. A single for my man here, but bring the bill to me,” with a gesture at Nolan, “and then there’ll be three of us when my associate joins us. On the patio, I think.”
“Right this way.” She gathered up leather-bound menus and led them across the room.
Fynn leaned close to Micah and whispered, “What do you mean, a single table for Nolan? Why can’t he sit with us?”
Micah raised a carefully shaped eyebrow. “We’re trying to woo this investor, not intimidate him. Anyway, I expect Stone would prefer to be far enough away to have a better view of the situation. Is that not correct?” He turned that eyebrow on Nolan.
Nolan would’ve loved to insist on sitting right next to Fynn, especially after being called “my man.” Maybe play footsie under the table to bug Micah, if he suspected what they were up to. But field of view was important and he still didn’t know if Fynn wanted his brother in the loop. Glancing around, Nolan realized he wouldn’t be the only bodyguard sitting with his back to the wall and an eye on the room. “That’s fine,” he agreed as they passed a guy whose sidearm deformed the shape of his jacket.
The hostess gave Nolan a small table at the edge of the patio and led Micah and Fynn to a larger one. There were several occupied tables between them, but Fynn’s seat was within clear view.It’ll be fine.Nolan tried to relax into a comfortable posture while scanning the area, ignoring Micah showing Fynn the menu and Fynn’s mulish expression. Just because Micah was an asshole and Fynn was the best thing to ever happen to Nolan didn’t mean…
God, he really is.For a moment, Nolan lost himself in wonder. How had one intense, bespectacled scientist leaped past all the cool reserve Nolan prided himself on and grabbed him by the heart? What had happened to the guy who’d cruise a club, pick up the hottest man there for an hour, and then walk away?
Fynn happened.That was the only answer.
