Jude was very impressed. The security company that Law had built looked like it ran like a well-oiled machine. This was the second location. Law left his Nevada office to check in remotely, but this new office was his baby. He grinned. “You did good.”
Law preened. “I think so. I currently have four bodyguards and a whole floor of admin and computer experts. I’m going to take this business to a new level.”
“I have no doubt. If anyone could do it, it’s you.” Jude had lunch with Jude in town before following Jude to the tall building that he’d bought to run his new security group from. The reason he’d returned home. Close to Jude.
“I could still use a few men. Men that I can trust,” Law told him.
Jude wasn’t surprised by the words. Expected them, even. Even though he was making changes in his life, Jude wasn’t sure about getting back into that life. Of trying to save people. Not when he still held the guilt of not saving the one person who had meant everything to him.
“You don’t have to decide now,” Law said quickly. “I’m not pressuring you. Just know that there’s no expiration for this offer. There’s a job for you if you ever decide you want it.”
He nodded. Jude appreciated the offer. He would even think about it. Knowing he wasn’t ready now didn’t mean he would never be ready. He needed time to think. Too many changes at once were never a good thing.
And Jude had another problem. His newly found obsession with his neighbor. It had been a week since he and Liam had chosen to be friends. Friends. Jude wanted to kick his own ass for that. He was interested in so much more than friends with Liam. The more time that Jude felt with Liam, the more he needed to be around him.
Time. He just needed more time.
Thankfully Liam seemed to have the patience of a saint.
Somone knocked on the door a second before it opened. “Mr. O’Dell. You have a meeting in twenty minutes.”
“Thanks, Matty,” Law said. “Will you show Jude out?” He turned toward Jude. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Dinner this week,” Jude agreed. See, this was him trying. He’d been out of the house most of the afternoon and had made plans with Law for later in the week.
They hugged before Law’s assistant Matty walked Jude to the elevator. Matty was an attractive young man, with dark eyes and a ready smile, but he didn’t interest Jude, even when Matty gave him a flirty wink. No one interested Jude except for the neighbor that had managed what no one else had. To pull Jude out of his self-imposed solitude. To make Jude want to be better.
He’d told Liam that he would be out of the house with Law most of the day and wondered what the boy was doing. Writing? Talking to Nicky on the phone? Maybe spending some time onthe beach. Reaching his vehicle, Jude pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
Headed back. Need anything from town?
Jude sent the text message. He might or might not get a response. Liam wasn’t that great about checking his messages. The boy hardly kept the phone on him. When Liam did know where the little device was, it was either low on battery or on silent.
Putting the vehicle in drive, Jude headed home. He could turn around or backtrack if Liam did need anything. With no immediate response, Liam probably wasn’t near his cell.
Halfway home Jude hit traffic.
He growled at the bumper-to-bumper cars in front of him. Just what he needed. People. Jude was not a fan.
While at a stop, Jude checked his phone but there was no response from Liam yet.
If the boy was on the beach, he’d better have taken the precautions that Jude had laid out in very specific detail. While Jude wasn’t claiming to be Liam’s Daddy, like he really wanted to, he did have to remind Liam too often to hydrate and apply sunscreen. Jude had even given the boy a bottle of the brand of sunscreen he used when Liam had whined about his being greasy and yucky.
Yes, the boy had regressed slightly around Jude a couple of times. No, Jude did not mind. In fact, Jude appreciated that he could lull Liam into feeling safe with him.
Jude had spoken to Law at length about Liam over lunch. Admitted to his feelings. Even asked for advice. Smirking, Lawhad insisted on meeting Liam and Jude had no defense against it. Not when he’d finally admitted out loud that he wanted Liam as his boy.
The traffic began to move and Jude blew out a sign of relief.
He would be home soon. Back to his sanctuary. Back to his boy.
* * * * *
Liam
Humming, Liam rocked from side to side as he patted down more sand. The castle was huge! The best one that Liam had ever built. Jude would be so proud when he saw it.
He picked up his bottle of water to find it empty. Huh, when did that happen? As a matter of fact, Liam’s stomach kind of hurt. He glanced around to see that the beach wasn’t as crowded as it had been when Liam had come out.
