So a small white lie, since we probably would talk business at some point.
When we were seated and the waiter had taken our drink orders, I turned to Jonah. The small round table made it easy to talk quietly, which I was grateful for. “So Graham only gave me vague answers when I asked what you do for a living.”
Graham shrugged. “Because he only gave me vague answers.”
Jonah chuckled. “Vague is easier than the truth.”
When I raised one eyebrow and waited, he blushed and continued. “I’m an artist primarily, but that doesn’t always pay the bills, so I do a variety of things. I’m Austin’s personal assistant for the things he doesn’t have his housekeeper or business manager do, and I also work for Dakota helping him with research and keeping him on track.”
“Ah, that makes sense. I bet working with both of them is a bit insane sometimes.” I grinned as Jonah chuckled and nodded. “Especially right now with all that Austin is handling.”
Jonah rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah, and Dakota is just as bad. He’d forget to bathe if someone didn’t remind him.”
Graham laughed. “He looks so put together and in control.”
“A total act.” Jonah’s teasing smile made me want to lean over and taste his lips. “He’d forget his head if it wasn’t screwed on or if I didn’t remind him.”
“Is it hard working for someone that you’re friends with? I get it to some degree, but I mean, Graham and I have always worked together, so it’s not really the same thing.” I paused as Jonah started to nod.
“Yeah, in the beginning it was a bit weird, but they were really sweet about it mostly, and we worked out the kinks with it. For the most part, it goes smoothly now.” Jonah shrugged. “I have time for my art and they get help with what they need. Austin is big on privacy, so it’s hard for him to find a PA, and Dakota needs a keeper, not an assistant. But that’s hard to advertise for.”
Somehow I had a feeling he was downplaying everything he did. There was just a little stress around his eyes as he talked about everything he was doing and his smile seemed a bit forced. But I didn’t know him well enough to force the issue, so I let it drop.
“Will you let us see your art sometime? I’m really curious.” I glanced over to see Graham nodding. “We both are.”
Jonah blushed. “I guess so.”
I reached over and squeezed his hand. “When you’re ready, not before.”
It seemed that his art was more private to him than teasing about submission. I’d have to remember that. “So what would you like to know about us?”
Graham groaned. “That was very open-ended.”
Jonah grinned. “Everything.”
“Well, I don’t remember being born, but—”
“Okay, okay.” Jonah paused and thought for a few seconds, still grinning. “How about…how did you guys meet?”
“I flattened him.” I laughed as Graham groaned.
Jonah raised one eyebrow, trying not to laugh, so I had to explain. “I’d just moved into the area and was trying out for the football team mid-season. Normally they wouldn’t do it, but they’d lost a few players because of other moves, so they made an exception. Well, I was a bit overenthusiastic and let’s just say I got to know Graham very well on the first play.”
Graham was shaking his head, still not finding the memory as funny as I did. “You were such an asshole.”
“An asshole who made you hard.” I turned back to Jonah. “He was so fucking hot. You have no idea. His eyes flashed. He was so pissed, but that only made him sexier. Then right before I had to get off him, because the coach was losing his mind, Graham realized he wasn’t the only one who was getting turned on.”
Jonah was grinning, but his wide eyes and subtle wiggles said he found the memory as hot as I did. “He kept trying to dodge me after that, doing his best to never be alone with me.”
“Because I was mortified.” Graham finally broke a smile. “And you were so fucking persistent it was scary.”
Jonah’s smile was ear-to-ear, so I batted my eyelashes at him and winked. “I’m irresistible.”
“That’s not what I said.” He waved the straw wrapper around he’d been playing with. “You’re not telling this right.”
So of course, he had to take over.
“He starts stalking me, and I had no idea why I found him so sexy even though he seemed insane. Alphas didn’t tease other alphas like that. It was stuff he should’ve been doing to an omega he was interested in. So I had all kinds of wires crossed every time I looked at him.” Graham gave me an indulgent look, warming up to the story.
