Chapter 23

The black SUV sidles up to my curb at 10:59 AM. Right on time. Jared watches me skip down the steps, suitcase in hand. He gives me a knowing smile.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say my baby brother got bit by the love bug."

I punch his arm, hard. He grimaces and sticks his tongue out me. The exchange is nothing more than a childish altercation that should have phased out years ago. Though unlike the punches I gave him when we were kids, this one isn't given with hatred or annoyance.

It's given out brotherly love.

Jared holds up his hands to retreat, his plaid shirt tightening around his slender arms. "Stop. You win. You win."

I dust off my shoulder and open the front door. "All in a day's work."

Blake gets out of the car and opens the door for me, a tentative smile playing on his lips. Jared sighs in longing.

"That dude is so hot."

I roll my eyes.... but can't say I'll disagree with him.

Since admitting my interest for men to Jared after returning from Florida, our relationship has blossomed. Now, instead of going out and trolling for women, I spend a lot of my free time with him. It's weird that I've been around the guy for eighteen years and only now am getting to know him.

Jared pushes me out the door and waves to my boss. Blake smirks and waves in return. Then Jared grabs ahold of my shirt and tugs me backward to whisper something in my ear.

"Promise me you'll text me the second you guys fuck!"

I slap his hand away and scowl at him. "You're an idiot."

Jared winks. "I'll take that as an 'Ok, big brother, I will!'"

I flip him off and straighten out my shirt, making sure to keep out of arm's reach this time. He gives a final look of longing to my boss, waves, and then shuts the door. It'll only be a matter of seconds until I see his head peeking out from the curtains of the second floor guest room.

Blake watches me as I approach him, eyes softer than I have seen them in months. His normal work attire has been replaced with a black t-shirt and jeans, a casual look that is far sexier on him than should be allowable.

"You look good," I comment.

Blake glances down at his apparel and then closes the distance between us. His lips find my ear, a gentle hand falling in place at the small of my back.

"You should see me without clothes on. I look even better."

My brain feels like it's about to explode picturing my boss stripping down to nothing but his birthday suit. I've seen him with just a towel once, and that view had enough potency to fill my dreams for weeks. Getting to see him naked would take it to a whole new level.

I duck my head into the car, breaking our contact. Blake chuckles faintly and closes the door behind me. The driver seems irritated that this process is taking so long. He must not work for Blake or else he'd be sending me daggers and making sarcastic small talk, no doubt.

Speaking of which...

"Is Todd picking us up from the airport?" I ask when Blake gets settled.

"Yes."

I roll my eyes. "That dude's annoying as fuck."

Blake smirks. "He's a very loyal employee of mine and I have known him for many years."

"Still annoying as fuck."

Blake laughs. It's one of the first times I've heard a genuine, real laugh from him. He's chuckled around me a few times, but I've never heard him so carefree. He has a booming type of laugh, filled with warmth and happiness.

Another shot of confidence is lapped up by my ego knowing it's me who's making him laugh like that. I bite back a grin of my own. There's still a gap of space between Blake and me, but both of us are leaning into one another, our hands just inches away from touching.

The driver's gaze flickers to the rearview mirror, and he squints noticing our closeness. His disapproving look makes me recoil my hand. Embarrassment floods over my features, and I can feel my face burning. I pick off a nonexistent piece of lint from my pants and hope Blake doesn't notice.

Jared warned me this might happen. He said that self-admitting my attraction towards men was the first step. Admitting it to others? Step two. Having the courage to show it in front of others? A far, far cry for step three. I swallow hard and pick at another piece of fictitious lint, inwardly hoping Blake is patient with me.

"We're not going to have a ton of time before our flight," Blake says, oblivious to my moment of panic. "But do you want to grab a drink first? There's a little food and bar near our gate."

"That depends," I say, grateful for the change of subject. "Do you plan on seating me next to Fat Bertha again?"

Blake's eyes widen and he guffaws. "What?"

I dive into my explanation of Fat Bertha, embellishing on a few details here and there. Blake tips his head back, another fit of laughter taking over his shoulders. The sound relaxes me, and my mind drowns in Blake's attention. It's intoxicating, really.

So much so that I forget about my moment of panic.

So much so that I don't give a shit about the driver watching us with critical eyes from the rearview mirror.

_________________

The sweltering, Floridian heat clings to every inch of my clothing as we walk out of Miami airport. I tug off my hoodie and unzip my suitcase just enough to shove it inside. The smell of sticky sweat, smoke, and faint perfume absorbs the air and my nose crinkles.

Nothing like a little humidity to kick the olfactory senses into high gear.

Blake waves when a sleek, red convertible comes into view. It looks out of place against the weathered yellow and black taxicabs pulsing through the terminal in search of new customers. A few people standing around us watch it approach with envy. I notice one woman eyeing the car and then glancing at Blake. Her gaze travels down his torso and she grins to herself, impressed with the view.

I don't know which annoys me more – watching this woman as she continues to eye-fuck my boss, or watching Todd's rat face light up as he pulls the vehicle up to the curb. My hands curl into balls of frustration.

"How was the flight, boss?" Todd shouts over the traffic.

He dashes out of the car, all too eager to get ahold of Blake's luggage. He unlocks the trunk and hoists it inside, ignoring my presence. Blake glances at me and grins, knowing very well what thoughts are tumbling through my mind from our prior conversation about his 'ever-loyal' employee.

"It was good, Todd," Blake answers with a candid smile. "Were you able to make all the arrangements I faxed over yesterday?"

"Yep, schedule is all set, boss. We are good to go."

"It's cool, I'll get my own luggage," I snap, shouldering past Todd to get to the trunk.

I can tell he wants to shoot me another one-liner response. But it never surfaces. He gives me a nod, his lips pursing together with restraint. The dude can't stand me, and I can tell it's painful for him to watch me get the last words.

Did Blake tell him about us? He mentioned their closeness on our way to the airport. Just how close is 'close'? Todd opens the car door for us, and Blake ushers me to get in before him. As usual.

I slide into the leather seat, stretching out my legs. Blake slides in next to me doing the same. Todd eases the car away form the curb and beings weaving us out of the congested traffic.

The conversation picks up as soon as we hit the highway...without any input needed from me. Todd chatters on and on about the new store and all the buzz that's been created since the last time we left. Blake adds his professional words every now and then.

I roll my eyes and reach in my pocket to grab my phone. Three new text messages are waiting for me – one from Jared and two from Cade.

Jared: You guys fuck yet?

I smirk and swipe over to Cade's text messages.

Cade: What's the good word?

Cade: You land yet? Or do I need to start sending out my flock of gay bartenders to look for you?

I shift in my seat, angling the phone away from Blake. It's not like I have anything to hide. Not really, anyway.

When I signed Blake's 'touch-me, fuck-me' contract, there was nothing in there about a relationship. Plus, even with all the confessions shared between Blake and me, not once were feelings thrown into the mix.

That makes it purely physical. Right?

I text Cade.

Me: Just landed. Heading to hotel now.

His response buzzes against my fingertips.

Cade: Sweet.

Cade: Please tell me I can see you tonight.

My stomach flutters reading his words. Is he saying that just as friends? Or more? It's not like Cade knows what happened between Blake and me. As far as he knows, the two of us are over. Now that I have signed a contract of anonymity, that's how I intend to keep it, too.

Todd laughs at something, pulling my attention away from the phone. I glance at Blake to see if he's laughing too. He's not. His body language has become stiff, his every facial feature devoid of all humor. Even his jaw is clenched, so tightly that a muscle tics just at the base of his neck.

My phone buzzes again and this time a picture is attached to Cade's message. I open it up and see a picture of him, shirtless, standing in front of the mirror. He looks good. I mean, good.

Cade: C'mon. Do I have to beg? ;)