Page 38 of Embers Glow After the Fire

“Right?”

They both laugh.

“It’s just a holiday fling. He has a whole life in Atlanta.” He curls his shoulders. “I just signed a lease for an apartment and love Portland. Dennis, Robbie, and the crew at Truffle are amazing.” Brendon reasons. “We’ve just met. We probably won’t see each other again after this trip.” Those words twist his gut.

“You never know.” Jamie peers from the side of his eye. “Nathan and I only knew each other for several weeks.”

“I have a divorce to finalize. That will be a mess.” Brendon digs his heel into the soil. “He doesn't need me fucking up his life.”

Jamie shrugs. “A wise man I know gave me advice that turned me around: You have to let leaves lay where the fall.” He grins.

Brendon furrows his brow.

“I know—but he made it make sense.”

They laugh.

“Just be open to whatever the universe has in store.” Jamie shrugs.

Brendon sinks into quiet contemplation as they watch the others swim.

Chapter 16

Todd

”It’s really nice that you're setting Phoenix up like that.” Matthew adds a generous pour of champagne to his orange juice.

“He’s a good kid. He’s been my right hand for the past five years.” Perry sips his mimosa.

Dennis pops a fresh bottle and nestles it into a silver bucket of ice to chill.

“He was fresh out of high school and on his way to college the summer he applied to be my assistant. I had no intention of hiring some kid with no experience but he won me over. Honestly, the best decision. He's a workhorse. He charms my clients and gets the work done. I'd forget my head if it weren’t for how brilliantly organized he is.” He nibbles a slice of cold bacon. “His father was a lawyer too, so he had some skill and knowledge that I probably wouldn’t have found in an undergrad intern.”

“If I didn’t have Daevon helping run the salon, I’d scoop him up.” Matthew chucks.

“He stuck with working for me and didn’t go to school.” Perry adds. “His step-mother cut him out after his father passed. She managed to keep his inheritance. He wouldn't let me go after her for it. He wants his younger siblings taken care of instead.” He swigs the last of his flute. “The kid is chaos in his personal life, but he's really going places. I’ll make sure of it.”

Dennis pats Perry’s shoulder.

The gravel crunches under tires around the front of the house. Dennis lifts off his chair and stretches his neck to peers over the rock wall, over shrubs blocking the view. “Huh? Who’s this?”

“Matthew sweeps through the kitchen to the front door, peering out the glass at a black SUV with Massachusetts plates and dark tinted windows. The driver’s door opens and a broad man wearing dark shades and a baseball cap slips out. He collects a box from the back seat and starts toward the porch.

Matthew opens the door as Dennis and Perry both round the side of the house.

“Hello.” The stranger flashes a handsome smile, removing his sunglasses and slipping them into the chest pocket of his t-shirt. “Are Robbie and Brendon around?”

“They’re down at the lake.” Dennis offers his hand. “I’m Dennis. You know Robbie?”

“We just ran into each other at the store yesterday. He invited me to stop by. I didn't think I'd be able to make it, but plans changed.” He meets Dennis’ greeting.

“This is Perry and Matthew.” Dennis presents them and Matthew holds out a hand to the stranger.

“Todd.” He grips his palm. His gray eyes squish soft lines across sunburnt cheeks.

“Come on back.” Dennis invites him to join them on the patio.

He follows. “I won’t stay long. My husband abandoned me and I thought I would swing by quickly to say hello.” He passes Dennis the tall box in his hand. A bottle of Stolichnya Elit Vodka. “I bear gifts.”

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