Page 3 of Jonathon, After All

Jonathon nodded at his sundae. “I do love a little couture cosplay from time to time… I’m rather pale and plain,” he said with a wave at himself. “So I dress like a clown and pull ridiculous and occasionally vulgar stunts to get attention.”

“Why?” Giles asked, seeming bewildered.

“I hate it,” Jonathon confessed. “But I thought that Leo might come back for me if he saw how much of a mess I was—how lost I was—without him.”

There was a soft groan from Riley as he reached for Jonathon’s hand. “But he never did,” he said and Jonathon shook his head.

“He moved on and became the new Margrave. I couldn’t get out of going to the gala so the plan was to escort Muriel inside, head to the bar, then disappear before he saw me. He was the guest of honor so I figured he’d have a crowd around him the entire time, wishing him a happy birthday and kissing his ass.”

“What did he say when he saw you?” Riley asked.

A new wave of indignation and pain washed over Jonathon. He set down his spoon, his hands shaking as he braced them on the counter. “He was surprised to see me and he asked how I’ve been. He sounded…thrilled, like he had forgotten or forgiven himself for everything that had happened between us.”

“Double ouch!” Riley gave Jonathon’s sundae another squirt of whipped cream. “I don’t blame you for throwing a drink in his face,” he said and they looked at Giles when he made a hesitant hissing sound.

“He sounds like a prick and he probably deserved it, but you might have kicked a hornets’ nest tonight. Between your aunt and all the gossip…” he said, shuddering as he crossed himself. “You can hide here for as long as you want, as long as she doesn’t find out. Because I might have a heart attack if she came in here.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Jonathon vowed, grateful and relieved to his core to have someplace safe and quiet to ride out the storm. “I appreciate your help and I won’t make you regret it.”

Two

Who was that?

It was the same face that had haunted Leo’s dreams for almost a decade. But he didn’t recognize the empty, faraway look in Jonathon’s eyes or the way his expression had hardened right before Leo was baptized by a gin and tonic.

Once Leo had recovered from the shock, he chased after Jonathon in hopes of gaining an explanation and opportunity to apologize for whatever he had done. Leo was too slow and was too late when he had spilled onto the pavement in front of the Plaza with Markus and a handful of the hotel’s security personnel.

“We’ll find him, sir, and see that he’s charged,” someone from the Plaza had assured them.

“Charge him?” Leo growled, shoving the man out of his way as he stormed back inside. “It was nothing more than a misunderstanding,” he declared with a glare at the rest of the security staff and Markus. “Did anyone see where he went?”

Another man from the hotel touched an earpiece. “Check the cameras.”

“Don’t waste your time,” Leo said as he stormed up the steps and back inside. “We lost him as soon as he passed through these doors. My people will find him,” he decreed with a hard look at Markus Bauer, Leo’s towering personal bodyguard and head of security. “If they’re worth the obscene salary we pay them.”

“We’ll find him,” Markus said with a tight nod. “I believe he came through the receiving line so Mr. von Hessen or Ms. Cameron may be able to provide us with a name.”

Leo held up a hand, halting Markus when they reached the elevator. “His name is Jonathon Hawthorne and he’s the nephew of Muriel Hormsby. If my memory serves me correctly, they live at the Olympia. She’s probably still here but I do not wish to speak to her tonight. Tell her I’ll call on her in the morning, after we’ve found Jonathon.”

“Yes, sir,” Markus said, raising his wrist to relay Leo’s wishes. The elevator doors opened and Markus followed Leo inside and pressed the button for the penthouse level. “Will you be returning to the gala?”

“I have to,” Leo said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. His head had ached all day, but it was splitting now and he needed to know that Jonathon was alright and Leo had to know why. “After I freshen up and talk to Sabine. I want to know what she knows.”

She was hurrying down the stairs from the second floor when Leo returned to the Grand Penthouse Suite, his general in a black sheath dress. Her blonde hair was pulled into a severe bun and as always, a coat of red lipstick was her only adornment.

“Are you alright?” She had a hand towel ready and the stylist appeared with a fresh shirt and tuxedo jacket.

“Did you know he was here?” Leo didn’t soften the growl in his voice as he yanked at his bow tie, snatching the towel from her.

“No… I knew Ms. Hormsby had been invited and that it was likely that he’d accompany her,” she said slowly. “But I didn’t realize you still cared so I didn’t?—”

Leo swung around, his temper ready to blow. “I will always care. I want him found, Sabine. Tonight.”

Her brows dipped as her head pulled back. “Of course, dearest. I’ll find his aunt and see where he might have gone. I apologize. I truly thought the two of you had gotten over your…fling,” she said, earning a snarl from Leo.

“Am I in the habit of having flings?”

“No!” She bowed and shook her head quickly. “I misspoke. I merely assumed that since so much time had passed that it was no longer an issue.” Sabine straightened and made a soothing shushing sound as she approached. “I will find him and the two of you can clear up whatever misunderstanding that was. In the meantime, you must get back downstairs. Maximilian has gone to so much trouble to make tonight special.”

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