Page 50 of Vail

22

HARTLEY

“Would you put that down?” I chastised Forest. He was bored out of his mind and kept touching everything in my studio.

“What is it?”

“Nothing you’ll ever use.” I didn’t have time to explain things to him. I had commissioned pieces to work on. The more people who saw Dexen’s suits, the more clients I had. And they wanted more than suits. Not that I was complaining about the money flowing in and demand rising, but I didn’t need to chase Forest around like he was a curious toddler.

Tomorrow, I had a new employee starting. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get all my old employees back. They didn’t wait for me to get on my feet again, nor should they. One at a time, I’d slowly build my staff. This way I could ease into having to pay people rather than a steep payroll right away. Plus, I was still paying off my grandfather’s debt. It was going down though.

Glancing over my shoulder, I looked to see where Forest drifted off to next. He even brought his laptop with him, but since he was still new to his role, he didn’t have a lot to do yet.

Sheldon leaned against the wall near the front door. I had two guards on me today. Rory was currently outside, checking the exterior, while Sheldon’s eyes followed my brother’s ass as he walked around the space.

I put the fabric I was holding down and walked to Sheldon. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“My job.”

“Is it watching my brother walk from one side of the room to the other?”

He didn’t bother to be ashamed. He simply shrugged and said, “It’s a good view.”

“You know Forest is straight, right?”

“Huh.”

“What do you mean, huh?”

“I caught him looking at me a few times and before you say it, it wasn’t in an oh there you are kind of way. He was looking at me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. I don’t have time for this.”

I went back to work, though my mind wouldn’t stop thinking about what Sheldon said. Was Forest interested in him? All my life my brother had been straight, never having a problem finding women to bring home when he moved out. Whether he still was didn’t matter to me. I’d have his back either way.

Sheldon wouldn’t be a terrible choice for Forest. With his calm personality and the way he was able to diffuse a situation, Sheldon could be good for my brother.

A laugh rang out. I lifted my gaze to find Forest leaning against the counter where Hazel tapped her pen and held my brother’s eyes. I chuckled. There was my brother, the flirt. At least he was sober. Forest wasn’t good at hiding when he drank. I was grateful he was doing well in the short time he’d been in Dremest.

When I glanced at Sheldon again, he shrugged and looked out the front windows. Whatever. My brother’s sex life wasn’t my business. As long as he was healthy, safe, and happy, that was all I cared about. I also doubted Hazel was interested. I hadn’t seen her give him more than a passing glance.

Time ticked by and eventually Forest drifted back to me. “What are you going to do with the apartment upstairs?”

“Hmm?”

“Didn’t you say when Jordan gave you the studio it came with an apartment?”

“It did, but I haven’t given it much thought. I’m not comfortable renting it out to a stranger, given everything happening with Gil. I don’t know who I can trust.”

“Rent it to me.”

I stopped what I was doing and faced my brother. “You don’t enjoy living in the building with us?” The thought of him leaving shouldn’t have hurt, but I just got my brother back. Granted, this was only two blocks from home. I still wanted Forest close. It was selfish of me.

“It’s not that. There are a lot of people in the building at all hours.” I read between the lines. Forest didn’t feel like he had enough privacy.

Before I could reply, Sheldon drifted into our conversation and our space. “You should stay until we find Gil.”

“That asshole doesn’t even know me. Besides, I’ve seen the security system in here. It wouldn’t be as if I wasn’t protected.” Forest’s eyes met mine again. “Please, Hart. I need to spread out.”

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