Page 32 of The Hot Shot

“Absolute perfection.”

* * *

I didn’t want to let Sebastian go back to work but I knew that I had to. The last thing we needed was questions about why he’d been so long with me. I knew that I’d see him tomorrow at some point after the bikeathon tonight and after his early morning clients were sorted. I just wished I could have been by his side supporting him and cheering him on like any normal couple would do.

Instead, I took my sulking ass around to Dee’s and gave her the job to knock some sense into me. I didn’t need any patronizing about my behavior or manner, but I did require someone who understood me and could help me with all the concerns that I had going through my head. They needed sorting into something more streamlined and manageable.

“Alone tonight?” I asked, peeping in to make sure she didn’t have a guy tucked away somewhere in her room. “No Kellan or the girls—”

“Woah, hold it right there,” Dee remarked, placing her hand flat on my chest as she fluttered them god damn long lashes at me. “We ain’t here to talk about me and any guy. Kellan and I aren’t anything and you know that. Plus, if you must know, he’s gone away for a few days to the coast with them.”

I raised my brow at that comment as it was the first, I’d heard of it.

“And you didn’t go?” I questioned her in pure shock. “That’s a lot for him to cope with alone. What about the girls?”

“What did I say to you Walker?” Dee snapped in before dropping her hands to her face. She slowly rolled them down and slowly let out a breath. “I can happily enjoy my peace and quiet alone if you’d rather go down that route?”

“Fine. I get it but you know—” I started.

“I do.” She smiled back at me before a sternness appeared on her face as she pointed to a chair for me to take a seat. Dee opened the fridge and pulled out two beers, uncapping them with quick finesse before coming to take a perch next to me. “Now tell me what’s been happening. I was shocked when you told me I’d be getting a full week off paid from tonight and that a load of contractors and suppliers were currently on route to the bar. What the hell did I miss?”

“Shall we say that I had a meeting—thanks to Hardin Poltin—and that someone will be helping to finally take The Hot Shot to where it needs to be?” I smirked, remembering back to this afternoon’s antics in the office. “It was why Sebastian was at the bar this afternoon.”

“Wind up a second. Are you saying that Sebastian is now your fucking boss?” Dee shook her head and her mouth parted like I’d just stunned her completely.

“Yep,” I said, taking a sip of my beer casually, loving the way that Dee was completely shocked at my outburst.

“I would have loved to have seen how you played that one…” Dee smirked. “Well, fuck me. That’s not what I expected from tonight.”

I chuckled at her response. “Nope. I’m sure it wasn’t but I’m also sure that Sebastian and I will have lots of fun exploring all the places in the bar together whilst we get down to business.”

“Walker, you’re in deep trouble with that one,” she admitted as she placed her beer on the coffee table before folding her arms across her chest. “I’m glad I have a front view seat for the ride.”

“Trust you, Dee. Trust you.” I turned my head away in response from her glaring stare but I couldn’t deny the fact that she was right. Sebastian had me locked in his grasp and the guy didn’t even have a clue about it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

SEBASTIAN

I wasn’t expecting my day to plan out the way it had but would I change the way it did? Fuck no. I hadn’t expected to end up with Walker becoming a new client on my books and as I thought about, it the reaction I had wasn’t one that I thought would occur. I was just glad that I had my guy back and honestly, working with him, no matter how careful we had to be, meant that we would have even more precious time in one another’s company. I couldn’t complain at all about that result. It was as if Walker had been chipping away at parts of me and putting me back together so my confidence would grow and the vulnerable side of me would begin to shrink away. He was the crutch I never knew I required and a breath of fresh air that had been always just out of my reach. Walker was that person to help me realize the true meaning behind what life could mean—if I just took the jump.

I put my plans for Walker’s bar into action the moment I returned back to the office. I was going to show him exactly how good his business could be and that started with the contractors getting their asses in tonight and making a start. I wanted steam blowing out of their ears with the amount of hard graft I was going to put these guys through, but it would be worth it, just to see Walker’s face on opening night. I was going to make the place into a luxurious man’s cave where guys can come and unwind after a hard day at the office. The upturn in men wanting to visit an upscaled bar in the area had quadrupled in the last year and now was the time to jump onboard. I was going to give it a look of finesse like no other in the area—theming it to look similar to the famous NY Knicks and Maddison Square Gardens Stadium. The bright lights and score board would be just the finishing touches to complete the place.

“Are you ready and warmed up for the bikeathon?” Jace asked me the moment he clapped eyes on me coming out of the changing rooms with my water bottle in hand and towel slung over my shoulder. I really wished that I wasn’t doing this tonight, but a promise was a promise and thanks to my damn brother I found myself here for Chelsea’s benefit. “Yeah, done all my stretches and I’m ready to get my time over with. I have an early start tomorrow so the sooner I’m out of here, the better.”

“This new bar has really given you a huge kick in timescales, hasn’t it?” Jace asked as we walked through the doors into the main gym, only to be greeted with the bikes all lined up and prepped for us to begin. I felt the nerves appearing as I noticed a group of people were standing around the room, ready to start cheering us on. “It’s seemed like you’ve not stopped for five minutes lately.”

I climbed onto the bike and took my place next to Jace. I paused to secure my water bottle in the holder and towel on my grip for easy access should I need it. I had been signed up to participate for the next three hours and by the time I got home, I knew I’d be dead to the world. I placed my feet onto the pedals and secured the straps as Chelsea smiled and nodded at me.

“I just feel this is a good opportunity for us. The Hot Shot will be the first official business that we now open under our own name. It’s really exciting and I want it to show everyone around us just how good we are,” I said as if the business and our career was all that I was bothered about and this it was nothing whatsoever to do with the man behind it. “It’s a tough job ahead but I really want to make Brendan Rightside see what he lost by taking us for granted. How are you getting on with the guest list? Did you see my plans for the place?”

I started pedaling at a slow pace alongside a grinning Jace.

“I sure did. I think the idea is perfect and in keeping with the area.” He stood up and leant forward, trying to show his skills off to the crowd, making me smirk at his actions. I knew that his legs would soon grow tired and result in him unable to keep up the pace for long. “Memorabilia and sports are both high profile in the area. It will be perfect for the area and also for our portfolio.”

“I agree,” I replied, pushing my legs through the motion and focusing on a spot on the wall, trying to not let my mind drift to visions of Walker and what he may be up to now without me. I just had to get through the next few hours of pain, but I knew it would be worth it.

I hated exercise but the feeling of achievement I felt from completing the bikeathon was immense, especially knowing that we had raised a huge amount of money to support Chelsea. It was even better when I got home and checked my phone and saw that Walker had messaged me. I knew it was late but couldn’t help but smile at his best wishes for tonight. I wished he could have been there and seen me in action. I know he may make me pay in the morning if I woke him up, but I couldn’t resist in sending him a text back.

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