Page 5 of Doubling Down

Ezra hated to see how Eric shut down the emotions on his face. With the memories still fresh in his mind, though, Ezra couldn’t even attempt to assure the other man.

“I’m going to leave,” Eric said. He was gripping his cup so hard that Ezra worried the lid would pop off. He pulled a ten-dollar bill from his pocket before sliding it across the counter.

He made a small sound of protest. Security didn’t need to pay for drinks, but Eric always insisted and included the tip.

“You sure you’re, okay?” Eric pressed. He left the money by the register.

“Fine.” Ezra cleared his throat when his voice came out as a squeak. “I’m fine.”

Shaking his head, Eric backed away.

Damn, Ezra didn’t want to see the other man sad. Eric was turning to the exit when Ezra finally managed to say something. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” He hoped he didn’t sound too desperate.

Lifting the cup in his hand, Eric smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it. See you tomorrow.”

He was gone before Ezra could say anything else.

“That was just sad.”

Ezra jumped before whirling around.

Dom stood next to the swinging door.

“How long have you been there?” Ezra demanded.

“Long enough to see that man wants to bend you over that counter and you would have let him. Then something happened.”

Ezra grunted. He closed the book on the counter before shoving it in his backpack that he’d placed on the little shelf.

“So…” Dom dramatically danced across the space then lifted himself to sit where Ezra’s book had just been. “What happened?”

“Is Tony here?” Tony was Ezra’s replacement for the late-late shift and Ezra was ready to go home.

“In the back getting his apron and washing his hands,” Dom supplied. “You have plenty of time to tell me what happened between you and Mr. McHottie.”

Ezra hated that nickname for Eric. He despised the fact that everyone that worked at the coffee shop, male and female,thought Eric was hot. They all drooled over the newest addition to the security team. Just like him. Still Ezra liked to pretend he was someone that could interest a man so put together and handsome.

“Nothing,” Ezra lied.

Dom lifted that pierced brow at him. Ezra had never learned how to do that. It looked cool when Dom did though.

“Nothing. He was teasing me about my book.”

The disbelief was evident on Dom’s face.

“Really. Can we just drop it?”

“Hmm.” Dom pressed his lips together. “I don’t think so.”

Ezra could have hugged Tony when he pushed the swinging door open and walked to the front.

“Hey, Ezra,” Tony greeted.

“Hey. How are you doing?” Ezra enjoyed working with all the team members, Dom being his favorite most of the time, but Tony was a close second.

Tony shrugged. “Not bad. My grandma had a doctor appointment today and her blood count is coming back up. The doctor thinks the transfusion…” He sniffed. “He thinks she’ll be okay.”

Ezra yanked Tony into a hug. Tony lived with his grandma and was her sole caregiver. The benefits of working for Jesse Lambert and the Lambert Entertainment Corporation were many, but the health insurance was beyond amazing. It was one of the reasons that Ezra had worked so hard to get on anywherewithin the company. Even running the coffee shop inside the casino came with the much-needed benefits.

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