Page 77 of Tempting Him

“The most experienced. Why do you think I brought you out here?”

“Because I’m the only one who didn’t have a family to uproot?” He grins.

“No. You know what to do and you’ll do a good job. The branch is doing well, and we’ll keep growing. The interns who get chosen will fill this place up, and from what I can see, we’d be good to get any of them.”

“There’s a young lady—Patricia Patterson. She’s actually wanting to move to Chicago when she’s done with college. Think there’s space for her up there? Or would you rather someone else take that spot?”

He tacks the last part on there several seconds later, and when I look up at him, he’s watching me again with scrutiny.

“What are you talking about?”

He shrugs. “Nothing.”

I sigh, rubbing my fingers at my temple. “Luther, what do you have to say? I can nearly see the words trying to crawl out of your throat.”

He chuckles. “I know you better than most, and I think you’d agree to that. I knew your parents, and your dad didn’t mince words, so I’m aware of a lot more than you may think.”

“So you know he was an asshole. Most people did.”

“Alek,” he says, dropping formalities. “Do you like Mr. Brooks?”

My brows furrow, instantly and easily choosing annoyed confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I know you’re gay, and I’m probably the only one here who does. I also know Mr. Brooks is bi, and considering I’ve been working with him fairly closely these past several weeks, I’d like to say I know him pretty well. I see things. Notice things. He talks about you in a way that’s not unprofessional, but it’s clear he has a crush at minimum.”

My heart flutters in my chest. “Okay, and?”

“And you like him. He’s in here quite a bit. Definitely more than the other interns. I’ve seen you two when you’ve thought nobody is around. You’ve never done anything blatantly obvious, but sometimes all it takes is a look and a smile. There’s something there. Your eyes always find each other when you’re in the same room, while everyone else seems to avoid your gaze.”

I sigh. “Luther.”

He holds up his hand. “I know it’s not my business and I know you’re my boss, but I’m old, Alek. I’ve been around the block and back. You confided in me way back when, and I know the things your dad had to say about you. I can only imagine he was worse when actually speaking to you, but I want you to know that he was wrong. Everything he said was wrong. His entire thought process was wrong.”

“I don’t know why you’re telling me this.”

“Because I want you to have someone in your life tell you that it’s okay to be who you are. There’s nothing wrong with you.” He stands up and knocks on the desk. “You’re a good man, Alek. You’re a thousand times better than your father. If there’s something brewing with you and Mr. Brooks, then go with it. He’s an adult and you run this company. Nobody’s getting in trouble.”

“I’m leaving, Luther. I don’t live here.” It’s as close as I get to an admission to something happening between us.

He shrugs. “You could, or he could move there. That’s his hometown.”

He walks out before I can wrap my head around everything he just dropped on me.

31

Tuesday goesby and besides a couple glimpses of Jay through the halls, I don’t see much of him, and I never get to talk to him prior to leaving for a meeting before the end of the day. He reaches out to me while he’s studying, and we text back and forth for a little while before he disappears into his studies.

Wednesday is nothing but stress when it comes to my job, keeping me occupied while I put out fires with numerous calls. Jay has a community service job with his frat that evening, so we hardly talk.

I find myself just waiting for Friday to roll around, because that’s when we get most of our time together, but that means a week will have been lost before I’ve even been able to talk to him about everything I’ve thought about regarding us. I wanted to be better. I wanted to attempt more. And now we’re almost down to two weeks.

“Is it weird that I just want to lay with you?” Jay asks when he calls me Friday evening. “I’m finally done with my work, but now I just feel stressed and tired and I think only you can make me feel better.”

I smile. “It’s not weird. Come over and Iwillmake you feel better.”

“Mm. Sounds like a little more than laying down, but I think I’m up for it.”

“I don’t mind just laying together. I’ve been wanting to talk to you, anyway.”

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