Page 67 of His Boys to Protect

Ward looked for Charlie, but there was no sign of the boy anywhere.

So he headed straight for the piano.

Skylar idly glanced around as he played. He spotted Ward and gave a start, missing a note. It was obvious even to Ward's untrained ears. But the boy picked right back up and kept playing, staring up at Ward with restrained hunger all over his face.

“Hey,” Ward murmured. His heart thumped wildly in his chest.Fuck. Weeks between visits with the boy was far too long. It took everything Ward had to keep his hands to himself. All he wanted was to drag Skylar upstairs and lock them away in a room, forgetting the world for a while.

And Charlie, too.

“What are you playing?” he blurted out. The piece was beautiful, but somehow achingly sad.

Skylar paused, a look coming over his face like he hadn't even realized what he was playing. “Uh, it's 'Two Beds and a Coffee Machine' by Savage Garden.”

Ward shook his head. He'd never heard of that one. “Where's Charlie?”

“Upstairs,” Skylar replied as he transitioned to a new piece, this one noticeably more cheerful. He managed to quickly wave a hand without really interrupting whatever he was playing. “This dinner kind of exploded. It was apparently supposed to just be Beau and his men, plus the Pratts and Beau's parents. But then Ryder's family got invited to join, and some more of Beau's extended family.” He paused, dancing his fingers across the keys. “Charlie needed a break. Especially because tomorrow is going to be worse.”

“Ah.”Poor boy. Ward glanced upward, itching to hold Charlie, to help quiet the noise.

“You could take him a drink,” Skylar suggested.

“Charlie drinks?”

“On occasion. He doesn't always like the way it makes him feel, but sometimes it helps him relax.”

Ward shrugged. He supposed Skylar would know best, considering how long the two boys had been friends. “Be right back.” He headed for the bar and shook hands with Beau.

“I am so glad that you could join us,” the Frenchman said with a beaming smile. He paused, eyeing Ward. “Sauvignon blanc?”

“Yeah. How'd you know?”

Beau grinned and whisked down a bottle in response. He poured a glass for Ward, then grabbed a bottle of the Vista Robles grenache. “For your boy there,” he said, nodding towards Skylar.

Ward felt himself blush. He nearly argued that Skylar wasn't his boy—despite how much he wanted that very thing—but the bottle reminded him of the first appointment he'd had with Skylar. Of the story Skylar had made up about how they met. “Why the grenache?”

“It is his drink,” Beau replied. “I know these things.”

Ward glanced at Skylar. “And what about Charlie?”

Beau chuckled. “Charlie is a prosecco.”

Ward thought about that, then barked out a laugh. The sparkling, bubbly wine made Ward think of Charlie's innocent joy, his bouncing exuberance, even his dry literalness. “Yeah, I can see that.”

“Here.” Beau poured a glass of prosecco and pushed it across the counter, next to Skylar's grenache. “Why not take that up to him and check on the boy while you are at it,non?”

Ward felt himself blushing again, but he took the glasses all the same. How could he deny himself a chance to see the boy?

Once Skylar finished the piece he was playing, Ward handed over his grenache. “You wanna come check on Charlie with me?”

Skylar ducked his head and sipped his wine, looking like he was buying himself a moment.But why?Ward was about to ask when Skylar looked up and said, “Okay. Yeah.” The boy stepped away from the piano and headed for the foyer.

Ward's heart rate picked up when they reached the stairs, remembering the way the two of them had collided right there back in December. Skylar must have been thinking the same thing. The boy paused there, just long enough to give Ward a heated look, before he turned away and began to climb.

They headed down the hallway, passing doors to either side. A sign graced each one, naming the rooms.Cabernet. Moscato. Pinot.They stopped at a door labeledViognier. Skylar pulled out a key and slipped it into the lock, but he knocked before turning it.

“Charlie?” Skylar called. “I'm coming in.” He turned the key. “Ward's here, too.”

Footsteps raced across the room.

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