Page 8 of King Daddy

Kylo jumped and tried to hide his reaction with a smile.

Beau didn’t call him on it. “I should let you get some rest.”

Kylo wanted to beg him to stay for just a few more minutes. He couldn’t do that. His fear couldn’t be completely ignored. He still tried to play it cool. “Hey, I haven’t thought to say this, but anytime you’re on your way up, please don’t allow anyone on the elevator with you. Most people don’t even think about it. It’s second nature to hold the door and let people share the ride. But obviously, this elevator opens to my home, so...”

Thankfully, Beau didn’t look curious, or as if he felt chastised. He simply flashed a sexy smile. “Of course. You have my number now. Text me if you need anything.”

“Thank you. I—” The phone rang again, cutting him off. “Sorry. Hold on.” He fought the urge to snatch up the phone and scream. “Hello?”

“Dr. Fowler is here to see you.”

Relief had a huge smile exploding across his face. “Send him up.” Kylo sounded much happier than he should have. He simply couldn’t handle any more of life’s bullshit tonight.

“Yes, sir.”

Kylo hung up the phone.

Beau studied him. For a moment, Kylo expected him to ask about the call. He went a different way. “I didn’t know anyone had landlines anymore, especially someone your age.”

Kylo laughed. “First off, it’s not a regular landline. It’s a security line. You can’t make or receive calls or anything. Only talk to the front desk. Secondly, how young do you think I am?”

Beau shrugged. “Much younger than me. Otherwise, I don’t have a guess. Everyone younger than me looks like they’re twenty to me.”

Kylo shook his head. “I’ll walk you to the elevator. Dr. Fowler is on his way up.”

A strange look passed over Beau’s features before he hid it. “Good. He needs to look at your wound.” They headed toward the lift. Beau chuckled. “So you’re not even going to tell me your age after all that?”

Kylo thought about teasing him and refusing. But he wanted to know everything about Beau, so tit for tat. “I’m thirty-two.”

Beau literally stopped mid step to turn his way. “You’re joking. I seriously thought you were twenty. I just didn’t want to say that.”

A laugh burbled in Kylo’s throat. “Thank you... I think.” He couldn’t stop smiling at Beau’s genuine shock.

The elevator dinged, and the door slid open.

Austen looked a bit surprised to see Beau, but his smile seemed genuine. “Hey. On your way out?” he asked, holding the door.

Since they were standing right outside the elevator, it was a fair assumption. Still, Beau seemed a bit annoyed. The laughter in his eyes died. “It seems so.” His gaze swung Kylo’s way. “Remember what I said. Text if you need anything.”

Kylo nodded. “I will. Thank you.”

With a final nod at them both, Beau disappeared behind the closing door.

Kylo focused on Austen. “Hey. Twice in one day. I feel special.”

A bright smile met his words. The good doctor was a sexy guy. He was probably in his mid-forties. Even though he was the typical blond hair and blue-eyed Californian hottie, the same could be said of Kylo. They would look good together. It was an odd thought. Kylo’s head was always all over the place.

Austen motioned toward the elevator as they headed for the couch. “Some guy tried to jump in the elevator with me on my way up. I refused. Did I do the right thing? It seemed odd.”

Affection washed over Kylo. Austen had protected him, even without knowing if he should. “Thank you so much. My mom is famous, and even though I don’t know why that brings crazies to me, it does.”

Austen nodded, looking serious, as if Kylo’s words mattered. It warmed his chest. “I’ll be vigilant from now on.” He sounded like he planned to come back. “Anyhow, I stopped by because I thought about you all day.” He paused as if rethinking his words. He laughed. “I thought about your injury all day. Last night, I pushed some antibiotics through your IV, but I’m not sure that’s doing enough.”

Kylo nodded along. “The wound is a little red.”

Austen seemed to go on alert. “May I see it?”

“Sure.” Kylo lifted his shirt.

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