Page 335 of Sticks and Stones
“That half of the building is male students, and this half over here are female. You should check out this half,” she said, winking at him.
Yeah, no.
“Sorry, ladies, working, and I’m taken,” he admitted. “We appreciate your help.”
The girls looked vastly disappointed that he didn’t even flirt back.
The reason he didn’t?
Again, he was too old, and the person he loved, and who trusted him with his heart was right there. Ethan recalled the talk he’d had with Will, and he never wanted to hurt Gene.
Ever.
“Lucky woman,” one of them said as they were walking away.
Normally, Ethan wouldn’t comment, or react, but he knew that his man tolerated a lot. Blackhawk’s face got him lots of attention.
Why?
He had no freaking clue. He didn’t see anything special about him.
At the elevator, he knew the college girls were watching, likely checking out his ass, and he did something that was very un-Ethan like.
He slipped his hand into Gene’s to hold his hand, and he let them draw their own conclusions about which side of the building he’d choose.
It made Gene grin.
Especially when the college students stared.
“It’s lucky man,” Gene said, as the door to the elevator closed and the ladies only stared in surprise.
That amused Ethan.
“Sorry,” he said. “Sometimes, I like to remind people that they don’t have to flirt with complete strangers,” he stated.
Gene didn’t mind.
Honestly, if Gabe already knew, it didn’t matter.
Would they come out at work?
No, but this was interviews.
Who was going to call their boss and tell him that the two men were lovers?
Because he felt like it, Gene continued holding his hand in his. There was that connection, and it made him feel whole. He liked the way Ethan had blossomed into a damn good partner. When he said he was learning, there was no doubt there.
When the elevator opened, they stepped out, and headed toward the room that Corbin had in his notes.
When they knocked, the sound of it echoed down the hall.
It was deathly silent in there.
Again, he knocked, and finally, they heard mumbling from behind the door.
“I swear to god, John, if this is about me having a goddamn crockpot in my room, I’m shoving it up your ass,” someone said, yanking the door open.
Well, wasn’t he surprised when he saw it wasn’t John, but instead, two Feds holding out their badges.
