Page 42 of Havoc
“Forgive me if I have the wrong impression, but there’s a benefit next month. Would you like to attend with me?”
Lawrence damn near choked on his drink. He covered it by clearing his throat and placing his glass back on the table.
“It’s kind of you to ask, but I don’t date my clients, and I’m—”
“I’m not a client yet,” John reminded him.
“Yes, but as I was about to say, I’m also in a relationship.”
“Too bad for me.”
The other man looked him over slowly, and it made Lawrence feel naked. “Are there any more questions I can answer for you today?” Lawrence asked, wanting to change the subject. He was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
“I think you’ve answered all of the ones I had.”
Lawrence nodded. “Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you to finish your drink, and I hope you have a good evening.” He pulled his wallet out, placed money on the table for his drink, and tipped the server before grabbing his satchel and, with a slight wave, walking away.
Lawrence rushed down his hall, glancing through the peephole quickly, even though he knew it was Remy, before swinging the door open. Remy’s eyes roamed over him; he knew it was because he only had a towel wrapped around his waist. He stepped back to allow Remy to enter and kissed him as he stepped in.
“I’m sorry, I met with a client this afternoon, and the meeting went far longer than anticipated. So, I’m running behind,” Lawrence told him, closing the door.
“It’s fine, baby.”
Lawrence nodded as he went down the hall to his bedroom. He’d at least been able to shower before Remy showed up. He went to his dresser, pulling a pair of boxers and socks from the top drawer and tossing the latter onto the bed.
“How was the meeting?” Remy asked. Lawrence wasn’t surprised he’d followed him.
“It was fine at first, but then it got weird.”
“Weird, how?”
“He asked me out,” Lawrence responded, pulling his pants off the hanger and putting them on. When Remy didn’t say anything, he turned to look at him and found his boyfriend staring at him.
“He asked you out?”
“Well, to be accurate, he asked me to go to a benefit with him. But it was more so the way he looked at me when I turned him down that made me uncomfortable.”
Remy scratched his beard. “That’s the same thing. Who were you meeting with?”
Lawrence walked over to Remy with his shirt in hand and kissed him. “While jealousy is extremely attractive on you, he’s just a client the company is trying to get.”
“This isn’t jealousy. You said he made you uncomfortable. I want to know who he is.”
“His name is John Cross, and I won’t be seeing him again for six months if he decides to switch his supplier, and if he doesn’t, I won’t see him at all.”
Lawrence slid his arms into the shirt. While he fixed the sleeve, Remy began to button it for him.
“If he switches, you’ll be his contact?”
“I don’t have to be. I can hand him over to one of my co-workers once I get him to sign.”
“If he does switch and you’re still uncomfortable, please do that.”
Lawrence refrained from telling Remy that he wasn’t fragile or reminding him that he was a man who could take care of himself,but he wouldn’t fault him for worrying, and he’d come to realize that Remy was used to dating men who wanted to be given prince treatment at all times. While Lawrence wouldn’t lie and say it had no pluses, there were also downsides.
He sat on the bed, putting on the socks. “So, the place Alijah showed us is this beautiful tropical resort. I saved the website on my phone and can show it to you while we wait for our food at dinner.” He put his shoes on, tying them before standing.
“Okay, baby. As long as you like it, I don’t have an issue with where we go.”
