Page 20 of Once Upon a December
“It’s not him.” Beau came to the conclusion on his own and Felix assumed his disappointment must have been showing on his face.
“No. It’s not.”
“Looks a lot like the pictures I’ve seen though, so who is it? A brother?”
“Has to be.” Felix nodded, taking another sip of his water to hide his appraisal as he calculated the other man’s youthful appearance. He was too young to be the Uncle that Gibson sometimes talked about. Felix hadn’t been formally introduced to Branson that day in Gibson’s office but he knew enough to know this wasn’t him. Which meant it could only be the youngest brother. “I think that must be his younger brother, Dawson.”
“He’s hot.” Beau faux whispered and Felix shot him a look even as laughter burst from him.
“Easy there buddy. You just said he looks like my boyfriend.”
Beau shrugged, “Your boyfriend is hot. What do you want me to say?”
“How about nothing?” Felix laughed, “Now hush. He’s coming this way.”
The man was indeed making his way across the room towards them as if he were on a mission. He was stopped every few feet by one of the guests and he gracefully smiled, shook hands and even posed for a few photos. By the time he was standing in front of him, Felix was convinced that this was the Frost brother that should have been in charge of all public relations for the family company because not once had his smile faltered or begun to appear anything but genuine.
“Felix Michaelson?” He raised a dark eyebrow as he extended his hand. “I’m Dawson Frost. My brother has told me a lot about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“You as well.” Felix took his hand, gave it a polite shake and then cleared his throat, “Gibson didn’t tell me that you’d be attending tonight.”
“To be completely honest, I’m not sure my brothers know that I attend every year.” Dawson shrugged even as his twinkling blue gaze swung sideways, “Hello, Dawson Frost.”
He offered his hand to Beau and Felix tried not to laugh when his assistant appeared downright flustered. So far tonight, only a handful of people had bothered introducing themselves to the young man at Felix’s side. Now, the most gorgeous man in the room was smiling at Beau like he had a secret he wanted to tell him and his usually fluent in sassy comebacks best friend had gone mute.
“This is my assistant, Beau Beaumont.”
“Beau Beaumont.” Dawson’s lips curved, “That’s an interesting name.”
“Beau’s a nickname. He…”
“Don’t you dare.” Beau hissed at Felix, “You tell him my real first name and I’ll drown you in that glass of water.”
Dawson laughed a deep, throaty chuckle that sounded a lot like Gibson’s laugh, only less rusty, “Oh, now I’m intrigued.”
“As you should be.” Beau seemed to have found his lost voice and his horny bone from the way he drawled and Felix rolled his eyes when Dawson Frost played along.
“I bet I could convince you to tell me.”
“You could certainly try.”
“I intend to.” Dawson’s smile was coy as his eyes flickered to Felix and back again, “Why don’t you go get us a drink while I discuss some business with this guy and then we’ll see if I can’t guess that first name?”
Beau glanced over at Felix who gave a short nod of approval. He wasn’t sure exactly what Dawson Frost wanted to discuss with him but he wasn’t about to tell the man no. Not only was he a Frost, and until midnight tonight Felix was an employee of Frost Financial, but he was also the brother of Felix’s boyfriend. Whatever it was that Dawson had to say, he knew he wanted to hear it.
“I’ll be right over there.” Beau smiled and Felix knew the words were as much for him as they were for the other man.
Dawson squared up to face him once Beau was a few feet away, his smile as easy and natural as ever, “Your assistant seems fun.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“You two have been friends for a while?”
“A couple of years. Ever since he interviewed and I hired him, he’s more friend than employee most days.”
“So I take it you’re not going to give me any hints about that first name, huh?” Dawson winked and Felix laughed.
“Oh God no. He really would kill me.”
