Page 79 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
Sandra’s smile fell away. “So I’ve heard. I’ve heard the opposite, too.”
Todd met Fazil’s worried glance.
“But the board wants Anderson to succeed, so I’m glad there’s someone Mr. Kurt can work with.” The elevator opened. This time it was Sandra who turned. Todd followed her glance.
Shit. Stephen and Nathan. Thelookon Nathan’s face—like he’d won a freaking prize.
“Have a nice lunch, gentlemen.”
There was a perfect exit cue. Seemed Fazil had the same thought, because they both headed to the door. Fazil didn’t say a thing and Todd’s throat was way too tight.
“Well, shit,” Fazil said, once they were safely in Todd’s car. “Not that going to lunch is a crime, but...”
“I know.” He turned the car over and headed out. “Nathan’s not a happy camper about you or the changes or...”
“... Anything,” Fazil finished. “And he dislikes you.”
Todd studied the road as he drove. “Thing is, he’s a really good engineer. They can’t afford to lose him, because he’s designed too much of the software. He knows it, too.”
Fazil rolled his head back against the car seat. “So he gets away with a lot.”
“Pretty much.”
A sigh, then Fazil looked over. “I wish you lived closer to the office. We could skip lunch, and no one would be the wiser.”
Well, how about that?“What would you rather be doing?”
“You.” His voice was soft. “Well, you doing me.”
Damn if that didn’t make Todd shift in his seat. “The chairs in the conference room getting to you?”
A grunt. “More like your damn texts from last night. Couldn’t do a thing with Eli in the room.”
Which had been the point of describing how he’d have laid Fazil out and fucked him on his couch, had he been there. A hot and bothered Fazil with no outlet? Made his balls ache. “I’ll remember that tonight.”
Fazil slid his hand onto Todd’s thigh, the sudden warmth and pressure playing along every nerve. “I’m sure you will.”
When Fazil moved his hand upward, it took all Todd’s concentration not to career off the road. He turned into a strip mall, pulled into a space—out front this time—and cut the engine. “You know, if it weren’t daytime and we weren’t in public”—he pulled Fazil’s hand onto his hard shaft—“I’d have you suck me off right here.”
That brilliant smile. “Just like old times.”
Him, Fazil, his car, and endless summer days. He held Fazil’s hand a little longer. “I miss that sometimes.”
The smile fell away. “So do I, sometimes.”
Was that wistfulness, regret, or something else entirely? Todd couldn’t tell. Another shiver up his spine, but this was cold and icy.Sometimes. They’d both said the word, but it sounded moretruewith Fazil. He let go. “Let’s get some food.”
They both climbed out and headed into the restaurant. While it was a basic storefront place, the owners had taken the care to make it pretty. The ochre-colored walls had wood accents and pictures of Thailand. Red cloths on the table. Soft lighting.
You’re not over him leaving, a voice in his mind whispered.And you know he’s going to do it again.
By the time they’d ordered, a thinner version of Fazil’s smile returned. “Look, we’ll get some time together even if they don’t extend the contract. I’ll stay the weekend. Fly home on Monday.”
“That sounds good.” He fiddled with the paper from his straw. “Well, you going doesn’t sound good, but...”
Fazil traced a finger over the bamboo place mat. “How are we going to do this? My track record with long distance isn’t good and...” He lowered his voice. “What are we doing? Dating? Fucking?”
Both?“I’d like to keep this going.”
