Page 60 of Henri (Confessions 5)

“I’m not worried,” Bailey said too quickly. Robbie arched a perfectly sculpted brow. “I’m not.”

“Mhmm. You keep telling yourself that, honey, but I know the green monster when I see him. Been there, killed that.”

Bailey let out a sigh and ran his hands over his face. “I know. It’s stupid.”

“No, it’s not,” Robbie said, not making Bailey feel better in the slightest. “They love each other, and you can see that. But they’re not in love with each other.”

Bailey nodded and reminded himself that he too had a relationship with his ex, and that he needed to trust what Robbie was saying. If he wasn’t worried, Priest’s husband—well, one of them, anyway—then Bailey shouldn’t be worried, right?

“Maybe you should talk to Henri about it. I know I always feel better after I talk to Julien and Priest about my freak-outs.”

Bailey sputtered. “I’m not having a freak-out.”

Robbie leaned over the table and said, “Yeah, you kind of are. But trust me, I’ve never seen, met, or known Henri to go on a date. He’s always been a loner, from what I could tell. So the fact that he’s here with you at all—that’s saying something.”

Bailey got that impression too. When he looked back to the bar, he saw Henri and Priest heading in their direction.

Henri was walking ahead, and as he got closer, his eyes found Bailey’s and his lips quirked into a sensual grin that had all of Bailey’s worries flying right out the window. That smirk was full-on sex, and there was no way he’d be aiming it at Bailey if he was busy pining over Priest.

When they got to the table, Robbie quickly vacated his seat to greet his husband, and Henri slid in beside Bailey.

As their legs again connected under the table, Bailey’s heart began to thump. Henri draped his arm over the back of the booth and leaned in. “Miss me?”

Yes, he really had, but instead of confessing to that, Bailey smiled and shrugged. “Maybe.”

A deep rumble of laughter came from beside their table. Priest said, “Smart man. Don’t give in to his charm too easily, or you’ll never win an argument again.”

The relaxed comment didn’t quite match the expression in Priest’s eyes, and while he didn’t look pissed off or upset, there was something else there that Bailey couldn’t quite pinpoint. Caution, perhaps? But that didn’t make sense—they were friends, so why would Priest feel wary around Bailey all of a sudden?

“I’ll have to remember that,” Bailey said.

Henri rolled his eyes and looked to Priest and Robbie. “If you two don’t mind getting lost now, that’d be great. I think we’ve spent enough time on our date with the both of you.”

Robbie whacked Henri in the arm. “Well, that’s just rude.”

“Yes, it is,” Priest said, and then kissed Robbie’s temple. “But Julien’s got dinner waiting for us, so let’s leave these two be.”

“Fine,” Robbie said, then looked to Bailey. “I hope he’s nicer to you than he is to us.”

“Oh, I plan to be real nice to him, bright eyes, just as soon as you leave.” Henri’s fingers once again found the back of Bailey’s collar, and while Bailey knew he should be embarrassed by that comment, he instead found it incredibly hot.

“Okay, now we’re leaving.” Priest gave a final look to Henri before he turned Robbie around and ushered him away from the table.

Once they were gone, Henri looked back to Bailey. “Now, where were we?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

CONFESSION

He’s making me feel things I never

thought I’d feel again.

Good, scary, exciting things.

HENRI BARELY NOTICED the waiter bringing their food and drinks a little while later, so focused was he on the man beside him. When Bailey first mentioned going on a date, Henri’s initial reaction had been skepticism. He’d never been the kind of guy who believed in happily-ever-afters, but considering his primary role model in life, could anyone blame him?

However, the more time he spent with Bailey one on one, the more he was beginning to realize he liked being there. He liked the sound of Bailey’s laugh, the twinkle he got in his eyes when he smiled. But what Henri liked more than anything else was the shy way Bailey would blush or avert his eyes whenever he got caught looking at him.

“So, what time does your shift start tonight, officer?”

Bailey reached for one of the fried mozzarella sticks they’d ordered and dunked it in the marinara sauce. “Why? Trying to decide between what hours you need to behave yourself?”

Henri chuckled and took a swig of his beer. “Nah. Don’t you know by now I never behave myself? I’m just trying to see how long I have until I have to let you go.”

Bailey grinned and bit down on the cheese stick. “My shift starts at eight, which means I have to arrive by seven thirty to change into my uniform and get to roll call on time.”

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