Page 15 of Fool’s Gold

Jack had to think fast.

He pulled Matt in closer and cradled the back of his head in one hand. “Dip.” He forced his face into an adoring smile, keeping his eyes locked onto Matt’s.

Matt drew his eyebrows together but nodded almost imperceptibly.

Jack dipped him back and locked their lips together in a nearly vulgar display of passion. As he did, he used his free hand to flip a nearby server’s empty tray up and into the assailant’s path.

The assailant had pulled a syringe out of a pocket. As he arced it down toward Matt, all of the assembled cameras seemed to go off at once. Jack took the opportunity to catch the tray and use it as a shield.

Jamal Kingston showed up from out of nowhere—seriously, where had he come from—and grabbed the attacker.

Jack caught the syringe on the tray, broke the kiss off, and restored Matt to an upright position. They stared at the syringe.

Jack caught Matt’s eyes. He could ignore the weird, overheated feeling in his chest, couldn’t he? “Time to go.”

“You don’t say.” Matt’s voice didn’t waver.

None of the other attendees seemed to notice the hubbub, but Jack noticed that Dan got up to make a speech almost as soon as the assailant was removed. It made sense—distract the people with something spectacular so they didn’t notice the ugly thing at the corner of their eye.

Matt didn’t complain about getting rushed off site by a bunch of diplomatic service agents and Georgia state troopers. Jack followed close behind.

They debriefed him at home. Jack stayed by his side, although he wasn’t sure exactly why. It wasn’t like Matt needed him.

Norah and Samaira listened with gasps and wide eyes as both Matt and Jack described events as they experienced them. Jack had handed off the syringe to the appropriate agent on the scene, and the contents were being tested at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as a top-priority case.

Matt ground his jaw at that “Is that really necessary? Don’t they have a huge backlog of evidence they’re working on?”

The state trooper on the scene, Detective Williams, just raised her eyebrow at him. “Those are crimes that have already happened. This is one that’s going to happen—one we can prevent if you cooperate.”

Matt bowed his head. “I’m sorry. You know your job much better than I do, and I’m cooperating as best I know how. It’s just—my life isn’t worth more than anyone else’s, and I can’t help but feel weird about cutting in line, you know? Most of the people who have cases waiting for processing didn’t deserve whatever happened to them. And I know it wasn’t me who released that super flu, but I was still on the executive team. I don’t blame people for blaming me.”

Norah tapped Matt in the shins with her cane. “That’s all well and good, dear, but we learned a long time ago not to go solving our problems with random violence. At least, we were supposed to have learned it. We’ve fought hard in this state to shake the reputation for vigilante violence. Are you seriously going to let all that hard work go down the drain because of your misplaced guilt, boy?”

Jack turned his head so neither Taggart would see him grin.

“No, ma’am.” Matt somehow managed to look even guiltier.

“Good. Then don’t give this nice detective any more grief. And bring me a bourbon; all this drama is getting me agitated.”

Jack leaped up to fetch the required liquor.

Matt finished his debrief without any further complaints about the GBI’s priorities. Once finished, he shared a bourbon with Norah while Jack explained his side of things.

Soon after, when they all went to bed, Matt opted to sleep on the couch.

Jack didn’t fight him. He didn’t want to relive that kiss any more than he already would, in his dreams.

He woke up the next morning to find his phone buzzing. Ken Irvine had sent him a link to the front page of the biggest financial daily in the country. Instead of featuring news about rising oil costs or commodity shortages caused by super flu absences, the entire space above the fold was taken up by a massive, full-color photo of Jack kissing Matt. The headline screamed just below it.

sweet reward for scandal

Besse Pharma Interim CEO Matt Taggart Gets a Kiss From Boyfriend Jack Vadas at Royal Reception

Jack closed his eyes and sighed. He’d never live this down. Still, he took a selfie, flipping Irvine off, and sent it back.

Jack had done his job, and he could be proud of it. What might it be like, though, to kiss those lips for real?

CHAPTERSEVEN

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