Page 3 of Just in Time
Blaze shrugged. “People like him are simple. I’m not guessing at his intentions. Sometimes that’s easier. I thought you wereSteel’s favorite. He told me he assigned me his most requested guard.”
For the first time, Diesel looked uncomfortable. “Yeah.”
Something squeezed inside Blaze’s chest. He knew that tone. Blaze used it more than he liked. “I’m hoping I can keep you for as long as you’re willing. You can tell me whatever you’re thinking. In fact, I prefer it that way.”
Diesel’s shoulders fell a hair, making Blaze realize he had been holding himself rigid. He hated that.
Diesel cleared his throat. “I don’t think most people request me due to anything I’m doing right. If anyone knows I’m not special, it’s me. But I fit a certain aesthetic.” He cleared his throat again, and Blaze’s heart sank.
“And people think if they’re paying you, then they own you for whatever purpose they choose,” Blaze finished for him.
A sad smile appeared on Diesel’s lips for half a second. “Yeah. Something like that.”
“Damn, dude. That blows. You don’t have to worry about that with me. Nothing personal.”
Diesel laughed. “I know. You have way too many people already willing.”
Blaze chuckled softly before turning serious. “Nah. That’s not it. You’re honest and chill. I couldn’t have custom-ordered a better guard.”
The way Diesel smiled brightened Blaze’s mood. At least there was one person who saw the real him. That was more than he had a month ago.
Chapter Two
Germanmovedfromroomto room, turning off each light. He didn’t know who spent their time out here, but they obviously didn’t pay the light bill. German chuckled at his thoughts. He supposed no one here worried about things like that. Valon likely had someone on his payroll whose job was to turn every light on every morning, or some shit. It was possible a darkened pool house was an invitation for stalkers to hide or whatever. It was a good thing he had worked there for a short time. He knew how to set the alarm.
As German pressed the first number of the alarm code, someone knocked on the door. German’s brows snapped together. It was two in the morning. He opened the door, fully expecting Marc to be on the other side. His brain froze at the sight of Blaze.
Blaze was all smiles. He held up two bottles of champagne. “Since you refused to come to me, I’ll bring the celebration to you.” Blaze strolled through the door and passed German like he lived there.
German stuck his head out the door and looked right, then left. “Where’s Diesel?” He turned and found Blaze digging for glasses.
“Nathaniel’s finding him a room so he can get some sleep. It’s not like he’s needed here.”
That was true, but Diesel was a buffer. German definitely needed that when it came to Blaze. He closed the door.
Blaze found two cups. “These’ll do.” He popped the cork on an expensive champagne. German had only had the brand because of his job. While it was only around seven hundred dollars a bottle, a pittance to the upper class, Hell would freeze before German ever spent that much. He had to admit it was the best-tasting, though.
Blaze handed him a cup.
German couldn’t look anywhere else. Blaze looked relaxed. Meanwhile, German was a fucking mess.
Blaze’s light green gaze lifted and held German’s stare. “What made you change your mind about tonight?” He took a drink as if he hadn’t just put German on the spot.
“You sent someone else to fetch me. It didn’t seem like you cared if I showed up or not.” He really needed to get his wits back. German couldn’t keep telling the truth like that.
Blaze tossed back the rest of his drink and started to pour another. He stopped. “This is ridiculous.” He popped the cork on the second bottle and handed it to German. “Fuck pouring the shit.”
German shook his head. “Give me the one you’ve been drinking. You’re the main character tonight.”
Blaze never broke eye contact and didn’t budge from holding the bottle out to German. “I’m the main character every night.”
That was likely true. German took the bottle.
Blaze smiled. “That’s the spirit.” He turned away and headed for the couch. The pool house was just that: a smaller house with all the comforts of home. “Plus, I know where Valon keeps the booze. There’s no need for me to ration that shit.”
German chose the chair across from him—just as he had last time they were here. “Yeah. Me too.”
Blaze’s gaze swept German’s body as he turned up the bottle.
