“I got a new job!” Hailey burst into the condo and began to dance around, holding a brown paper bag of groceries as if it were her imaginary dancing partner, “I start Friday night,” she shuffled her feet, and twirled dramatically as Roy walked down the last few staircases.“You got a job?”Hailey grinned, “Yup.”“What about your old one? I think I missed something.” Roy said, “Maybe you’d better start at the beginning.” For the last couple of hours, he’d been upstairs going through his belongings, getting ready to bring back more of his stuff from Bryan’s house since it was all over.Hailey carried the groceries into the kitchen and placed them on the counter, “Remember my old boss, Jerry was a douche and didn’t miss a chance to harass me. Well, Liam came over a few days ago, and let’s just say, someone went back home with a black eye and it wasn’t Liam…”Roy interrupted her before she could complete her statement, “Liam….I thought Liam was with Kristine and you are with Elliot.”She
The sparkling lights of Louisiana blazed against a background of shadowy velvet. As the helicopter swooped low over the coastline, Elliot glanced over his shoulder. Kyle was fast asleep, sitting next to the nanny he had borrowed from the Ortiz Royal Palace, “We’re almost there,” he murmured reassuringly to the uniformed woman, “may I tell you how grateful I am that you were able to join us at such notice, Neri.”Neri smiled and gave a short boy, “I’m glad to be of help. With any luck I’ll be able to put Kyle straight to bed without waking him. He’s worn out, poor little pumpkin.”With a brief nod, Elliot turned back and glanced at Hailey who was sitting stiffly beside him, the tilt of her chin causing him to curse beneath his breath.She had refused to say a word to him the moment he brought her to the helipad after picking Kyle up from his babysitter’s.He couldn’t tell what made her mad. Maybe it was the fact that he had a helicopter at hand—which wasn’t originally his. It was Bryan
Bryan opened the door and stepped back welcoming Roy into his house. He was dressed in dark jeans and a crisp white shirt, his ten-thousand dollars black boot polished so brightly it reflected the patio lights. With his dark hair neatly combed back, he looked gorgeous.A thrill of excitement slipped through Roy. Bryan was so damned sexy, so damned male.Roy flushed at his own thoughts, as if he wasn’t male himself. Well, he was a slightly effeminate man. He finally acknowledged.“You look good enough to eat,” Bryan drawled, his forest green eyes sliding over Roy’s slicked back hair, the shiny stud earrings on his earlobe. Then the off white shirt he wore that match his converse.Finally his gaze settled on his bobbing Adam’s apple. Bending his head, he brushed his lips over the lump in his throat, sliding his lips up to meet Roy’s, a brief melding of lips as he led him into the house and closed the door.“Perfect,” Bryan whispered, his eyes scorching with an emotion so close to revere
After dialing Hailey’s phone repeatedly without her answering, Roy jumped from the bed and threw his wrinkled clothes back on, heading for the door.He grabbed one of Bryan’s car keys from the butler and stepped on the gas, shooting down the street.His heart was hammering, trying to pound its way through his ribs. His throat was dry as he got caught in traffic.A long thirty minutes later, Roy jerked the wheel, forcing the car to the opposite side of the road, and jumped out without closing the door.His pulse was racing as he blinked back the tears blurring his vision.He had no doubt as to who did this.Oh god, he thought, Hailey and Kyle weren’t supposed to be home at all. he started running across the street, heading straight for the front door, then he finally exited the elevator at the top floor but stumbled and fell when someone stepped in his way, blocking his path at the door to their apartment“You can’t go in there sir.”“That’s my house! My sister’s in there—my sister and
Early morning sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.He poured himself a cup of coffee and carried it back to his desk.He flicked his gaze to the door of his study, picturing the hallway off the living room that led to the stairs and then the bedrooms. His unwilling houseguests were asleep in one of them, exhausted after the break-in last night.Leaning back, Bryan ran his fingers through his hair. Roy blamed himself for the break-in, but it wasn’t his fault. If anyone was to be pointed fingers at, then it was him. Roy’s protection was his ultimate task. He had failed.Bryan blew out a frustrated breath. He needed more information from the investigation bureau so it could confirm what he already knew—that Fred Macintyre was responsible for this.He was informed a few weeks ago that the man had escaped from the mental institution Bryan had made sure Fred was taken to but he kept it under wraps for there was more crucial things to handle. His men were searching for
He was wearing grey sweatpants that he’d loaned from Bryan, his brown hair in a mess atop his head.Bryan felt that punch in the gut that he’d felt before.“I hope I am not interrupting. I didn’t know anyone was here.” He murmured, an adorable flush appearing on his skin.If Mark was shocked, his expression gave nothing away.“Roy, this is detective Mark. He was leaving.”“I’m sorry about the break-in,” mark said turning around to face Roy. “we are going to catch the guy. A man like that is a danger not to only you and your family but to everyone in the vicinity.”Roy’s eyes widened as he took in the features of the man’s face. He was eerily familiar but Roy couldn’t place where he’d seen him.“Yes, he is.” He managed to say after an awkward moment of staring at him, “And I appreciate any help you can give. Besides, it’s wonderful to learn that someone in the bureau is not under Cain’s paycheck.” He was rambling and everyone knew it.Bryan saved the day by quickly steering Mark out of
Their arms loaded with bags and boxes, Roy and Hailey returned to Bryan’s mansion late in the afternoon.Carrying a few more boxes and another load of packages, Carpalia walked them to the door and the butler pulled it open.He smiled briefly, “Welcome home.”As they walked past the foyer into the living room, Roy’s eyes widened at the sight of Bryan cradling little Kyle against his broad chest.“What in the world.”“I couldn’t get an impromptu babysitter and my housekeeper had some things to do. So I rushed back home from the office and we swapped places.”Roy looked at Hailey, Hailey looked at him and they burst out laughing.One of Bryan’s brows arched, “What? You didn’t think I could change a diaper?” the sides of his lips quirked, “I have six siblings whom I’m older than with a lot of years.”Dropping her package, Hailey reached for the baby, and Bryan gently handed him over, “Thanks, Bryan,” she exclaimed, “You’ve been extremely good to me I find it hard to remember how you hurt
Bryan’s limo that drove into the company was tinted black and bulletproofed. From the outside, it was completely pitch black and no one could see inside, no matter how much they peered hard.The car drove into the underground parking garage, and next to the exclusive parking space was the CEO's private elevator. From the beginning to the end, the reporters and all irrelevant personnel were blocked from outside the garage, so, so far, no one outside knew who was in the car with the CEO.“Are you coming in with me?” Roy finally said after the driver pulled into the garage.Bryan shook his head, “No you go on ahead. I have a place to be.”“You have a place to be or you don’t want to be seen with me?”Bryan raised his eyes and locked gazes with Roy, “Is that what you really think? That I don’t want to be seen with you.” “I don’t know.” His expression was so crestfallen that Bryan had to look away.Letting out a heavy sigh, Bryan took a hold of his hand and exited the limo.Hand-in-hand,