I hated disappointing him, but this gave us time to consider the situation. If I sensed the slightest hesitation from Trevor, I’d find a reason to bail on the date. He’d been the one constant in my life since I came out. Better to give up a date, than risk our friendship.
Henry
Dinner left me in a daze. I’d have blamed it on the wine, but I didn’t drink enough to even get a buzz. Nothing got a mission off to a bad start like getting arrested for a DUI. The issue was Nick.
I’d showed up prepared to paste on a fake smile, use my phony charm, and hold my nose as I pretended to befriend him. Instead, he and his boyish optimism pushed all my buttons. Bursting into the apartment, bouncing with excitement, and dying to share that energy, he upended my preconceived image of Nicholas Fenton.
The reports said he lacked confidence and followed Grant around like a puppy, but they were wrong. Nick had a mind of his own and wasn’t afraid to let others know what he thought, but only in situations where he was comfortable. At home, at his dinner table, with his best friend, Nick didn’t cower or hover in the background. He laughed and joked along with Grant and me. I’d call him cautious, not unsure.
Seeing him shirtless and sweaty added to my interest. In a hundred and fifty plus years of dating, I knew I had a type; tall, athletic, tight muscles, clean shaven, and strong features. If I could’ve ordered someone, it would be Nick.
Had Uncle Michael known this when he gave me this assignment? Doubtful, but I put nothing past him.
More annoying was Grant. He watched me like I was a fox in the hen house. Nick thought he was sneaking glances at me, but not only did I catch on, Grant did as well. On more than one occasion, Grant changed topics when Nick and I were locked into a conversation. It was irritating as fuck.
Finally, after one too many dirty looks, I stretched and leaned back. “I should get going. Tomorrow’s my first day at the office.”
Nick’s smile faded, but before he said anything, Trevor stood. “Hey, Nick. Would you mind starting to clean up while I walk Henry to his car? I need to talk to him about a family matter.”
I checked my anger before I called bullshit. Trevor might be acting the fool, with his overprotectiveness, but speaking in private was probably wise. Judging by Nick’s expression, he didn’t buy Grant’s clumsy excuse to exclude his roommate. Nick clearly didn’t appreciate being cut out, but he nodded. “Sure.”
“Thank you for dinner,” I said to Trevor, before turning to Nick and holding out my hand. “And thank you for being my co-pilot. I’ll call you to set up a time for Saturday.”
Let Grant stew on that. It was petty, and I knew it, but I was team leader, and I needed to remind one of my subordinates of reality.
“Great,” Nick’s smile returned as we shook. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
We maintained contact longer than necessary. I might bitch silently about Grant’s mother hen routine, but he wasn’t wrong. Nick wasn’t fire I was playing with, he was a roaring inferno that could reduce me to ashes.
Grant’s concerns, however, were for Nick, not me. I needed to tread carefully for both our sakes.
“C’mon, Henry, I’ll walk you out.”
Subtlety wasn’t a strong trait for him. He could add improving it to the list that included learning to show proper respect for his superiors. Neither of us were going to enjoy this conversation.
The silent walk to my car ended when Grant spun around, finger raised, ready to unload on me. I held up my hand to pre-empt his tirade.
“Don’t. Think before you speak. I’m taking over as team leader on Michael’s order. If you want to say something, that’s fine, but respect my position.”
He sputtered, lowered his hand and growled. “Permission to speak freely,sir.”
My gut told me to say no, get in my car and leave, but I didn’t. I needed Grant on the team, which meant we needed to do more than co-exist. “If you keep it civil, go ahead.”
“Why are you hitting on Nick? There are a million other guys to wet your dick with. Why does it have to be him?”
Even being generous, no one would call that civil or polite. “I won’t lower myself to your crude phrasing, but that isn’t my intent. To guard him properly, I need to get to know him better.”
“By taking him for a ride in yourbigcar. Because that won’t impress a kid from the wrong part of Long Island. At least try to lie better.”
I bought the Maserati because one of the current operatives told me Nick loved fancy cars and his screensaver at work was a Quattroporte. “Watch your tone, Grant. Unless you’re trying to get reassigned, tone it down. First, yes, the car was specifically purchased to give me an in with Nick. Second, you know nothing about me, so don’t project someone else’s slutty ways onto me.”
“You’re a dick, you know that, Henry?”
I’d gotten the rise I wanted. He might not know me, but I’d certainly done my research on him. Before he and Nick becamefriends and roommates, Grant had cut a wide swath through the pretty boy crowd in New York City and Fire Island.
He tried to go back inside, but I held out a hand. I’d wanted him to get angry so I could reel him in. “Stop. We’re not finished.”
Anger flashed in his eyes, and he looked down at my hand. If he attacked me, it would be a short fight. He’d just started to get his powers, while I’d had mine for more than a century. Even at full power, he’d never match me.
