Booker burst out laughing. “Cade is gonna make you pay for that.”
“I’ve no doubt he will. When I finally see him.” But Quinn’s affectionate expression told Red that he couldn’t wait.
Red ignored the pang of jealousy at the fact Quinn had a boy. So did Booker. It had been a long time since Red had been in a relationship with anyone, let alone a boy. He’d shut that part of his life away years ago. Since the day his boy had walked out of their home and into the arms of Red’s best friend, taking his Daddy’s heart with him.
Red cleared his throat. “If we’re done here?”
“We haven’t told you what the job is yet,” Quinn pointed out. “At least give us the time to hear us out. If you still say no, we’ll understand.”
*cough* “Bullshit.” *cough*
That was from Booker.
Cook sighed and rose to his feet. “I’ll leave this with you, Quinn. I have a meeting with Angel Securities, and I’m jetlagged and haven’t had nearly enough coffee to deal with Josh Cooper. Mr. Baxter, I’m sure we’ll meet again.”
Red doubted it but he shook Cook’s hand and watched him stride out of the room, wishing he could leave with him.
“Red.”
Red turned his attention to Quinn as Booker topped off their cups, not bothering to ask whether Red wanted a refill. Like any bodyguard would turn down a caffeine intake.
“May we call you Red? I’m Quinn, this is Craig.”
The other man inclined his head.
Quinn continued. “Look, Red. You know who we are. More to the point,whatwe are. We know you’re a Daddy too. This saves a lot of time.”
Red shook his head. “I’m not a Daddy.”
“You may not have a boy, but you’re still a Daddy.” Quinn’s hard brown eyes turned bleak. “It’s hardwired in you.”
Quinn could believe what he liked. Red had stepped away from the Daddy community a long time ago.
Craig leaned forward. “We have a situation and when we saw your résumé, we knew we had a solution to the problem.”
“Explain.”
“First, tell us why you want to leave Monaghan’s. You’ve been there a long time.”
Red thought about all the excuses he could use. I need a fresh start. Monaghan’s is going through a difficult time. What came out of his mouth was totally unexpected. Because it was the truth.
“My former boy just became my boss. It ain’t working for me.”
Both men nodded, but there was no pity in their eyes. Red would have hated that and walked out on the spot. No, all he saw was understanding. He guessed there was an advantage to talking with like-minded men.
“We did some digging,” Quinn said. “If you hadn’t told us that, it would have been the end of the interview.”
Red huffed. “So all I needed was to lie to get out of here? Geez. You could have told me that earlier.”
Craig burst out laughing and Quinn’s mouth quirked in one corner.
“We got us another Mo,” Craig said to Quinn.
“Mo Carstairs?” Red asked.
“You know him?”
“I knowofhim,” Red corrected. “I was on Joseph Holden’s team.”
