Grant sighed, but he didn’t look annoyed. “You remind me of someone, Kieran. That’s all I’ll say. I know what your mum did, and I thought you could use a break. I don’t take chances on just anybody. But this has to be your choice. So, are we going for dinner or back to mine?”
Kieran closed his eyes and tried to calm his racing thoughts. Hassan, Milo, and Liam all popped into his head with their opinions. Liam would tell him to get dicked down for the night. Milo would tell him to take the job, and Hassan would tell him to take neither. Okay, so that hadn’t given him an answer. His mind went to Derek. What would he say? Based on his reaction to Grant when they’d been in the shop together, he would probably say the same as Hassan. Was that because he still saw himself as Kieran’s stepdad and was being protective, or could it be jealousy? Nah. There was no way it was anything like that. Kieran’s crush was definitely one-sided. Derek might own a sex club, but he always came across as a man with morals.
Why was he even considering what Derek’s view would be on this? Until a few weeks ago, he hadn’t seen the man for ten years.
“Kieran,” said Grant.
He opened his eyes.
“Have you decided?”
Kieran looked at the handsome man in front of him, and everything became clear in his head.
“Yes!”
CHAPTER 10
DEREK
Derek had popped into Knights Corner to discuss a timeline for Omar moving over. His interview had gone well, but Langdon, being his thoughtful self, hadn’t wanted to drop Derek in the shit by taking Omar immediately. Derek knew it was best for Omar to get out of his place and somewhere less sleazy as soon as possible, though.
He had to do a double take when he’d seen Kieran sitting down with Grant Kincaid. Why hadn’t he said anything? Had they been seeing each other all this time? He’d been enjoying their coffees and lunches, and Kieran had been honest about his struggles over the past decade. He knew there was still a lot more that Kieran wasn’t ready to share yet, but when Derek had asked about Grant, he’d been assured that Kieran hadn’t heard from him.
Before he could stop himself, Derek was storming over to the booth they were sitting in. There was no way he was letting Kieran get mixed up with someone like Grant. He needed someone looking out for him.
“Kieran, what are you doing with him?”
They both looked at him. Kieran’s eyes widened, whereas Grant had an amused look on his face.
“Look, Kieran, it’s yourdaddycome to take you home,” said Grant.
Derek ignored him, his focus solely on Kieran.
“What are you doing here?” Kieran hissed.
“It’s a good job I am here. Come on, you’re leaving,” he said, holding his hand out.
“I don’t believe this,” snapped Kieran. “Can I not make my own fucking choices?”
“You don’t want to get mixed up with him, Kieran.”
“I’d be very careful if I were you,” said Grant. “My tolerance has limits, and you’re pushing them right now.”
“You might scare young kids who aren’t strong enough to say no to you, but I won’t be so easily intimidated.”
Before he could register what was happening, Kieran had belted Derek across the face. It stung like a bitch and got them attention from nearby patrons. It also brought Langdon rushing over.
“What’s going on over here? Do I need to throw one of you out?”
“It’s alright, Langdon,” said Kieran. “I’ll leave these two to it.”
“Kieran,” said Grant. “We haven’t finished discussing our business.”
“What business?” asked Derek.
“None of yours,” said Grant. “Kieran, we can go back to my club and finish our... discussion, somewhere more private.”
“Like fuck you will,” snarled Derek.
