Chapter 2
The building where Julian Brenner lived was a lot like the office building where he worked. It was all metal and glass with everything looking untouched by human hands. Rob had no trouble picturing Mr. Brenner living in a place like this, but not that little brother of his. Maybe that's why he was moving, and not just because of the situation with that Thayer creep.
Rob had arrived there after work and hoped to have a firm job offer after he was done. As he went up in the elevator, which was as smooth as butter, Rob thought about the creaking, lurching elevator at his own building. Not that it would be his building for much longer. He had to be out of there soon.
Rob had made the mistake of messing around with his 'straight' roommate. When Craig had a freak out and tried to kick him out, Rob told him he was taking two weeks to find another place. He wasn't about to let that two-faced idiot push him around.
But time was running out, and until Mr. Brenner offered him this job, Rob was looking at a future with no job and no place to live. Working for Mr. Brenner wasn't yet a sure thing from the sound of it, and it wasn't the kind of job he was looking for. Still, it was better than nothing, which is what he had lined up so far.
Living at Mr. Brenner's house in the country might not be so bad either. Sure it might be kind of awkward, but Rob could save some money. First he had to make sure not to blow it. And also keep dirty thoughts out of his head.
That wasn't easy. He was on the doorstep of Mr. Brenner's apartment, ringing the doorbell and telling himself to be the perfect employee. But as soon as Mr. Brenner opened the door, dirty thoughts came flooding in.
He couldn't help it. Julian Brenner was smoking hot. Rob took in those soft brown eyes, dark hair, and a perfectly trimmed beard on a serious face. Below that were broad shoulders and a slim but toned body and everything else that Rob had to pretend not to notice.
Rob averted his eyes and spotted Danny hiding behind his big brother.
"Who do I see over there? Hi, Danny. Are we going to be packing today?" Rob asked him.
Danny nodded.
"You want to say hi to Rob?" Julian encouraged him gently, like he wasn't sure he would. But his little brother did him proud.
"Hi, Rob," Danny said under his breath and tucked in his chin shyly.
Taking off his jacket and going inside the apartment, Rob could tell that Mr. Brenner's style was minimalist and traditional, but now there were toys perched on side tables and armrests. So it seemed that Mr. Brenner had allowed his little brother to make the whole apartment his playground.
Aside from that, packing boxes were already set out, and some of them were half full. Leaving his big brother's side, Danny went over to stand in the doorway of a colorfully decorated bedroom.
"I told Danny that we would start with some of his things," Mr. Brenner said while showing Rob where to hang up his jacket.
"We're starting with the most important stuff," Rob said to Danny. The little boy looked shy whenever he spoke to him but also bright-eyed and eager.
Running into his room with Rob and Mr. Brenner following after him, Danny went straight to a hook on the wall where a yellow baseball cap was hanging. Taking it off the hook, he showed the cap to Rob with a look of solemn pride.
"Is that the most important thing?" Rob asked him.
Danny nodded.
"Don't worry. We won't forget the yellow cap," Mr. Brenner assured him. "But we don't need to pack it. You can wear it on the trip."
"It must be special," Rob said.
"Julian got it for me," Danny said in his small voice.
"It was the first thing I ever bought him," Mr. Brenner said with a smile and a wistful look in his brown eyes.
Rob knew from talk at the office that Mr. Brenner and Danny were each other's only family, and that they only recently found each other. That must be why Mr. Brenner seemed to be wrapped up in sadness even when he smiled.
"Should we put something in those boxes?" Rob asked bringing over two boxes that sat empty. Danny agreed. Of course all he was interested in packing were his toys.
While he rummaged in his toy box, Rob noticed that the boxes weren't marked. "We should write Danny's name on here, right? Mr. Brenner?"
When Mr. Brenner didn't say anything, Rob wondered if he was making a bad impression. But maybe he was just lost in thought. Mr. Brenner was looking around Danny's room with a faraway look in his eyes.
Rob was about to look around for a marker, when he felt Danny tug at his sleeve. He motioned for Rob to lean down, and then he whispered. "He has another name."
"He does?" Rob said and he and Mr. Brenner locked eyes for a moment. Those gorgeous, brown eyes were hard to look away from, but Rob forced his gaze away somehow and gave his full attention to Danny.
