A chill walked down Ian’s spine.“Please tell me he didn’t cry.I wasn’t breaking up with him, I swear.”
“I’d love to be able to tell you he wasn’t crying,” Nik said politely, which somehow made the whole situation scarier.
Ian stood up.“Oh my God, I have to fix this.”
“Goddamn right you do.Now, you’re supposed to meet us for dinner before the concert in an hour and a half, so—”
“Concert?”
“Pleasetell me you didn’t forget about the Exposed Innerds concert tonight?”
Hell.“Okay, I won’t tell you.”
Nik sighed, as if he needed to gather strength.“Sam’s expecting you not to show, but you will, Ian.Won’t you?”
Ian nodded firmly, bumping his chin on the receiver.“Yes.”
“Okay, then this is what you’re going to do.You’re going to make reservations for two at a very nice restaurant—”
“Oh, I’ve done that,” he interrupted, relieved.
“—for 6 p.m.,” Nik continued.
“I’ll change them.”
“And then you’re going to meet us for dinner at five thirty at the Club Monaco, butaskSam to please have dinner with you, alone.”
“Give me the Goddamned phone, Nikky,” Jurgen said in a voice so low and sexy not even Ian was completely immune.
It was very disturbing.
Nik’s breathing got ragged.“Bye, Ian.Jurgen wants to talk to you now.Oh, and I’ve upgraded you from bastard to ‘dumbassed bastard,’” he added quickly.
“Ian?”Jurgen asked.“Don’t fuck this up.Sam’s your Nik.”
Click.
A half hour later, Ian was just about ready to leave work.He’d called the restaurant and pled for a new reservation, refusing to hang up until he got it.Since it was casual Friday, he didn’t need to change; he could just meet Sam at the Monaco.Should he bring flowers?Was that lame?He texted Jurgen quickly, instructing him to ask Nik.
“Hey, Dalton, you’re fine driving yourself, right?”he called out the door, stuffing his paperwork in files so he could find it on Monday.“I need to pick up Sam for dinner and—”
“Ian?”Dalton stood in the doorway, looking uncertain.“There’s someone here to see you.He seems anxious,” he added quietly.
“I can’t see anyonenow,” Ian whispered.“Tell him he has to make an appointment.”
“I said that,” Dalton whispered back.“But he keepsinsisting.”
Someone walked up behind him and looked over his shoulder at Ian.It was Tierney.His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he hadn’t shaved in a week.
“Dude, I really need to talk to you.I’m, um, I’m sorry.For last weekend.”
For fuck’s sake.Ian gritted his teeth and exhaled through them.He stared at Tierney a second, then looked at his watch.Four forty.“You have a half hour, dude, that’s it.”
“Fine.Whatever time you can give me.”
Ian closed his eyes and shook his head.“Gimme a minute.”He looked up to see Tierney’s eyes flicker down the back of Dalton’s neck.Something about that look didn’t sit right with him, and he said harshly, “Just have a seat out there and wait for me.”He stared at Tierney until the man moved.Then he looked at Dalton.“Can you go a little early and wait for them?Then if I’m a couple minutes late ...please?”
Dalton smiled reassuringly.Ian got the feeling he had some ideas about what was going on.“Of course.I’ll leave in five minutes.Don’t worry.”
