His question was met with silence, followed by Barry saying, “Rory, get a bucket so we can trap the snake. Nice to see you again, Forest.”
Forest mumbled a few words I couldn’t make out, which was my cue to get my ass moving before he found me lingering, listening to him reprimand Jordan’s guards. It would have been amusing if it hadn’t been so hot.
Thanks to my perfection of lurking in dark corners, I was able to tuck myself against the wall and watch as he walked past me. I could have let him go, but I was a glutton for punishment, and my cock perked up when he got stern with the others.
Stepping alongside him, he didn’t expect me. It was his turn to jump.
“Jesus!” he gasped and put his hand to his chest.
“At least you didn’t try to attack me. That’s happened before. I snuck up on Raiden once and he pinned me to the wall. It wasn’t in the way I enjoy.” I winked. Why the fuck did I wink?
The light in the hallway was just bright enough I could witness a blush creep into Forest’s cheeks. God, he got sexier the longer I spent with him. I shouldn’t think this way. He didn’t want me. At least, not that he’d said. The blush was so endearing. I loved affecting him like that, especially after my glorious display of courage and capability back there with the snake.
“You really do prowl the hallways in the middle of the night.”
“I wouldn’t use the word prowl, but yes. I wasn’t lying. I’m sure your brother told you too. This is my domain after midnight.” I spread my arms wide. There were times when I wished I could shut my mouth, especially in front of Forest. My domain? Seriously? Trying to get the attention off me, I asked, “Couldn’t sleep?”
“No. I…” He started walking again. I easily fell in step beside him. “I quit my job.”
And there I was, stopping, frozen again.
It took Forest a few steps to realize I wasn’t next to him any longer. He paused and turned before walking back to me. “What’s wrong? Did you see something else? While I didn’t mind the snake, if there’s a fucking millipede, I’m out of here.”
“Why a millipede?” I should have asked about his job, but I was too thrown by the bug comment.
“All the legs and the way the body looks.” He shivered. “Fuck no.”
“Noted. No millipedes. Why did you quit your job?”
“Oh.” He ducked his head and pivoted on his heel. Back up the hall he went, with me trailing after him. “Hart said I should. The job was draining. I shouldn’t have taken the promotion in the first place. My boss tried to get me to stay, but my brother’s words stuck in my head. He told me to live my life. I wasn’t. I was living to work. Anyway, I quit. Now I waffle between regretting my decision and being glad I did it. I have a draft email already typed up where I beg for my job back.” He shrugged, eyes on the ground as his feet kept moving.
“Work shouldn’t take over your life, but I understand how it can happen. I see it every day with Jordan. Well, I used to. Since getting with Hartley and Vail, not so much. What will you do now?”
“Pace the halls with you at night?” He lifted his head and gave me a shy smile.
“Okay.”
He stumbled, but only slightly. “You’re serious?”
“What? I own the halls with my midnight prowling?” I smacked my lips. “I still don’t like it. Makes me sound like a mountain lion.”
“I need to find another job, one that’s not so intense.”
“Work here.”
“As appealing as that sounds, hard pass. I’ll find something. Hart said he’ll stop charging me rent, so I won’t have to worry about that. I have savings. I haven’t been spending much money since I moved here. There has to be something out there for me.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
I still wished he’d work here. Jordan would find a job for him. There were all kinds of things to be done in this building that had nothing to do with his illegal business. Hell, he could find him a position in one of his legitimate companies, where he could get a paycheck and not have to worry about the cops coming to arrest him. I was certain Hartley had already spoken to Jordan about it. If not him, Vail did. They both loved Forest and would do anything for him.
The sound of people walking caught my attention. I slowed, Forest too, and we moved to the side.
Rory slowly strode toward us with a bucket in his hand. “I’ve named her Betty.” He grinned.
“I know ways to kill you that no one will ever detect.”
“Empty threat,” Rory sang as he passed us.
