Chapter Eleven
“Hey, Ethan, you settling in okay?”
Connor’s booming voice startled me so much I nearly dropped the glass I’d been carrying. How could such a big guy walk so quietly?
“Jesus, Connor, you scared the hell out of me. I need to put a bell on you so you can’t sneak up on me.”
Ladd moved up behind Connor and slid a hand around his waist. “That’s a great idea, Ethan. I could get him a blue collar with a little bell on it.” He gave Connor a sly smile and a kiss on the cheek.
“I don’t think so, Laddy. If one of us wears a collar, it’ll be you.”
Connor pulled Ladd up to him and gave home a blistering hot kiss, then suddenly let him go, smiling when Ladd had to hold onto him to hold himself up.
They looked so happy together and so comfortable in their relationship. That was what I had always wanted. I thought I might have a chance at building something with James, but that was looking iffy the longer I was here. He hadn’t said anything about the date we should have had when he visited. He didn’t say anything about anything, honestly, because we’d hardly seen each other the last two weeks with his schedule and my schedule not lining up.
“So you got everything moved over this week?” Connor asked me while slipping an arm around Ladd to pull him close.
“Yeah, Remy took me to the bank to close my accounts and then I transferred to the local bank here in town. I got a new cell phone, and Remy got rid of the other one. I know if Marcus really looks for me, he’ll be able to track me down, but at least I’ve made it not so easy.”
Connor nodded and then looked over as the last customer said their goodnights and left through the front door.
“That’s good. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you could take this job. You’re awesome and have helped me out so much. I could have handled the opening myself, but it was a lifesaver having you here. We’ve been so busy, though, I need to hire a couple more people so you and I can have a day off sometime in the next year.”
He boomed out a laugh, and Ladd smiled up at his fiancé with a look of complete devotion.
“Conn, you need to have some people here to take care of the place after the wedding. I know we can’t have a huge honeymoon, but I want my man all alone for at least a day or two.”
“Don’t worry, Ladd. I’ll do all I can to look after the place if Connor wants me to handle everything for a few days. I don’t want to overstep, though.”
“I would love that, Ethan. You’ve been great and helped me with practically everything there is to do around here. I would feel great if I knew you were taking care of my baby. You don’t have any other people you know who need a job, do you? I could use two or three more of you, and I’d be thrilled.”
I immediately thought of Jens, then shook my head slowly. “The only one I know would be my best friend, Jensen, but he’s still in New Orleans. I don’t know if he’ll ever move, to be honest. Sorry, I can’t be more help.”
Connor squeezed Ladd to him and then let his arm drop to give me a light touch on my arm. “You’ve helped more than you can know, Ethan. I’ll have to put an ad up and see who we can find. I’m going to go in the back and shut everything down for the night. We can close the doors in about fifteen, and then I’ll drive you home.”
I smiled at this giant of a man who could be so nice and sweet. “Thank you so much for giving me rides every day. I just don’t have the funds to get a car yet. I appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it, Ethan. We live right next to each other, so it would be silly for you not to ride in with me. I don’t mind at all, and I’m sure James is happy knowing you’re safe going to and from work.”
I had to correct Connor and his misunderstanding of the situation.
“I don’t think he’s even thought about me for more than a few minutes, Connor. We hardly ever see each other, and when we do, it’s awkward. I thought it would be different, but I was wrong.”
I couldn’t help the disappointment that leaked into my voice.
Before I knew it, Ladd had walked over and was holding both of my hands in his smaller ones. “Ethan, please don’t give up on Uncle James. He’s put himself last most of his life. He lost his brother, his parents, and then he was saddled with three difficult teens when he should have been enjoying the prime of his life. He’s worked and pushed harder than anyone I’ve ever met to make a life for us and to help us get through all of the aftermaths from our early years. You don’t know everything that he’s been through yet, I know. But believe me when I say, he likes you, very, very much. He’s just so used to putting himself last in everything. At this point, he might be terrified to reach out and try for something since he’s never done it before. Just, trust that he’ll come around, please?”
I stared into his lovely blue eyes and saw pleading sincerity. He very much wanted me to give James a chance. And who was I kidding, I wanted him more than ever. Being around his house, interacting with his family, I saw what kind of life we could have. It could be so perfect. I didn’t want to give up on that possibility. I squeezed Ladd’s hands and nodded.
“I’m not giving up, Ladd. I like him more than I have a right to, so I’m not going to give up on it. I promise. But I can’t guarantee that I won’t confront his ass sometime soon.”
Ladd squeezed my hands back and grinned. “That’s exactly what he needs, Ethan. Take that stubborn bull by the horns and make him admit his feelings. You’re exactly what he needs to be happy.”
He let go of my hands and followed Connor to the back kitchen. As he walked away, I turned toward the front door and was about to go turn the lock, when the door swung open. James walked through the door dressed impeccably in dress pants, a bright white dress shirt, and royal blue bow tie. He looked edible, and my decision to say something to him was solidified.
“Jay, long time no see, roomie.” I wanted to start this on a lighter note and then feel him out. His reaction told me more than I could have hoped for. He seemed to flinch at the term roomie. Then he gave me a slow up and down look that made my cock twitch and my balls tingle. Goddammit, I was tired of waiting for James to make a move. I was going to take Ladd’s advice and confront this head-on.
“Ethan, hey, I was at the office late tonight and thought I’d come by and see if you needed a ride.”
