“Look, Jordy, if you don’t have any plans, why don’t you come tomorrow night too? That way you can see how wrong you are about everything, okay?”
Jordan agreed and with that, his friends relaxed, but Drew’s mind continued to whirl.
Chapter Three
“Christ, Asher, what’s your problem?” Peter tossed the keys to his car at the valet outside the restaurant. “Slow down and relax.”
Ash flipped his friend off and strode into the bar, his eyes adjusting to the dimness. A smile teased his lips, which quickly faded. “Ouch.” He rubbed his side where Peter poked him from behind. “What’s wrong with you?”
With a surprisingly firm hand and an equally surprising stern face, Peter pushed him into a chair at a nearby table. “Now listen to me. I know you better than anyone, and that’s still not a whole lot. But you like to play games, chew guys up, and spit them out when you’ve had your fun.”
“Hey, thanks for the high opinion, friend,” Ash protested, albeit not that strongly. It wouldn’t be the first time Peter had called him out on his bullshit. And he happened to be right.
“Shut up and listen, Ash. Drew’s a friend, and he’s been fucked over badly. He’s at his most vulnerable right now, and I won’t allow you to do to him whatever is in that sexually perverted mind of yours.”
Peter’s tone and face were both uncharacteristically harsh, but that did little to soothe Ash’s outrage at how his friend spoke to him. “Who the fuck are you?” Furious, he spat out his words in angry bullets. “What the hell are you thinking talking to me this way? You ask me to do a favor, and here I am. Other than that, you don’t run my fucking life, so back off.” Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the door, unwilling to meet Peter’s eyes. Knowing deep down his friend was right.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Ash raked his hand through his hair. “Look, even if I was maybe thinking of something like that, out of deference to you, I’ll pull back.” He could find an easy lay anywhere in the city. He couldn’t find another friend like Peter, and it wasn’t worth risking their friendship. Besides, Klein most likely was a boring straight guy who wouldn’t think of stepping outside his comfort zone.
Vanilla. And vanilla was his least favorite flavor, unless some interesting special mix-ins were added to spice it up.
Peter grinned, his good humor restored. “I’m glad I can count on you. Ah, there he is.” He waved at the man standing by the entrance to the room, searching the crowd.
Ash paid little attention to Peter as he focused on the lean form of Dr. Klein crossing the room. If Ash thought Drew good-looking when they first met, tonight he was nothing short of mouthwatering. Seeing Drew Klein in a green shirt that brought out the glow in his eyes and tailored black trousers that hugged a fine-looking tight ass, Ash couldn’t hold back his admiration. “Damn.”
Peter squeezed his shoulder hard and shot him a warning glare. “Behave.” He left to meet Klein halfway. It was then Ash saw another man join them and shake Peter’s hand. Ash’s grin and good thoughts fled at the same moment. Shit. Jordan Peterson. Ash remembered the handsome man from their first meeting about five years earlier. Peterson had been a medical resident, and Ash had been working a malpractice case and sat in on the depositions, assisting Mr. Frank. He’d been instantly attracted to the blond-haired, blue-eyed doctor giving his testimony, and tried everything he could to get the man in his bed, but got rebuffed at every turn. It was the first time he could remember not being able to seduce the man he wanted.
As he watched the three men, he recalled that not only had Dr. Peterson not reciprocated the spark, he’d made it a point to tell Ash how he felt about him.
“You’re a player, Davis. I spotted you a mile away. I’m not interested in a quick fuck, and I’m not easy. I value myself too much.”
Ash rubbed his chin, that conversation still rankling after so many years. So this was one of Klein’s friends who’d be working with him on the project. Interesting. He wondered if the sanctimonious doctor would even remember him. As they approached him, he stood, an easygoing smile on his face, never alerting anyone to the turmoil of his inner thoughts.
“Dr. Klein, good to see you again outside the confines of the conference room.”
“Yes, I’m glad to have put that behind me and don’t hold any grudges against you, Davis. You were doing what you were paid to do.” He turned to his friend. “I’d like to introduce you to one of my best friends, Dr. Jordan Peterson, who’ll also be working with us on the clinic project.”
The obvious look of distaste on Peterson’s handsome face left no doubt in Ash’s mind that the good doctor remembered him all too well. “Dr. Peterson.”
“Davis. It’s been years, hasn’t it?” Their gazes met, and Ash couldn’t tell what the man had going on behind his sneer. Had he mentioned their brief acquaintance to Klein? Did he tell Klein how Ash tried to seduce him?
Why the fuck did Ash even care?
Before he could answer, the hostess came to seat them, and they followed her into the dining area of the restaurant, where they were shown to a round table in the corner.
Once they all took their menus, Ash, brushing aside his annoyance, plastered a wide smile on his face. “It has been quite a few years, yes. Good to see you.”
“I was surprised to hear you were involved with this project. Didn’t really seem like your speed.”
He caught the warning look that passed between the two men, and yep, Peterson had spoken to Klein about him and that pissed him off.
“Peterson, you know nothing about me and let’s keep it that way. Suffice it to say I have my own reasons and motivation for becoming involved here, and I don’t owe any explanation to you. If you have a problem with me working at the clinic, that’s too fucking bad. Get over it. I’m not pulling out because you don’t like me.” He called over the waiter and ordered a vodka on the rocks. Ordinarily he would flirt with the handsome, slim-hipped young man, but he was too pissed at the moment. “Now, are we ready to talk business or is everyone at this table going to continue to obsess about my sex life?”
Peter laughed out loud, Peterson rolled his eyes, and Klein merely looked confused for a moment before giving the blushing waiter his drink order. They sat in uncomfortable silence until their drinks arrived.
Klein took a drink of his beer and then pulled some papers out of the thin leather portfolio he’d laid on the table. “So here is my vision. Obviously I’m not up on the legal ramifications, so that’s what you and Davis are here for, Peter.” He passed out several typed sheets of paper for them to look over. “We need to make sure we have all the legalities in place, as well as having you both on board to help these kids in case they want to press charges for abuse, discrimination, or sexual harassment.”
Ash studied the papers. It was a solid proposal—one that had taken a tremendous amount of thought and caring. If only he, Luke, and Brandon had someone like this.
