“And you’re asking me this now…why? How come you aren’t talking to him?”
“Because some disturbing information came to me, and I think you’re the only one who can give me the answers I need.”
“If I can, I will, but understand that Mason is my friend, and my loyalty is to him.”
“I find it unusual that you’ve remained so devoted to him.”
“I thought you knew Mason. He mentioned you’re his brother’s best friend, so obviously you two are well acquainted.”
“Yes, I’ve known Mason for years.”
Jude recalled the first time he met Doug’s wild younger brother at a family birthday party. Like sunlight beaming a golden path on a cloudy day, Mason brightened the way wherever he walked. His mop of sun-streaked hair and his laughing eyes had caught Jude’s attention, but he’d stayed on the sidelines, watching him charm everyone. When Doug introduced them, Mason’s eyes gleamed, and Jude’s body had responded with a shock of awareness he squashed immediately. Mason Reiner was too young, too beautiful, too free, and way out of his league.
Colchester said, “So then you know, once you meet Mason, it’s hard to forget him. That smile, his quick mind…I knew I had to have him.”
“Have him?” Was Pryce right?
“Aside from wanting him as my assistant because he’s smart as a whip and extremely intuitive, he is beautiful to look at. And I like having beautiful things around me.”
A spike of jealousy wormed its way through him, and Jude had no choice but to ask, “Did you two have more than a professional relationship?”
“I don’t speak about my personal life,” Warren answered in a frosty voice.
“And I respect that. But I—”
“Care for him as well.”
And to anyone else, he would have given the same answer Colchester gave him, but he couldn’t push him off, since he’d called purposely for ferreting out information.
“Of course I do. Doug’s my best friend, and like you said, I’ve known Mason forever.”
“Which tells me nothing.”
Jude chuckled. “I keep my private life close to the vest as well.”
“And yet you called me asking about mine and Mason’s. So what that tells me is you’re more involved with him than you might wish to admit to me, and for whatever reason, you’re finding it hard to accept it.”
Jude remained silent, and Colchester took that as his acquiescence to continue.
“Any man who wins Mason’s love should consider himself lucky. He’s a loyal and devoted friend. Smart and logical in his thinking.”
“He is all that. And more.”
“So what is your problem?”
“I had a man in my office today—Dex Hollister—who claimed he was on your yacht as an assistant to Jeff Whittaker, the former CEO of Whistler.”
“I’m aware of who he is. And I remember that weekend. Go on.”
“He insinuated that Mason was not only your assistant, but your lover.”
“And if that was true, it would bother you?”
Jude pushed his fingers through his hair. “Yes—no—I don’t know.”
“Pick one, Staubman. What about that bothers you?”
Uncertainty lay heavy in his chest, and he remained silent. He should be having this conversation with Mason, not Colchester.
