“There was never anything to forgive. And you’re okay? I feel bad that I forced you to talk about it.”
“No.” He kissed Chess again, and this time Chess leaned into the pressure of his mouth. “It was obviously eating away at me and affecting our relationship to the point where you noticed. I’ll always miss Dawson. A loss that traumatic never leaves you. Kyle, however, means nothing to me, and when I get home from this trip, you and I will pay a visit to the pool house together, and I’ll put it all to rest. I’m tired of walking in the footsteps of the past.”
“I love you, and I’d never willingly hurt you. I’m glad I got up the courage to talk to you.”
“You could never hurt me unless you leave me.”
“Since that’s not going to happen, I think we’re okay.”
“I know we are. And I promise to give you my undivided attention when I return.” He waggled his brows, and Chess swooped in for a kiss.
“I’ll never complain about that,” he murmured, and André smiled against his lips. “What I don’t get, though, is why your mother hired Kyle and keeps pushing him on you. It’s like she wants you two together. She and I might not have a warm and fuzzy relationship, but I always thought your mother liked me.”
“The brutal truth is, my mother’s a snob. She’s always liked Kyle because his family’s wealthy. But I’m a little too old to care what my mommy thinks. Plus, I know who’s right for me. You.”
His phone and watch buzzed simultaneously, and with a sigh, he checked the message.
“All right. Tom is ready at the airport with the jet. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“Be safe, and I hope it goes well.”
André snapped his bag shut and set it on the floor. “Walk me out to the car?”
“You got it.”
With one arm around Chess’s shoulders and pulling his carry-on with the other, they left the bedroom and walked out of the house. A black car waited in the circular drive, and as the driver put his suitcase in the trunk, another car pulled up behind it and Spencer hopped out, his hands full of shopping bags.
“Are you leaving me?”
“Just me. Quick business trip. Chess can explain.” He kissed Chess hard and hugged him tight. “I’ll miss you. Be good while I’m gone. Try and keep Spencer in check.”
“Hey, I heard that.” Pretend outrage brightened Spencer’s eyes. “Just for that, Chess and I are going to go out dancing tonight.”
“I don’t think I can handle that on my own.” Chess rolled his eyes. “Love you, and I’ll talk to you later.”
He slid into the cool, dark back seat of the car, and as it drove away, his mind was already on the trip ahead.
***
“Damn, it’s humid here.”
He grimaced at his damp shirt sticking to his body. The plane had set him down at the executive airport in Fort Lauderdale, and it was only a short drive to the hotel located on A1A. Palm trees blew in the breeze, and the ocean was a beautiful sweep of blue, matching the cloudless sky. Colorful umbrellas dotted the sand, and André smiled at the children digging at the wet sandy shoreline, shrieking with laughter as the incoming waves filled the holes they’d dug. Such an uncomplicated time of life, when all that mattered was what ice-cream flavor you’d get to choose.
His smile faded when the car bumped up the drive of the Webster Fort Lauderdale, their exclusive hotel nestled on that famous stretch of beach. The fire damage was obvious—windows were already covered with plastic, and black smoke stained the white-limestone facade.
“Shit.”
Once out of the car, he stood and gazed upward. Luckily, the damage seemed to be confined to the top floor, where he knew the electricians had already set up the HVAC equipment, but upon walking into the lobby, the acrid smell of smoke still hung in the air. Not the luxurious, relaxing vacation the guests had been promised. He walked up to the front desk, where Raoul García, the harried hotel manager, was on the phone. When Raoul caught sight of him, his brows flew up, he spoke rapidly into the phone, and hung up.
“André, I didn’t know you were coming.”
They shook hands. “I needed to see the extent of the fire damage and talk with the insurance adjusters. All the stuff I’m sure you’re happy not to have to deal with.”
Raoul’s smile flashed white in his deeply tanned face. André’s father had taken a chance on the young, confident man, who’d moved swiftly through the ranks from reservation clerk to guest-services manager to managing the entire hotel in the span of ten years. Raoul had been his father’s protégé, and André had been happy to continue to mentor the man, who was only a few years younger than him. He and Chess would come visit several times a year, and it had been a proud moment for Raoul when André had promoted him to hotel manager last year. Raoul’s entire family came—his parents, two young children, grandmother, and sister.
“You know it.” Raoul’s voice dropped, and he tipped his chin. “Want to sit over there and talk for a second?”
“Sure.”
