He closed his eyes briefly before turning to face Spencer. “Why are you here?”
Spencer grinned, looking fresh and rested in his all-white outfit. “Certainly not for the company.” His smile faded. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I didn’t know you were dealing with such a sensitive case. I wouldn’t have been so flippant about it.” He bit his lip and reached out, gave Wolf’s shoulder a squeeze. “I hope you figure it out.”
Every hair rose on his arms, and his breathing quickened. Spencer stepped closer, and Wolf, alarmed, took a corresponding step away.
“What are you so afraid of, Wolf? Me? Or yourself? You can’t stand that you’re attracted to me, can you?”
“Do you ever shut up?”
“Why don’t you make me?”
He didn’t stop to think. He pulled Spencer to him and covered his mouth with his own. He could’ve spent the entire night lost in kissing Spencer and listening to the sounds he made, but desire he hadn’t felt since that one night they’d shared overwhelmed him, and panicked, Wolf pushed him away and ran.
His hand curled into a fist over his phone screen. He shouldn’t have allowed Spencer to get to him, but it had obviously become impossible for him to be near Spencer and not lose self-control. Instead of dealing with it like an adult, his emotions took over, making him deliberately nasty not only to Spencer, but to Chess and Elliot, who were only trying to make peace in the group.
He buried his face in his hands. What could he do to make it right? Nothing he was willing to face. He shuffled through his files, but after the late nights he’d been pulling, he was all caught up and beyond with his clients. He had nothing to do but brood.
Unless…
It was an excuse, weak at best, but one that might get his foot back in the door. As he slipped his wallet in his pocket, Wolf called for a car, thinking he had one last shot to make it right again.
***
“Can I help you, sir?”
A well-dressed salesperson approached him as he stepped off the escalator and walked into Maximillian’s men’s department. Wolf had plenty of suits, but he didn’t care if he had to buy the whole collection if it meant getting Spencer to talk to him.
“Just looking. I need to replace some suits for work, and ties…maybe a couple of shirts as well.” He looked around discreetly to see if he could spy Spencer.
“Excellent. My name is Fernando. We have some beautiful new suits from our exclusive collection. Made in Italy of lightweight wool, so they’d be suitable for all seasons. If I’m not mistaken, that’s a Maximillian suit you’re wearing right now.” The salesman’s eyes lit up at the thought of the juicy commission, no doubt. But Wolf had come with one purpose, and hopefully the man could help him.
“It is. My best friend is your head stylist—Spencer Hawkins?”
“Oh, yes.” Thinking he’d lost the sale, his expression fell. “If you’d like me to get him, I’d be happy to.”
“Why don’t you set me up with some of those suits you mentioned, and you can find him for me after we finish up.” Wolf didn’t want the man to think he’d lose his commission. “My name is Wolf.”
His face bright, Fernando nodded and smiled. “Wonderful, Mr. Wolf. Right this way. I’ll put you in Room One. We keep all our customers’ measurements and sizes on file, along with their preferences and the tailor they’ve used for prior alterations, so I can look you up.”
“Smart concept.”
“It was Spencer’s. He’s amazing with all the ideas he comes up with.” Fernando chatted away as they walked to the dressing room. “I can’t keep up with everything inside his head.”
Truer words were never spoken.
They entered the dressing room, and Fernando said, “I’ll be right back with some items I think you’ll like.”
“Take your time.”
Wolf removed his suit jacket and tie and was unbuttoning his shirt when the door to his dressing room was flung open. Blue eyes blazing, Spencer stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
“How dare you come to my job and try to start shit.”
Wolf wanted to snap at him, but damned if Spencer wasn’t gorgeous when he was all fired up, his cheeks flushed pink and his eyes spitting fire.
“I wasn’t,” he replied mildly. From years of trial experience, Wolf knew the way to get to your opponent when they blustered was to remain calm and matter-of-fact. “I needed some new clothes, and Fernando’s helping me.”
As if to prove his point, Fernando showed up with two suits and three ties. “Here you go, Mr. Wolf. Oh, hi, Spencer. What do you think of these? I know Mr. Wolf is your friend, so you know him best, but I think these will look good on him.”
