“So you came to him. Did he refuse to see you anyway, and you made the trip for nothing? Milan is a beautiful city. You can take the time to see the sights and have some delicious pasta. I can show—”
“He’s dead,” Wolf cut in, and Spencer’s heart started pounding. “Him, his wife, their two children. Shot execution-style.” He picked up his glass and swallowed the entire contents.
“Wh-what?” Spencer froze. “Dead?”
“I should’ve left him alone. He begged me not to involve him because of his family. But I didn’t listen. I pushed and pushed until he had no choice but to run, and even then, I wouldn’t leave him alone.”
“You couldn’t have known. You were doing your job.” Spencer rubbed Wolf’s rock-hard shoulder, but he knew his friend didn’t register his touch.
“It’s not my job to have witnesses die. If I’d let him go and found someone else to interview who might’ve had information, then he, his wife, and their two little children would be alive right now. This isn’t what I went to law school for. I killed these people as surely as if I’d put a gun to their heads.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you didn’t. How could you know?”
“It’s my job to know.”
“Wolfie, none of us has all the answers.” Insignificant words, but there was little else Spencer could offer to soothe him, except time and his company. “Have you eaten dinner?”
Wolf snorted. “I couldn’t.”
“You should. I’ve been sitting and staring at gorgeous men all day and haven’t had a bite to eat. Not of them or food, and I’m hungry. Let’s get some dinner.”
Shockingly, that brought a faint smile to Wolf’s face. “Admirable restraint. You don’t have to babysit me. I’m going to have another drink, then go see about changing my flight to an earlier one.”
But Spencer didn’t want that. He wanted more time with Wolf.
“No, Wolfie. Come on. I know a place where the pasta is so soft and creamy and the wine so rich, you’ll think you died and went to heaven.”
“I shouldn’t be out, enjoying myself.”
Spencer patted his cheek. “You won’t. You’ll be with me. Haven’t you always said I drive you crazy?”
Wolf studied him with those unrelenting amber eyes, like a lion assessing his prey. A shiver ran through Spencer, but he wasn’t sure if it was from pleasure or fear. Either way, he wanted this time with Wolf more than he’d ever wanted anything else.
“All right. Let me pay the bill.”
Several hours later, with two bottles of Chianti shared between them, Spencer was pleasantly buzzed and happy to see Wolf more relaxed than he could recall. His strong hands…the dark hair curling out from under the white cuff of his shirt…all the stuff he used to fantasize about in college…Spencer blinked.
What the hell? Obviously, things haven’t changed.
“Thank you for making me do this.” Wolf’s deep voice brought him out of his crazy thoughts. “I needed it.”
The last of the obscenely rich tiramisu slid down his throat, and he licked his lips. Something flickered in Wolf’s eyes, and Spencer’s mouth went dry at the unexpected fiery gaze.
“I’m glad. I think we all need to let go every once in a while.”
Wolf arched a brow. “Some of us do so more than every once in a while.” But his lips curved in a smile, and he looked younger and less…painedwas the only word that came to mind. And Spencer wanted to keep that for as long as possible.
“I believe in positivity. Like, I’m positive you’re coming back to my hotel room to have a drink.”
“A drink?” Wolf sputtered. “I’m not sure I can walk after all this.”
“Coffee, Wolfie.”
It was late, and the restaurant was empty save for the two of them. Spencer paid the bill and left his seat.
“Let me help.” He took Wolf by the elbow and lifted him up to standing, but he swayed slightly, so Spencer had to put his arm around a very hard and solid waist.Damn, that felt good. “I’m in better shape than you.”
That heated gaze raked Spencer up and down again, and an involuntary shiver ran through him. “You just might be,” Wolf murmured and leaned heavily on him.
