Armand Winters will see you today at 12 noon at the Kings’ offices.
“See?” His heart kicked up a notch. “I just got an email from Janice. I have an interview today at noon. I’d better get going because I have lots to do before then.”
“With whom?” his mother asked. “What company?”
“Sorry. Don’t want to jinx it.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re the best. Make sure they know it.”
“I will,” he promised. “Love you. Talk soon.”
“Good luck, we love you,” his father replied.
Hayden’s throat grew tight. “Love you too.”
Imagine getting a call in the middle of the night that your underage child had been arrested for being a cam boy and having sex for pay—and having to come bail them out of jail. Hayden would never forget the disappointment, shock, and pain in his parents’ eyes. It didn’t matter that in his mind he’d done it for them—so they wouldn’t have to drain their resources to pay for college when they could barely make it on their own. In their eyes, they’d failed him, and though the record of his offenses was sealed in the legal system, it lay heavy on his chest. He’d yet to come to terms with the weight of his guilt and foolishness, and he’d never forgiven himself for the problems he’d caused.
But that was for another day. Preferably he’d have a job and income secured. Hopefully this would be the one.
Now that he had the interview set up, he figured it was time to do a little research on Armand Winters. He typed the nameinto the search bar, and pages of articles appeared. He squinted at the thumbnail pictures.
“Wait a second…” Hayden tapped on Images. Up popped a picture of his pickup from the beginning of the week. “Armi? Holy shit.” Remembering, he touched his lips. The guy had started out shy, but his kisses had been demanding, and Hayden had willingly given in.
When he’d woken up and found Armi gone, he’d almost been disappointed, though he was a one-and-done man. That hot mouth on his dick…the blissful expression when Hayden had come all over his face…soft, needy whimpers as they’d kissed. Hayden had wanted more.
He began to laugh and motioned to the server to bring him the check.
What the hell are the odds?The smile faded from his lips as he studied the picture, obviously taken at his father’s funeral. His arm was wrapped around the shoulder of an older woman, most likely his mother. Big sad eyes, dark hair, and a soft, full mouth. Hayden recalled Armi being bullied by the asshole at the bar and Janice’s words about his father treating him like dirt in front of people.
An unexpected and inexplicable wave of protectiveness burned through him. Armi didn’t deserve to be treated like dirt. Hayden wanted this job. And he was going to make sure he got it.
Chapter Four
“Thanks, Trevor. I appreciate the quick action.” His second full week at the office wasn’t going any easier than the first. At that first board meeting, as he’d told Russell he would, Armi had requested that their scouts spread out to Division III schools as well as junior colleges and community colleges. He’d seen the looks and heard the grumblings, but despite quaking in his shoes, Armi had stood his ground. Russell had done his job and come to Armi’s defense, but Armi hadn’t missed the huddles after the meeting and meant to ask Russell about it.
Trevor was saying, “Janice assured me this man is top of the top. She personally recommended him. He was personal assistant to the head of the largest international shipping company in the US and is a whiz at keeping schedules and getting things done without you even knowing he’s there.”
Barely listening, Armi scrolled through his work emails, trying to keep up with scouting reports, training reports, fiscal reports… His head spun. It was hard diving into the deep end of the company with no life jacket. But Armi was used to going it alone. His father had hardly made the office a welcoming place for him, and as the years passed, Armi came by less and lessoften, eventually giving up completely. It gnawed at his gut that he’d allowed others to take over. No one questioned his decision to allow Russell to run the team—it was as if people expected Armi to hide, to not show his face and collect a check. After speaking with his mother, who’d proved surprisingly adamant that he could do it with proper guidance and support, Armi had shocked everyone by showing up at the office, intending to work, while enduring condescending expressions from the board when they thought he wasn’t looking.
For the fifth time that day, he thought maybe dear old Dad was right and he should give it over to Russell and go grub in the dirt with his roses.
“Yeah? If he’s so good, Trev, why is he available?”Shit. He’d forgotten about the four p.m. staff meeting. He should order food or something for everyone. He scribbled it on a sticky note.
“Because his old boss got married and the new wife is now his personal assistant. She doesn’t want to let him out of her sight. You know how it goes.”
Actually, he didn’t. As awkward as he was in business, Armi was twice as bumbling and left-footed in his personal life. His few sexual encounters had been brief, unsatisfying, and left him lonelier than before. Except for that wild encounter with Hayden. But he knew it was a one-off, never to be repeated.
It was why he preferred to stay with his garden. The prick from a thorn wasn’t half as hurtful as being snubbed, put down, or laughed at behind his back.
“Armi? Are you listening to me?”
He blinked back to awareness. “Sorry, what?”
He heard Trevor’s huff of annoyance. “I said, Hayden Porter will be there at noon.”
At the mention of the name Hayden, a thrill of excitement tingled up his spine. It would be silly to think it was him. His Hayden.
If only Hayden were mine…
