“I don’t think that’s gonna happen.”
“Why?”
“I’ve literally never seen you this hung up on a guy, and you’re also very resourceful. If you want to find him again, you could do it.”
Sebastian wasn’t just rich, he could achieve anything he set his mind to. If he wanted to see Charlie again, he could find him, even though he only knew his first name and what he did as a job. Nothing was impossible for Sebastian Steele.
“How’s work?” asked Sebastian.
His eyes were scanning the room every few seconds, as if he was waiting for Charlie to miraculously appear. Patrick couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What?”
“Are you really interested in how work is going, or are you just being polite while you look out for Charlie?”
“No. I am interested,” he said, scanning the room again.
“I’m quitting the newspaper and opening a florist.”
“That’s good. Wait. What?”
Patrick laughed.
“Hilarious. You’re not really thinking of leaving the newspaper, are you?”
Patrick was the editor of a leading British tabloid, having worked his way up from the bottom. The one thing they don’t tell you in any business school leadership course is how lonely and boring it is at the top. He spent most of his days in meetings and making decisions on other people’s creativity. He missed the chase of building a story. Now he had a team to do all that. He’d had this unconscious drive to get to the top, but he was probably happier ten years ago when he ran the crime desk. He’d loved that, and still liked to dip his toe into that space now and then. Thankfully, the team didn’t get put out by it, and he always passed on his intel for them to take over the line.
“Oh my God!” said Sebastian.
“What?”
“It’s him.” Sebastian pointed to a guy at the bar.
He was nothing like Sebastian had described. Blond, and probably about five feet seven. He had a slight frame, but Patrick could tell there was a bit of muscle under the tight clothes he was wearing.
“He’s very cute, although he looks different from how you described him. He’s shorter, for one. More my thing than yours.”
That was true. Patrick had a penchant for short blond guys.
“No, that’s his friend who was with him last night. I think he was called Jason.”
“Jason!” shouted Patrick, without thinking. He was doing this for Sebastian.
Jason spun round, looking at them, and Patrick’s breath hitched. Those piercing blue eyes felt like they were looking into his soul. The guy was breathtaking. Patrick could feel himself getting hard at the thought of pinning down that smaller body and taking him apart over several hours... or days if he could. That was new. He hadn’t reacted that way to any other man in a long time.
Patrick signalled for him to join them before he changed his mind. Perhaps it was a mistake inviting him over, given his reaction to the cutie.
“What are you doing?” Sebastian hissed.
“Making your dreams come true.” Yes, that’s what he was doing!
Sebastian laughed. Jason sashayed over to them, sipping an extravagant-looking cocktail through a straw.
“Don’t I know you from somewhere?” Jason asked Sebastian. “Have we fucked? Cos I don’t do repeats, although your hot daddy friend is someone I would make an exception for.”
What a little spitfire he was. Patrick had a thing for brats, and he was looking at one right now. Before he could say anything, Jason sat on his lap, draping his arms round his neck.
It was a shock at first. He’d never known a boy to be so forward with him before, and even if he didn’t know it, Jason was pure boy. Patrick had to get Jason off his lap before he did something stupid. He looked at Sebastian, signalling for him to do something, but Sebastian was focussed on his own agenda right now.
