"Areyou going to do that the entire time you're here?"Prince asked.
Finn blinked, clearly confused by the question.
"You keep calling me Mr.Sullivan?"Prince clarified, a hint of amusement in his voice."Call me Prince from now on."
"I don't think I can do that," Finn said, holding the newly named Gray against his chest, looking quite cute.
"Why not?"Prince asked.
"Well, you're my elder, and I was always taught to show my elders respect."
"I see."Prince nodded slowly."Okay then, out of respect for me, call me Prince."
Prince could see that Finn wanted to argue his point, but he was interrupted when his cellphone began to ring.Reaching into his jacket, he pulled it out and glanced at the screen, seeing that it was his special assistant, Blair.
"I need to take this," Prince told Finn."Make yourself at home."
He didn’t wait for Finn to respond before stepping out of the bedroom, leaving him alone to settle in for the night.
He stood at the window with the phone pressed to his ear, one shoulder resting lightly against the frame as he listened to his assistant and commented at the right moments, but his mind was on other things.His company was in the process of a merger for a luxury hotel chain that had been going on for months.Still, his attention kept drifting to the young man in the other room.He found himself wondering if the staff had left Finn enough blankets, since the temperature might drop later tonight.They were in the mountains, not the city, and it got colder.The staff was competent, so he brushed it off and kept his gaze fixed on the slow fall of snow outside, trying not to question why he would suddenly care about his son’s best friend.
Prince was momentarily distracted when he noticed someone outside playing in the snow like a child experiencing it for the first time.A smile crossed his face, and it didn’t go unnoticed that he had been doing that quite often tonight.In the span of a short time, Prince could already see why Bevin was drawn to the young man.He had been so busy watching Finn that he only caught himself when he noticed there was a pause on the line.
"Yeah," he said, clearing his throat."That works."
He listened again, truly this time, repeating the key points back, focusing on the call.But even then, he couldn’t take his eyes off Finn.
A brief memory of what could have happened in the car came back to him, and Prince wasn’t sure why he had reached over to pull the seat belt instead of simply telling Finn to do it himself.Their faces had been so close, their lips near enough that all he would have had to do was lean down and kiss him.
"Fuck," Prince cursed under his breath, cutting the thought off.
"Sir?"the assistant said on the other end of the line.
"It's nothing.Keep going," Prince instructed.
What the fuck am I thinking?He’s my son’s age.I could be his fucking father, for crying out loud.Not to mention, I think Bevin has feelings for him that go beyond friendship.Maybe it was a mistake asking him to stay with me.
Prince had never second-guessed his decisions before, but watching Finn enjoy himself in the snow, he couldn’t help wondering if this rash choice would cost him something in the long run.
I need to keep my distance.
"Inform the board I will meet with them personally," Prince said.
"Are you sure, sir?"his assistant asked.
With one last look at Finn, Prince stepped away from the window as he made his decision."Yes."
"I'll make the arrangements."
The call ended.
Prince went to the linen closet in his bedroom and grabbed the extra blankets then walked to Finn’s room laying it neatly across the foot.Gray lifted his head at the movement and let out a soft, offended meow at being disturbed.
Prince crossed the room and scooped up the kitten.
"Take care of him while I'm gone," he told the cat, then headed to his room to pack.Just as he zipped the bag closed, his phone chimed with a text confirming a car would pick him up early in the morning to take him to the airport.
"Good.I'll be gone before the kid wakes up," Prince mumbled.
