"Prince offered to be your mentor and partner, and what?You're going to turn him down?"He leaned closer to Finn."He doesn't offer his help lightly, so what makes you so special?What scam are you running?"
The kid smirked.
"Scam?What makes you think I'm running some scam?You know what, don't even answer.I don't know you, and you don't know me, so for you to insinuate that I'm up to something means that you're the one who's scamming Prince."
Roderick tried not to shift in his seat, hoping not to give anything away to the kid."I don't have time for word games with you," he snapped.
"Then why are you here?"Finn shot back.
Roderick had to admit the kid was savvier than he thought."To give you a warning."He leaned much closer, so close he could smell the kid's fresh fragrance mixed with a little sweat."Don't try to seduce a man who sees you as nothing but a son.Stick to your age."
"I'm not trying to seduce anyone."
Roderick smiled faintly when he caught the tremor in the kid's eyes.He had only been spitballing when he said those words, but it seemed he had hit the nail on the head.
"You say that like you're speaking from experience.Maybe there's someone you tried to seduce, and it didn't work?Try spending less time worrying about my affairs and focus on yours.Or maybe Prince is the one you want, and you see little, young, vibrant me as a threat."
Roderick had to fight the urge to look away when Finn tilted his head.The kid's words had struck too close to the truth.
If he could see it, then why can't Prince?That was what Roderick thought, but instead he said, “Heed my words.Play in your own age bracket.Don’t think more of yourself.”
The kid was about to speak when his cellphone rang.They both glanced down at the screen as Bevin's name flashed across it.Finn answered quickly, not bothering to look at Roderick.Roderick stood and returned to his table to wait for Prince to come back.
Roderick didn’t want to admit it, but the kid had rattled him more than he should have.And it told him more than Finn might even have intended to reveal.He might not be running a scam on Prince, but Roderick was not blind to Prince's feelings.
And that could only spell trouble for me.Because one thing Roderick knew about Prince was that if there was something he wanted, he would get it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Prince dried his hands, then discarded the tissue in the trash on his way out of the bathroom.He had planned on heading back to his table, but he felt he should talk to Finn instead.He changed direction and headed toward him, only to stop short when he heard Finn on the phone.
"I'll be home in a couple of weeks, Bev," Finn said in a gentle tone that stirred something strange in Prince's chest, a feeling that tightened around his heart before he could make sense of it.
The softness in Finn's voice, followed by a giggle that carried what sounded like a flirtatious glint, made Prince want to grab the phone and fling it across the restaurant, smashing it to pieces.As strong as the urge was, he didn’t act on it.Instead, he turned, walked back to his table, grabbed his coat, and slung it over his arm.
"Let's go," he told Roderick, then walked out of the restaurant without waiting for him to follow.
Finn didn’t knowwhat had made him turn around, but the second he did, he saw Prince leaving the restaurant with Roderick trailing behind him like an eager puppy.
"How pathetic," he mumbled under his breath.And who the fuck says "Heed my words" in this day and age?
"Who are you cursing?"Bevin chuckled.
"No one important," Finn said, forcing his tone back to normal as he turned his attention to Bevin.
"Are you sure?You don't sound so good.Maybe I should come to you instead of going home."
Finn smiled, even though Bevin couldn’t see it."I'm good.No need for all that," he told him gently before shifting the conversation."I'm starting my company earlier than planned."
Bevin sighed."Why are you thinking about business on vacation?"
Finn lowered his head, his voice turning quieter."I've had a lot of time to think."
Bevin gave an exaggerated sigh, telling Finn he was frustrated with him."That means you're not having fun.I knew I should have dragged your ass to Jamaica with me."
Finn went to say something, but Bevin spoke first.
"Listen, Finn, stop thinking for one day and let yourself have fun.Find some hot dude and pop your cherry."
