My phone buzzed on the nightstand, so I reached for it, trying not to disturb Bailey. The fact that he was lying on my chest was a surprise, but I welcomed it just the same. It felt as if he belonged there.
I checked the screen. Hardy. “Hello?” I glanced at the bedside clock to see that it was six in the morning.
“Jagger, it’s me, Hardy. I’m sorry to call so early. I did the research you asked for, and I have a shitload of information on Boyd Newton. Based on what I’ve read, he’s an idiot, but he has a few friends who might be party to this blackmail thing.”
“What’s going on?” Bailey asked as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. I wanted to keep him in bed with me all day, but that wasn’t to be.
“Hardy, I’m going to put you on speaker if that’s okay.”
“Sure, Jagger.”
“Hardy, this is Bailey Gregory. Tell him what you found.”
“Hi, Mr. Gregory. I ran your brother’s friend through the system. I found out some things about Boyd Newton that maybe your brother didn’t know.” Hardy sounded worried, and that was a red flag for me.
“Hardy, we’ll be in the office in an hour. Hang on to that info, will you?”
“Sure, Jagger. I’ll be here.”
I ended the call and turned to Bailey. “You want to hear the information Hardy found firsthand, or do you want me to go by myself? Are you gonna go off on your own to hunt for Boyd Newton?”
Bailey grinned. “Oh, I’d love to hear what your guy found about Boyd Newton.”
“Can I get a kiss first?” Maybe I sounded like a helpless pussy, but when Bailey’s lips met mine, I closed my eyes.
I didn’t want to be weak, but never in my life had I felt as if someone really gave a fuck about me. Not my parents. Not my brothers.
“I never have a problem kissing you, Trooper. You want to get some breakfast on the way?”
After Bailey slid off me, I watched him walk away. He was beautiful, his body unlike anything I’d ever imagined.
How did I deserve anyone like him?
Chapter Seven
Bailey
Was love at first sight a real thing?
I’d never believed it was, but goddamn if Jagger Hansen hadn’t melted my heart right there in his kitchen, especially after he handed me a cup of coffee in a travel mug fixed exactly the way I liked it.
“Ready to go? Hardy’s probably there by now.” I was anxious as hell to find out more about Boyd Newton.
Jagger nodded as we prepared to leave. “You need to pick up your bike? We can load it into the back of my truck, or you can ride it back here.”
I nodded. “I’ll go with you to the office and get a ride to the hotel parking garage to pick it up. You’ve got work to do, baby.”
He perked up a little when I called him baby. He liked it, and I had a feeling I knew why. My guy wanted someone to love him and show him affection, which, based on what he said about hisparents, I guessed he didn’t get growing up. He was a badass, but he was unsure how to let someone show him he was lovable.
As I stared at him while he poured himself some coffee, I had the feeling I would have no trouble showing him love. Maybe it would help his confidence level if I made sure he knew he was loved?
We hurried out to Jagger’s nice truck, and I slid into the front passenger seat. He hopped in and started the truck, turning toward me with a smile. “Are you sure you want to hear what Hardy found? Plausible deniability might be the way to go if your brother is somehow involved. I can handle it for you.”
Now, that was a predicament, wasn’t it? If my brother were involved, I could be an accessory after the fact, depending on the part my brother played in Boyd Newton’s criminal activities.
But could I let Jagger handle the bullshit Boyd Newton had rained on my brother? It was sweet of him to offer, but it felt as if it were my responsibility to clean it up.
“If you don’t mind, Trooper, I’d like to sit in on Hardy’s briefing. I want to know what the fuck that Newton asshole has done so I can judge how much it will damage Thomas’s career.”
