Paul,
I’d hoped to sleep a bit late and maybe have a little turnabout. I wasn’t expecting my phone to start ringing before the sun came up. I didn’t wake you because you were sleeping so soundly.
Alex
Paul hurried through a shower and spent the next few minutes trying to convince a persistent William he didn’t need help dressing before finally relenting. The man merely wanted to do his job, a daunting task, considering whose shoes he attempted to fill. When no longer needed, the butler quietly left. Paul sighed. If William had been Bernard, Paul would now know the weather, the latest sports scores, the hottest Hollywood gossip, and the breakfast menu. William’s “morning banter” amounted to: “Good morning, sir,” and “Let me do that, sir.” Paul did his best not to let his true feelings show, but he missed Bernard terribly.
Worry led him from the room, and he’d climbed halfway down the stairs before he heard Alex’s irate bellow. “Out! I don’t give a happy damn what you think is urgent! My uncle is being buried in a few hours, and I need to get dressed. My family’s the only thing in my world important to me right now….”
Paul took the remaining stairs at a run, sliding into the office, hopefully in time to prevent murder. Having shared a house for weeks, he recognized the signs of Alex’s patience reaching an end. Alex’s short fuse burned hot, and when the dynamite exploded, there’d be no survivors. The four men crowded around the front of the desk had no idea of the danger they were in.
All eyes observed Paul’s arrival, and he swore some of the men hissed like cats. Apparently, the vultures had landed, one of many reasons he’d shied away from wealth. Nothing drew the scavengers quite like a death when money was to be had.
With his usual diplomatic flair, Paul attempted to defuse the situation. “Gentlemen, I’m sure Mr. Martin’s more than happy to meet with you at a future date. However, we’re in mourning, and this isn’t the time to discuss business. If you’d each leave your card with me, I’ll set up appointments for you next week. In the meantime I’ll ask you, out of respect for Alfred, to allow us some privacy.”
Skirting the men, he carefully maneuvered his way to Alex, laying a restraining hand on an arm tensed to swing. He breathed a sigh of relief when Isaac appeared a moment later. They might be outnumbered, but not out-muscled.
The four scavengers cowered and stammered insincere apologies, backing out of the room. The fact that Isaac stood every inch of six foot six, spent two hours in the gym every day, and had removed his suit jacket to reveal bulging muscles probably helped them decide on next week being soon enough. “I’ll show them out, boss,” Isaac said, literally herding the quartet into the hallway.
Chancing a glance up at Alex’s face, still mottled red with anger, Paul tried to smooth ruffled feathers, keeping his tone conversational. “Something I should know about?”
Eyes trained on the departing vultures, Alex replied, “You have no idea, do you?”
“About what?” Anxiety set in.
Heavy hands found and kneaded his shoulders in a comforting gesture. “Our uncles were what some people call ‘filthy rich’. You pointed out that they didn’t live like kings. Now with them gone, every Tom, Dick, and Harry is coming out of the woodwork to try to get a piece of the pie. Tomorrow morning a new security system is being installed, and you’re not to leave the house without me or Isaac. Do you understand?”
Paul’s heart dropped to his stomach. Were they actually in danger? “No more morning runs?”Damn, but I sound petty.
“Until things calm down, I’d rather you use the treadmill.” With another squeeze to Paul’s shoulders, Alex added, “Don’t worry; I’m sure everything will settle back down soon. Until then, we can’t be too careful, you know? Especially not with scavengers prowling about.”
Though a knot of uncertainty formed in his gut, Paul nodded. Dealing with scum definitely fell under the heading of “things Alex handles.” He’d trust the man’s judgment on this.
Once the front door slammed, shutting their unwelcome guests out of their lives, the tension seemed to flow from Alex, the hardness in his eyes softening. “Now….” Throwing a quick glance toward the door, he captured Paul’s lips in an unexpectedly thorough kiss. The reassuring contact ended too soon. “I wanted to wake up together this morning. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented it,” Alex murmured, all traces of anger gone.
Unwilling to give up their moment easily, Paul pulled Alex back down. “Don’t start something you don’t intend to finish.” Alex’s lips relaxed into a smile when Paul resumed the kiss.
“Excuse me,” had them shooting nervous glances toward the door. “Boss, I think you’d better get dressed, or we’re gonna be late.” Isaac leaned in the doorway, bulging arms folded across his chest.
Alex sighed and slowly stepped away. “He’s right. I’ll be back down in little while.”
“Need some help?” Paul asked.
Alex grinned. “You think we’re running late now?” He stepped into the hallway and out of sight.
Isaac sighed and Paul squinted at him sharply. Rather than the smirking glare he expected, Isaac wore a wistful expression. He noticed Paul watching him and remarked, “Don’t worry; I know I can’t have him.”
“Oh, my God, Isaac! I’m sorry! You had feelings for Alex?” Paul had noticed him staring on occasion, sure, but Isaac had a reputation as a bit of a player. He stared at everyone.
“Nah,” Isaac replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I always knew nothing serious would ever happen between us.”
Inwardly relieved, Paul rolled his eyes and tried to make light of the situation. “You’re not going to tell me it’s because Martha would have your hide, are you?”
“No. Actually, flirting with Alex was a lot of fun over the years, in spite of her scolding. He’s my boss now, and it has to stop. It’s disrespectful, and that ain’t Martha talking, that’s my mama, God rest her soul. You’ve got nothing to worry about, anyway; he’s not my type.”
Throwing his arm around Paul’s shoulders in a spirit of camaraderie, Isaac gazed down with laughter dancing in his dark-brown eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re not bad, either. Still not my type, but not bad. I like a man with some meat on his bones.”
They reached a silent agreement, and Paul knew he’d found an ally, or rather, inherited one. One of the few legacies from the uncles that didn’t make him want to run and hide.
