“Yeah, this is great. What a coincidence,” Chaz said as they shook hands. He looked at David expectantly.
“Oh, right. This is David, my…uh…friend,” Reese said, cursing the stumble. Chaz’s eyes narrowed enough for Reese to be certain he’d caught the hesitation. “David, this is Chaz Bentley, an old friend from home.”
Reese didn’t mention that Chaz was also his attorney. Or that they’d gone to school together from kindergarten until college. Or that Reese had once, very briefly, dated Chaz’s sister.
There was a lot of history there.
“Nice to meet you,” David said smoothly. He shook Chaz’s hand, his smile polite and fleeting.
“Likewise.”
“And you, of course, know Ms. Viveiros,” Reese said.
Chaz smiled at her warmly. “Hello, Matilda.”
“Chaz,” she returned. He’d never been her favorite person. She’d once described him as “a little too douchey and entitled.” Reese didn’t disagree. Chaz was a perfect example of why Reese had strict rules about addressing her formally around work associates. He didn’t have any reason to think Chaz wasn’t a good person, and there was plenty of evidence he was a solid lawyer, but he’d also always been spoiled.
A chill went down Reese’s spine. Something was seriously not right. How could Chaz, of all people, be here in Boston? Now. Today.In their hotel.
Chaz looked between the three of them expectantly, as if waiting for an invitation to join them. He seemed utterly unaware he was the center of so much attention.
David’s hand pressed to Reese’s back. Reese leaned into his touch and focused on what needed to be done—get information and get out.
“Tell me,” Reese blurted out, his voice too loud, “what brings you to Boston?”
“Oh, you know, business and the like,” Chaz said with an airy wave.
Reese mentally called bullshit. He was, by far, Chaz’s biggest client, and he almost never needed Chaz to leave town, let alone the country.
Mati caught David’s eye and shook her head subtly.
Apparently, Reese wasn’t the only one whose bullshit-meter was hitting full tilt.
Marcus took a step closer. David loomed at Reese’s shoulder.
“And you?” Chaz continued blithely. “What brings you down here?”
“Work,” David said. “Which we need to get back to.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Chaz said, taking a half step back when he looked at David. He pinned his eyes back on Reese. “I wasn’t aware you had any business dealings down here. Will you be here long? Perhaps we can get dinner.”
Mati made a thoughtful noise and tapped at her phone a few times. “We’re due to move on to our next set of meetings in the morning,” she said, pretending to read from her screen and managing to sound regretful.
“Oh! That’s too bad. Where are you headed to next?” Chaz asked.
David’s hand curled into a fist in the back of Reese’s shirt.
“New York,” Mati said easily.
“Great city,” Chaz began.
“Yes, it is,” David said before Chaz could continue. “We have a lot to get done before then, though. We really should get going.”
“It was good to see you, Chaz,” Reese said, and tried to smile, though it may have been more of a grimace.
Chaz made understanding noises as he waved them off, but he never took his eyes off them. Was he looking for something?
Mati and Reese turned toward the elevator. David waited a few seconds before following.
