David grinned. “What can I say? I have many talents. And those aren’t strangers. Not to you.”
Chance glanced through his door. “No, not strangers. And they shouldn’t be clients, but I’m not sure what’s going on there.”
“Friends of yours and Kieran’s?”
“More like family.”
David stood. “What can I do?”
Chance gave him a thorough once over, which David tolerated with minimal eye-rolling. “Are you asking because you don’t want me to force you to take a vacation?”
“No, I’m asking because family isn’t a word you use lightly. And because they seem nice. And scared.” Though, the no vacation thingwasa nice bonus.
“So, it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that they, apparently, find you snuggle-worthy?”
“Well, you can’t fault them for having good taste.”
Chance’s eye twitched, but David could see a glimmer of laughter. “Ishouldmake you take that break,” Chance said in what was meant to be a stern voice.
David heard the unspokenbutand went in for the kill. “You’re not going to trust them to just anyone, are you?”
Chance sighed. “No. I want family for family. And since I can’t do it myself, I guess that leaves you.”
David grinned and went to Chance, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks. Also, I’m the best you’ve got, so…”
“You’re an insufferable pain in the ass, you know that?”
“I love you, too.”
Chance sighed long-sufferingly.
Reese had wanted to say goodbye to David. To thank him. But he couldn’t figure outforwhat, so he hadn’t said anything. He accepted his coffee from Kieran and gazed out the high-rise’s windows at the city below, trying to gather his thoughts for the task that lay ahead.
He’d have to tell Chance everything.
He refused to wish he was home. Five years ago, being this far from Nova Scotia would have been impossible. Two years ago, he would have been shaking, trying to manage the panic. Now he was just pissed off those assholes had violated his home and scared the shit out of Mati.
Reese was going to do everything in his power to see they paid for both of those crimes, and that Mati was safe until then.
She came to stand beside him, her coffee mug cupped in her palms, and leaned against his side. He curled his arm around her shoulders, taking comfort from her mere presence. It wasn’t until after he’d done it he realized maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do.
“If you remove that arm, I’m going to cut it off and beat you over the head with it,” Mati said mildly before taking a sip of her coffee.
Reese grinned and tightened his hold. They watched the morning traffic and Olympic-level jaywalking competition below until the door shut behind them.
Reese’s heart skipped a beat when he saw David standing in front of the door with his hands on his hips, one arched eyebrow daring Reese to say a word about his presence.
Mati drew in a sharp, quiet breath, and smiled. Reese’s heart skipped another beat.
Mati’s obvious attraction toward David shouldn’t make Reese happy, should it?
Transparently pleased his entrance had captured their attention, David winked, retrieved a half-full mug of coffee from Chance’s sideboard, and went to top it up.
Chance gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk. “Let’s have a seat. You can tell us what’s going on, and we’ll figure out what we’re going to do about it.”
Reese nodded, dread building in his gut. He knew Chance and Kieran. And they knew him, but David… Reese felt better having David here, though he couldn’t say why, but he wished it didn’t mean David would know about his past.
And Mati. He’d avoided the subject on the long drive, worried she would be angry when she heard what he had kept from her. Now he’d know.
