Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Brooks follows us the entire drive to the office, and thankfully, Davien doesn’t open his mouth about him either although he keeps checking in his rearview mirror and finding him right behind us. I didn’t expect him to stick around, and I don’t know what to think about him keeping so close.
I want to tell Davien that there’s no way Brooks is straight. I didn’t imagine the way he watched me jerk off that day. I didn’t imagine the erection he had before he left, or the way he licked his lips like he wanted a taste of me.
But telling Davien any of that feels like a betrayal. Those things aren’t mine to share, and I’m all too aware how it feels when people gossip behind your back and speak of things they have no business even thinking about.
“Do I just wait out here?” Davien asks as the GPS announces that we’ve arrived at our destination.
“Yeah. I’ll take about an hour,” I say, watching as Brooks parks two spots down from us.
I find myself unhappy about the turn of events. I’d much prefer Brooks right now, and that also makes me feel a little guilty because Davien is my best friend.
“I may go do a little shopping.”
“Sounds good,” I tell him as I climb out, inwardly hoping he’s late picking me up knowing Brooks will be around to pick up the slack.
“Ready?” Brooks is right there at the back of Davien’s vehicle.
“Yes,” I tell him with my chin high.
When he grabs my hand as we start walking toward the front entrance, I try not to let it affect me. This is part of the act, the entire reason I hired Blackbridge Security.
I feel like trash by the time we make it into the office. He’s here because he’s getting paid. Dr. Kent spends an hour a week listening to me babble because she’s getting paid. My new house manager, Cinder, makes the best coffee because she’s getting paid.
I’m wanting to get away from my best friend, the only person in my life that isn’t benefiting financially from me, in order to spend time with a man who wouldn’t be around if the check bounced.
I drop his hand the second we step inside. I don’t know why we were touching to begin with. There wasn’t a single person with a camera outside today. Last week, there were only two. I’m boring, not newsworthy, and I love it, because like I told Dr. Kent last week, I’m sick and tired of being the one gossiped about. At the same time, it’s one less excuse for Brooks to put his hands on me.
I sigh as I enter Dr. Kent’s office, my head more of a mess than it has been for weeks.
“Good to see you, Mr. Bremen,” the doctor says when I step inside. “How has your week been?”
“Funny you should ask, Doc,” I say as I take the seat across from her.
She doesn’t act surprised or question the change in my routine. I always go to the couch, but today is going to be a little different.
I spend the next hour laying it all out to her, and when I’m not done, she gracefully cancels her next appointment and keeps on listening.
Chapter 15
Brooks
He may not act like it, but Archer is sensitive. He’s upstairs with tiny little hearts in his eyes where you’re concerned. You playing with him like he’s a fucking cat toy isn’t going to happen on my watch.
That’s the very first and only thing Davien Hartman said to me the second I stepped inside Archer’s house to pick him up for his therapy appointment.
We spent the next ten minutes staring each other down. He blinked first, but I’m not a petty asshole, so I didn’t call him on it. I also didn’t assure the concerned man that all Archer and I have is a working relationship, or that there’s nothing going on between the two of us.
It had more to do with my own confusion over my feelings for Archer than the confidentiality agreement I’m held to regarding clients.
Hearing that Archer may feel something other than horniness when I’m around has thrown me for a loop.
Heart eyes is what Hartman called them, and I don’t know how to take that.
Bremen is a charming bastard. I’ve seen him smile—the fake one—and flirt with the teller at the bank, Dr. Kent’s office manager, the cashier at the grocery store. I’ve watched him in interviews online where he flirts incessantly with the person interviewing him. He does it with nearly every damn person who doesn’t scowl in his direction. I’ve tried to convince myself that he’s doing the exact same thing to me. Although I doubt he’ll whip his cock out for just anyone, I don’t see it happening with me as special attention. The man lives to get a rise out of people.