Just a Bit Dirty (Straight Guys #10)(5)

“I have… doubts,” Derek said, his lips thinning. “The deal is almost too good for us, considering how much a manager of Ian Caldwell’s caliber is worth and the fact that our companies have been rivals for decades.”

Miles looked at him curiously. There was something Derek wasn’t telling him. Had he known Derek better, he would have pushed, but since he didn’t, he settled on asking the other question on his mind, “How can I help?”

Derek looked at him steadily. “I need someone I can trust to report to me if Caldwell is up to something.”

Miles blinked. Derek wanted him to spy on the guy?

“Why me?” he said, beyond confused. “Wouldn’t it be better and more convenient if you asked one of your company’s employees?”

Derek shook his head. “I already tried that, but either there’s nothing or Caldwell is too careful around my employees. Not to mention that now that he’s their boss officially, it will put them into a very awkward position, torn between the loyalty to the owner and the CEO.”

Miles nodded, frowning. “But how am I even supposed to get close to him to be able to tell if anything is off?”

“Aren’t you a business major?” Derek said before sipping his coffee.

Miles nodded again, a little unsettled that Derek knew this about him.

“You will be a British student on a summer internship program. It will be believable, because Rutledge Enterprises really has an international internship program. I’ll sort out your documents and arrange for you to be put in the CEO’s offices. You can start tomorrow.”

Miles could only stare at the man, feeling a little dazed.

“Derek,” Shawn said with a look of fond exasperation. “Tone it down. You’re overwhelming the poor guy.” Turning to Miles, he smiled apologetically. “Sorry, he doesn’t even notice how intense he can be.” He looked back at his husband. “Don’t pressure him. Miles is here on vacation, not work.”

“He can always say no, Shawn,” Derek said, not looking contrite at all.

Miles thought, not without humor, that he wasn’t exactly in a position to refuse, no matter what Derek said. If he refused to help them, staying at their house and enjoying their hospitality would be beyond awkward.

“Obviously it will be a paid internship,” Derek said as an afterthought.

Shawn gave his husband a sharp look. “Don’t even start,” he said with something that sounded like reproach and amusement at the same time. “Money isn’t the solution to everything.”

The couple exchanged a look Miles didn’t understand.

Derek’s mouth twitched. “I still think it was the best thing I’ve ever spent my money on,” he said, looking at Shawn intently.

Shawn flushed and licked his lips. “Derek,” he hissed, glancing at Miles and the twins.

The girls rolled their eyes as one. “Ignore them,” Melissa told Miles with an important look on her cute little face. “We do when they’re being gross and adulty.”

“Adulty isn’t a word,” Emily said, earning a scowl from her twin.

Glancing at his watch, Derek said, “Girls, aren’t you late for your self-defense lessons?”

“Dammit!” Melissa said, jumping to her feet.

When Shawn shot her a stern look, the girl smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, Shawn! But we have to run! Let’s go, Em! Star, come on!”

And they ran off, the dog trotting behind them.

Miles found it kind of amusing that Shawn was the stern parent in this relationship.

“So,” Derek said, looking at Miles. “What is your answer?”

“No pressure, remember,” Shawn added with a pointed look at his husband.

“Okay, I can do it,” Miles said with a shrug. “It’s not a big deal. You’re really helping me out, and I want to return the favor. But… I’m not going to stalk the guy and search his pockets or something.”

Shawn let out a laugh. “We aren’t asking you to do that. Just keep an eye on him, okay? Derek doesn’t trust easily, and his unease makes me anxious by proxy.”

Relieved that they didn’t want him to be some kind of pseudo-spy, Miles smiled back. “I don’t have my passport, by the way. Won’t it be a problem?”

Frowning, Derek shook his head. “A CEO isn’t going to ask you for your passport. The company-issued ID will be enough.” He stood, checking his watch again. “It’s decided, then. I’ll swing by the office to arrange everything.” Leaning down, he gave Shawn a short but hungry kiss that made Miles look away.

Ninety percent of the time Miles was perfectly fine with his lack of personal life.

But at times like this, he had to admit he felt a little jealous.

Just a little.





Chapter 3


Miles’s first three days being an amateur spy-slash-intern were interesting if uneventful. Derek had been right that no one had looked at him twice. He was just another intern, albeit the only one who was assigned to the administrative floor of the building, where the CEO’s office was located.

Not that Miles had seen the man yet. Caldwell was apparently wrapping up some very important deal in New York and wouldn’t be back for a few more days. Despite his absence, Miles had already learned quite a bit about the guy. He didn’t even need to ask around: everyone seemed very eager to gossip about the new CEO. It didn’t hurt that the man was handsome and obscenely rich, so naturally he was the main topic of discussion during Miles’s coffee breaks.