A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(42)

It’s not lost on me he’s still holding my hand. I gently tug it free.

“Nice to meet you, Horace.”

The name is an old-fashioned one and doesn’t actually suit him. If he hadn’t thrown me off with the blatant come on, I might have laughed or joked about it.

We sit and all thoughts of Sam have fled. My dick relaxes back into position.

“I have to tell you, it feels good to be free.”

My only response is an arched brow. I feel like a therapist all of a sudden and believe I should just keep my mouth shut and figure this guy out.

“Yes, the old biddy is dead and I can finally live my life.”

“You mean your grandmother.”

He nods. “I had to pretend to get engaged.” He groans. “Not that I don’t enjoy Cecily. We’ve been dating since high school and, well, she’s great. You, on the other hand, are more my speed.”

I shake my head briskly. “Nothing wrong with being with who you want, but I’m into women.” I pause and then mutter under my breath. “Maybe too much.”

It’s his turn to turn a questioned brow my way. “It’s hard to come out. Especially if your family has certain expectations, but you don’t have to lie to me.”

I laugh, because what else can I do. “No, honestly, I was looking at her picture when you showed up.”

Leaning towards him, I flash him my phone screen where Sam’s sexy image still graces it.

“Oh.” He purses his lips. “Too bad. She is quite nice. Not my type though.”

“Your type. I thought you were into guys.”

He shrugs. “When you’re in my situation, you learn that in the dark, a hole is a hole, especially if the woman has a lot less going on up top than your girl. A woman like that can help the imagination go where it wants to go.”

Something about this guy has me asking an inappropriate question. “And your fiancée? Are you planning on telling her?”

“I don’t know. Cecily is great. I’ve tried to get her to accept the truth many times because I do love her, just not enough to give up on pursuing other options. But we get along well enough. She’s convinced that I’m confused. In fact she’s encouraged me to try out other relationships before I make any decisions.”

I can’t come up with an appropriate response, so I lift my shoulders in a shrug.

“I know, right? She’s a great girl. But …”

I almost hate to ask, but it’s as if he needs a friend to unload on. I need his business, and oddly enough he’s fairly easy to talk to.

“But?”

He sighs. “The one guy I’m interested in won’t leave his girlfriend. He likes women. Hell, he likes me to go all she-male on him before I blow my load in him.”

And then there is such a thing as too much information. I press two fingers on opposite sides of my temples and try not to laugh.

“Yeah, I’m the one that can be your girlfriend and boyfriend too. You should give it a try.”

Laughing, I shake my head. “Thanks for the offer.”

He waves a hand. “It’s okay. Never hurts to ask. Anyway, I had plans to move my money from this ultraconservative firm. But I like you.” He winks. “Tell me how you can make my money grow and expand.” The innuendo isn’t lost on me and I have to chuckle.

We talk shop for a solid half an hour and he’s pretty in tune with how he wants his money invested. After he signs on the dotted line, I’m able to report to Dad that I’ve done my job and made an interesting friend of sorts.

My high from winning a client plummets when I get a call from my potential client letting me know he won’t be making any changes with his investments due to the news involving the hedge fund scandal. Even though I’ve assured him our company hadn’t been involved in any way, it’s a lost cause that leaves me drained.

Jeff and Mark are busy when I decide I need air and a break from the office. I stroll out of the building and pull out my phone. Scrolling through my contacts, I automatically search for Drew. He was the only one who truly understood the relationship between my father and me. I know Dad wants the best for me. He just doesn’t believe I’m the best. And I’ve spent my whole life trying to prove my worth. Winning a client I had in New York would prove to him that I hadn’t left because of failure, but by choice.

Hastily, I shove the phone back in my pocket feeling my mood sour even more. When I turn the corner, I spot the doctor who’s been around Cate a few times.

“Ben,” Cate’s friend says.

“Hey, Mercer.”

“Have you seen Cate lately?”

His question makes me feel worse than shit. I haven’t been doing my job for Drew very well these days and the guy’s accusatory glare is confirmation enough.

“Not in the last few days,” I mutter. “But what’s that to you?”

Protectiveness overtakes me and I wonder what the good doctor and Cate have going on.

“Can I ask you a question?” His words aren’t a request.

“What’s that?”

“Is something going on between you two. She’s never really explained her relationship with you other than you were Drew’s best friend.”

I frown. “Me and Cate.” I shake my head. “She’s like my little sister. That would be …” I cringe feeling my face pinch in disgust. “Yeah, no, never will happen.”