An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2)(26)
Sam’s voice broke through his reflections. “Vic? Did you hear me?”
“Hmm? Oh, sorry. I’m still at work, poring over the details of this project.”
Sam’s chuckle sounded positively evil. “All work and no play, my friend.”
Vic barked out a laugh. “You’re telling me. I haven’t been in something hot and tight since…. God, I can’t even remember.” He wanted more than that, but Sam didn’t have to share Vic’s woes. Let’s keep this all about the sex.
“Seems to be a lot of that going around,” Sam said, a tinge of sadness in his voice. “Anyway, I wanted to thank you for the painting. Aaron simply loved it. He’s hung it in the bedroom over the fireplace. It fits perfectly there and…. Okay, don’t tell anyone I said this, but from the look on Aaron’s face, I get the impression he’s thinking more about going to the club. He’s wanting, even if he—well, both of us—are afraid of getting hurt again.”
Vic hesitated for a second before deciding to speak from the heart. “You’ll always run that risk, but unless you’re willing to take that chance, to get out there and meet someone, then you’re going to stew in your own regrets.”
A sharp intake of breath. “Wow. You don’t mince words, do you?”
“Sam, you know I care for you both. I remember the time you had with Seb. I’d never seen you guys so happy. You can find that again, you know. Just get out there and see what’s waiting for you. Or should I say, who?”
Vic’s door opened and Janice stuck her head inside. “Why are you still here?” she whispered.
He held up a finger. “Sam, I have to go. My slave driver just walked in.”
Sam laughed. “Tell Janice I said hello,” he said, then disconnected.
Vic slid his phone back into his pocket. “No more projects,” he insisted. “This one will be done tonight, and then I’m going on holiday.”
She winced and Vic’s stomach clenched.
“What?”
“Another project has just come in. Word on the grapevine is that it’s the biggest one the company has ever had, and they’re rescinding all holidays for the time being. They’re saying it could take upwards of four years to complete.”
Anger surged through Vic. “No, absolutely not! They are not fucking doing this to me! For the last two years, I’ve only been able to grab a few hours during the weekends, and most of those were spent cleaning house, washing clothes, and paying bills. I’m tired—both mentally and physically—and I need some time away.”
She grinned, and Vic realized she’d been teasing.
“You are evil,” he told her, lacing his words with as much venom as he could.
She laughed. “You need to go somewhere to relax, Vic. Somewhere with sun, sand, and plenty of pretty boys in microscopic briefs.” She winked. “Or maybe someplace where they wear nothing at all.”
Vic snorted. “Thanks, but I have plans for my time off. The club I belong to reopened under new management, and I’ve been dying to go check it out.”
“Do they still have their ‘no girl’ policy?”
Vic frowned. “They never—” He shook his head. “You know, one day I’m not going to be so gullible.”
Janice waved her hand. “And you know that’s a totally made-up word from Doctor Who, right?”
“What is?”
“Gullible.”
Vic gave her a hard stare. “That’s not true.”
Janice opened her eyes wide. “It is, I swear. It was a Cybermen episode, and he used it to describe their literal sense of the way the world works. People started using it, but it’s just a made-up word.”
He scowled at her. “Did you need something?”
When she chuckled, he couldn’t help but do the same. “No, I just came by to wish you a good holiday. I’m leaving tomorrow for Ireland. I have plans too, y’know.” She grinned. “My plan is to go to a pub, find me a redheaded Irish boy, and spend the next two weeks having him kiss the Blarney Stone.”
“Your euphemisms need work,” Vic said dryly.
Janice came around to his side of the desk and pulled him to his feet. She stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed Vic’s cheek. “Go out. Have a good time. You deserve it.”
“You too. You’ve got my number, so if you need money for condoms or bail or anything, you give me a call.” He hugged her and rested his chin on her shoulder. She truly was one of a kind.
After he let her loose, Janice practically bounced to the door. “See you in three weeks.”
And then she was gone. Vic sat back down, sighed heavily, and started working on the final design specs. He was making sure the spacing on the cantilevers were correct when Janice’s words came back to him. He pulled up Google and typed in “gullible.” The next moment he was bouncing his head off the desk for having been so easily suckered in. Again. He blamed it on the buildup of testosterone. That had to be it. But come Friday, that situation was going to be rectified. Someone would be walking funny after this weekend. He’d make sure of that.
At least one of Vic’s needs would be met.
Chapter Nine
FRIDAY AFTERNOON Rob made himself a mug of coffee, curled up in his armchair, and went through his mail. No bills, thank goodness. And continuing in a positive vein, the week hadn’t been awful. Mr. Peterson seemed to be increasingly frustrated with Rob’s inability to, in his words, “comprehend simple directions.” But Rob remembered what Vic said about trying to see it from someone else’s point of view. He knew nothing about his boss. Maybe what Neil had said the day Rob had been sent home was right: Mr. Peterson wasn’t about to take responsibility for Rob’s mistakes. And, even though he wished the man would be a little calmer, Rob did his best to keep his head down and do his work.