Love in Spades: Four Kings Security Book One (Four Kings Security #1)(7)
“Yes, sir.”
They all turned their attention to King, and Ace held back his smile. He could see the exact moment King made the decision. His friend actually flinched. It was subtle, but it had been there.
“Ace is correct. If your son is difficult to work with, Ace is the best King for the job. He’ll take lead on this, be your son’s personal security, assemble a team, and get started as soon as the contract is signed.”
“Excellent. I’ve forced him to take some time off under the guise he’s got vacation time he needs to use, but because he’s a stubborn pain in the ass, he’s informed me he’ll be working from home a good deal of the time. For all I know, he’ll show up at the office. Kid’s always done whatever the hell he wanted anyway.”
Ace liked the guy already. Too bad Colton was going to hate Ace. It seemed like the guy had finally met his match.
Two
When had his life become such a mess?
Colton closed his eyes, allowing the alcohol and pulsing beat of the music to wash over him. This was exactly what he needed. How long had it been since he’d let himself have some fun? It seemed like all he did these days was work and, as of late, argue with his parents.
They only want what’s best for you.
He promptly told the little voice in his head to shut up. Yes, his parents loved him, and he never forgot how fortunate he was to have such accepting parents or how privileged he was. He had no doubt everything they did was because they wanted what was best for him. The problem was, no one ever asked him what he thought was best for him. If he wanted something that didn’t fit within the constructs of what was expected of him, he had to fight for it. His mother thought him “headstrong,” his father “difficult,” but the truth was, he only wanted to be himself, not the version of him everyone else wanted him to be. It had taken a long time to figure himself out and get his life in order, but when he had, he’d been as happy as the next guy. Then some sick bastard figured he’d try and take control of Colton’s life. If that wasn’t bad enough, his father kept insisting he hire a private security company. Not happening.
Colton leaned against the bar and smiled widely at Seth when he had the man’s attention. The large mountain of a bartender with rippling muscles sauntered over. He wiped the bar’s surface in front of Colton before leaning his arms on it.
“What can I get you, Mr. Connolly?”
“Good evening, Seth. Tequila, please. Something nice.”
“You got it.” Seth winked at him before turning and reaching for a bottle of Don Julio 1942 Anejo Tequila—a very nice choice indeed. He poured the golden liquid into a Himalayan salt tequila glass, returned the bottle to the shelf, and placed the drink in front of Colton, with a wedge of lime on a black napkin. “Here you go, beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Colton returned Seth’s smile before throwing back the tequila and following through with the lime wedge, aware of Seth dropping his eyes to Colton’s lips. Seth had made his interest known quite some time ago, and although Colton didn’t mind the flirting, he had no intention of getting involved with anyone he did business with. Seth was a stunning man—all chiseled jaw, rich olive skin, and soft brown curls—but he was employed by Frank Ramirez, the owner of Sapphire Sands and a good man Colton considered a dear friend, one who trusted Connolly Maritime with the import of the club’s alcohol.
A couple of shots later—and a little more flirting—Colton was feeling better. The club was packed tonight, but then it was always packed. Colton had been coming here since he’d turned twenty-one. It was familiar. Safe. All the employees knew who he was, and—with the exception of a couple of flirts like Seth—he was treated as if he were family. Every year on the club’s anniversary, Colton hosted the Sapphire Sands Charity Masquerade Ball. The ticket price for the event was outrageous, but none of the guests who attended minded the hefty price since the profits all went to an LGBT charity. It was a night of elaborate costumes, with an exquisite meal prepared by a celebrity chef, and incredible entertainment that went on into the wee hours of the morning. Colton looked forward to it every year, and as the benefactor, he hadn’t missed one since its inception.
“Is Frank in?” Colton asked Seth.
“Yeah, he’s in the office. Want me to call him for you?”
Colton shook his head. “I’ll drop by the office and say hello. Thanks, Seth.”
“Anytime, Mr. Connolly.”
Colton had every intention of getting drunk off his ass, dancing, and forgetting his troubles for a while, but first he’d see Frank. His friend would be pissed if he found Colton was in the club and no one had told him. Thirteen years ago, the guy had appointed himself Colton’s unofficial big brother, despite Colton’s attempts at the time to get into Frank’s pants. At twenty-one, Colton had found the thirty-one-year-old former firefighter turned club owner a walking wet dream. It had been very annoying, not to mention sexually frustrating, at the time. While his brain had been focused on getting laid by the stud with pitch-black hair and honey-colored eyes, Frank had been building a friendship between them without Colton even realizing, a friendship Colton was eternally grateful for now that he was wiser and older.
Deciding to stop by the men’s room first, Colton walked in to the elegant black marble washroom to the sound of sniffing. A young man paced one end of the bathroom. He was a little overdressed for a night at the club. It was possible he’d come to meet friends after work, but something told Colton that wasn’t the case. He was young, late twenties at most, with fair hair he’d clearly been running his fingers through—as it was now sticking up at odd angles—and blue-green eyes. Pretty.