Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(64)

“Want me to come there? Or better, I could grab Dev and we could go fuck up some of their shit, just tell me where they’re stayin’ or tell me where they live. If they’re there, they can’t be here. Dev’s been restless as fuck. He needs the outlet and you can trust he earned his fuckin’ nickname.”

Alec smiled at the sincerity in Key’s tone and started around the building toward his car. He looked down at the screen, grinning at the visual image Key painted then narrowed his eyes as he realized Key might truly be serious. That was the dark side coming out in Key. Although it was incredibly sweet that he’d risk himself like that to support Alec, he had no doubt with even the smallest hint of a go-ahead, Key would do exactly what he’d just offered.

“I love you.”

“How does that answer anything?”

“You know how it does. Thank you for wanting to defend me,” he said, cutting through the grass toward the parking lot.

Key just stared at him with that same fierce expression he’d had when hatching his plan.

“What helps the most is to have you with me, even if it’s on the phone.” Alec made a beeline straight to his sports car, getting himself completely shut inside before he let his shoulders slump and scrubbed a hand down his face.

“How far is the hotel?” Key asked. Alec lifted his eyes to Key and his heart settled.

“Just around the building. You helped me, Key. Thank you.” His finger went to the screen to run the tip along Key’s cheek. “You need to sleep. I’ll call you when I get on the road in the morning.”

“No, call me when you get to your room.” Key nodded, leaving no room for any action other than what he suggested.

“I’ll text you then call in the morning. Go to bed. I love you.”

He got his standard “Mmm” before Key said, “I got a better idea. Why don’t I stay on the phone until you get in your room?” Key pushed back on his bed, scooting to the headboard. Alec shook his head at his mister who tried to care for him and decided to let it happen. Alec pressed the button, starting the car, and pulled out of the private parking lot. He loved that man, and he was so glad they were opening up to one another.





“So, you’ve rented office space here?” Alec asked, tucking his hands in his slacks pocket as he walked side by side with Reed Kensington through Arik Layne’s wing of the Layne Construction corporate offices.

“Somewhat renting, yes,” Reed answered vaguely, holding the door open for Alec. He walked into an elaborately decorated office suite with a large mahogany desk in the center stacked with papers, blueprints, folders packed full, just everything conceivable piled on top. A small dark-haired woman sat commandingly behind all those stacks, phone to her ear and a finger swirling in air as she looked directly at Reed and continued talking.

“That’s Iris,” Reed said, and Alec lifted a hand her direction, giving a small wave. She smiled but stayed focused on the call, then bent her head to jot down notes with a pencil he hadn’t seen her holding. “This is where our team will office.”

Alec followed Reed through a side door that, from the outside, looked just like one of the many single offices he’d seen during the campus tour, but it wasn’t. He was greeted with another small reception area. Four open doors ran along the back and side walls. Alec sidestepped Reed and went for the one of the center offices with an open door to peer out a large window.

“Great setup,” Alec said as he walked into the spacious office that overlooked a small pond complete with a family of ducks enjoying the water. “What an impressive complex.”

“One of the benefits of working with a construction company.” Reed followed, hovering just inside the doorway. “This would be yours.”

Alec nodded, keeping his gaze focused on the pond, trying to keep his enthusiasm in check. What a beautiful setting, far better than the fifty-year-old office equipment and dingy white walls of his current workplace. He also liked the idea of being off the Escape property site. There was too much distraction at the resort, the constant playful and enticing activities Arik Layne provided his guests could prove too tempting. They had work to do, apparently loads and loads of work if that front desk was any indication. He and his team would need to keep a single-minded focus if they were going to accomplish it all.

After a moment, Alec nodded. He easily envisioned himself here, saw his team with perfect clarity in his mind. “I see myself here,” he repeated aloud for Reed’s benefit.

“That’s hopeful.”

Alec looked back over his shoulder to see a grin crinkle the corners of Reed’s eyes. This time, Alec stuck his hands in his slack’s pockets and followed Reed back out into the reception area.

“From the first minute we talked law, all those months ago, I envisioned you in this spot. I think that’s why I held this open. No one seemed to be the right fit.”

“Thank you. That’s nice to hear.” Alec reached up to turn the light switch off and stopped mid-motion as the lights automatically dimmed. Very efficient, which also seemed to describe everything Arik Layne touched.

“It wasn’t necessarily meant as a compliment,” Reed said drolly. “It took you long enough. I was getting tired of waiting. So, do you have any more questions?”

Alec thought over the last four almost five hours of his interview. For a man who could find questions in anything, he had nothing left to ask. He and Reed thought so similarly that his potential new boss had over explained, covering all of Alec’s bases. Even the salary was better than he’d expected, no negotiations required.