Chapter Seven
What the hell was he thinking?
Hayden used the twenty-minute walk home to clear his head. Because everything inside him was yelling to turn around, go to Armi and kiss the hell out of him. To let him know that his low opinion of himself was definitely unwarranted. But he couldn’t.
He slammed into his apartment, and frustrated, undressed and stood under the shower. Hot water streamed over him, but it couldn’t wash away the loneliness. Self-imposed exile for sure, but it hardened him from the pain. Except for the night he’d met Armi. From the first, the sweet sadness of the man had struck a chord. One whose tone he didn’t recognize.
For him, the music had died long ago.
Dressed and pacing his apartment, Hayden argued with himself. He’d broken his rule of getting too close, but that mistake was easily rectified. No more jokes, no after-work get-togethers or home visits. Strictly business. He couldn’t afford to lose this job.
That decision made, he lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. The perpetual strain of wondering if his past mistakes would pop up weighed heavily on him, but only now did he suffer a twinge of regret.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You’ve got a great job, a beautiful apartment, and you’re living in the city. What more do you want?”
He decided to do a little more digging into the Winters’s family history to understand Armi’s tense relationship with his father, and the more he read, the more his anger grew. Randolph Winters was never photographed with Armi, and in the Kings’ Super Bowl appearances, Hayden didn’t even see Armi in the owner’s box watching the game or joining in the celebration on the field. Anders, Whitmore, and Geiger were the ones at Randolph Winters’s side.
“I think…I need to be a lot friendlier to Russell Anders. He seems to have been the go-between for father and son.” With that decision, Hayden pulled up Russell’s calendar and began to plan.
**
“Good morning, Mr. Anders.” Hayden waved. “I’ve brought pastries. Would you like anything?” He figured food would be a good icebreaker, especially on a Monday morning.
“I shouldn’t,” Russell chuckled. “But they smell good.”
“Oh, please. You’re in great shape. I’m sure you can sneak a muffin in every once in a while.” The sunniest smile he could manage rested on his lips, and he pushed the tray toward the man. “Besides, I hate to eat alone.”
He didn’t miss Anders’s penetrating stare, but he picked out a scone and bit off the end. “Delicious. Thank you.”
“Of course. Can I make you a coffee?”
Russell eyed him. “Lucy usually brings me one. She should be here soon.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Hayden, what’s going on?”
Shit . Had he come on too strong? “Nothing. I was trying to be nice.”
“I know you think you have to protect Armand, but he’s an adult. He needs to learn how to manage this new position on his own.”
“I’m not protecting him, but I do sense that people don’t think he’s capable. And I don’t understand the negativity directed at him. Not you, of course. You’ve been very helpful. And I appreciate it.”
“I’m here for anything you need. I want the Kings to succeed and be winners.” Anders seemed to be weighing something in his mind. “Maybe we can help each other.”
Now that was what he’d hoped to hear. “I think we both want the same thing.” His phone rang. “Excuse me, please. I have to get that. Hello?…Oh, good. Please have him wait. I’ll be right out. Thank you.” At Anders’s raised brows, he explained, “I ordered a new sign for the front, naming Armand Winters as owner and CEO. Mr. Winters approved it. I think it’s time, don’t you?” He flashed another guileless smile.
“Of course. Good idea.”
“And please, bring Lucy a pastry. There’s plenty here.”
“I will. I’m glad we had a chance to chat.” Anders selected a muffin. “I’ll see you later.”
He strolled off, and Hayden hurried to the front, where he found the person from the sign company waiting. After giving him instructions, he walked off, only to hear his name called. It was Josh, the receptionist.
“Is something wrong?” Curious, Hayden stopped. He’d hardly exchanged ten words with Josh, though he’d made sure to be approachable. The more friends he had in the company on his side, the better.
“I just wanted to say I’m glad you took the initiative to do this.” He darted a side-to-side glance and lowered his voice. “No one here treats Mr. Winters with respect, and I don’t like seeing it. He’s the only one who always says hello and brings breakfast for all the support staff—not just the inside people. He’s really nice. I’m a nobody here, but I think it’s good you recognized it and you’re doing something about it.”
“You shouldn’t describe yourself as a nobody. Us support people must stick together. And I appreciate you telling me this.” He gave Josh a friendly nod. “Let me know if you hear or see anything I should know. We both have Mr. Winters’s best interests at heart.”
“I will, and thanks. It can be lonely out here with no one to talk to.”
“I understand. I’d better get to work.” If Josh was hoping to strike up a friendship, he was asking the wrong person. Hayden had no time for friends. The phone was ringing when he arrived at his desk.
“Good morning, Armand Winters’s office. How may I help you?”
“Well, first you can by telling me whom I’m speaking with.” The amused voice was cultured and that of a woman, most likely his mother’s age.
“This is Hayden Porter, Mr. Winters’s PA. And you are?”
“Eloise Winters. I wasn’t aware my son had hired an assistant, but thank God.” Her laughter was merry, and Hayden’s lips twitched. “When did you start?”
“This is my second week, ma’am.”
“Maybe you can pop me into a lunch date with him sometime soon, if he’s not busy.”
As they spoke, he checked Armi’s calendar, which, while full of business meetings, was lacking in any personal appointments. “He’s free today, if you are.”
“Perfect. I’ll be by at one.”
“Wouldn’t you rather I made you a reservation and Mr. Winters meet you there? I can call the Grill or the Regency Bar.” He figured those would be safe places close by, where she’d enjoy lunch.
“And miss a chance to meet you? Certainly not. I’ll be by around one, probably earlier, and you and I can have a chat.”
He blinked. Obviously, Armi didn’t take after his mother in the social-skills department. “See you at one, Mrs. Winters.”
The office filled up, and by the time Armi walked in at nine twenty, it was humming with activity. Hayden heard Armi before he saw him, as he stopped to greet each person he passed. When he came into his line of vision, Hayden gave him a quick once-over and was pleased to see that his shirt was buttoned correctly and his clothing didn’t wear parts of his breakfast. Of course his hair was a bit messy, and while personally Hayden preferred that look, he made a note to suggest a haircut, in case Armi wanted to appear more corporate. Again, as in the club that first night, Hayden was struck by the crystal-clear blue of Armi’s eyes and that sweet, disarmingly shy smile that was such a fucking turn-on.
“Good morning, Hayden.”
“Good morning, Mr. Winters. Maurice Hadley’s agent called, and your mother will be here at one for lunch.”
At the mention of his mother, he stopped and stared. “My mother? She called?”
“Yes. I offered to make a reservation, but she insisted on coming here.”
“I’ll bet she did,” he muttered. “Thanks for letting me know.” He turned to leave.
“I put the scouting reports for the teams on your desk.”
“Thanks.”
“And I marked some of the players you might be interested in, based on what you stated in the meetings and from what I’ve read the Kings are looking for.”
Armi cocked his head. “Are you sure you’ve never worked in football before?”
“Very. My father is the football buff. I don’t even watch the game. But I do pay attention.”
“So I see.” He moved toward his office but stopped again, his cheeks slightly pink. “The new sign looks very nice. Thank you for thinking of it. I probably never would’ve.”
“Part of my job,” Hayden said lightly.
“I’m not so sure.”
Hayden heard him but didn’t respond.
“And thanks for the Danish,” Armi called out. “Cherry’s my favorite.”
Hayden smiled to himself. “I figured,” he whispered, having noticed during his visit the box holding a cherry pie on Armi’s kitchen counter.
An hour or so passed, during which time he checked on the order for the new stationery and contacted the webmaster to update the website and whatever electronic footprints the team had that still carried Randolph Winters’s name. The phone rang.
“Armand Winters’s office. How may I help you?”
“This is Martin Price from City News . I’m the sports-desk reporter. I’d like to speak with Mr. Winters.”
“Hold one moment, please, Mr. Price. I’ll check his availability.” He’d never put a cold call through without discussion first. He hit the Intercom button. “Mr. Winters? You have a call from the City News sports reporter. Do you want to take it?”
“What? I-I can’t answer questions off the cuff. What if I don’t know the answer? Could you…would you please ask him what he wants, and, uh, maybe he wants to meet in person?” The quaver in his voice made him sound so young and vulnerable.
“I’ll deal with him. Don’t worry.” He clicked on the line where Price waited. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Winters is tied up in meetings all day. If you send me your questions, I’ll make sure to give them to him and get the answers to you ASAP.”
“I usually don’t talk through a third party. Randolph was happy to meet me for lunch so we could speak freely about the team and where he sees it going for the coming season.” He paused. “Is there a problem with me meeting his son?”
“Not at all. I’m sure Mr. Winters would be happy to entertain you as well. How does tomorrow, one o’clock at the Grill sound?”
“Like I’m already anticipating the meal,” Price chuckled.
“And you’ll forward me the list of questions you’d like Mr. Winters to answer, so he can be prepared?”
“Now where’s the fun in that? I’ll see him at one.”
Before Hayden could answer, Price ended the call. A bit of a wiseass, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He spotted Lucy approaching, and though they hadn’t met face-to-face yet, after their phone confrontation, he tensed, anticipating drama.
“Hi, Hayden,” she chirped. “I wanted to introduce myself. We’ve only seen each other across the table so far. I’m Lucy. Thank you for the muffin. It was delicious. Sorry we got off on the wrong foot over the phone.”
Dressed in black and rail-thin, Lucy projected the nervous energy of a terrier, but her smile appeared friendly enough. “Hi. I’m glad you liked it. Nothing like a little sugar and carbs to start the day.” He laughed and she joined him. “That’s a gorgeous dress. Prada?”
“Yes.” She smoothed a hand down her waist and preened. “Thanks. Gotta look good. Russell sets a high standard, and I don’t want to fail him.”
“I doubt you could. He seems like a great guy.”
Her eyes lit up. “He is. The best boss.” Her gaze shifted to Armi’s closed door. “How is it working for Armand? He’s so sweet.”
Damn right he was. And he knew how sweet Armi’s kisses were.
“Mr. Winters is a very kind person. I think I’m going to like it here. Everyone’s been friendly.” Whitmore passed by with a scowl, and they both nodded at him, but he didn’t respond. “ Almost everyone.” He allowed himself a tiny grin, which Lucy jumped on.
“He’s such a jerk,” she whispered. “Would you like to have lunch? I usually order a salad from the place across the street and eat in the break room. It’s not as bad as it sounds.”
“Considering at my old job I ate at my desk, it sounds good to me.” Cozying up to Lucy could only help him. Hayden didn’t trust anyone, but he’d listen to what she had to say. “I take my lunch at one. I’ll meet you there.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Great. See you then.” She wiggled her fingers and walked off.
“Glad you’re making friends here.”
He spun around to see Armi at the door to his office. “I’m sorry, did you need something? I didn’t know you were standing there.”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go over the info you sent me on prospects and why you marked them.”
“Sure.” He hopped out of his chair to follow Armi. “And Martin Price from City News still wants to talk to you. I told him you’d have lunch tomorrow at the Grill.” He passed by Armi on the way into his office, and he smelled delicious. Hayden breathed deep, briefly allowing himself to recall their time together.
Hot, wet kisses. Sweat-slicked skin tasting sharp on his tongue. A thick cock pumping out hot, sticky come…
“Hayden?”
A shiver ran through him. He rubbed his eyes and saw Armi in front of him, his brow wrinkled. “Sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if you know what that reporter wants.”
“To find out more about how you’re going to lead the team and the organization. I gathered he used to do the same thing with your father.”
Those big blue eyes flared with alarm. “What? I-I don’t know how to answer that. I’m not sure yet.” He paced the office. “What am I going to say? He’s going to crucify me, and I’ll look stupid—stupider than everyone already thinks I am.”
“First of all, no one thinks you’re stupid. How about I find old interviews he’s done? I’ll make up a list of questions I think he’ll ask, and we’ll go over them today. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
The fear in Armi’s face subsided. “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Not a problem. I’m here to help you, remember?”
Armi’s smile was faint. “Yeah. But still…” He shrugged. “This is above and beyond, so I truly appreciate it.”
“No worries. Do you know what you’d like to order for your lunch with your mother? What are her favorite foods?”
“As long as there’s a salad, she’ll be happy. And she likes fish.”
Hayden nodded. “I’ll take care of it. And I’m having lunch with Mr. Anders’s PA today. Anything I should know about her?”
Puzzlement creased Armi’s brow. “Lucy? I don’t know. She doesn’t really talk to me. She’s like one of those popular girls in school who never speaks to the guys who aren’t cool enough.”
It pained him to see Armi’s lack of self-confidence. “Okay. Let’s get to work. By the time you meet with the reporter tomorrow, you’ll be more than ready.”