Chapter Three
He snored. German chuckled every time he thought about it.
He knew his good mood had everything to do with last night.
Blaze wasn’t that much younger than him.
That was such a huge weight off his chest. No doubt his age had been one internet search away, but German had been a little scared to find out if he had watched a barely adult masturbate.
He was so fucking relieved that wasn’t the case.
Steel Security was in a gorgeous location.
The building sat close enough to posh neighborhoods that the elite saw its sign every day.
That had been a genius move on Steel’s part, but that was Steel, really.
He was smart as hell. As German stepped through the door, his nerves jangled a little.
That hadn’t happened with Steel since he was a new hire.
He was usually pretty comfortable with Steel.
Unfortunately, Steel’s early morning text asking him to come in was the first step taking him toward a new assignment and away from Blaze.
He got it. It was not like they were anything at all, but maybe friends.
Still, German wasn’t ready. He supposed it didn’t matter where he got sent; Blaze was about to go on tour anyhow.
Not to mention, it was one night of talking. Why was he even thinking about it?
German found Steel where he always did, sitting behind his desk staring at a computer screen. He smiled at the sight. Steel was more than a boss. He was German’s friend.
“Damn. When was the last time you stepped outside and got some sun?”
Steel didn’t look away from his computer. “Last Tuesday at two fifteen.”
“That’s specific.” He plopped down in his usual seat across the desk from Steel.
There seemed to be more streaks of silver in his hair than there had been the last time they spoke in person, or maybe not.
The last time he had seen Steel was at Valon and Marc’s wedding.
The same night Blaze caught his eye. German hadn’t focused on much else after that.
Finally, eyes that matched his name swung German’s way. “How have you been?”
“Can’t complain.”
“Good. So no issues at the awards?”
German wondered where this was headed. “Nope. It was the usual amount of small annoyances.”
For some reason, being beneath Steel’s gaze didn’t feel as comfortable as usual. German just felt off today. “I heard Valon and his band racked up last night.”
German nodded along. “Yeah. Seems like I heard their names quite a few times.”
“You’re staying with him, correct?”
German kept nodding. It was like he couldn’t stop. “Yeah. Marc and he have been awesome.”
Steel leaned back in his chair. Still, his stare never wavered. “Do you like working with them?”
He had no clue where this was heading. Marc and Valon didn’t need him for security, so it couldn’t be that. “Sure.”
“Good.” Steel sat forward again. “The band is leaving to head back out on tour tomorrow. This is a long one and I need a backup guy. The last time, their manager had to call several times to get temporary replacements. They’re dealing with thousands of people.
It’s easy to catch everything going around when you’re shoved inside a building with that many people.
I’d like to get ahead of that. It was tedious as hell last year to call everyone on payroll every time something happened.
I felt like I was on the hunt for substitute teachers.
If you’re willing, I’d love to simply leave you on call to join them if necessary.
You’ll receive full pay, as if you were on tour with them.
Likely, you’ll be bored as hell waiting by the phone, but I know I can count on you.
Everyone else I trust is currently in a long-term role. ”
It was a little scary how his heart reacted to the request. He had to force himself not to jump for joy at the idea of still seeing Blaze while he was on tour.
Steel offered to pay him full-time wages even when he wasn’t working.
He had to act like a professional here. German kept his tone even.
“Sounds good. You know I’ve got your back. ”
Steel looked a little more than relieved, giving power to his request. It seemed he really had hated fighting to find replacements. “You know I appreciate you, right?”
German didn’t hesitate. “Of course. It’s been too many years for us to doubt each other.” A thought hit. German had been so wrapped up in his thoughts, it hadn’t occurred to him Steel wasn’t acting like himself. “Is everything good?”
A small smile hovered on Steel’s lips for a moment. “Yeah. Thanks for asking. I’m just spread a little thin right now. That’s why I appreciate your flexibility so much. I know I don’t have to worry about you.”
He wondered who Steel had to worry about. “Glad to help.”
Steel visibly relaxed. “How’s everything else going?”
German’s hands rose and fell. “You know me. Everything has been pretty chill. I heard from Jathan a few days ago. He invited me out to the ranch for Sterling’s surprise birthday party. So it looks like I’ll be headed across the country for a few days pretty soon.”
Steel smiled. The gesture looked genuine. “You really made some good friends on that assignment.”
“I did.” German couldn’t stop his smile. His duty guarding one of basketball’s greatest had been his best assignment to date. Jathan was not only hilarious, but he had welcomed German into the family. “That’s probably the closest I’ve been to settling down.”
“Man, you stayed like two years or so. If Jathan hadn’t retired to the ranch, you’d probably still be there. Those are the hardest jobs to leave behind.”
It had been difficult. He had made so many friends out at that ranch.
It hurt to walk away. That didn’t happen to German often.
“Yeah, but hey. They’re still inviting me back.
That’s more than I can say about my family.
” German laughed at his joke even as a twinge tightened his chest. He had to laugh at being disowned.
Otherwise, there were days he might break.
Steel straightened, stretching his back. “Well, have fun and tell everyone I said hi. I suppose I should get back to it.”
German pushed to his feet. “Of course. Take it easy.” Before German walked away, he hesitated. “If you need to blow off some steam or talk or whatever, you’ve got my number.”
Steel smiled. “I do.”
German dipped his chin. “Well, enjoy your overworking.”
Steel laughed as German walked away. German felt a little lighter, and he didn’t know why.
Maybe talks with Steel were just good for the soul.
Whatever the reason, he was ready to focus on himself for a minute.
Maybe Blaze would still be asleep where German left him.
That thought put a little pep in his step.
Likely Blaze had gone home and worked on packing to head out tomorrow.
But hope sprang eternal, and German chose to embrace it.
The sound of loud laughter had Blaze bolting upright from the deepest of sleeps.
He blinked in confusion at his surroundings before the memories slowly came back to him.
His gaze shot around the room for a different reason.
Where had German gone? He spotted his wallet on the coffee table with a piece of paper tucked beneath it. Blaze grabbed it.
Sorry. I got called into a meeting for work. Hopefully, I’ll be back before you get the chance to read this. If not, add my number to your phone. Maybe keep in touch sometimes.
Blaze’s gaze dropped to the number scribbled at the bottom of the page.
A smile stretched his lips. He had German now.
He sat back and created a contact in his phone for German.
The sound of splashing and laughter floated inside again.
He pushed to his feet and stuck his head out the French door to check out the pool.
Marc, and Valon’s stepdad, Kash, were in a dunking match.
Blaze couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
Both men were huge and weren’t making much headway. It wasn’t for lack of trying, though.
Valon spotted him. “Hey. He lives. There’re extra swim trunks in there. Grab a pair and get in the water. It feels great today.”
Valon’s dad, Ledger, manned the grill. The scent of cooking meat wafted over him.
He could eat. Blaze gave a thumbs-up and headed for the bedroom.
Just as promised, there were various sizes of brand-new trunks stuffed in the dresser drawers.
He pulled on a pair and then headed to the bathroom.
Blaze had stayed with Valon enough times over the years to know there were unopened toothbrushes waiting for guests.
He brushed his teeth and took a piss before heading out.
A giant inflatable tube sat stacked with others, tucked against the pool house.
Blaze grabbed one and jumped in. He came up and swiped his hair back before taking advantage of the float.
He settled in the center. The sun assaulted his eyes.
“Shit. I don’t have my sunglasses.”
A huge wave washed over him as Valon cannon-balled into the pool. He tossed a pair of sunglasses onto Blaze’s stomach. “Take those. I’ll get Nathaniel to grab another pair for me. There’s probably like fifteen pairs scattered throughout the house. I take them off and forget where I left them.”
“Thanks, man.” Blaze popped them on. “Much better. How long have you guys been out here? I slept right through this shit.”
Valon laughed. His navy-blue eyes looked brighter, highlighted by the water.
They flashed with laughter. “A couple of hours. I didn’t know you were still here, or I would’ve dragged you out sooner.
The rest of the guys are on the way. A full day of sun, fun, and food before we’re ready to kill each other on the road. ”
“German!” The shout went up around them, bringing Blaze’s head around. German stood at the edge of the pool, looking sexy as fuck in his jeans and a polo.
“Grab your trunks and get in.”
Valon shouted the demand across Blaze. That made it hard for him to tell which of them German was focused on. “You all look just fine without me.”
A loud groan rang out. Blaze hadn’t realized how many people had poured in until then. Still, Blaze couldn’t look away from German. He wished German didn’t have on sunglasses. Blaze needed to see his eyes.
“Join us! Join us! Join us!” The loud chant kept going until German pulled his shirt up and over his head.
A cheer rang out. German toed off his shoes and peeled off his jeans.
He wore a pair of black boxer briefs, and Blaze couldn’t look anywhere else.
Finally, German dove in. Blaze lost sight of him for a moment before German reemerged next to his float.
He draped his arms across Blaze, as if using the float to keep himself above water.
“Hey.”
A smile exploded across Blaze’s face at the greeting. German hadn’t even lost his sunglasses in the dive. “Hey.”
German shifted the glasses from his face to his head. His sexy eyes were locked on Blaze. “You stayed.”
Blaze nodded. He refused to admit he had just woken up. Blaze kind of liked the idea of German thinking he stayed for him. Of course he had, but no need to dampen the moment. “I did.”
German rested his chin on the edge of the tube. “I’m glad.”
Damn, it was just two words, but they did something funny to Blaze’s chest and stomach. The way German held his stare made the rest of the world vanish.
German’s gaze flickered away for half a second before Blaze went flying through the air.
He swallowed half the pool in surprise. Blaze came up coughing and fighting for his life.
He didn’t get a chance to get pissed. German already had things under control.
He had Diesel in the air like he weighed nothing.
Diesel’s laughter was a mixture of guffaws and wheezing before he went soaring through the air the way Blaze had.
German swam his way and showed Blaze his back. “Climb on. We’ll show these pussies who’s boss.”
Blaze couldn’t stop laughing as he latched onto German’s back. “Betrayed by my own guard.”
In no time, full-on chicken-fighting was on. It was a damn good thing Valon’s pool was huge. Otherwise, skulls would have ended up cracked. Blaze hadn’t enjoyed so much clean fun in a long time. He was having a great time. By the time they crawled out of the pool, they were all fighting for breath.
Blaze fell across a lounge, face down.
German filled the seat next to him.
They held each other’s stare. German’s eyes sparkled with happiness.
Blaze couldn’t have stopped himself if he tried. “I have to go home and pack. Do you want to come? I’ll let you drive my Cobra.”
German’s smile never dimmed. “You don’t have to bribe me.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
German chuckled. “That’s good, because I would fucking love to drive that car.”
Blaze’s face hurt from smiling. It had been a great day. Blaze didn’t want it to end.