Chapter Four #2
After getting ready, Fabrice decided to hunt for Briggs rather than just calling him.
He didn’t want to touch his phone. Tidy had likely texted him again, and Fabrice didn’t want to hear it.
He had a charisma Fabrice didn’t. His outrageousness drew people to him.
That wasn’t Fabrice. Fabrice was boring and settled.
He was mostly where he wanted to be in life.
At least he was self-aware. As he headed for the door, his gaze swung toward the phone.
He hesitated. In the end, he decided to leave it.
There were secret servant hallways that doubled as hide and seek for Kylo.
Fabrice dipped into one and chose that route to dodge Tidy and Kirkland while he searched.
He finally found Scout heading toward the room he shared with Clay.
“Psst.”
Scout had a gun out and pointed at his face in under a second. He put the weapon away just as quickly when he realized it was Fabrice.
“Sorry about that.”
Fabrice was unbothered. “Have you seen Briggs?”
“Yeah. Shore and he are hanging out in Jett’s room.”
Fabrice bit back a groan. He hid his disappointment behind a smile. “Thanks.”
Scout dipped his chin. “No problem.”
With a quick goodbye, Fabrice wove his way through the maze of hallways to get back to his room.
While he knew he could go out alone, Beau currently had issues with some drug lord.
Fabrice wouldn’t be safe alone. Like everyone on Beau’s staff, Fabrice had been trained to kill, and he would to protect his found family.
Still, he was more of a lover than a fighter.
He would stay home… or throw himself off a bridge. Whatever struck his fancy.
As Fabrice pushed his way back into the main hallway outside his bedroom, he spotted someone at his door.
He didn’t think. Fabrice just called out, “Bonjour. Can I help you?”
The figure turned, and Fabrice lost his breath. The stranger was Kirkland. It looked as if he had gotten a style upgrade and a complete makeover. The new look made him appear at least a decade younger.
“Hey. I knocked, and you didn’t answer. So I was just leaving a note and this.” Kirkland held up a gift bag.
Damn it. He was moved. Fabrice was also speechless.
“Oh.” He closed the distance between them and unlocked the door.
Fabrice motioned him inside. His gaze dropped to Kirkland’s ass as he walked in behind him.
Damn. He loved the way his jeans cupped his ass.
Fabrice still hadn’t recovered from seeing a t-shirt molded against Kirkland’s solid chest. Fabrice had wanted him without that knowledge. Now he wanted to whimper.
“Have a seat.”
Kirkland headed for the couch. He moved Fabrice’s phone and sat. His gaze swept the room. “You have a nice place. I can tell you’re part of the family. Not that my room isn’t nice.”
He sounded nervous.
Fabrice’s heart melted. He joined Kirkland on the couch. “I’m pretty sure nearly all the bedrooms are identical except for things like Beau’s bedroom, Kylo’s playroom. Things like that.”
Kirkland nodded. He still held the bag. As if recalling why he was there, Kirkland jumped slightly. He held the bag out. “This is for you.”
There was no stopping the smile that exploded across his face as he accepted. “Thank you. It’s not even my birthday.”
Kirkland chuckled. “I was at Alonge earlier and spotted this. I’d planned to buy you flowers, but this felt more like you.”
Fabrice kept his gaze locked on opening the gift. He must have gone to Alonge with Tidy. That made sense. Now he felt bad about his earlier thoughts. He pulled a small box from the bag and lifted the lid. There was a wide silver ring inside.
Kirkland scooted closer and took the ring from the box.
“Apparently, this is one of Alonge’s designs.
He said he had all your sizes.” Kirkland took his hand and slid the band on Fabrice’s thumb.
Flowers were lightly etched into the silver.
The ring was gorgeous. “While I’ve never seen you wear a ring like this,” Kirkland’s chin lifted.
He met Fabrice’s stare. “I knew the piece would look gorgeous on you. I was right.”
Fabrice couldn’t look away from Kirkland’s beautiful eyes.
“You have no idea how much I love it.” He really did.
Fabrice had looked at Alonge’s thumb rings several times.
Just like everything in Alonge’s store, they were ridiculously expensive.
Fabrice could afford it. It just seemed like such a frivolous purchase.
“I don’t know why you did this, but thank you.”
“You deserved something after my coldness this morning.” Kirkland continued holding his stare, seeming determined to keep going. “I’ve spent so many years trying to be invisible. I don’t know how to react to the way you look at me.”
Fabrice was engrossed. He couldn’t look away. “How do I look at you?”
“Like you don’t see anyone else but me.”
“I don’t.”
Kirkland visibly swallowed.