Duty and Devotion (13 page)

“Puritan.”

“Is that a yes on the studio? I can drop off the keys during lunch.”

“Personally drop off the keys? I'm going to say yes just to be able to see you.”

“I saw you a few hours ago!” Evan protested, even as he smiled.

“I hate sleeping without you, okay? I miss your snoring.”

“You're very romantic.” Evan caught Moses' eye and bodily turned, lowering his voice. “I'll be there by one thirty. With the keys.”

“Will you stay long enough for me to cop a feel?”

“One thirty. And I'll also bring you a toothbrush.”

“Now see? That's romantic.”

Evan murmured an “I love you” and hung up, swinging his chair around to face Moses.

“Am I really that interesting?”

“Nah, not really.” Moses went back to the files on his desk, leaving Evan frustrated, something immediately noticed by Helena as she returned from a meeting.

“What's the bee in your bonnet?”

He gestured toward Moses, who waved in response.

“Whatever. Did you talk to Matt?”

“Yeah, they're going to take the studio. You have the keys?”

“Uh-huh. You dropping them off?”

“Yes.”

“I'm going with.” Helena sat down and turned her computer on.

“Why?” Evan's suspicions were raised.

“Because I want to meet Jim.”

“Oh hell no.”

“My mom's apartment, my keys to give, I want to go and meet him.”

“Why in God's name?”

“Dying of curiosity. I want to see the guy that makes you spit with jealousy every time you hear his name.”

Evan slammed a drawer open and closed for effect. “I'm past that.”

“Ha!”

“It's true.” Evan lowered his voice. “I'm trying to have some perspective on this whole thing, and I think I've achieved it.”

“Ahahahaha.” She slapped the top of her desk, drawing a few turned heads. “Oh my God, you are lying to yourself.”

“Okay, personal discussions in the workplace over. Illegal gambling operation files opened and being discussed.”

“You act like this is over. I still have the keys.” She pulled them out of her purse and jingled them like she was coaxing a baby to smile. “You will tell me all about this perspective on the way over.”

When Evan arrived at the hotel suite—with a smirking Helena in tow, he was flustered and irritated, a state that only increased when the door opened courtesy of Shane Lowry and revealed a veritable crowd of people.

Bennet Aames, Daisy Baylor, Jim, Griffin, and Matt were all sprawled on the various couches with the remains of lunch spread out on tables behind them. Bennet and Matt in particular were deep in conversation.

“Come in—Good to see you again, Detective,” Shane said as he ushered them in. He shot a glittery smile at Helena. “Shane Lowry.”

“Detective Helena Abbott,” Helena said smoothly, her voice kicking down a notch.

“Pleasure.” Shane shut the door behind them. “Can I get you folks anything?”

“No, thanks.” Evan finally caught Matt's eye, and his boyfriend rose to greet him.

Shane went over to pour himself some coffee, and Helena leaned close to Evan.

“Quite the swanky group,” Helena whispered. “That's Shane Lowry, the playwright.”

“Why do you know that?” Evan whispered back.

“He's always in the gossip section. Playboy type.” She fluffed her hair.

“Hey, hi.” Matt leaned in for a quick kiss, stopping midway. Evan completed the movement for him, registering the surprise in his face.

“Hey, we brought the keys.” He pointed to Helena. “She made me bring her.”

“Want to meet everyone?” Matt smiled as Helena nodded eagerly.

Matt brought them over, and another round of introductions were passed around. Evan noticed Jim looked a bit better this morning, even as the bruises were more pronounced. Griffin had an exhausted air about him, and Evan felt himself grow concerned. All this noise couldn't be good for either of them.

“So I have a little time if you want me to help you guys move over to the studio,” Evan said to Jim.

“Sounds good.” The older man didn't look at all pleased with the sprawl of people in the room. “We already packed our stuff.”

“We have the sedan,” Helena reminded Evan. “It's not going to fit everyone.”

“Oh, I'll give Mr. Haight a ride over. He and I have some business to discuss.” Bennet Aames seemed to say everything like a grand pronouncement. He smiled at Evan. “Your boyfriend has some excellent ideas regarding security.”

Evan received a spate of glances from everyone except Shane and Daisy, who were oblivious to Evan's general discomfort with public commentary on his romantic status. It didn't bother him—not really—and he smiled.

“I'm sure he does. We'll go on ahead and meet you there, Matt.”

And then it was just packing up and moving out. Jim moved slowly with Griffin and Evan back on point and Helena leading the way, with a bellhop and the cart of luggage and Matt bringing up the rear. They moved swiftly down the back service elevator and to where Evan's car was waiting.

“Hey, we got this down pat,” Matt said as he helped Jim into the car. “Anyone want to join the Secret Service with me?”

Evan remembered something and walked around to the car to present Matt with a toothbrush, freshly wrapped in plastic and a tiny tube of toothpaste. “See, I remembered,” he said with a smile.

“Awww, thanks.” Matt gave him an affectionate shot in the arm.

“See you at the studio in a bit?”

“Yeah. I don't think Bennet will take too long with his pitch.”

“Pitch?”

“Last night I gave him some suggestions, stuff I picked up when I worked for the security company. He seemed into what I was saying. So today he shows up and starts asking me if I would consider doing bodyguard work.”

“Seriously?” Evan stuck his hands in his pants' pockets. “Like—bodyguard to the stars?”

Matt shrugged. “I guess so. Jim saving the day last night made him think he wants someone around Daisy all the time. Jim's not based out here or he'd ask him, and since I used to be a cop…” Matt's voice trailed off. “I didn't say yes or anything. I'm just going to listen.”

“Of course.” Evan thought Matt would be a great bodyguard from a professional perspective. From a personal standpoint, the very thought threatened to curl his smile into a frown. “Yeah, you should definitely listen.”

Matt looked at his watch. “You better get going. I'll see you at the studio later. Or home—whatever.”

“Okay. Yeah. See you later.”

Matt didn't even try to kiss him good-bye on the busy sidewalk, offering instead just a little wave and then heading back toward the service entrance.

Evan watched him go, conflicted in a hundred different ways.

Evan and Helena got Jim and Griffin settled in the neat fourth-floor studio. There was plenty of food to keep them inside without need for deliveries or going out. Everything was fresh and tidy and far more private than a hotel.

They waited for Matt, even tried his cell a few times, but Evan eventually had to admit that his boyfriend was still mired in business with Bennet.

“So call if you need anything,” Evan told Griffin. “And please go get some rest. Jim's on the mend; you need to sleep.”

“Right.” Griffin leaned on the door frame, sagging under the weight. “I'm going to go do that. And thanks a lot, Evan.”

“You're welcome.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to get back to work. When Matt stops by, tell him I'll see him at home.”

“Sure.” Griffin smiled wanly. “I, uh—I'm sorry I was a snot to you at the restaurant. Jim told me that you were kinda uncomfortable about being out and like—not out? So I'm sorry I was poking you.”

Evan flushed, embarrassed. “It's okay. I deserved it. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“The making out at the table—totally unplanned, I swear.”

That made Evan smile. “Actually it made me a little envious.”

Griffin looked surprised. “Well—Jim was supposed to tell Matt to tell you this before he played action hero, but if you ever need to talk or something about…you know, stuff, I'm a really good listener. And talker, but you probably already knew that.”

“I did.” Evan paused a beat. “And thanks. I might just take you up on that. But not until you sleep.”

Griffin saluted. “Deal.”

“Chris Callas is a lesbian,” Evan heard himself saying as he drove he and Helena back to the station.

“Uh, right. I kinda already knew that,” Helena said.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Was it a vital piece of information missing from your life?”

“No, but you could have said something.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? I'm—I just thought you might mention it.”

Helena “whatevered” him under her breath. “So how did you find out?”

“She gave my name to some gay organization for criminal justice employees.”

“She did?” Helena's eyes got wide.

“Which then begs the question—how did she know about me?”

“Is that a leading question because you already know the answer?”

“You told Chris Callas I was…” Evan paused, glancing over at Helena.

“Gayishly bisexual because you had a wife and now you have a boyfriend.” Helena lifted her chin defiantly.

“Gayishly bisexual?” Evan rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand.

“What? You can't even discuss it without stuttering, and we all know how you hate labels,” she said—complete with hand-gestured theatrics. “I needed to come up with something.”

“They want me to join the group.”

“Then join! Chris said they're nice people, and they do good work. It's a nice support network.”

Evan sighed as he pulled into a parking space in front of the precinct. “Being…out…at work is something I didn't really consider, Helena. You knowing, Vic knowing…”

“Moses knows. So does Kalee. And Nicole in Records—her dad is friends with Lenny.” Helena started ticking people off on her fingers. “And if Nicole knows that means Gina in the lab knows, and quite frankly if Gina knows, people in Alaska know you live with a man.”

Evan banged his head on the steering wheel.

“What? Who cares? They knew you were married.” Helena got out of the car, completely cutting off Evan's “it's different” argument.

He kept it to himself, because he knew what her response would be.

“Why is it different?”

Evan followed her into the building, glancing here and there at fellow cops and office workers on the sidewalk and in the entranceway.

Did they know he lived with a man?

Did they care?

Chapter Fourteen

Matt managed to leave a quick message for Evan about being home late, then did the same with a call to the house phone and a text to Katie's cell. Everyone had keys, walking wouldn't kill any of the kids—it would be fine.

He stopped fussing and followed Bennet through the shopping mall he called an apartment.

The thing was huge, the entire floor of a pre-war on the Upper West Side. Their footsteps actually echoed on the hardwood floors. Matt tried to remembered to keep his jaw from dropping open.

There was also the matter of the limo that drove them here—and the doorman, the housekeeper, the “staff” who helped Daisy get settled into her suite and offered Matt an assortment of food and beverage while he waited in the foyer for Bennet to make sure Daisy was resting comfortably.

This guy probably took baths in money like Scrooge McDuck.

“She's drifting off. The sedative helped,” Bennet said as he entered the room. The dark suit jacket and tie were gone, giving Bennet what Matt guessed was his “casual rich dude look.”

“Good to hear. She's, uh—she's had a stressful few days, huh?”

Bennet sighed. “Yes, she has. Shall we go into the parlor?” He led Matt one room over into an ornately gold and black-schemed sitting room. “Daisy has lived a bit of a sheltered life. I have to fight myself not to fall into that same overprotective trap.”

Matt glanced around the magazine-layout mansion and cleared his throat. “Right, gotta keep it real.”

The other man snickered as he sat down across from Matt on one of the sofas. “It's okay to think I'm ridiculous. Sometimes I think I am as well.” He crossed his legs. “Believe it or not I grew up in a Philly housing project with my mother and brother.”

Matt whistled. “You're pretty young to have gone from that to this.”

“I was extremely fortunate. My mother had very strong opinions on education and focus. She made sure my brother and I lived up to that expectation.”

“What does he do?”

“He's a heart surgeon.” Bennet grinned. “Which makes me the very rich, very successful runner-up in my mother's eyes.”

“I'd say it sucks to be you but…”

“It doesn't.” Bennet winked. “And now that you know a bit about me, I'd like to make you an offer.”

“Don't you want to know about me?” Matt rested his elbows on his knees. “I mean, you just met me…”

“I had my assistant run a background check on you this morning.”

“Wow, you don't mess around.”

“No, I don't. I'm very careful about whom I allow in my inner sanctum. It's part of the reason for my success, quite frankly.” He brushed his hand across his trousers. “I like the way you assessed the situation the other night. I like the way you offered suggestions based on your concern for Daisy's safety. That impressed me.”

Matt shrugged. “Once a cop, always a cop.”

“Which is why Daisy is unharmed right now—because Jim was there, and his reflexes, his eye for the out of place. A former cop would be ideal for this job. Not to mention a background in security as well. You're perfect.”

“I've never been a bodyguard, and I—I don't know if I'm looking for a full-time gig.” Matt resisted the urge to check his watch or cell phone.

“You have other responsibilities?”

“You're the one who ran the background check,” Matt said flatly. “You have to know I live with Evan Cerelli, and he has four kids.”

“So you're the main caretaker. That's very interesting,” Bennet said conversationally. “Have you adopted them?”

“Huh? No.” It hadn't even occurred to Matt why he would do that. “They have a father.”

“True. But he's a police officer. If something happened to him in the line of duty…” Bennet put up his hand. “Please excuse me. I shouldn't have said that. It was unthinking of me. Honestly I have this on my mind because of a situation a friend went through.”