Island Heat (18 page)

Bill brushed a hand back through his salt-and-pepper hair and leaned back in his chair as he glanced to the door. Next to him at the table, the younger Rube nodded and smiled at Kevin as the younger man walked into the private dining room.

Kevin swallowed hard. “Hello,” he greeted them both, trying his best to seem cool and collected.

“Sit down,” Bill greeted, his voice gravelly as he gestured at a chair opposite the dinner table. The condiments were cleared off their table, and each of the men across from him had a drink. “Would you like something to drink?”

A waiter was hovering at his elbow, waiting to take the drink order. Kevin glanced at the cocktail and beer across the table, then smiled at the waiter. “A lemonade would be great, thanks.”

The man nodded and slipped out of the room, closing the door as Kevin sat down opposite the men and studied them for a moment.

Bill was trying to come off as stern, he could already tell. He'd only seen him in passing at a party. The second and only other time he'd seen Bill, Bill had been meeting at Sweet Nothings with Tom over the sale of the island. He'd come off as a lot more relaxed and easy to get along with there.

Rube was smiling lightly, but his eyes betrayed nervousness and his grip on his cocktail glass was firm.

“It's come to our attention that... certain inappropriate things may be occurring,” Bill told him gravely.

“What things?” Kevin asked, trying to keep his tone polite rather than demanding an answer. He
was
allowed to be in a relationship; he was certain of it.

“Do you know one of the reasons most of our guests come back here year after year?”

It was frustrating for a question to be answered with another question, but Kevin swallowed his annoyance and nodded. “It's a place to relax and play?”

“Not quite. Most of the men who come here conduct business transactions throughout the summer, or solidify existing relationships.”

Rube nodded silently.

“Coming here, all the recreational activities of these men – married or otherwise – are kept strictly confidential. Most of the men here are single, but a few aren't. We don't approve of certain behaviors, but those in relationships can certainly come here for relaxation and enjoyment, if not the hedonism others may partake in.”

What am I actually in trouble for?
Kevin nodded, waiting for the point.

“So, when our guests' privacy is violated, we take this very seriously.”

“Wh-What?” Kevin asked, recoiling in sheer confusion and looking at Rube.

Rube's lips tightened as he glanced between Kevin and Bill, his eyes narrowing. Even he seemed surprised at the tack this had taken.

“When they conduct a business meeting at a restaurant – such as this very one here,” Bill gestured around at the room before picking up his beer glass and sipping. He put it down with a sigh of relief. “Well, they expect an air of confidentiality.”

“Of course...” Kevin nodded. This had to be about Kevin witnessing Tom and Bill discussing a deal for Tom to buy Ember Isle.
Maybe it's about Eli knowing now?
Kevin hadn't told Eli that Tom had said it was for someone else, presumably his new boyfriend, because he hadn't wanted to hurt him unnecessarily; in fact, he hadn't told him at all. He'd relayed the news to Dean. Maybe Dean had blabbed a bit too much about it.

A moment later, his suspicions were confirmed. “Eli Black knows about a certain business transaction I'd been hoping to keep from his knowledge. The only people to witness this conversation were yourself and your business partner, Troy.”

But I didn't tell Eli! I told Dean, and then Dean must have told Eli...
Kevin didn't think the defense was going to help him, so he stayed silent.

“Do I need to call Troy, or can we assume it was you letting these confidential details slip?”

Kevin's cheeks burned.

Rube cleared his throat and looked at Bill. “Now, we've been conducting financial checks and setting up the transaction for the past two weeks, Bill,” he said in a gentle warning tone. It sounded like he was trying to stand up for Kevin.

Bill waved Rube off. “It doesn't take a genius to see it. You're involved with Eli, aren't you?”

Kevin couldn't exactly deny it, and he didn't want to. He nodded once, his chin firm and shoulders down in the most confident pose he could manage. “We've been seeing each other.”

The waiter returned and delivered the glass of lemonade.

“Thank you,” Kevin murmured to him. Other than those words, everyone in the room was silent until the door was closed again.

Then, Rube looked right at Bill. “Bill...”

Bill wasn't hearing any of it. “And you're aware of the very public engagement between Eli and Tom? Business owners here aren't forbidden from romantic involvement, but it seems not to be in the spirit of good faith when you occupy such a position between two men...”

Kevin's heart started to race. He couldn't exactly defend himself without telling Bill that Eli had broken up with Tom, but he didn't think Bill would believe him.

Rube spoke up, a bit louder this time. “Bill, we can't assume any of the circumstances.”

“He told us quite clearly why he was buying the island, and I'm sure Kevin here overheard, too. It's not the first time we've dealt with a jealous lover,” Bill answered Rube.

Kevin wanted to stand up and snap at this man – as rich as Bill was, and as grateful as he was for the chance to run a business on his island and build his reputation, Kevin wasn't a cheater, and he wasn't a homewrecker.

Before he could speak a word, a loud knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” Rube spoke up.

It was James, the business owner – a man Kevin didn't care for much, and who Kevin didn't want hearing the details of this disciplinary meeting. He looked worried as he glanced around at the three men. “I'm terribly sorry for interrupting, sir,” he addressed Bill. “But you'll want to hear this.”

Bill stood up quickly and moved for the door as they heard raised voices.

He couldn't move as fast as Kevin, though. Kevin was on his feet and striding out to the main section of the restaurant within a split second.

One of those raised voices was unquestionably Eli's, and he'd just said loudly enough to make the rest of the restaurant go silent: “We're done.”

“We're done.”

Eli's chest rose and fell quickly as he stood in front of his table of friends – Johnson and Boris, Gary from California and Rick from London... he'd known every one of the six men there for at least a year, and some for as long as five or six years.

Next to him, Tom scowled, his arms folded as he faced away slightly.

“Oh, no,” Boris whispered.

Rick rose to his feet. “Eli, Tom, I'm sorry. Shit, I didn't even realize... oh, no. Is it too late to...?” he glanced at Tom and cringed.

Too late to what?
Eli glanced at Tom.

Kevin was there, lingering behind them and watching along with the other restaurant patrons, the waiters, and now Bill and Rube.

Tom turned to approach Bill, grabbing him by the arm to tug him off a few paces and lean in. What the hell was he up to?

“What do you mean?” Eli demanded of Rick, his heart racing. “Too late to what?”

Rick looked uncertain as he glanced down at their friends.

“It's sort of his announcement, but if it's not...” Johnson murmured, rubbing his chin and glancing between Tom and Bill.

“Just tell me, guys,” Eli asked. He wasn't upset about the actual breakup; in reality, it was Tom's heel-dragging and seeming determination to win him back that was more aggravating. The asshole had had his chance; he'd been told weeks ago that they were done, but somehow he'd thought they were just in an off-again period of a relationship or something up until now.

Tom approached again, his shoulders low and hands in his pockets. As cool and confident as he'd acted on the boat, his shoulders were down, his eyes on the ground. His lips even quivered slightly.

I can't even tell if he's acting or not.
Eli swallowed back his irritation and glared at him, waiting for him to speak up. “Well?”

“I didn't realize things were this serious,” Tom told their friends, his demure mannerisms and soft voice a stark contrast to Eli's barely-controlled anger. “I'm sorry. I normally wouldn't make this sort of thing public--”

“Bullshit,” Eli muttered.

“--but without a choice now... Yes. I was buying the island for Eli, to win him back from the other man he's been seeing.”

The gasps from others nearby were sharp. Even other restaurant diners, millionaires and famous men who were acquaintances or whom Eli had met in passing but didn't know well, were listening in now.

“Another man?” Rick questioned, looking confused as he glanced at Eli.

A shiver worked its way down Eli's spine. It suddenly made sense. “You were telling them you were buying the island for me, so to keep your presence here secret,” he murmured, trying to keep his voice down so only their friends could hear.

Kevin took a step or two forward in the background, doubtless to hear better, but he went unnoticed. All eyes were on Tom and Eli. Eli shook his head slowly, trying not to look at him. If Tom kept on going, he was about to out Kevin to the rest of them, and Kevin wasn't going to win favors with the way Tom was playing this situation.

Kevin looked worried nonetheless, his eyes fixed on Eli's face. He didn't see what was coming.

“You weren't winning me back from anyone,” Eli shook his head, abruptly glancing at Bill and Rube. Only Rube knew the truth, and he was nodding gently; but even he seemed worried. “You knew that. I was already out. We've been broken up for three weeks.”

“That's a matter of opinion,” Tom spoke up smoothly.

No. He wasn't going to paint both Eli and Kevin as cheaters. Eli just about snarled, “It fucking isn't. The minute I walked into your bedroom and found you with--”
Fuck
, it was tempting to out Jon, but he would be a better man – he
had
to be the better man! “--with
him
, I told you it was over.”

“Oh, shit,” Eli heard someone whisper from nearby.

“The moment I threw your pretty little meaningless ring back in your face, it was done,” Eli told his ex-fiancé.
Please, god, let this get through to him... and everyone.
“If I have a new boyfriend now – one who treats me better, who would never dream of being the kind of man to do all this,” he made a sweeping gesture around, “now,
three weeks later
, that's
my
business.”

Rube nodded as he stepped forward to press his hand against Eli's shoulder and keep him calm. Eli's voice had been steadily rising, and he only realized it when he was touched.

It was also a clear choosing of sides.

Tom shook his head. “Right. If you think that's how it happened... nobody else but us will know the truth.”

“I believe him.”

Everyone paused and glanced around to see who had spoken up. It wasn't Rube; it was Kevin's warm, quiet voice. Eli's attention was drawn back to the beautiful, brown-haired man who stepped forward, folding his shaking hands behind his back.

“I believe him,” Kevin repeated firmly, making eye contact with Tom.

Tom's lip curled and Eli closed his eyes for a second.
Don't tear him apart.
Kevin was so sweet, so naïve... he'd never even dated before, from what he said. He didn't know how nasty breakups could be. Worse yet, though he was clearly playing it cool since finding out the truth about Tom, he'd once idolized him as his favorite actor.

He hoped Tom wasn't about to break Kevin's heart.

“I'm the guy he's dating now,” Kevin spoke up, squaring his shoulders. “And I don't appreciate the implication that I'm a homewrecker. He was single from our first date on – we spoke about it.”

“This is none of your business,” Tom told Kevin lowly.

“You got me into trouble with Bill and endangered my business because you were jealous, which makes it my business,” Kevin retorted, tilting his chin up slightly and looking down his nose at him. “And I think you should leave him alone now.”

Tom didn't seem to know what to do with the handsome young man who had the balls to tell him to fuck off in the politest way possible. “What-- you think they'll listen to you?”

“They don't need to,” Rube spoke up. He still stood next to Eli, his hand on Eli's shoulder. “I can verify it. I saw him without his ring on and we talked about it. I'm the one who told Eli what Tom was doing.”

Tom stared at Rube, his cheeks flushing.

Despite himself, Kevin was relieved that Rube was the one in the spotlight now. Having all these men he didn't know stare at him had been very intimidating.

“And I was there when Tom told Bill that he was buying the island for Eli,” Rube added sternly. “I
hate
getting in the middle of couples' arguments, and I hate betraying words spoken in confidence, but this is clearly not a couples' argument. Tom...” Rube shook his head and trailed off as he watched the actor. Apparently, he didn't have any words strong enough for what he meant.

“Guys,” Eli spoke up before Tom could answer. “All of this is private. It shouldn't have been brought here.” He sounded truly regretful. “I apologize deeply.”

“I don't,” Tom spat out as he turned on his heel. “See you, Bill.” He stormed out of the restaurant. All eyes watched him go before light conversation began among the other patrons at the restaurant.

The table of Eli's and Tom's friends was still silent, and Kevin shifted uncomfortably as a few of them began to look at him, too.

Bill had been silent throughout this entire ordeal, his hands in his pockets as he watched it all unfold with an air of grave solemnity. He behaved as a witness, rather than a participant like everyone else.

“Okay,” Eli breathed out, running a hand down his face. He seemed to be trying to collect himself again.

“I noticed you weren't wearing your ring, actually,” one blond man with a Russian accent spoke up. “In the club.”

“You did, Boris?” Eli's eyes widened as he glanced at his friend.

Boris nodded. “I thought you were having trouble, perhaps,” he offered. “When I followed you out later, I saw you with...” he trailed off, glancing at Kevin and nodding. “In bar window.”

Kevin blushed as a few of the other men looked at him again. “Yeah, I think I remember that night.” Eli had acted so oddly that night as he came in to see him. They'd kissed briefly, so quickly they'd hoped they weren't noticed, before Eli had rushed out – presumably so their intimate mannerisms with each other weren't spotted. “Um... I'm Kevin, by the way.”

A moment later, Rube spoke up, “Rube, which you already know.”

This triggered the others to speak up and introduce themselves.

“John--”

“Boris--”

“Gary--”

Kevin lost track of names then as the men on the far side of the table introduced themselves to him, the other names sounding garbled or muffled. He just smiled awkwardly. “Good meeting you all. Um, I'd better go... I have prep for tonight.” He turned to head off quickly to the door, passing by Eli and Rube on the way.

He was supposed to have a mentoring meeting shortly with Rube and Troy, but he wasn't even sure if that would go ahead now.

“See you soon,” Rube told him, confirming that it would.

“Later,” Kevin agreed with a quick nod, his eyes meeting Eli's.

Eli offered Kevin a private smile – one clearly different from his stressed expression now, a smile just for
him
. “I'll be by,” he mouthed, pointing at himself and out in the general direction of the bar.

Kevin nodded, smiling back and nearly running into the restaurant door before he quickly turned around and pushed against it to let himself out of the bright, attention-filled environment.

Holy shit. We're official.

He didn't even have time to think about what had just happened when the restaurant door swung open again and he thought he heard his name.

Kevin expected Eli, but when he glanced back, he found James. Of everyone he wanted to talk to, James – a braggart and liar who ran this restaurant and didn't seem overly fond of him – came near the bottom of the list, but he forced a smile. “Yeah?”

“Be careful,” James advised, his voice quiet enough that Kevin had to tilt his head slightly towards him to hear.

“Of what?”

“Tom,” James told him. “Stay out of his way. He's a big name – a big funder behind the scenes, too.”

Kevin knew it was sound advice, but he wanted to tell James to go fuck himself, let alone the bastard ex he'd just faced off against. He just worked his jaw around and nodded, trying to ignore the look of sympathy – maybe pity – on James's face.

“Good luck,” James added, turning to head back into the restaurant.

Why did that feel so final?

When he reached the dessert bar, the door was already unlocked and Troy was leaning against a table near the door. As soon as he entered, Troy approached. The look on his face said it all: he knew.

“God,” Kevin sighed quietly. “You heard?”

Troy reached out to pull Kevin into a quick, tight hug. “Yeah. You all right?”

Kevin nodded. It hadn't gone nearly as badly as he'd expected, come to think of it. “That was the oddest experience I've had, from start to finish.”

“I bet,” Troy murmured with sympathy. “Is Rube still coming over?”

“Yeah, I assume so. He said he'd see me soon, so...” Kevin let go of Troy and looked around the place, briskly brushing his hair back into place and focusing on his to-do list. “We have the menu ready?”

Troy respected that he clearly didn't want to dwell on it yet and nodded. “Our paperwork's all there for Rube.” He pointed at the paper-strewn bar table next to him.

“As for hiring a guy to help out...” Kevin trailed off.

“We should wait until after this weekend,” Troy finished. He didn't say it, but Kevin knew he was thinking of it: one spat with a celebrity surely couldn't bring down their careers and business, but only that night would tell. Once their doors opened, if he'd caused too much of a scene, it would be much quieter.

As Rube came in to greet them and headed straight to business, grabbing their cashflow book to page through and whipping out his phone calculator, Kevin had never been more grateful for someone pretending nothing had happened.

He had a business to run, and he just hoped Eli was getting the support he needed from his friends today.