“Okay.” Jordan looked anxious, then blurted out, “I know there’s staff here overnight, as well as for this weekend, and that Doctor B is on call if we need something. But Doctor T, can I call you if I need you?”
Theron was surprised and pleased Jordan had shortened his name. He’d told them all to call him Doctor Theron, and Bailey had asked them to use his first name too.
“Sure, Jordan. You have my cell. Feel free to use it. You only hav—”
Jordan cut him off. “You only have to attend, but don’t have to talk.” He laughed. “I can call you and just breathe really hard in your ear?”
“If that’s what you want. But at least tell me it’s you, so I’ll know it’s not someone else calling me.” Theron chuckled.
“Sure thing, Doctor T. Have a good weekend.” Jordan waved as he headed down the hall.
Theron looked after him, noticing he was moving more easily than when he’d arrived. He knew one of the doctors they worked with would be in to see Jordan later today to check his bruises and cuts.
“Are you coming in or what?” Aristotle’s deep voice called from inside the room.
Theron turned, entered, and met his gaze. Aristotle was standing with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Nice to see you again, Aristotle.” Theron strolled toward him.
Aristotle’s eyes narrowed, and he studied him. Theron didn’t know if he should laugh that Aristotle didn’t recognize him.
“We’ve met at least twice, Aristotle.” Theron smiled as he moved closer to him. “Although you could be excused for not remembering the first time, since you were concerned about Robert being injured. But the next time, we met under regular circumstances at the party Robert threw when you moved to Mapson. I do remember at that one, you left early, as you did with the two center openings.” Theron stopped before him. “You tend to leave early when I want to chat with you.”
Aristotle’s brow furrowed, then smoothed out. “Theron Longoria. You’re the one who saved Robert.”
“Psh. There was no saving to be done.” He waved off the words. He’d been doing his job as an EMT.
“You did.” Aristotle’s tone was firm, and then he stared at him. “You’re the head of this center now. Why’d you want to talk with me?”
“No special reason. Just interested in getting to know you a little.” Theron didn’t even try to flirt. He was woefully not equipped to do that. He was too plainspoken and didn’t have time for subterfuge.
Aristotle scowled again, looking disgruntled.
“Do you do anything else other than frown? Maybe a smile. Come on, now. Give me a smile. I promise your face won’t crack,” Theron teased.
“Funny man.” Aristotle smiled.
Theron’s breath caught as the full lips parted, showing white teeth. The expression made Aristotle look so much more warm, approachable, and very sexy. Theron was even more intrigued by the man, if that were possible.
You’re too busy to pursue anyone. Work. Work is all you usually do. Theron stared at the captivating man before him and knew he would give it his utmost to indeed get to know him better.
“Pick something.” Aristotle gestured to the box filled with woodcarvings.
Theron glanced down inside and noted it was still filled with items. Looking at Aristotle, he said, “I can’t possibly—”
“Pick one.” There was a growl in his voice.
“Bossy man.” Theron rolled his eyes, then studied the items, picking up each one.
“For the love of God. It’s not a shop. Just pick one.”
He ignored Aristotle, who continued to mutter impatiently, and took his time. Finally he lifted a dragon with its wings spread, standing it on the base attached to the bottom. Theron looked at it, then at Aristotle.
“It’s very nice of you to buy these for the kids.”
“I made them.” Aristotle lifted the box. “The rest are for your staff. When you get a new resident, let me know, and I’ll find out what they want and make them one too.”
Theron was startled by the admission, then touched. “You made this?” He touched the carving, then gestured to the box of other various carvings. “All these, for the staff and residents? You didn’t ha—”
“Hush. Just say thank you and tell me where you want them.” Aristotle’s voice was gruff.
Theron stifled a smile, figuring he didn’t like praise. Well, knowing the people he worked with, Aristotle would be getting thanks anyway.
“We can put them in my office, and I’ll give them out next week,” Theron said. He led the way as they walked out of the room.
“Let them pick what they want. That way, it’s something they like. There are extras for those who live on-site to take home to their kids too.” Aristotle walked beside him, carrying the box.
Theron nodded to that, then said, “This will be one of the few things I have in my house.”
“Huh… aren’t you moved in yet?”
“My things are being brought to me, but it’s just clothing, books, and stuff like that. My bedroom set and a few other essentials. I got rid of most of my furniture because I needed to replace it anyway. So I’ll be shopping for my living room set, dining set, and some things for my other rooms. Also need to deck out my kitchen, since I don’t have much there, even though I love to cook. My apartment didn’t have space for me to indulge in my culinary fun.” Theron laughed.
“What are you looking for in your furniture? And what do you plan to get for your kitchen?” Aristotle asked.
“Something comfortable and strong. Be careful. I could yak your ear off for hours about what I’m looking for. I won’t bore you.” Theron shrugged.
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know,” Aristotle replied.
Theron opened his office. He took in the box, then came back out. They went back toward the main room.
Aristotle touched his arm, stopping him at the intersection of the hallway. “I have a strong feeling that nothing about you would bore me.”
Theron’s breath caught, and he wondered if it would be too forward to kiss him right then and there. He already knew it wouldn’t stop with a kiss, and he wanted so much more. In the next moment, he remembered he was at the center.
“Tell me about your plans for your home.”
Theron did as Aristotle asked as they walked across the room, then out the front door. He paused, looking at Aristotle, and he silently gestured to the seating set up under the overhang outside. Aristotle led the way to one of the benches instead of the individual armchairs. They sat beside each other, and Theron filled him in on what he was planning to get. He hadn’t had a clear idea, but in speaking with Aristotle, he could envision what he wanted. A horn blew, interrupting them, and Theron looked up, surprised. It took him a moment to register a moving van pulling up, followed by two other vehicles.
“I’ll be back in a sec.” He rose, smiling, then hurried to the van.
When the men exited, he hugged the first one who got out.
ARISTOTLE BERKUS’S gaze followed Theron’s tall, broad-shouldered figure as it moved toward the moving van and vehicles pulling in. Theron was closer to six feet than Aristotle’s height of six-six, and leaner than he was. Although Theron’s back was to him, Aristotle recalled his first look at the man. He had been caught first by that seemingly welcoming dark-brown gaze, then noticed his reddish-brown skin over sharp cheekbones. Theron, if Aristotle wasn’t mistaken, was Native American. His raven-black hair had been pulled away from his face and made Aristotle curious about how long it was. Now he saw that it went to just below the nice ass that Aristotle wanted to cup as he ravished Theron’s mouth. Aristotle hadn’t remembered him from their first meeting, though in his defense, Theron was right about his being worried about Robert. The next time they’d seen each other was in a group, and his only focus was going to say hi, then getting the hell out of there. He hated crowds, no matter if they were related or not. And by extension, the men and people they cared about th
at Robert had become part of in Mapson, California had become part of their circle. So to Aristotle and his relatives, they were part of their family.
Watching Theron now, he thought if he had stayed at that party or the center opening, he’d have actually registered meeting him. That was past, but now Aristotle would definitely be, as Theron put it, “getting to know him.” He was a handsome man, made even more intriguing by how the warmth in his gaze matched his personality. As Theron touched each wood carving with his fingers, Aristotle had gotten some really vivid fantasies of what he could do with those fingers on his body. Aristotle sat forward, frowning as the first man exited the moving van and Theron hugged him. Then the next man and those from the other two vehicles followed, and he did the same. But it was the man Theron exclaimed his pleasure at seeing and hugged the longest that Aristotle really noticed. The Asian man laughed and smacked Theron on the butt. Aristotle bit back a growl at the familiarity, then realized he didn’t have any claim on Theron. Maybe the man’s familiarity was because he was Theron’s boyfriend or partner. At the thought, Aristotle stood and headed toward the parking area. He was almost to his black Ford F-450 King Ranch truck when he heard his name.
“Aristotle!”
He stopped and turned to face Theron, who was loping toward him. Theron stopped just before him.
“Where are you going?”
“You looked like you were busy.”
“It’s just my brothers. I would have introduced you to them.” Theron glanced toward the men, then back to Aristotle. “You probably already met Link, Hill, Gerry, and Ollie at Robert’s party, but don’t remember them. At least I hope you don’t, since you didn’t recognize me.” Theron eyed him, then continued, “Philip you haven’t met, because he wasn’t there. He’s a trauma surgeon at Mapson Hospital and usually too busy working to take part in social stuff. I was surprised to see him and was glad he came by to help me move. The ass smacked me on the ass.” Theron laughed.
Aristotle looked past Theron at the five men behind him. Only one he would think was related to Theron. Two of the others were African-American, one looked like a blond surfer dude, and Philip, the one who’d embraced Theron, was Asian. Aristotle returned his attention to Theron, curious but not going to ask.
“I see your confusion. I’ll give you a short version. When I was three, I was abandoned with a note that only said my first name was Theron and that I was Greek and Native American. My parents have big hearts and adopted me not long after that, giving me a family and their name.” Theron gestured to the men. “Gerry—the one with the blond hair—is our parents’ biological son, but the rest of them here are also adopted. There are actually twenty of us in total. Only four are the blood children of our parents. But as they say, family isn’t about blood, but the soul and heart which makes us all family.” Theron focused back on Aristotle, then stepped closer. “If you want the longer story, you can come see me at home. Just come in the front entrance and take the second road on the right to get to my house.” Theron walked backward. “Nice seeing you again, Aristotle.”
He turned and walked toward the men waiting by the van. Aristotle stared at his ass and the tail of his braid that moved like a pendulum back and forth along his butt as he walked. He was very tempted to grab the braid and kiss him. A sensation of being watched made him look up, and although he couldn’t see their features clearly, Aristotle saw Theron’s brothers watching him. Aristotle turned and continued to his truck, clicking the alarm on his keys before he got in. He sat in the cab and watched as Theron’s brothers pushed at his shoulders as if teasing him, and Theron retaliated. Theron looked back at him, a smile on his lips. They had looked very soft and lush up close, and Aristotle planned to see how true that was. Theron focused on his family, and Aristotle started his truck, driving out of the parking area toward the exit he had been told to use.
Ten minutes later, when he hit the main road leading to the front entrance, Aristotle glanced at the turnoff for the road where Theron lived. Thinking on what they’d talked about, Aristotle took his Bluetooth from the inner console and put it in his ear, then pressed a button on his cell to make a call. He’d be seeing Theron Longoria soon, and not for the story of his family, but for the man himself.
Chapter Two
EARLY THE next morning, Aristotle parked his truck before the two-story house. He noted the moving van and vehicles were still there. He hadn’t planned on that, but it didn’t matter. He parked, leaving enough space for the other vehicle he had coming, then exited his truck and stood in the free space, waiting impatiently. Finally, another big van came into view.
“Aristotle, what are you doing here?” Theron’s voice came from behind him.
Aristotle had wondered how long it would take Theron to come out of the house to see him. “Waiting for Lawrence to stop driving like he’s timid and park the van.” He raised his voice so those in the van pulling in could hear.
“Is Lawrence coming to install some new security things? No one told me,” Theron said behind him.
Lawrence and his business partners’ company, Guardian Shield Security, handled the security for both centers.
“Fuck you, Aristotle!” Lawrence yelled out the open window, then flipped him off too as he stopped the van.
Dante got out of the passenger side, laughing, and strode over to them. “You should have let me drive.”
“You should have, but someone whined like a baby to drive.” Aristotle pitched his voice so Lawrence could hear.
Lawrence drove closer. Aristotle stood his ground as the van came toward him. Arms wrapped around him, trying to move him from behind. He wasn’t moving unless he wanted to. He went hard, knowing who was holding him. Aristotle turned, lowering his head slightly to meet Theron’s gaze.
“He’s not going to run me over,’” Aristotle assured him.
“It looked that way to me.” Theron frowned, turning his head to Lawrence. “No running him over, Lawrence.”
Aristotle grinned at his fierce tone. Theron focused back on him, then blinked, making his thick lashes cover his brown eyes briefly.
“Why are you smiling?”
“You’re protective of me. I like that,” Aristotle said.
“I like how you feel in my arms.” Theron tightened his hold.
“Cheesy much? If you’d told us the reason we had to be here at the asscrack of dawn was so you could get laid, we might not have bitched so much.” Dante poked Aristotle in the shoulder.
“Give me a sec. I need to kill my brother,” Aristotle said.
“But I don’t want you to, because then I’ll have to patch him up and not enjoy your being here.” Theron grinned, then spoke again. “Even if I don’t know why you’re here.”
“That’s what we’d like to know too. Although I think Dante’s statement of getting laid is accurate.”
Aristotle looked up and saw Theron’s five brothers were standing on the porch, watching them. He didn’t know which one had spoken.
“Shut up, Link!” Theron called, not looking at the men.
“Are they staying all day?” Aristotle met Theron’s eyes again.
“They’re helping me unpack,” Theron replied.
“I was going to do that after we unload.” Aristotle frowned, not liking his plans being thwarted.
“We’re going to help you unpack,” Dante interjected cheerfully.
“I didn’t ask you all here for that. You’re supposed to take the van back to my house, then go about your day.” Aristotle growled.
“Hey, since you asked us to cancel our usual kickboxing, we’re all yours for the day, big brother.” Dante poked him again.
“He calls me that to irritate me and when he has a death wish.” Aristotle turned his head, reaching for Dante, who moved back.
Theron held onto him as he went after Dante.
“No hurting him.” Theron laughed, then called out, “He’s as annoying as Link!”
“Hey! I resemble that remark.” Link la
ughed.
The others behind them agreed with Theron’s remark. Aristotle stopped, then shifted Theron to stand in front of him. He tried to control his need to take Theron somewhere more private when he saw the white sleeveless T-shirt, loose gray shorts, and slippers on his feet. His hair was still braided neatly, and Aristotle really wanted to see it loose and preferably falling over him as Theron rode his shaft.
“I won’t get you alone today, will I?” he asked, annoyed.
“Probably not. Not with my brothers here.” Theron paused, calling out to them, “You all go home!”
“Hell, no!” came a resounding five voices.
Theron sighed, then said, “See? Nope. And I don’t think yours are going anywhere, either.”
Aristotle glared at Dante and Lawrence, who were leaning on the large moving van they had brought with them. They grinned at him and wiggled their eyebrows.
“No. I almost regret asking them to help me out.”
“You still haven’t told me with what,” Theron said.
Aristotle led him to the back of the van, then let him open it.
“Holy shit,” Link said from behind him.
Aristotle glared at Theron’s brothers, who he hadn’t heard come closer. He decided to ignore them and focused on Theron, who hadn’t said anything.
“You’re on your way to a delivery and came to see me first?” Theron’s brow furrowed. “Didn’t you say you were going to help me unpack?”
“You have to excuse our big brother. He’s sort of slow when someone is doing something nice for him.”
Aristotle looked at the man who had spoken and saw it was Philip.
“Yeah. He does lots for folks, but it’s hard for him to accept it from others,” another deep voice added. “I’m Hill, by the way, and he’s Philip.” The African-American man who had spoken gestured to Philip, then to the other black man. “That’s Link.” Then he pointed to the one who looked Native American, like Theron. “And Ollie.” Finally, he gestured to the one who looked like a surfer dude. “Then finally, Gerry. He’s the one we don’t tell anyone about. We swear Mom and Dad adopted him.”
Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles) Page 75