Delectable

by Ann Grech

  “Is there any way of finding out who took the photos? Or even who posted them?” Levi asked the three people sitting impatiently across from him.

  “We aren’t sure. It’s not really relevant,” Francis replied bluntly.

  “Ah, yeah, it is. Some crazy bastard is out there taking pictures of us at four in the morning.” Levi’s voice rose as he grew more angry and frustrated. “Of course it’s relevant. What if Katy was alone out there and that maniac hurt her?”

  “I’m sure that’s an issue the police will want to talk to you about,” Louise replied, shooting a look at Francis. “It’s not our focus, but it’s obviously important.”

  “Levi, we need to set a plan in motion. If the federal court denies the application—and there’s a distinct chance they might—or the news or current affairs outlets get a hold of the pictures before we can get them pulled off the web, you must have deniability.”

  “Deniability?” Levi asked incredulously. “You did look at the pictures, didn’t you? It’s pretty damn obvious it’s me in both of them. For god’s sake, I’m wearing the same clothes here in this office.”

  “Mr Flaherty, we’re trying to give you some options. You’re a children’s TV presenter, and not just any presenter, but a Logie winning one. Your private life is private. However, it also needs to be discreet.”

  Levi pounded his fists on the table in frustration. “Stop giving me HR speak. Say it straight,” Levi ordered.

  Eva nodded and Louise spoke, “Purely off the record? You can’t work as a children’s television host when you’re cheating on your girlfriend. It’s immoral and inappropriate for someone with your role.”

  The pieces started to click into place. He was the only host of the show. It would cost them time and money to change, two things the network didn’t have, so they were giving him a way out in the hope it’d all blow over. But he needed to hear it, needed confirmation that’s what they were thinking. “You want me to stick with Katy, to deny being with Connor so we can continue filming. What if I don’t? Or what if I continue seeing him?”

  “We have your termination letter here. Effective immediately,” Eva replied, her clipped tone not permitting any discussion on the point.

  Levi sighed. He’d worked hard to get this far, proving every day that the network hadn’t made a mistake when they’d chosen his video audition over hundreds of other applicants. And he was happy there; he loved his job, loved the adventure and the challenges. Every day was different and he got to work with great people. It was everything he’d dreamed of in a career and with the success that the show had achieved, he knew he could do it for at least a few more years. The money was good, and there were a few perks that he enjoyed too. But there were downsides with it too. His whole life was wrapped up in his work persona. He’d had to become the part he played, the clean cut role model. It wasn’t just what he did anymore.

  “Mr Flaherty, you appreciate that we need to take action on this, don’t you? You’re a valued part of the network’s team. Your show is a centrepiece of our children’s entertainment programming, one of only a few with uniquely Australian content. We want to keep growing it and we firmly believe that you are the right person to do it. But you have to work with us on this. It’s the sort of controversy that could be career ending.”

  Levi nodded. He got it, he did. And he wished things were different.

  TWELVE

  Connor

  C onnor dropped the basket of clean laundry on the floor and kicked the door shut. Noticing the light flashing on his phone, he picked it up and listened to the message Levi had left, then replayed it again. Whatever had happened in his meeting had left him rattled. Swallowing down his worry, he dialled Katy. “Cupcake, hey,” he greeted her when she picked up. Connor was relieved just hearing her voice. “I’m forwarding you a message from Lee then I’m coming to the shop. I need you to close it down and lock the doors. Make sure Ash and Dylan both stay there with you, okay?”

  “What’s going on? What’s happening?” Katy asked, indignant. “I can’t just close.”

  “Please, Cupcake,” he begged. Trying to keep his voice calm was an effort. He’d be lying if he said Levi’s message hadn’t freaked him out. “I’m not sure what’s going on. I don’t know any more than you do, but whatever is happening, Levi needs you safe.”

  “Yeah, okay,” she relented. “But I’m just working out the back. No one needs to be here with me. I’m not gonna ask them to stay if we’re closing. I’ll just lock the front door when they leave.”

  Connor scrubbed his hand over his face, anxiety and frustration welling up inside him. He wished she had the same sense of urgency he had. “Please, Katy, if you won’t do it for me, do it for Levi. He’s really fuckin’ worried.”

  “How about I pack up and meet you at the studio? We can speak with Lee there, get an idea of what’s going on.”

  “Good, yeah, that’ll work, but I want someone with you the whole time. Until I know what’s got Lee freaked out, I’m not taking any chances. I’ll swing by, then we’ll head on over together. Gimme ten and I’ll be there.”

  Connor threw on a clean tee from the washing basket, laced up his boots and rushed out of the door. His phone pinged with an instant message. It was from his former commanding officer: Now I get why you’ve fallen off the face of the earth. Message me. It’s been too long since you checked in. I wanna know my brother’s still in one piece.

  Connor smiled at the playful gruffness of his CO’s message, even if he was clueless on what he was talking about. Either way, it could wait. He needed to get to Katy first, then to Levi. Reversing out the drive, another message came in, then another. He didn’t check them, not while he was driving, but curiosity was a bitch. What was going on?

  He’d barely pulled on the handbrake when his phone rang. “Holy shit, anyone’d think I’d won the lotto.” Fishing it out of his pocket, Levi’s grinning face lit up the screen. “Hey, Lee. I’m at Delectable now. Just about to head on in.”

  The phone was quiet for so long that Connor pulled it away from his face to check the connection. “I need you, Con. And Katy.” His voice was soft, broken, and it shot a knife through Connor’s heart.

  He nodded and clicked off his seatbelt. “We’re coming, Lee, we’ll be there soon. Sit tight, okay.”

  “Yeah.” Another pause. “And, Con? Thanks.”

  “Anything for you.” The line went dead, and with a sense of dread, he dropped his phone on the dash and ran over to the shop, banging on the front door. “Katy, it’s me.” Dylan opened up after a moment and Katy, Ash, and finally Dylan all emerged into the late afternoon sunshine. It’d started to cool, the clear skies providing no blanket to keep the day’s warmth in during the night. Autumn on the Gold Coast was like that—perfect days, clear nights, fresh breezes and a crispness that you just didn’t get in summer.

  “Hey, Cupcake.” He took her into his arms and held tightly. Pulling back a little, he kissed her forehead gently and spoke just loud enough that only she could hear, “Lee needs us.”

  “Let’s go.” Speaking to the other men, she added, “See you tomorrow, guys. Sorry about the schedule change. I’ll pay you for your normal hours.”

  “Never mind that, Katy.” Ash waved her off. “Just call us if you need us, yeah?”

  “Thanks, boys,” Connor murmured. “Catcha.”

  They drove in silence, the peak hour traffic crawling slowly. Connor turned off the main road and hit the backstreets, winding through them until they could finally see the massive Green Lantern symbol on the roller coaster in the main park. Turning into the studio lot, Connor squeezed Katy’s hand and steered his car to the security checkpoint. Making it through easily enough, Connor continued on, following Katy’s directions until they reached the studio offices of the network. Connor’s heart constricted when he spotted Levi leaning against the wall of the office. His hands were in his pockets, his shoulders slumped. He was looking down, his gaze riveted to the ground. M
isery rolled off him.

  “Oh, Levi,” Katy breathed from the passenger seat, her voice cracking on his name. She was out of the car sprinting to him as soon as Connor had rolled to a stop. Her hands on Levi’s face, she pulled him down into her arms. Levi clutched her, crushing her in his embrace. Connor spied the gym bag at Levi’s feet, the same one he always kept in his car, and his gut twisted. What happened? It took everything in Connor, every ounce of his strength, to hold himself back from taking them into his arms. But all hesitation fled when Levi looked up at him, absolute desperation clouding his face as he held out his hand. Connor slammed the car door shut and strode over to them, stopping close and bracing a hand on Levi’s shoulder. But Lee wasn’t having it. Apparently, the “no touching in public” rule was being shattered. Levi wrapped his hand around the back of Connor’s neck and pulled him close, kissing him like he was the oxygen he needed to breathe. Levi feasted on him, kissing him long and hard. Rough fingertips, sharp stubble, and Levi’s masculine scent overwhelmed him, and Connor melted into his touch. Any question of whether they were intimately familiar with each other was utterly decimated. Connor’s head spun, his legs went weak, and he held onto the two people dearest to him as Levi claimed him.

  Clutching at Connor and breathing hard, Levi’s desperation radiated from him. Whatever had happened was making Levi crazy. Every protective instinct in Connor flared brightly. He needed to fix it, to stop Levi from hurting. Too soon, Levi broke away and kissed Katy, this time much slower and gentler. Connor couldn’t stop, couldn’t break away. He licked and kissed, nibbled on his man’s neck, loved on him the same way Katy was doing. Katy’s breathy moan and Levi’s much lower growl had Connor pulling back, watching them. They were beautiful together—big blond Levi, all smooth muscle and clean skin against Katy’s tanned complexion and even darker hair. Both blue-eyed and gorgeous, Connor loved them endlessly.

  “Let’s go home,” Levi murmured. “I don’t wanna be here when the others arrive for their meeting.”

  “What was it about?” Katy asked him gently, her arms wound around his waist.

  “Pics of us are on social media from this morning. Me kissing you, and me and Con together.” They’d done so much more than kiss. Feeling adventurous and crazy horny, Connor had strutted into the garage starkers and tried to bait Levi, or at the very least, say goodbye before he’d left for work. And the other man had delivered in spades, making Connor see fireworks he’d come so hard. Pinned up against the wall, Levi had thoroughly dominated him, and Connor had loved every second of it. But some bastard had seen it, seen him riding Levi’s fingers? If there were pictures on social media and Levi had been called back, there was one obvious conclusion—they knew.

  Connor blanched and stumbled back. They know. No, I can’t do it to him. The world was closing in on him, his head spinning. He struggled to take a breath. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have pushed Levi into risking so much? He would lose everything he’d worked for—Connor couldn’t let Levi ruin his career for him. He couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

  “No, Lee, surely there’s a way.”

  Levi looked at him, his eyes not holding their usual spark. But he reached out to Connor and pulled him back into their fold, holding him tightly. “They were trying to get the images pulled, trying to get me to say that it wasn’t me. They thought if I said we aren’t together and we distanced ourselves it might blow over.”

  “So we do it. I’ll move out, get my own place. We can take a break. We can… we’ll work it out.” The words tasted bitter on his tongue, but if that’s what it took for Levi to keep the job he loved, he’d do it.

  “No,” Levi replied quickly. “They wanted you to find a replacement boyfriend.” In a softer tone, but one that was still filled with steel, he added, “I already told them, no. I loved my job, loved the people I worked with. It made me happy, but it was just a job, a pay cheque. You’re everything to me, the two of you are my whole world. I love you both. Quitting wasn’t even a choice I needed to think about. I wouldn’t have changed this morning for anything, especially not a job that tells me I can’t love both of you.” Those final walls, the ones that caused the lingering self-doubt in Connor crumbled into dust. Right there, right then he fell in love with Levi all over again. His parents had left him, Rob had left him, but true to his word, Levi hadn’t.

  “So what, that’s it? You’re done? You can’t do anything?” he asked, hopelessly disappointed and in love and hurting and happy all at the same time—a whirlwind of emotions buffeting him from all directions.

  “I can take you out for dinner and we can celebrate?” Levi paused, clearly thinking something through. “I don’t have a ride anymore—they took the company car back.”

  “Good, that piece of shit was awful,” Connor muttered.

  “I’ve got a better idea than going out for dinner.” Katy smiled at him, her grin infectious. “Come on, we’ve got something to show you.” Connor smiled despite his inner turmoil.

  “What?” Levi asked, curious.

  “It’s a surprise. Let’s go.” Katy motioned to Connor’s car.

  They headed straight to his father’s garage, Connor calling ahead to make sure the workshop was still open. Even if it hadn’t been, he would have done a detour, picking up the keys before heading on over. The bike was in pieces, but each part was primed and ready for painting. As much as Connor had wanted to assemble it and give Levi a completed bike, he hadn’t. It was something they’d wanted to do together since they were kids, and there was no way Connor was jumping the gun and finishing it without Levi’s involvement. The parts lay underneath a sheet, protecting them from the dust and grease in the workshop.

  “What have you done, Con?” Levi asked as they stopped in front of the covered-up mound. The sound of rattle guns and clinking metal from the other mechanics stopped, the heavy thud of their work boots surrounding them.

  “Katy and I decided for your birthday that we needed to do something with the boxes of parts in the garage. So here it is. It’s ready for us to paint and assemble. Happy birthday, Lee.” Connor swallowed. He hoped like hell that Levi liked what he’d done. Tugging on the thick sheet, he pulled it away and balled it up, haphazardly tossing it to the side. He couldn’t take his gaze of Levi, watching, hoping that he’d show some sign that he liked what he saw. The other man’s eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed a couple of times. A nervous laugh and a hand scrubbing through his hair followed. Connor’s stomach was in knots, his heart in his throat. Then Levi stepped forward. Reverently, the touch almost sensual, he ran his fingertips over the gleaming chrome of the engine block that was resting on a trolley. Levi’s head fell forward, and as he turned away, Connor saw him touch the heel of his hand to his cheeks. Connor stepped forward, watching as Levi’s chest rose and fell. He didn’t really know what to do—he hadn’t expected Levi to be so subdued. He thought the other man would whoop and scoop Katy up in his arms, laughing, his excitement bubbling over. But this quiet contemplation was scaring him.

  Connor placed a hand on Levi’s shoulder, and it seemed to kick-start something within Levi, his friend and lover turning in Connor’s arms and burying his face in the crook of Connor’s neck. Trembling, shaking like a leaf, Levi took one heaving breath then another. His arms around Connor’s waist were crushing him, so Connor held Levi tighter too. Running his fingers through the short spikes on his head, their prickle soft against his palm, Connor breathed Levi in, laying a gentle kiss on his temple. Orange and cedar and something uniquely Levi filled his senses. He squeezed tighter, burying his nose in Levi’s hair.

  “You didn’t finish it without me,” Levi whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears. “Wait, what’s in our garage? It’s still full of boxes and parts.”

  “Boxes are empty and half of the parts aren’t even from bikes.” Connor shrugged. Massaging his shoulders, he added, “You kept it, you waited for me, didn’t you?” It was a question, but not really one at the s
ame time. Levi loved bikes, and when they were growing up—starry eyed kids—they’d made a pact that they’d both get their dream car and bike and do them up together. It hadn’t quite happened like that, at least not with Connor’s car, but there was no way he was finishing Levi’s bike without him.

  Levi nodded. “It’s always been you and Katy, Con. Even though I was too blind to see it, it’s always been you.”

  “I love you too,” he whispered. Levi pulled Connor’s face to his and kissed him. Slow and sweet, Connor poured his heart and soul into their connection. Not even the clearing throats and muttered comments put a dampener on his ride on cloud nine, but Katy’s snarky, “You got a problem?” had Connor laughing.

  “Chill, Cupcake. These boys had no idea I’m bi.”

  “Screw ‘em. If Lee kissed me, they would’ve wolf whistled, but with the two of you, they get all uncomfortable. It’s attitudes like that,” Katy muttered, frustrated, while pointing around the workshop, “that have me getting two hundred messages in the last fifteen minutes—most from complete strangers—telling me what dogs you and Lee are.”

  “Babe.” Levi pulled Katy into their circle until she stood between the two of them. “I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks. I love the both of you. That’s all that matters.” He kissed her and Connor stared open mouthed at his boyfriend. He swore. He actually cursed. It was something small, but Levi never would have done it before. He was filled with guilt over Levi having lost his job—hell, if he’d kept his dick in his pants… well, if he’d had any on, Levi would still have the job he loved—but at the same time, he couldn’t be too sad about it either. Not when he was standing in a workshop full of guys, openly and intimately holding the two most important people in his world.

  *****

  Connor stretched, lazily waking up, his muscles pleasantly aching. The warm hard body pressed against his didn’t budge, but that didn’t surprise him. Levi had gone through the ringer the day before. The four hours of driving up to the Sunshine Coast and back and a full day at work would take it out of anyone, but to have lost his job and have their world turned upside down by all the craziness was exhausting. And that wasn’t mentioning the two-hour detour they’d made to Levi’s parents’ house. It hadn’t been at all bad though. Levi’s father admitted he’d seen the longing between them years before, but had dismissed it when Levi began dating Katy. Levi’s mum had hugged him tightly and whispered, “Now both my boys are happy. I’m so glad you came home to them.” It’d shocked the hell out of him, but it shouldn’t have—Levi’s parents were pretty fucking awesome.