by Shea Balik
Before he could even ask what was going on, Joel stomped over to him, which again was completely unlike Joel. “This Neanderthal thinks he’s in charge and has the right to tell me what to do.”
A large man, who was probably an inch taller than Syn’s own six-foot-two, stood next to the bar with his muscled arms crossed over his chest and a smirk on his face. Syn had completely forgotten that Manuel’s friend, Devlin was due today to start.
He’d interviewed the man twice over video conference and instantly liked Devlin. He was funny, yet had an air about him that Syn knew would make the subs in the club instantly fall in line whenever Devlin was around.
“Devlin, good to see you made it.” Syn met Devlin half-way and shook his hand. “Joel, this is your new boss, Devlin Kincaid.”
“What?” Joel screeched. Syn had known Joel for just over ten years, and in that time he couldn’t ever remember that sound coming from Joel. “You can’t be serious. That oaf wouldn’t know a good idea if it slapped him upside the head and was shoved down his throat.”
Wow. Syn was impressed. He honestly didn’t know Joel had it in him. His assistant was one of the most restrained men he’d ever met. He could count on one hand the few times the man had ever said a derogatory word about another human being, and yet in the span of two minutes he’d already managed to insult Devlin twice.
Apparently, hiring Devlin was the right choice. Pleased with himself, Syn added a little fuel to the fire by shrugging and suggesting, “Then I guess you’ll have to tell him when he’s wrong.”
Devlin choked on a laugh but managed to cover it up with a cough, sort of. Syn didn’t honestly think anyone was fooled by the gesture, but then again, it didn’t appear that Devlin really cared whether anyone knew or not. “Personally, I think it’s your ideas that need some more thought, sugarplum, but who I am to refuse you the opportunity to prove yourself wrong.”
Joel’s eyes narrowed and his hands were fisted at his sides. “I told you to stop calling me that, you cretin.” Then he turned to Syn. “There is no way I can work with this knuckle-dragging cave dweller. Either he goes or I go,” Joel demanded before storming off.
Devlin was grinning as he watched Joel make his grand exit by slamming the door when he went into the kitchen, which didn’t exactly slam as it was a swinging door. When he looked back at Syn, he said, “Shall we discuss the terms of my employment?”
Even though he’d flown Devlin there, they had both agreed to meet first and be sure they were comfortable with each other. “I believe that can be arranged,” Syn told him, smiling in return. “Will you be okay down here while I take Devlin upstairs to show him around?” he asked PJ.
PJ was shaking his head. “You know you’re an ass, right?”
The question was typical of this new, more confident PJ that it caught Syn off guard. Laughing, Syn leaned down and kissed PJ on the lips before he knew what was happening and tried to back away. “Yes, I do, little love. Yes, I do.”
When he straightened, he gestured for Devlin to follow him. Over his shoulder he gave a reminder to PJ. “One hour, little love, and then we go.”
“How am I supposed to coax Joel back here in that short amount of time after you two chased him away?” PJ shot back.
Syn turned and winked at him. “One hour and then I’m taking you home to finish what we started out in the parking lot.”
He couldn’t help but be pleased when he saw PJ visibly shiver at the reminder of what occurred between them. It was about time.
* * * *
PJ sat there watching Syn lead Devlin to the back where the escalator would lead them to the more private upstairs club. When PJ had been shot, the BDSM club had been nearly complete, only requiring the floors to be installed, along with a few other touches. He had to admit to wanting to see how it looked as it should be complete.
Another shiver shook his body as he thought about one day eating dinner with Syn at the club and seeing one of the shows. Though he wasn’t into others seeing their private encounters, PJ wouldn’t mind showing off a little by being on that stage himself.
A crash from the kitchen shook the erotic thoughts from his mind. He didn’t have much time, especially since it was obvious he was going to need to calm Joel down. PJ wheeled over the new flooring, appreciating the smoothness of the polished concrete floor.
With the first floor being a dance club, it had been decided to keep the floors as easy to maintain as possible, while still adding a more modern look to the place. The workers did an amazing job creating a rainbow across the entire flooring with a darker marbled look around it.
When he got the bar, PJ realized he wasn’t going to be able to follow Joel into the kitchen as there were boxes lining the floor to be unpacked. Sighing, he prayed Joel would be somewhat reasonable and come back out to the main room. “Joel, can you come out here so we can discuss what still needs to be done?”
“What for?” Joel’s tone was petulant. “Since Devlin is in charge, shouldn’t he be the one you’re talking to?”
Admittedly, based on what Syn had said, Joel had a point. But PJ also knew that wasn’t what Syn had meant. The design of the club was up to PJ, and as far as he was concerned Devlin could go jump off the nearest cliff if he thought he was going to change things.
“You already know that isn’t true.” PJ really hated having to yell back and forth. “Could you come out? I can’t get back there as there are boxes in my way and I really hate having to shout.”
Like a kid dragging his heels, Joel peered around the door, checking the entire room, most likely to make sure Devlin wasn’t around, before he weaved through the maze of boxes to stand next to PJ. “Sorry. I just don’t like that man.”
PJ grunted. “I understand completely.” There was nothing worse than a dominate man who thought he knew what was best. Then again, there was also nothing better. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to go over the list of renovations that still need to be done. I only have an hour, and God only knows when Syn will agree to let me come back so we have a lot to go over.”
Joel followed him to a table that was set up along the edge of the room. He graciously pulled a chair away so PJ could roll up to the table. “Let me just go get my tablet,” Joel said before rushing back over the bar and grabbing it.
He sat in the chair closest to PJ and powered the tablet up. “I made sure to sync our tablets when I arrived. Then I sent your tablet home with Syn a couple of weeks ago, so you can keep in contact with me whenever you want. Plus, we’ll be able to video conference so you can see the progress whenever you can’t come to the club.”
“That would definitely help. Let’s start with the list I already have and we’ll add as we need to.”
An hour later, PJ was about to fall asleep in his chair. It was only by sheer will and the fact that his knee was throbbing in agony, that he kept his eyes open, sort of. There was still so much to do but PJ just didn’t know if he could force his brain to keep working.
“All right, little love, it’s time to go.”
PJ hadn’t even heard Syn come downstairs. But as tired as he was, he also had to finish with Joel. “Just a few more minutes,” he insisted, which might have worked had he not given a huge, jaw-popping yawn at the end.
Syn’s deep chuckle should have pissed him off, but PJ found himself leaning toward the bigger man’s body instead. He hadn’t even realized he’d done that until his head was resting against Syn’s hip. “If you feel up to it, we’ll come back tomorrow, but I’m sure Joel has enough to keep him busy for the rest of the day.”
“If not, I’m sure I can find a few things to keep him occupied.” Devlin grinned at Joel. “Right, sugarplum?”
Joel, who moments before had been perfectly happy making notes and getting excited to help PJ, now scowled at Devlin. “I told you not to call me that.”
“Whatever you say, sweetpea.” Devlin’s blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “Or would you prefer snickerdoodle?”
; Joel stood up so fast his chair tipped over backward and crashed to the floor. “I would prefer you return to whatever cave you crawled from and leave me alone.”
Once more, he stalked off, this time he went out the back door, allowing him to slam it with force.
Devlin was grinning as he watched Joel storm away. “Damn, but this is going to be a lot of fun.” He held out his hand to Syn. “It will be a pleasure working for you, Syn. A real pleasure,” he said with a laugh as he went back upstairs.
“You hired him?” Not that PJ was really surprised but he had to admit, he would have thought Syn would at least try to smooth things over with Joel first.
Syn took hold of PJ’s wheelchair and rolled him to the front door. “Of course I hired him.”
“What about Joel?” PJ asked.
“I think Devlin is exactly what Joel needs.” When they got to the SUV, Syn opened the door and helped PJ into the passenger seat. Then he leaned in and captured PJ’s lips in a kiss that had PJ’s brain misfiring. He sank against Syn, desperately wanting to get closer.
When Syn pulled back, PJ was mortified that he actually whimpered a denial that the kiss ended. That Syn grinned at him knowingly, only made his embarrassment worse.
“And I think you need me to remind you just how good it is between us,” Syn whispered way too confidently.
PJ’s brain must have still been offline for he heard himself admit, “I know exactly how good it is between us. I just don’t think I could survive you leaving again.”
Those brown eyes that had been a source of reassurance and comfort for the years they’d been together, stared into his. “I know I screwed up by leaving, but I’m here and I promise you, there is nothing on this Earth that could make me walk away from you again.” Syn sealed the promise with another toe-curling kiss. “Not even you,” Syn added when he pulled away.
As Syn put the wheelchair in the back and got in the driver’s seat to take them home, PJ felt that flame of hope burning within him, refusing to go out, no matter how much he willed it to. If PJ wasn’t careful, he was going to end up falling in love with this man all over again.
Chapter Fourteen
Syn was a bit disappointed that PJ had all but fallen asleep on the ride home, even if he wasn’t surprised. His little love had over-extended himself and was feeling the effects. Only his throbbing knee kept him from falling into an undisturbed slumber.
The moment they entered the house, Syn handed PJ a pain pill and by the time he had him in bed, PJ was sound asleep. It wasn’t how Syn had wanted to end their outing, but it was probably for the best. He may wish to push things with PJ, but it was wiser to let things progress slowly. Then again, until today, if they’d gone any slower they would have been moving backward.
Syn stared down at his sleeping love and prayed to whoever was listening that PJ found a way to forgive him for leaving thirteen years ago. He never wanted PJ to have been hurt, but in some ways he knew PJ’s injuries were the only reason Syn was being given time to prove to PJ that he was there to stay.
He just hoped he’d have enough time to convince PJ of that.
With a sigh, he quietly left the room and went out to the living room to start the process of cleaning up. There wasn’t a lot that had to be done as he made sure things were always tidy and put away, but mornings were too often rushed as he had to get Daniel and Emma out the door to school and PJ ready for physical therapy.
Daniel usually didn’t require too much for Syn, although occasionally a reminder about not forgetting his books was needed. But that didn’t mean Daniel didn’t leave a mess in his efforts to get to school. That was especially true in the kitchen.
But it was Emma who had a knack for creating a tornado wherever she went. How a five-year-old could create so much chaos in thirty minutes still stunned Syn. He picked up the small figures they had purchased for her dollhouse off the floor and put them away. Then he straightened the pillows on the couch that she had used to “make PJ more comfortable.”
Syn couldn’t help but smile at the way Emma took pains to not bump into PJ’s cast. She had done exactly that the first day PJ was home, and the scream PJ hadn’t been able to keep inside had terrified her so much that she always made sure to be mindful of her movements since then.
PJ had felt horrible that he’d traumatized her to the point that she walked on eggshells around him. Syn, on the other hand, felt it a good thing, for they didn’t need Emma’s exuberance to make things worse. Not that he had wanted her afraid of being near PJ, but he also thought it wasn’t a bad thing that she understood she needs to be more careful of her actions.
“I’m home,” Daniel called out as he slammed the door.
Syn’s jaw clenched. Apparently, someone else needed to be reminded of their surroundings. When Daniel came into the living room, Syn stood with his feet braced apart and his arms crossed over his chest.
“What?” Daniel said, clearly getting the message that he was in trouble for something.
“I would appreciate you not shouting and slamming doors when you come into the house,” Syn said. “PJ just went to sleep and I won’t have your careless actions waking him up.”
Defiance flared within Daniel’s brown eyes. “I don’t remember you being my father, so stop telling me what to do.”
Daniel’s childish petulance irritated Syn. It wasn’t the first time that he thought Daniel would do well to find a Dom of his own before someone, namely Syn, punched that attitude right in the face. “Your brother put his life on hold to raise you,” Syn reminded him. “The least you can do is help him while he’s injured.”
But instead of making Daniel feel bad, Syn’s words only turned that petulance into a scowl. “Yeah, well, no one asked him to raise me.” With that, Daniel pivoted on his heel and walked right back out, slamming the door hard enough to shake the house.
“Syn,” PJ called from the bedroom.
Syn glanced at his watch. Thirty minutes. That was all PJ had slept. It wasn’t enough by far. Hopefully the pain medicine would still be enough to put him back to sleep.
At the door of the bedroom, Syn had hoped to find PJ half-asleep. Instead he was wide-awake, if a bit bleary-eyed, and sitting up with a scowl that matched his brother’s. “I don’t think that was necessary. Daniel hasn’t exactly had it easy you know.”
Once more, the guilt for leaving when PJ had needed him the most, assailed Syn. “I know. But that doesn’t excuse his behavior lately.”
Since PJ had returned from the hospital, Daniel had been rude to PJ. Syn had thought it was because PJ had been an ass about seeing Syn when he was in the hospital, but he was starting to realize it went deeper than that.
“He almost lost me,” PJ said, as if it should be obvious why Daniel was acting like an ass. “He’s lost his parents, his sister. Emma and I are the only family he has left.”
Syn had been so wrapped in his own world that he’d hadn’t even thought how hard it must have been to lose the only other family Daniel had. Sure, he had Emma, but Syn didn’t think she counted since she was only five. It’s not like Daniel would have been able to lean on her for anything. In fact, he’d have to do what PJ did all those years ago. Change his entire life to become an instant parent.
“Fine,” Syn said. “I’ll talk to him.”
PJ smiled up at him and everything became brighter. “Thank you.”
With thoughts of continuing what had happened in the parking lot earlier, Syn leaned down to kiss PJ but was stopped when PJ put his hand up to Syn’s mouth. “Isn’t it time to pick up Emma?”
Syn glanced over at the clock by the bed. Four-thirty. It was a little early, but he would need to leave soon. “Yeah.” He straightened reluctantly. “Do you need anything before I go?”
PJ nodded. “Can you take me out to the couch? I’d like to be in the living room to greet her when you get back.”
Fifteen minutes later, PJ was safely ensconced on the couch and Syn left to pick up Emma. He had no idea
what he was going to make for dinner and was considering giving into Emma’s constant pleas to order pizza. That was until he picked her up and discovered she had been in trouble, not only at school but at daycare.
Disappointed in her, Syn considered serving her something she now hated, cold cereal.
* * * *
The moment Emma entered the living room with tear streaks on her face, PJ knew there had been trouble. Instantly he opened his arms. His heart soared the moment she stepped into his embrace. Holding her slight form close, PJ lifted her up into his lap, making sure to keep her on his left leg so she wasn’t on his injured right leg.
“What is it, pumpkin?” he asked.
Emma buried her face further into his neck, refusing to answer. Too bad for her, Syn had no problem telling him what had happened.
“We received a letter from her school teacher,” Syn said.
Was it wrong to get a thrill when Syn said “we” instead of “you?” PJ knew he should be concerned about what happened at school, but he couldn’t help feeling happy at the way Syn seemed to be inserting himself into PJ’s life like he belonged there. It was times like this that PJ thought, maybe, just maybe, he really meant to stay.
PJ held Emma, rubbing his hand up and down her back. “Would you like to tell me what happened?”
Once more she just burrowed further into his arms.
“She also received a time out for the same infraction at daycare.” Even though there was disapproval in Syn’s voice, PJ could see the amusement in his eyes.
Emma sat up and said, “It’s not my fault.” There was fire in her eyes. She stood, so indignant at what happened, that she forgot about PJ’s leg and bumped it.
This time PJ managed to keep his reaction to only a wince, which she thankfully didn’t see.
“I was only trying to tell Millie about the letter Miss Heath wrote.” Emma’s little hands spread out as if to say she didn’t know what else she was supposed to do.