Page 31 of Something Unprofessional

Ev’s face went warm at the same time his belly did. “Thanks. You didn’t need to do that.”

Remy gave his shoulder a squeeze and pressed the bottle into his hands. “Would you believe I’m trying to get on your good side?”

Ev cracked a grin. “I didn’t know you were on my bad side.”

Remy took a step closer, and Ev had to tilt his head back to maintain eye contact. Which, ugh,hot. “In that case, what do you say to me buying you another drink?”

Ev’s mouth went dry, and his heart started to race. “I—”

“The others are waiting for us at the bar,” Remy continued. “Do you need help with your pants, or—”

“We’ve got it,” Finn cut in, tugging Ev back toward the bathroom. “Thanks for the vinegar, Remy.”

“No worries,” Remy said with a jaunty, two-fingered wave. “I’ll see you out there.”

Ev gaped at his back until the bathroom door swung shut and blocked his view.

Was Remy about to imply what Ev thought he was implying? He grabbed the vinegar from Finn and hurried to the sink. No way was he hiding in here and missing his chance to find out.

Gabe

Gabe was going tocrack a molar if he didn’t unclench his jaw. But it was that or tell their biggest client to back the fuck off, so Gabe figured he’d better sacrifice his teeth for the greater good.

Remy was a good guy, he reminded himself. He was more down-to-earth than most people would expect from someone with a career like his. He had a great sense of humor, fantastic taste, and was generally a nice person. Well, as nice as people got in Hollywood. He also had a reputation when it came to attractive young men, and Gabe wasn’t pleased with the way he was eyeing Gabe’s…Gabe’s PA. It didn’t help that Ev had stars in his eyes every time he looked up at the older man. If it went on much longer, Gabe was going to say something. He wasn’t sure what, but it would be something.

“If you murder our biggest client, I’m taking it out of your half of the company,” Xavier said from where he was leaning against the bar beside Gabe. He took a sip of his whiskey, the ice ball spinning in the tumbler.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gabe said, his tone as unconcerned as he could make it.

Xavier chuckled. “You’re usually a better liar than that.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Gabe grumbled, turning his back on the small group at the far end of the bar. Remy was in the process of buying shots for Ev, Finn, and Asher, Xavier’s PA, who had arrived just before dinner on a late flight. That was going to end badly.

“If it bothers you so much, why don’t you do something about it?” Xavier paused. “Something other than giving Remy a black eye—if only because I don’t want to have to make up an explanation for the press.”

“Everett has made it very clear that it’s none of my business what he gets up to, or with whom.” Gabe tossed back the last of his drink and signaled the bartender for another.

“Shit,” Xavier said with a sigh. “That explains a few things. Well, at least he’s safe with Remy.”

Gabe’s jaw started to hurt, and he reached up to massage it. “Right,” he managed. The bartender set a new drink in front of him, and Gabe had it halfway to his lips before Xavier stopped him with a hand on his wrist.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Gabe brushed his hand away and tossed back the new drink. “I don’t remember you being particularly happy when Remy was all over your boy a few months ago,” he grumbled.

For some reason, that made Xavier chuckle, and Gabe only scowled harder. “First of all, Remy was never interested in Finn. Their friendship may be unlikely, but it’s good for both of them. And second, I wasn’t aware that Ev was ‘your boy.’” He eyed Gabe consideringly. “Unless there’s something you aren’t telling me.”

“He’s not,” Gabe said, his voice clipped.

“In that case, Ev and Remy—”

“Can do what they want,” Gabe said, refusing to hear any more. “It’s none of my concern unless it affects Ev’s work.”

Xavier sighed and signaled the bartender for two waters. “You keep telling yourself that, buddy. But you should know that Finn and I are both rooting for you.”

Well, that didn’t help at-fucking-all.

Gabe was sitting upin bed reading a few last emails with blurry eyes. He would respond in the morning after he sobered up. He was trying to decipher the last one when Ev exited the bathroom, yawning. He’d changed into a T-shirt and athletic shorts. He was wearing his glasses—presumably having taken out his contacts for bed—and his hair was messy and falling in his face. He was a combination of sexy and adorable that waskryptonite to Gabe in a normal situation. But fuck if this was a normal situation.

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