Page 121 of Body Check

“Oh.” A thoughtful expression crossed Dakota’s face. “But what if he can’t find Bryce or convince him to pay me?”

“Then I’ll know I did what I could to try to help someone I care about,” Gavin said simply.

“You won’t be upset about losing the money?” Dakota bit his lip.

“No. What kind of partner would I be if I let you struggle and overwork yourself when I could try to help you instead?”

“I never thought about it that way.”

“I get that money is complicated,” Gavin said softly. “But anything I offer you comes with no strings attached. You want to help me reduce my stress, right?”

Dakota nodded.

“So why wouldn’t I want to do the same for you?”

“I—I don’t know.”

Gavin gently tugged Dakota into his lap until he straddled his thighs, then framed Dakota’s face with his hands. “You deserve to have people treat you well, Dakota.”

Dakota looked at Gavin for the longest moment, brows drawn together, before his expression crumpled. He leaned his forehead against Gavin’s and whispered, “That’s all you’ve been trying to do this whole time, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Gavin said softly. From the damned fresh fruit to the offers to pay for a ride back to Quincy, all he’d wanted was to do nice things for Dakota. Simply to show him he cared, and he was thinking about him. He rubbed his thumbs against Dakota’s cheeks, feeling the soft prickle of his facial hair. “Will you let me in the future?”

Dakota let out a long, shuddering sigh. “Yes.”

“Thank you.” Gavin pulled back far enough to brush his lips across Dakota’s cheek, then looked him in the eye. “Does this mean you’ll let me hire the PI for you?”

Dakota gave him a lopsided grin. “Yeah, I suppose it does.”

“You won’t regret it,” Gavin promised with a smile.

“You really think the PI can find him?” Dakota asked, his tone hopeful.

“I can’t promise anything, but I think so. The guy is good. One of the best around.”

“It would be amazing if he could.” There was a wistful note in Dakota’s voice. “I want to have my life back. I want to feel like I can focus on my career and my relationship withyouand …”

“Then we’ll talk to the PI together,” Gavin promised.

“Thank you,” Dakota whispered. “I’ve never—I’ve never been with anyone who wanted to take care of me.”

Gavin looked down at him. “I do want to take care of you. Just know it’s never because I don’t think you can take care of yourself or that you aren’t capable. It’s only ever because I want to support you. Because I want to make your life easier.Better.”

Dakota sighed, pressing their foreheads together. “I’ll remember that. I just don’t ever want to be someone who takes from you the way Rory did, or the way Bryce took from me.”

“You’re not Rory,” Gavin assured him. “I’m sure you’re nothing like Bryce, either. I just want you to keep being Dakota.”

MyDakota, he thought.

“Just with a little less suspicion about your motives?” Dakota teased.

Grinning, Gavin pressed a brief kiss to his lips. “Yes. But mostly because I want you to trust me.”

“Ido,” Dakota whispered.

“Even though I haven’t always been the most trustworthy person in the past?” Gavin asked, throat suddenly tight.

“People can change,” Dakota said firmly. “For better and for worse. It’s clear youhavechanged, Gavin. You’re not the person you were twenty years ago.”

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