Page 102 of Sapphire Storm

“How do you see it?” Ethan asked. He wasn’t in the habit ofasking anyone for their opinion of his sex work, and so the question left himanxious.

“Like this whole thing is just another way to punish a queerman for coloring outside the lines,” Connor finally answered. “It was an uglymeeting, to be frank. They made threats they’d never made before. So did I. Inthe end, I’m not sure my strategy of accusing most of the men in the room ofhaving hired a sex worker at some point in their lives was my best choice. Butit made for a great exit line. Their reasoning was that it wasn’t the substanceof your past, it was the manner in which you revealed it. Perhaps there’s sometruth to that.

“Butmytruth is that I don’t really give a shit.And the bank’s actual truth is that the trust manager we’ve worked with foryears left a few months ago, and the new guy’s trying to cut pennies fromquarters. I can’t get anything out of him for improvements, and we’ve beenfighting tooth and nail for months. I’ve started a search for someone to buyout the bank’s interest in the trust, but that’ll take months at least.Probably years. Too long to get you your job back any time soon.”

Had Ethan nourished some small hope that Connor would try tosave his job? Perhaps, given the man’s history with blackmail and scandal.Whatever the size of that hope, now was the time to let it flicker out. And thefour of them were quiet for a while.

Ethan felt it was his turn to speak and that a simple thankyou wouldn’t suffice. “Connor, I hope it doesn’t diminish my time with you andSapphire Cove to say this. But maybe it’ll make you feel better to know thatI’m happier than I’ve ever been.” He took Roman’s hand. “I’m all the versionsof myself in one. I’ll never have to look over my shoulder again, and I’m witha man who makes me feel like I can touch the sky.” He slid his arms aroundRoman’s shoulders and pulled him close. “There’s having your dreams come trueand then there’s getting things you didn’t know to dream. That’s how I feel.”

Connor’s smile seemed genuine. “I must say, Mr. Walker, myopinion of you is much improved.”

“Good,” Roman said. “’Cause I’ve been working on improving.”

“One other thing, though,” Ethan said. Connor nodded. “LetLogan off the hook.”

Connor sputtered his lips and waved a hand through the air.“Please. He went two whole days without his morning blow job. He’ll be fine.”

“Babe,” Logan groaned.

“Also, we have a very effective way of him working offdebts,” Connor continued.

Logan winced, and his broad shoulders rose and fell with adeep, strained breath. “Babe,please.”

Connor grinned. “I make him do housework naked. I love it. Imean, you wouldn’t think I would because I’m a total power bottom, but whenhe’s got a sponge in hand, something about my big bulky boyfriend down on hisknees really works for me.” Connor waggled his eyebrows. When he saw Logan’sgrave expression, he added, “What? I can talk about all this stuff with him nowbecause he doesn’t work for us anymore.”

Logan nodded, nostrils flaring, still blushing.

“I appreciate you delivering this news in person,” Ethansaid.

“We’re not done,” Logan said. “There’s a car waitingoutside. Come on.”

And with a nod of his head, Logan seemed to take command ofthe situation.

It was a clear, sunny day, and the streets of La Jolla’sVillage were filled with elegantly dressed women toting armloads of shoppingbags. The Village was largely free of high rises, and the picturesquestorefronts along Girard were housed inside quaint, one-story buildings withsloping rooflines. Jonas waited outside one as if standing guard, and when aSapphire Cove branded Suburban pulled to the curb, he stepped forward andopened the front passenger side door for his boss.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Harcourt,” he said cheerily.

“Greetings, traitor,” Connor responded with a smile, then hestarted for the papered-over glass doors of the storefront behind him.

When Ethan stepped from the back, he took Jonas by theelbow. “It hasn’t been too rough, has it?” he asked.

“A little ribbing,” Jonas said. “He’ll get over it. Nobodywas fired, so we’re fine. Mostly he’s furious with the bank.”

Relieved, Ethan helped Roman down from the backseat, andLogan squeezed out behind them. Then they were all walking into the cool,air-conditioned space beyond the papered-over windows. It was immaculate andempty. Custom display shelves covered both walls. And through a back door, heglimpsed an expansive, restaurant-style kitchen. Out of which came Rachel andDonnie, who stopped and smiled when they saw him.

“Boys!” Rachel cried before throwing her arms around themboth in turn. They’d spoken to her several times over the past few days asshe’d untangled control of Roman’s social media accounts from her mother’steam. But it wasn’t like Roman was about to post any time soon. Diana still hadhis phone somewhere in her possession, and Rachel didn’t seem to have it withher. Ethan thought that was for the best. For now. The phone could be used tolocate him. Let Diana fend off the resulting press attention if she couldn’tbear to part with the thing.

When they parted, an awkward silence descended. Ethanrealized all eyes were on him. He looked to Roman for an explanation, but heshook his head, clearly as stumped as Ethan was.

“What is this place?” Ethan finally asked.

“It’s yours,” Rachel answered. “I’m offering them a year’srent upfront. That’s how I outbid some old witch whose husband inventedantivirus software or something. She wanted to open a jewelry store in thisplace, and I was like, ‘No, I don’t think so, ma’am.’ This location is primo.So it’s mine if I want it. If you guys want it.” She gestured to Connor andLogan. “And right here, I’ve lined up your first account.”

Connor nodded. “Sapphire Cove would be more than honored tosign a one-year contract for…whatever it is you manage to produce here.Preferably something sweet.”

“Two years,” Donnie interjected.

Connor shot him a look. “Fine. Two years.”

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