Page 54 of The Easy Way
“I doubt she’ll ask, but I’ll say I haven’t seen you,” Cortpromised.
Cain smiled. “I owe youone.”
Cort made his way through the crowd back to Cam, his shoulders tense in a way he hadn’t expected. He’d blended seamlessly with the crowd last Friday night, but here, as Cam’sboyfriend, everything was different. He hadn’t been putting on a facade, and kept forgetting he wasn’t here tomingle.
He wound his way through the crowd and saw Lydia was talking to the cool, elegant blonde Cam had identified as Mary-Alice McMann, while Cam stood nearby, speaking to the man Cort remembered from the other night as Drew McMann, Cam’s ex-boyfriend. Jealousy rippled through Cort’schest.
Drew certainly looked the part of the young, rich guy. He was wearing chinos which didn’t appear to have a single wrinkle, a tight polo shirt showing off a fairly muscular chest, and canvas boat shoes.Too bad he’s anasshole.
Cort approached them from the side, and neither one seemed to notice him, so he hung back for a moment, watching them. Drew was speaking in a low voice, his hand slashing through the air as he made a point. Cam’s arms were crossed over his chest, his cheeks flushed either with anger or embarrassment. Cort imagined himself landing a firm punch to the exact corner of Drew’s jaw, and if the asshole was saying something nasty to Cam again, Cort would take great pleasure in it. He was confident he could take him down without aproblem.
“But whoishe, Cam? God, you don’t know a thing about him, and you’re already bringing him around to parties and introducing him to people! Don’t be fooled. This isn’t real. He’s usingyou.”
Cort felt a spurt of anger - both at Drew for being an ass, and because the ass actually had a point. Cort had definitely planned to use Cam,hadused him, in fact, but they were more thanthat.
“What’s going on, gentlemen?” Cort asked, stepping forward and looking from one to theother.
Cam shook his head again. “Later,” he murmured, his voicelow.
Cort glanced down at him with one eyebrow raised, a silent code forCan I hithim?
Cam read him instantly, the way he had from their very first meeting, and some of the tension left his face. His lips even quirked up slightly. “Cort, you remember Drew from the othernight?”
Cort took a slow sip of his beer and narrowed his eyes, implying Drew wasn’t that memorable. Drewhuffed.
“Oh, right. I remember that noise.” Cort attempted to look innocent, but he was pretty sure the way he was glaring at Drew gave himaway.
Cam’s arm snaked beneath Cort’s shirt to wrap around his waist, and Cort felt his temper cool justslightly.
“Is there a problem here?” Cort challengedDrew.
“You tell me,” Drew said. “Does Cam even know who you are? Does he know why you’rehere?”
Cort’s heart stuttered for a second, before he realized Drew must be -had to be- bluffing. Nobody knew why he was really here except Damon, not evenCam.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cortsaid.
Drew sighed. “I didn’t want to have to tell you this, Cam, because I don’t want to see you hurt. I got all his information from Margaret as soon as I heard he was coming with you, and I ran a background check.He’s—”
“Kendrick Cortland,” Cam spat in a whisper to make it clear he was done with this conversation. “I know he works for the FBI.AndI know why he’shere.”
Cort watched Drew’s head jerk back slightly in shock which mirrored Cort’s own. If Drew had done athoroughcheck, he might know of Cort’s relationship to Damon, and he felt a moment of heart-stopping panic at the idea of Cam finding out this way. Cam washis.Cort never had anyone who washisbesides his brother. Somehow this guy had burrowed under his skin in a very short time, and itwas…
Terrifying.
“Wait,” Drew said. “Do you knoweverythingabouthim?”
Cam frowned, and his gaze flashed to Cort.What have you beenhiding?
Lydia put a hand on Drew’s arm. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she told Drew. “But Camden and Cort only just arrived, and I want to show them to their room so they can freshen up beforedinner.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Drew offered, angry eyes onCort.
“Not necessary,” Cam said. “We’ll finishlater.”
He turned and smiled at Lydia, who led them away. The crowd of guests parted before her. Cort put a hand at the small of Cam’s back as they followed, and prayed nobody else stopped them. His patience was at anend.
“Wasn’tthata lovely introduction for your young man?” Lydia snorted as they passed through a sliding glass door and into the house. “Meeting the Shawsandthe McManns, or at least one of them. Truly a trial byfire.”
