Page 11 of Charmed By You
Henry tilted his head, “Did you see him leave?”
“See who leave, sir?”
“Mack.” He snorted, “Don’t play dumb, it doesn’t suit you.”
“Sir?”
“Did you see him leave or not, dammit?”
Mack had the grace to lower his chin in an attempt to hide his smile, even if it didn’t work, “He left just before six am.”
“Did you take him home?”
“No, sir.” Mack stood up straighter, as if he expected Henry not to like that answer and he didn’t but before he could ask why the hell not, Mack continued, “I tried to offer but as soon as I spoke he told me to shut up and leave him alone. He said whatever you had told me to give him that he didn’t want it. If you don’t mind me saying, sir… he looked upset.”
Henry scratched his jaw and tried to figure out what the hell that meant. Elliot had been upset? About leaving him? Or about something else? And what did he think Henry had told Mack to give him exactly?
“I take it you didn’t get his name then.”
Mack’s eyebrows shot up almost comically, “Uh… no, sir. I uh… you didn’t?”
“Shut up.” Henry snorted and that only made Mack laugh in response.
“Now you even sound like him. Cursing? Telling me to shut up? Jesus boss, who is this guy?”
“He’s the one, Mack.” Henry shrugged and then laughed when Mack’s eyes widened in surprise. “Yeah, trust me, I’m as surprised as you are but it’s true. He’s one of a kind and I have to have him. I have to get him back.”
His bodyguard smiled, “Good for you.”
“Catch.” Henry tossed the cufflink and Mack snatched it out of the air, his smile disappearing as he opened his hand to see what it was. “It’s a cufflink. He left it behind. I’m guessing by accident since he all but ran the other direction from me. Do you recognize it? It’s all I’ve got to go on at this point to help me track him down.”
Mack twisted the small object between his big fingers, “CC?”
“Yeah.”
Mack dropped his hand back to his side, his brows knit together. He looked like he wanted to say something but was considering how to put it into words. Henry waited. He’d seen that look on Mack’s face before and he knew it meant the man was about to tell him something he didn’t think Henry would want to hear.
“I uh… I’ve seen this engraving before, last night actually…”
“You have?” Henry stepped forward expectantly.
“Yeah, the servers last night were wearing them. The double C’s stand for the business name I think. I don’t know that for sure of course but…”
“He was a server. Not a guest.” Henry gaped as it all clicked into place. “He works for the catering company.”
The reason he hadn’t known him. Hadn’t recognized him. The reason he’d looked out of place. The edgy attitude and the defensive armor. Elliot had known who Henry was all along. He’d never tried to pretend otherwise. But he’d also never tried to tell Henry who he was.
Had he thought Henry would think less of him? Because he wasn’t one of the elite and extravagant guests at the party? Did Elliot really think so little of him?
“Are you sure?” He asked quickly, “You’re absolutely certain those are the same cufflinks the other servers were wearing? You got a good look at a pair?”
“Well, I…” Mack’s cheeks tinted a soft shade of pink and he finally shrugged his massive shoulders, “I might’ve taken a set off someone myself last night, while you were otherwise engaged.”
Henry couldn’t help it. He laughed. Mack grinned sheepishly.
“You took some time off to have fun after you figured out I was safely tucked in bed, huh? Good for you too then.” Henry gave him a nod of approval, “Did you happen to get your bedmates name?”
“Yes, sir.”
