Page 11 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“Maybe over the weekend, we can take a trip to see them closer up?”
Fazil’s heart skipped a beat. “Maybe.” Spend part of the weekend with Todd?Yes, the irrational side of his brain said. His common sense wasn’t so enthused. “What’s the deal with Nathan?”
“Oh.” Todd eased the car out of the parking lot and onto the road. “He’s never gotten used to working with a gay man.”
Sothat’swhat that quip meant. Close to the mark, too. Fazil scowled at his reflection in the window. “I thought Seattle was liberal and open.”
“It is. And it isn’t. There’re a lot of conservative religious folks in the area, especially Mormons.” An ever-so-slight tremor shook Todd’s voice. “And large amounts of money tend to bring out the family values set.”
Fazil watched the storefronts zip by. But for the mountains, this looked pretty much like any suburban area. “Pittsburgh’s a little like that. But it’s weird. Lot of live and let live. Old blue-collar values. Working with Sam, I’ve become sheltered from the shitty side of corporate culture.”
They drove a little farther, then pulled into a strip mall. It had a dry cleaner, a salon, some insurance place, and a restaurant called the Karadeniz Café, complete with a blue eyelike emblem Fazil recognized instantly.
Of all the...“You’re taking me to a Turkish place?” His voice pitched higher. “Really?” Especially after Nathan had prodded after his ethnicity?
Todd looked sheepish. “Well, I have no idea how you feel about pho or Thai or any of that. But I do know you like Turkish.”
Well, yes. So did Todd. Or he had, back in the day. In somanyways. Heat rose to his cheeks. “You know, I have pretty high standards.”
Despite all the spots in the front, Todd pulled around to the back of the buildings and parked. “I know. This place’s food is almost as good as your mom’s.”
It had been fifteen years since Todd had tasted his mom’s fare. “It had better be.”
Todd undid his belt and laid his hand on Fazil’s arm, gluing him to his seat with those lovely blue eyes. “Hey, have I ever led you astray?”
Yes. Many,manytimes.And Fazil had loved it. He swallowed. The turn of Todd’s lips was too knowing, but he let Fazil go and got out of the car.
Fazil followed, his heart in his throat. There was friendship and there was flirting and Todd had crossed over to the latter sometime during the drive.
Man, his jeans had become too tight in the front. Todd’s warm hand on his arm only led to his wanting that hand elsewhere. Or everywhere. He wasn’t sure he should be flirting with Todd, given the work situation and their past.
Or the fact that they were walking into what appeared to be a typical Turkish place. Blue evil-eye beads, rugs, tulips, photos of Istanbul, the whole nine yards. The murmur of Turkish from the music fell against Fazil’s ears and took him straight back to his parents’ house. The language’s familiar rhythm and the itch to speak it. “Wow.”
Todd smiled knowingly. “Thought you might like it here.”
He did. It was a bit cheesy, but he understood that need, that desire. Like he’d told Nathan, he’d been born in the US. His parents loved it here, but there’d always been that pull, the need to surround themselves with the trappings of the culture they’d left behind.
So yeah, this place felt like home.
“Todd! Good to see you again!” A man about their age came to the host podium. “Two?”
Todd nodded. “Hi, Ozan. This is my friend Fazil.”
Ozan paused. “NottheFazil.”
Oh God.He gave Todd a sharp look.
“Yep. That Fazil.” So much teeth in his smile. “Weirdest thing. I told you about the company that was coming? Turns out he works for ’em.”
Ozan shrugged. “God works miracles.” He led them to a table in the back, under a large photograph of the Black Sea.
“This is quite nice,” Fazil said, chancing Turkish to see if the host understood.
Ozan answered in kind. “I know it’s a bit much, but my parents...” He gave another shrug.
“Oh, I understand completely.”
Todd chuckled and sat. “I love it when I’m right.”
