Page 57 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
Todd laid his menu down. “Oh hush. That’s not your problem.”
Fazil stared at Todd, his brow crinkling.
“I’ve told you why a million times. Hot. Sexy. Into the same stuff.”
“But—”
“Z... were you like this with all your partners?”
That stopped him in his tracks, and he gotthatlook. The one he got when he realized he was being a dork. “Maybe...” A snort and he shook his head. “How is it that you put up with me?”
Love. Lots and lots of love.He leaned across the table and spoke low. “Because you have the most incredible mouth.”
Fazil turned a wondrous shade of red and snickered. A moment later, the waitress came and took their order.
Todd ordered the eggs Benedictandpancakes, because why not both? Fazil ordered corned beef hash and eggs.
“So, what was that all about, Z?” He waved his hand at the parking lot.
Fazil sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I’m a worrywart?”
“Hadn’t noticed.” Couldn’t keep the grin off that time.
A huff of a laugh, but Fazil sobered quickly. “It’s just... what if this works? I live in Pittsburgh. You’re here. I have to leave. It’s the nature of the job.”
Todd’s chest tightened. He hadn’t wanted to think that far ahead. “How about we figure that out when we get there?” He didn’twantFazil to leave. Every vision of the future had Z in it.
“I’m not good with open ends,” Fazil said, his words soft. “I tried a long-distance thing once. It didn’t end well.”
The answer wasobvious, but Todd kept it back. Fazil seemed to love his job with Anderson. Luring him away from that wouldn’t be easy. “We have time.”
The waitress brought their food and their hot chocolates. Fazil’s hadallthe whipped cream.
“Holy hell.” Fazil stared at the mug... what he could see of it under the pile of cream.
“Andthat’swhy I asked for half the normal whipped cream.”
“You could have warned me!” No anger there, just wonderment at the sheer amount of cream piled on the mug. “Thing looks like one of your fucking mountains!”
Todd laughed and they both relaxed. Good. There was only so much of moody Z he could take.
Fazil picked up a spoon and tried to tame his hot chocolate. Failed. It gushed out all over the mug until Fazil sipped—and there it was. Todd picked up his phone and had the camera on in no time.
“Don’t you dare!”
Too late. He smiled and turned the screen around. “I was right. You do look fantastic.” Laughing and bright eyed. The man he loved.
Fazil wiped cream from his nose and chin. “All right. You win.” A grin there.
“I usually do.”
Fazil snorted. “Nose cream.”
They both laughed and settled into eating their meals. Food was a good balm against worry, though Fazil wasn’t wrong to think about the future.
Maybe he was moving too fast. He wanted Fazil so much, but there was one thing he needed more than sex or a relationship.
“Even if this doesn’t work...”
