holler. My name’s Wayne.”
“Thank you kindly, Wayne.” Shea pocketed the card. “Have a great day.”
“You too.”
The car drove away, and Shea took himself inside to check in. Once settled in the room, he texted Patty to tell her he’d arrived, then Jake to say he was in the city, at his hotel. Patty acknowledged him right away with a heart, but Jake remained silent. Shea waited a few more minutes but heard nothing.
“Damn fool.” Shea picked up his phone, found Precision Financial, and mapped out their location from his hotel. Hmm, about a three-mile walk. Normally that wasn’t a big deal, but he didn’t want to meet Jake all sweated up. He grinned to himself as he grabbed a fresh shirt from his suitcase. “If I’m gonna get hot and sweaty with you, Jake Axelrod, it’s gonna be ’cause we’re naked.”
He showered, changed his clothes, and looked in the mirror. He texted Jake to say he was coming over to his office, picked up his straw cowboy hat, and placed it on his head. Might as well be true to who he was. Shea slipped his card key in his wallet and left the room.
Forty minutes later he pushed open the door to Precision and waited in front of the reception desk while a young woman answered a call. When she hung up the phone, she smiled at him.
“May I help you, sir?”
“Howdy, ma’am.” He took off his hat. “I sure hope you can.”
She giggled. “Are you a cowboy?”
“I am.” He put on a slightly thicker accent.
“I’ve never seen a real cowboy outside of television.”
“Well, I can rightly say I’ve never been to New York City, so we’re both full of firsts.”
“Is that all you’re full of, Shea?”
He’d know that quiet voice with the edge of humor anywhere. Shea spun around and found Jake leaning against the arched entrance to the inner offices. Shea’s lips rose in a smile, and he watched Jake’s green eyes glint fire.
“ ’Scuse me.” He tipped his head to the receptionist. “It was nice meetin’ you.” Shea strode over to Jake, who stood waiting. “Hi.”
“I don’t get a howdy, like Tiffany?”
“I’ve got a better way of greetin’ you, but I don’t wanna shock the poor girl.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Jake pointed. “I got your message and decided to check and see if you arrived. This way.”
Shea followed him, admiring the fit of his suit and his broad shoulders. With dismay, he realized Jake had gotten a haircut. Gone were those silky waves he’d slid his fingers through their last night together. Blinking away the memories, Shea kept quiet as Jake paused in front of another reception desk, this time near a closed office door marked: Jake Axelrod, Senior Director, Human Resources.
“Keisha, I’m going into a meeting now with Mr. Montgomery. Please make sure I’m not disturbed.”
“Okay, Jake.”
Shea threw her a swift wink, and her big brown eyes widened, then danced. Jake opened the door to his office. “Come inside, please.”
“Certainly, sir.” He breezed past Jake and waited for the door to close before pinning Jake against it and noting with satisfaction the hitch in his breath.
“What kinda meetin’ are you plannin’ on? ’Cause I have a few things on my agenda, but they’re of a more personal nature.” As he spoke, Shea ran his fingers over the angles of Jake’s face. The face that had haunted him for the past three weeks.
Then Shea did what he’d been dying to do since the moment Jake left him in the airport in Dallas. He buried his face in the sweet spot where Jake’s neck met his shoulder and inhaled.
“Shea.” Jake sighed, and Shea smiled, feeling the rumble of Jake’s longing on his lips.
“Missed you. When I heard I’d been booked for a job in New York City, know what the first thing I thought was?”
“Mmm.” Jake held him around the waist. “Tell me.”
“It wasn’t that I’d finally get to see all the bright lights and famous places.” He kissed along the strong cords of Jake’s neck, flooding his senses with the smell of the man he’d been unable to forget.
“N-no?” Jake shuddered against him.
Shea lifted up from worshiping Jake’s throat and held his face. God, he loved it when Jake trembled and lost that tight control. Blatant need shone on his face, and those cool green eyes blazed. “It was you. Knowin’ I’d be gettin’ to see you again.” He touched his lips to Jake’s. “Kiss you. Can I kiss you now?”
Jake’s lips curved upward. “If