to the window.
“I owe you lunch,” Rocky said.
Felix smiled. “I know the perfect place. It’s within walking distance.” They took the elevator down to the lobby and exited out on Peachtree Road. “See those two towers?” He nodded toward a complex with two beautiful skyscrapers and a parking garage sandwiched between them. “That’s the Peachtree Plaza, which is Atlanta’s version of the Chrysler Building. Several major corporations have their offices in one of those two towers. I believe there are also residential penthouses in the top for the Big Peach’s wealthiest citizens.”
“Please tell me they have restaurants too,” Rocky said. “My stomach is trying to eat itself.”
Felix laughed. “There are many places to eat in either tower, ranging from cafes to Michelin-starred restaurants.” There were dozens of high-end stores to shop at and even a fitness club.
“I have a five-star appetite, but a two-star budget,” Rocky quipped.
“I know just the place.” Felix led him to a lovely bistro in the second tower. A hostess led them out to a covered terrace, where a server promptly dropped off menus and took their drink orders. Once they were alone again, Felix leaned forward and said, “Do you know who else claims this building as their corporate office?”
Rocky grinned. “The Camelot Corporation?”
“Exactly. The website for the Peachtree Plaza states they offer top-notch security for their buildings. They boldly claim many of America’s most successful corporations call their building home, but they don’t list who they are.”
“It’s understandable,” Rocky said before taking a long drink of his lemonade. Then he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a pair of eyeglasses with black rectangular frames. Rocky slipped them on and tested the fit before picking up the menu and looking at his food options.
“Reading glasses?” Felix asked.
Rocky peered at Felix over the top of the menu. The harsh lines and dark color of the frames made Rocky’s eyes look a lighter shade of blue. Felix was momentarily stunned by his friend’s looks. It wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. Rocky was just so pretty, which seemed like such an odd thing to say about someone so ruggedly handsome. It was just the best way to describe the private investigator. He was fucking pretty.
Rocky adjusted them again as if he wasn’t sure about the fit. “Yeah. I’m trying them out. What do you think?”
Felix bit back a snort. “Are you seriously fishing for compliments right now, Major?”
Rocky laughed. “Maybe assurances that I don’t look like a dork.”
As if. “You look okay.”
“High praise, indeed,” Rocky said, then smirked.
Their server came a few minutes later and took their orders. Rocky ordered a soup-and-sandwich combo with cookies for dessert, and Felix ordered a salad with seared sirloin steak and bleu cheese dressing. No dessert.
“I’m so grateful you don’t plan on kissing me later,” Rocky said once they were alone again. A hard shudder rolled through him.
The remark caught Felix off guard, and he nearly choked on his Coke. “Why did you say that?”
“Oh, was I mistaken?” Rocky asked. “If so, you’ll need to brush your teeth thoroughly, floss, and gargle with mouthwash first.”
There it was again, the feeling that Felix was dirty or unclean. He hadn’t expected it from someone who’d come to mean so much to him. “What are you talking about? I have excellent hygiene.”
“I know that, dumbass. I’m grossed out about the bleu cheese dressing. God, if one of those chunks landed in my mouth, I’d—”
Felix’s bark of laughter cut him off. He was so relieved to hear it was an aversion to the food he’d ordered and not the idea of kissing Felix that had made Rocky ill. “You’re safe from me, pal. You’re not going to vomit, right? I can wave the server over and request ranch dressing instead.”
Rocky shook his head. “I just won’t watch you eat.”
Felix tilted his head and leaned forward. “Is that something you’re into? Will they satisfy your perversion at the club tonight?”
“You know,” Rocky said, “I’ve never really thought about it. I reckon watching people eat certain foods might be considered erotic to some. Listen, if that kind of thing is in high demand, I’m sure Gentleman Jack’s offers it to their clients.”
“I have to admit, I’m excited to see what the place is like.”
“Don’t embarrass me, Felix.”
“I won’t, Dad.”
The food was delicious, and Felix enjoyed Rocky’s company even more. Sparks had flown when mutual friends had introduced the two men, but they were the wrong kind for romance. They’d butted heads