managed to show off his wide shoulders. That pale hair was pulled slick and tight against his head.
Lindsey stopped about four steps from the bottom. “Come on up, darling. We’ll spruce you up a little for the horsy set.”
Okay, if he’d been dreaming of the configuration of Vanessen’s ass, he got a study of it now. He followed Lindsey up the sweeping staircase, observing every flex and release as the other man climbed in those tight breeches. He took a breath. Jesus, he hated guys like Vanessen. Why was his ass so fascinating? Imagine showing this guy off at the department. They’d bust a gut.
At the top, Lindsey stepped back and swept a hand down the hall. “Second door on your right.” Seth walked the patterned carpet. Lindsey reached around him for the door handle and opened it into a huge room. Wow. The place was kind of feminine but—beautiful. The first thing he walked into was like a sitting area. When he looked up, he saw the bed on the other side of the room. Really big. All kinds of pillows piled up on the head of the bed.
Lindsey came up beside him. “So, let me look at you.” The guy stood back and regarded Seth up and down like a piece of prime beef. “Yes, well, lovely, but maybe a little casual for the occasion. I know it sounds like an athletic event, but really it’s more”—he waved a hand gracefully—“shall we say, social?” He walked around Seth, making a “hmmm” sound.
“Look, I don’t care about the social niceties. I just want to catch a fucking kidnapper.”
“Ah yes, yes, but we catch more flies with—Armani.” He laughed. “Come with me.”
It wasn’t a trial to follow that butt.
Lindsey threw open a door, and Seth walked in behind him. “Holy shit.”
Lindsey turned and placed a hand on his chest. “Yes, dear, I know. Decadent. It may be the sign of a devolving civilization, but this is my closet.”
This was a room his family home could fit in twice. “Department stores don’t have this many clothes.”
“Dear, dear. We never shop at department stores.” He waved a hand down his body. “Obviously, nothing that fits me is going to fit you.” He touched the epaulet on the leather jacket. “Those shoulders. Oh my.” He sighed. “Anyway, I happen to have a blazer that was delivered to me in the wrong size. My guess is that it’s divine plan, because I think it will fit you perfectly.” He walked to the racks of clothing and pulled out a deep-green blazer.
Seth touched the material. Butter. Shit, not his style. He shook his head. “I don’t need this. Thanks, though.”
Lindsey hooked the jacket on a display hanger and crossed his arms. “Listen, dear. You asked me to take you to this event. I’m also very interested in you capturing these horrible people. After all, their victims are my friends. So do this my way.” He pointed at the coat. “That jacket cost half your annual salary. No one is going to smell cop when I get through with you. They’ll talk to you because you’re a friend of mine and that’s all they need to know. Understand?”
Seth frowned. “What do I say when they ask what I do?”
“You work for the government in a classified capacity. End of story. You could tell them, but—”
“I’d have to kill them.” He cracked half a grin. “That’s pretty ingenious.”
“But of course.” Lindsey pulled down the jacket. “Take off that lovely motorcycle thingie and try this on.”
He slipped the jacket off his shoulders and laid it on an overstuffed chair. Lindsey brought one hand up and fanned his face. “Sorry. Warm in here.”
He got that right. This dressing room closet might be enormous, but being surrounded by personal things made the whole experience kind of intimate. No doubt the guy’s silk, gold-plated boxer briefs were lined up in that drawer over there. Get a grip, Zakowsky.
Lindsey held the jacket, and Seth shrugged into it. He shot the cuffs of his dress shirt out of the sleeves.
Lindsey pressed a hand to his own cheek. “My. Perfect, if I do say so myself.” He stepped closer. “Before you look, let me fuss a bit.” He walked to a drawer and pulled out what looked like a woman’s silk scarf. Gold and green, mostly. He pulled it around Seth’s neck and tied it. Hell, the guy was almost exactly Seth’s height. He looked so damned fragile, but he was actually pretty big.