Chapter Two

Although Jason would have preferred to go home and change before going out for dinner, he felt comfortable enough with Kris to go as he was. Plus, they’d both worked late in the office, which had left no time to change.

At least there’s a decent bathroom to wash in and I always keep a spare set of toiletries in my office.

After shrugging out of his shirt, Jason washed, dried off then reapplied his body spray. Peering into the mirror, he frowned, rubbed at his chin then shrugged.

I already look like I’m sporting a scruff. These whiskers grow so fast. I knew I should have replaced the razor.

Dried and dressed, Jason went into his office to wait for Kris. When his friend came in, he’d taken off his tie and released his hair from the bun so that it fell loose to his shoulders. Casual was a good look on Kris and Jason nodded.

“Ready? I hope you’re hungry.”

“I purposely had a light lunch so I could indulge tonight. I love Italian food.” Kris rubbed his hands. “I’m really looking forward to this.”

“Excellent.” Jason pulled out his cell phone as it warbled, and he grinned. “Tad’s waiting for us. Let’s go. I’m already imagining a pile of hot garlic bread to start.”

“If I know you, that’ll be the pre-dinner snack, while you select your real appetizer.” Kris laughed as Jason gave him the finger.

“You know me too fucking well.”

The journey in the car was a short one. Jason traded ideas about food with Kris to the point where he was convinced his stomach would rumble its protest loud and long at having to continue to wait.

The restaurant owner Giuseppe was Italian by birth and came to greet Jason with a hug and a strong handshake.

“Good to see you, my friend. You too, Kris.”

“Thanks, Giuseppe. We’re starving.” Jason patted his stomach.

“Then I’ll get you a plate of garlic bread to share, on the house.” Giuseppe indicated for the maître d’ to come forward. “I reserved you a table at the back. It’s cooler and there’s a little more space out there.” He turned to his waiter. “Take Mr. Jason and his friend to table eleven.”

“Okay. This way…” The maître d’ led the way through the restaurant and out into its small courtyard.

In Jason’s mind, Giuseppe had done a great job of making the area reminiscent of an Italian courtyard, with shrubs and small trees in pots and an overhead trellis with vines running up and across.

“I’ll bring some water while you look at the menus.” The maître d’ indicated their table, which was decked out in red, green and white, and Jason sat down.

“Thanks. I hope that bread comes soon.” Jason grabbed a breadstick and crunched it.

“If Giuseppe knows you anything like I do, he won’t keep you waiting.” Kris was about to sit when a man came up behind him.

“Kris. Hello, love.”

An unexpected knot formed in the pit of Jason’s stomach as the dark-haired man enveloped Kris in a hug, moving in for a kiss, even as Kris tried to fend him off.

“Fitz. Look… It’s n-not convenient. I’m here with m-my boss.” Kris cast a frantic glance over his shoulder and something inside Jason ignited.

Rising slowly to his feet, Jason made sure to use his greater body size to his best advantage. The newcomer’s eyes widened and he stepped away from Kris.

“Your boss. The wine seller.” Fitz’s tone dripped with contempt. “So, what is this? Your bonus for a job well done?”

Jason didn’t miss the way Kris’ posture changed as he shrank under the verbal attack. Anger bubbled deep inside Jason, and he took the two steps necessary to stand at Kris’ side.

“I neither know, nor care, who you are. But you’d better fuck off right now. Kris is a friend, as well as my employee, and I won’t stand for anyone speaking to him in that way. If you don’t leave under your own steam, I’ll ensure you have help.” Jason nodded at the maître d’, who was already standing and waiting a short distance from Fitz.

“I’m his boyfriend, in case he hasn’t told you that little titbit. But don’t worry. I’m going. I wouldn’t be able to eat here if I stayed. My stomach would turn.” Fitz flounced off and Kris shook his head.

“He isn’t my boyfriend.” Kris turned to face Jason. “You have to believe me.” Then he sighed. “I guess dinner is off.”

“Why?” Jason urged Kris into his seat. “Because of that wanker? Forget him. Why does he say he’s your boyfriend if he isn’t?” When Fitz had made the claim, Jason’s stomach had flipped—and not in a pleasant way. Not that it’s any business of mine whether he’s seeing someone or not. Despite that fact, Jason couldn’t deny feeling relieved at Kris’ assertion.

“I haven’t dated for…quite some time. You know, work…and stuff.” Kris offered a smile, but there was no mistaking the anxiety in his expressive eyes. “Well, anyway, I like wine—funny that.” Kris’ laugh sounded brittle and Jason leaned across the table to lay his hand over Kris’.

“It’s okay. Just tell me.” Jason kept his voice soft and Kris took a deep breath and nodded.

“You’re going to think me such an idiot. Anyway, as you know, I go to wine tastings. I do at least a couple a month. It keeps me up with what’s out there, how the competition is developing and the way people’s tastes are changing, what they’re looking for in a wine… Then I do those reports for you.”

“For which I’m very grateful.” Jason nodded. “Go on.”

“I met Fitz at one of them. We started sitting together, just hanging out. But only at the wine tastings. Fool that I was, I accepted a social media request from him. The next thing I know, he’s posting stuff about me being his boyfriend and pictures of us from the tastings.”

“Have you reported him to the police?” Jason asked. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“I closed down my social media account and changed my cell phone number. It was a total pain in the ass, but it did the job. I’d never given him my home address, for which I’m eternally grateful.”

“Me too. You should have told me.” Jason waved his hand and one of the waiters came forward. “An Aperol Spritz for Kris and a Negroni for me, please.”

“You remembered.” Kris stared at him.

The heat of a blush spread across Jason’s cheeks.

“Not difficult. Now, about not telling me about this idiot…” Jason didn’t want Kris questioning him about the amount of attention he was paying his friend while simultaneously telling him off about Fitz. He needed to divert attention away from himself as quickly as possible.

“Well, exactly that. He’s an idiot. Anyway, what was I going to tell you?” Kris shrugged.

“That some idiot might be stalking you, maybe? Look… If he gives you any trouble, anything, you tell me, and you can come and stay on my yacht. Jeez, Kris, it’s big enough, and there’s no way anyone’s going to get to you when you’re on board.” Not without trying to get through me first.

The protective instinct surprised Jason. But then, Kris has worked with me for a long time and is an integral part of my working life. The reasoning sounded feeble, even to Jason himself, but a server approached the table and Jason was happy to push the idea from his mind.

“Your drinks, sir.” The waiter had arrived with the aperitif and cocktail and set them down, along with a platter of garlic bread. “Are you ready to order?”

“I am.” Jason glanced at Kris, who nodded. “Okay, then… Let’s share a bottle of pinot grigio and immerse ourselves in the full Italian experience. I’d like the green-lipped mussels to start, followed by the rack of lamb.”

“And I’ll have the spinach torte, followed by your legendary seafood fettuccini.” Kris grinned up at the waiter, who beamed with evident pride. “That white wine and tomato salsa is amazing, but can you leave the kelp pepper on the side, please?”

“Of course.” The waiter jotted notes on his pad then went back inside.

“You can have some of my torte.” Kris held up his aperitif. “I won’t manage it all, not if I want to do justice to the fettucine.”

“And since you like mussels, you can have some of mine in exchange.” Jason tapped his glass to Kris’. “Now, let’s eat, drink and focus on good food and even better company.”

“Thanks.” Kris ducked his head then looked up at Jason with a smile that seemed to warm Jason through to his soul.