Jonathan Banks and Peter Giles have worked together for five years, business partners in a planning firm that bears both their names. From the moment Jonathan was hired, the attraction between the two men was instantaneous and mutual, but he was dating someone else at the time and turned down Peter’s advances.<br><br>Now Jonathan’s boyfriend is out of the picture, and he’d love nothing more than for Peter to ask him out again, but he knows his partner all too well. Peter doesn’t take rejection easily. He likes flirting with Jonathan, sure, but doesn’t want to take the chance of getting turned down a second time. He's satisfied with the way their friendship is, and fears anything more intimate might ruin what they already have.<br><br>But everything both men have planned and worked for together is threatened on a cold, wintry evening when Peter’s car won’t start and Jonathan has to give him a lift home. Can the two friends move past their own fears and trepidations, and begin to build a future together as partners outside the office?

Not According to Plan

“And, here’s the thing,” Pete continued. “I likeyou, even more now that we’ve met. I feel a connection here. I think we could work well together. As long as you don’t fuck me over—”


Peter held up a hand, cutting him off. “Or screw up intentionally, then we might have a future together. In business, definitely. Maybe…maybe outside the office, too. If you’re interested.”


For a long moment, Jonathan stared at Peter as he absorbed the meaning behind those words. When they finally hit home, he asked cautiously, “So I have the job?”


Peter nodded. “It’s yours if you want it. Actually I’d like to bring you on in a senior capacity, if that’s alright. You’re better qualified than any other applicant I’ve had so far, and the only way I’m going to be able to grow the company is if I redistribute the management duties. It’ll be on a trial basis at first, of course, and I’ll have to do a reference check—”


Chapter 4