Chapter 2

Travis had removed his suit coat and had loosened the turquoise silk tie just a fraction. Just enough for Darrell’s eyes to stray to the smooth, pale throat. He then forced his gaze upward to the chiseled jawline, and ah, hell, the lips, turned up just a tad at the corners. Up to the perfect patrician nose, obviously never broken, past the high cheekbones to those incredible blue eyes framed by golden lashes. Darrell thought he might swallow his own tongue.

“Uh.” Crap.His first time talking to Travis and all he could make was a dumb ass sound.

Travis’s expression was vaguely quizzical. He handed a manila folder to Darrell. “Here’s the information on the new client.”

Darrell took the folder and merely stared at it, dumbfounded. Travis had never brought him client bills before. Usually if Travis had anything for him it came from the man’s admin assistant, Barnaby, a rather young, flamboyant gay man with bleached hair. Barnaby was a big flirt.

“Where’s Barnaby?” he blurted out.

Travis smiled, showing off the dimples also often featured in Darrell’s fantasies. “Called in sick. I think he just had a little bit too much fun last night.”

“Did you spend it together?” Damn, he’d just asked that out loud, hadn’t he? What the hell was the matter with him?

Travis laughed. “No.”

Darrell set the file down and picked up some papers, shuffling them. He couldn’t look at Travis. “Sorry. I mean, I’m sure you don’t…er…fraternize with the staff.”

“It’s not that, really. Barnaby isn’t my type.”

“Oh.” Oh.Well, Darrell now knew the answer regarding Travis’s sexual preference. Tamping down his disappointment, reminding himself again he’d never had a chance in a million years anyway, he plastered on a smile. “I’ll get that information in the system right away.”

“I appreciate that. Have a good rest of the day.” And with a small wave, Travis disappeared from view.

“Idiot,” Darrell muttered to himself.

* * * *

Even though he got to the office first, Darrell was often among the last to leave. At least of the non-attorney members of the staff. It was a little after six that night when he finally shut down his computer and headed to the front glass doors. The threatened storm had arrived an hour earlier with light rain and the downpour had begun twenty minutes ago. Darrell had planned to be gone before the heavy rain started, but hadn’t been able to tear himself away from a particular challenging client billing.

Darrell now wished he had grabbed an umbrella when he’d left his apartment that morning. His glasses would be covered in spots by the time he got to his car. Grimacing, he opened the doors and hurried out to his car, pressing the unlockbutton as he ran. He wiped off his glasses, turned the key in the ignition, and cursed out loud when it just moaned.

“No! Come on.” Darrell tried the key two more times. He jumped when he heard a sharp tap on his passenger window. Swallowing a trickle of unease, he opened the door and got out. Travis Anderson stood next to his car holding a large black umbrella.

“Hey, Darrell. Car trouble?”

He nodded. “Won’t start.”

“Why don’t I give you a ride home? You can deal with the car tomorrow when the weather’s better. Hopefully.”

His heart hammering hard, Darrel shook his head. “I, uh, don’t want to impose. I can probably call someone.”

Travis smiled. “It’s no imposition, Darrell. Come on. The sooner you agree, the sooner we can both get out of the rain.”

“Okay, thanks.” He followed Travis to the man’s Honda sedanFor some reason, Darrell had expected Travis to drive a fancy luxury car.

“Where can I take you?” Travis asked as they got inside.

His mind turned traitor on him and he almost had to bite his tongue off to keep from saying something hokey like “right here, baby.” Get a hold of yourself.

“Burbank.”

“Just program your address in my GPS. Or wait. Are you hungry?”

Feeling a little lightheaded, Darrell heard his voice squeak out, “Yeah.”

“Great, let’s stop somewhere on the way.”

“Sounds good.” Darrell turned his face away from Travis’s scrutiny, certain the man could read his thoughts even in the dark car. He had to remind himself it was just a casual bite to eat on the way home. A favor from his boss.Nothing more. 2

As Darrell slid into the booth across from Travis at the Mexican restaurant they’d stopped at, he reminded himself to play it cool.

The waitress approached their table immediately. “Se?orTravis, it is good to see you.”

Travis smiled. “You, too.”

“It’s slow tonight with the rain.” She glanced at Darrell and smiled. “Oh, you brought a handsome friend.”

Darrell’s cheeks heated and he was glad for both his brown skin and the low lighting of the restaurant. He kept his gaze on the menu.