Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Beckett nodded, but of course, he never gave himself credit for anything. “You’ve come a long way, Julian. It’s all you. You’re doing great.”
The hour must have turned, the music ramped up in volume, a tactic designed to lure the dinner guests into the club. He wouldn’t be able to hear Beckett or be heard without yelling. “I’ve got to talk to the guy I told you about for Thane. I’ll probably be late getting home. Do you want me to call you or wait until the morning?”
“Whatever you want,” Beckett yelled. “Have Marc take you home if you drink too much. They can bring you back in the morning to get your car.”
“You’re always looking out for everyone,” Julian said, not letting on that he’d already used the security team as his private transportation. They regularly drove Julian where he needed to be.
“Just looking out for you,” Beckett corrected. “Thank you for putting me out of my misery. Go. I can barely hear you. Have fun!”
Julian lifted a hand to say goodbye. Beckett waved back before the video call ended. He wasn’t sure how he had gotten so lucky to find such an extraordinary man.
Chapter 33
Two hours later, Julian feigned exhaustion on the dance floor when their DJ for the night paired Sister Sledge with “WAP” by Cardi B. You can bet there was a time when Julian would have done his best “WAP” dance, dropping to the floor to show his talents off, but those times were long gone. Besides, he’d appreciate the view far better from a distance.
“Ricco sent this over,” Remington, Julian’s waiter for the evening, said as he handed Julian a cocktail glass and a small stack of cocktail napkins. When he started to reject the napkins, Remington shook his head and pointed to Julian’s forehead where beads of sweat had formed.
“I’m out of shape,” Julian said, dabbing the napkins at his forehead.
“I think it’s probably more that you aren’t the young man you once were,” Remington countered, taking the napkins and dropping them in the center of his tray. The quick quirk of Remington’s lips and sassy shift of his hips as he pranced away showed how easily Julian had been set up for the dig.
He promised himself he’d get the kid back before the night ended.
Julian took a long drink as his gaze turned back to the writhing bodies on the dance floor. They didn’t disappoint. His cock stiffened, as he watched the younger crowd in their barely there clothes, popping their asses and gyrating on the floor to the suggestive sounds pounding from the speaker. He remembered a time he’d have put on a show for anyone interested in watching. Hell, these guys had nothing on Julian. When he’d danced, he’d made bank and filled his calendar with future dates.
“Boss, Thomas Peterson’s here. He just took his seat.” Julian nodded at Ricco before looking over his shoulder to table sixty-eight where Thomas sat. The man was older, graying in a distinguished way, and still, very well put together. Their gazes met, which wasn’t anything new. Thomas always watched Julian. After a second’s pause, Julian lifted his cocktail glass in greeting.
“Did you tell him I wanted to speak to him?” he asked Ricco, watching Thomas nod, giving his charming smile. It had never been a struggle to spend time with Thomas.
“No. Should I?” Ricco asked.
“No, I got it.” Julian pivoted around, dismissing Ricco as he started Thomas’s direction. “Bring us a round on Thane.”
Thomas’s gaze stayed fixed on Julian. Something suggestive crossed his brow, a look Julian hadn’t seen for a long time now. Julian grinned a sexy smile, one he had mastered years ago, surprised at how awkward it felt on his face. Thomas swiped out a hand toward the empty barstool at his table, pulling it closer to him as Julian approached.
“You alone tonight?” Julian asked, lifting his thigh to take the seat.
“I am.” Thomas cocked his head in such a way that his gaze slid up and down Julian’s body as he leaned back in his seat, taking a complete look.
“Something’s changed.” Thomas’s eyes narrowed as he took in Julian’s face. “You aren’t carrying the wariness any longer. What’s happened?”
Julian drained his glass, letting an ice cube fall inside his mouth. Thomas’s praise wasn’t new. Everyone in his life had commented on the change they had seen in him. They also knew Beckett’s involvement in bringing Julian back to his old self. Clearly, Thomas hadn’t been in on the gossip. Julian struggled with how much to share.
“You don’t have to tell me. The best part of our relationship was neither of us pried too deeply,” Thomas said, lifting his nearly empty cocktail glass and taking the last swallow. “But if you’ve gotten back into the business, you need to know, your spot is still open.”