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Reaching the front door, he pulled aside the curtain curiously. His frown deepened when he saw who stood on theother side of the door. Sighing, he pinched his brow and waved at Christian, who he could see peeking through the bedroom door. No, Christian could not show himself.

David opened the door, a frown set on his face. “Philip, what a surprise.”

The plump man beamed up at him. “David, a pleasure.”

A sentiment David didn’t share, but he wasn’t going to express that fact. Philip could be notoriously bad-tempered when he was made to feel like an annoyance or wasn’t welcome. David couldn’t remember ever knowing someone as sensitive and yet so utterly blind to social convention as Philip.

David forced a smile on his face. “I can’t say I was expecting anyone to visit. Normally, the day after the Gala is the day we all take off.”

Philip nodded vigorously. “Of course, of course. No doubt, you’re tired after the night you had. I had a hard time getting out of bed, but business calls, and I have to answer.”

David’s frown returned. “Business? You have the day off, Philip.”

Philip’s smile turned chilly. “Yes, I think you and I should talk. A few things to...iron out.”

David’s mental hackles rose, and he slowly cocked his head. “Is that so? Well, since I have the day off too, and since it doesn’t sound like an emergency, you can visit me at the office.”

Despite the alarm bells going off in his head, David would be damned before he let himself be walked over and have his house invaded by Philipthateasily.

“I think you might want to hear what I have to say,” Philip said with the same smile.

“I’m not sure I like the way you’re speaking to me, Philip. We’ve been on good terms for a while now, but you’re beginning to test my patience,” David warned.

“Then maybe your boy toy would like to hear what I have to say.”

David went cold. “Excuse me?”

“I wanted to speak to both of you. I stopped by his place first, but he didn’t appear to be home. So, it only makes sense that he’s here,” Philip said, with the air of someone talking about the weather.

“Is that so?” David asked in a tight voice.

Philip brushed a non-existent speck of dirt from his collar. “Yes. Let’s not insult our intelligence, David. Obviously, I know about you and Christian, and I want to speak to you about that. Now, I want this to be a friendly affair. Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

David’s face fell into a stony indifference as he considered what to do. Philip didn’t appear to want to cause a fuss, which could be a good thing. Or it could be bad, depending on what the other man had in mind. However, inviting him into his house made David uneasy, especially since Christianwasthere and would hear everything. David wasn’t sure if he wanted to admit outright Christian was there, but he might as well play along for a while.

“I’d be very interested to hear what you have to say. Why don’t you come in, Philip? I was getting ready to make coffee,” David said, stepping back from the door.

“And here I thought you didn’t drink coffee,” Philip said as he stepped into the house after him.

David shrugged. “I’ve been known to partake now and again. But I do have the occasional guest here, and they enjoy the coffee. So I keep a stock just in case.”

“Ah, yes, I’m sure you’ve had a great many guests here.”

David tensed as he began to fiddle with the machine. “The only guests I’ve ever had in my home are my family and dear friends.”

“Ah, well, Christian should feel very special being allowed to come here then,” Philip said as he sat at one of the bar stools.

David flipped on the machine with a snort. “Forgive me, Philip. I know you’re an intelligent man, so you can understand my reluctance to understand where this sudden theory of my and Christian’s supposed relationship came from.”

Philip’s smile turned greedy. “Well, I’ll admit, it came as a bit of a surprise to me. I mean, I knew you enjoyed a bit of young flesh and all, but I never expected you to be so bold as to pursue the man who worked your front desk. I was...shocked when I discovered that.”

“You continue to speak but provide me with nothing, Philip. Make your case, or get the hell out of my house,” David said.

Philip chuckled. “You can’t intimidate me, David. You and I have known each other for far too long for that ‘Dad’ look to work on me.”

“Then you should know I don’t like my time wasted.”

“Then I’ll stop wasting it,” Philip said as he reached into his pockets.