Page 28 of Control Freak

“Yeah, and I’ve got a meeting tonight. I’m sorry to leave you on your own, but?—”

“It’s okay. I didn’t ask because I was worried. I thought I might…” He waved toward my computer, and the penny dropped. So did my stomach.

I swallowed. “Right. You’ve got work too.”

He cocked his head. “Unless you don’t want me to cam here? It’s just, this isn’t a permanent solution, you know? I don’t really have another way to make an income right now.”

“It’s your job,” I said, knowing I had no right to ask him to stop. Even if I was a selfish, jealous asshole. “Of course you can’t just quit for my sake.”

He licked his lips. “I mean, none of my other clients are VIPs likeyou.”

“Stop. I know I’m not special.”

His eyes met mine. “You absolutely are. I wouldn’t be here right now if you weren’t.”

My stomach flipped at the sincerity in his gaze. I’d always hoped Shiloh might care about me. Pretended he did. But deep down, I’d always been afraid I was nothing but a job to him.

“That’s, uh…” The image of him sitting in my office chair, stripped of his clothes, hard dick spilling over his fist as his mouth went slack, hit hard. I stumbled over my words. “I want, should, need to— I’ll use the hall shower.”

I raced out of the room before Shiloh could decipher my expression.

The anti-anxiety meds soothed my nerves, but I was just that little bit off for the rest of the day. I snapped at Gray over his bike job that still wasn’t done.

“What happened to being ahead of schedule?”

He threw up his hands. “Shit happens, Holden! I didn’t think it would be this big of a job.”

“That’s why you don’t fritter away your time when things seem to be going well,” I ground out.

He left my office, slamming the door behind him.

I lost myself in spreadsheets and paperwork, activities that always gave me a sense of satisfaction. Everything had its place and its purpose. There were no surprises, and I controlled every last decimal point.

Although, I didn’t like the hours Matteo was clocking. It was never going to be enough to get him ready by the time Bailey left.

I checked the schedule. He wasn’t working until Friday. I’d have to pull him aside and have a chat. No doubt, I’d endear myself to him as much as I had to my brothers.

By the end of the day, Gray and Bailey were ready to start a revolt, and Axel had walked in, taken one look at me, and told everyone he’d be busy in the junkyard. Taz had even shown me his teeth, and he usually reserved his snarl for Gray. My medication had worn off hours ago, but I was reluctant to take another dose when I’d need one for the Chamber meeting.

I shut down my computer with relief and joined Gray and Bailey in the garage.

“We’ve got the Chamber dinner, Bails. Go get showered.”

Bailey groaned theatrically. “Why do I have to go?”

“Because it’s a chance to make a good impression on a lot of the people who will be funding local scholarships. We’ve been over this.”

“You know they’ll just choose the best essay or someone with the best grades,” he grumbled. “Neither of those will be me.”

“All the more reason to make a good impression on them in person,” I said firmly.

“But I can already get foster kid sympathy money from the state,” he whined.

“You don’t know how much or if it will pay for all your needs. We need to cover all our bases. The shop is doing better, but college is expensive.”

Bailey turned a beseeching look on Gray. “Tell him it’s a waste of time.”

“Don’t look at me,” Gray said. “I’m the slacker who has to work overtime tonight.”