Page 79 of Devil's Kiss
“What can I do for you while youloungein beautiful Italy? How I miss those family vacations.”
“You’re always welcome to come with us, Jordan, you know that. Or visit the lake whenever you wish.”
“I know,” he said, having a quick fantasy of whisking Derek away to the family villa. “Hard to do that, though, when one has a job. You remember what those are, right, Mom?”
She laughed, unoffended, as she no doubt sipped a cocktail of some kind while basking in the European sun.
“Actually,” his mother drawled, and Jordan covered a yawn. Apparently he needed a few more sessions with Derek if his exertions the night before had worn him out. “We’re heading home soon, and I was wondering if you’d mind our stopping by so I could talk to you more about that little project you faxed my way. I’d love to be a part of it if you would have me on board, J. It’s a very important issue you’re dealing with, and I can see you’ve really put a lot of thought into it.”
Jordan perked up at that. He’d been hoping his mother would look over the proposal he’d sent to her on a charity he was looking to fund. Over the years he’d found great pleasure in investing in projects that called to him.
This time around, though, he wanted to start from scratch. He wanted to be the founder of this particular foundation for very personal reasons, and he’d had a feeling if he dropped a few breadcrumbs for his mother, she would be on board in a hot second. She was the best when it came to procuring money for a worthy cause, and this one was more than worthy. It was essential.
“Of course. Come and stay. You never have to ask. How long are you thinking?”
“Just one night to break up the trip, talk this over with you, and, of course, to see our darling boy.”
“You really should stop referring to me in such polite terms. I’ll start to believe they’re true.”
“But you’re such a good boy, J. And I miss your cute face. Oh, speaking of cute, August came and said hello the other day. He was staying at his parents’ place for the month.”
Of course he was, Jordan thought with a smirk. Although there was nothingcuteabout August, at least not since he was maybe ten. From eleven on, the guy had been a hell-raiser, and offered no apologies for the hearts he left broken all around the globe. As far as Jordan knew, August was currently involved with an Italian artist. Rich, temperamental, and—according to the last email Jordan had received—“a fucking dynamo in bed.”
Once upon a time, that jet-setting lifestyle had been so appealing to Jordan. But now here he was, eleven years into a job he adored. It seemed that his professor, Miss Anne Hamilton, really had understood who he was on a level he hadn’t even known existed.
Thinking of her brought to mind his first day teaching at the university and, of course, Derek. It was hard to believe they’d known one another for so long. But when he looked back on his career thus far, Derek Pearson was certainly someone who stood out as having made it worth it.
It was funny that in the beginning he’d thought he focused on the surly student with the bruised eye so he could watch him grow and learn. He was proud of all that Derek had accomplished, that was for damn sure, but it wasn’t until recently that Jordan realized there was so much more to it than a teacher’s pride in his student.
He loved Derek. He’d loved him from that very first day, and it was only now that he was starting to let the enormity of those feelings encompass him.
“Jordan?”
“Oh, sorry. What was that?”
“I’ll let you go. I know you have work today,” his mother said.
“Yeah, I do.Shit. I’m going to be late. Thanks for calling, Mom. I can’t wait to see you guys. Love you. Bye.”
“We love you too, J. Kisses!”
He made kissing sounds into the phone as though he were ten instead of early thirties, then shoved aside thoughts of Derek that would likely distract him, and hung up to go and finish getting ready for his class.
DEREK HAD JUST puthis Jeep in park when his cell phone rang and his brother’s number flashed up on the screen. He really didn’t want to answer, especially not before work. But the alternative was to let it go to voicemail, where once again Alan would leave some long-winded message about how it was his duty as a son to help out the family.
What utter bullshit.
That didn’t, however, stop the guilt that had begun to fester somewhere in the broken parts of him that he’d buried deep down, where he’d hoped they’d never see the light of day. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the phone and brought it to his ear.
“What do you want, Alan?” he said.
“’Bout time you answered the phone.”
“Seriously? I’m about to hangupthe phone, so you best stop running your mouth.”
“Calm your tits, would ya? Jesus.”
Derek wrung his fingers around the steering wheel and prayed for patience. “What. Do. You. Want? You’ve got five minutes, and then I’m hanging up.”