Page 8 of Just Business

Of course Sam would notice what Justin had missed. “He’s an interesting man.”

“Engineering adores him.” Sam tapped his pen against his desk.

Ah, so he thought Eli would say no. A banner day when he could surprise Sam. “Of course they do. He’s edgy and charming.”

“You don’t want me to hire him.”

Eli laughed. “Actually, he’s perfect.”

The pen stopped moving, as did Sam. “What?”

“Hire him, Sam.” Eli pushed himself off the doorframe. “And you won that bet.”

Sam placed the pen down on desk. “Close the door, Eli.”

His turn to be surprised, but he did as Sam asked.

When he turned back, Sam was very much the CEO and less the friend. “What did you do to him?”

Fire burned in Eli’s veins. He did not like where this was heading. “What I do to every candidate, Sam. I asked questions.”

“You’ve never come from an interview with your cock tenting your pants.” Sam’s voice was surprisingly mellow, and that stripped the anger from Eli. “What did he do to you?”

“He yelled at me.” Turned him on. Reminded him of Noah. It wasn’t the look or the suit—though he’d seen Noah in one often enough. Standard issue for yeshiva. Eli shook his head.

Sam’s eyebrows rose into his hair—he’d definitely picked up Michael’s mannerisms.

“It was justified. I pushed. You’re right about him having balls.” Eli leaned against the door. “He’s exactly the person you’ve been looking for.”

Sam was silent for long enough to make Eli’s skin itch. “Can you work with him, despite your attraction?”

Eli snorted. “Of course.” One thing he did have control over was himself.

“Good.”

And just like that, they hired Justin White.

***

Halfway down the steps to the first floor Justin stopped and gripped the railing. He couldn’t tell how that had gone. Brilliantly? Horribly? Sam liked him well enough, and so did the engineers. Pretty sure Eli didn’t. If he weren’t such an asshole, he’d be hotter than sin. Imposing. Commanding. The last time Justin had obeyed without thought, he’d been naked and wearing Francis’s collar. And fuck if he needed Eli to remind him ofthat.

How dare Eli imply that Justin was a lazy shit because he worked at a coffee shop while studying at one of the hardest schools in the country? Chances were Eli’s parents had bought his education. There was nothing rags to riches about him. Justin had gotten into school both times on merit. He’d also excelled at the corporate job he’d shoved in Eli’s face, before he’d thrown it all away at Francis’s feet while Mercy was fighting in Iraq.

Are you pissed off at Eli or Francis or yourself?

Yes and no.Confused. He was used to disdain from someone like Eli. Not... niceness. Eli’s praise and gentleness once the hard questions had been answered had been unexpected and screwed with his mind and body. Hadn’t helped that Eli had seen him to the door.

I expect you’ll hear from us soon, he’d said.

Guess you’ll not be doing the post downstairs.

Not this time.He’d looked directly into Justin’s eyes and wet his lips with his tongue.Pity, that.

Like sex on ice. Justin shivered. He didn’t want to walk into the coffee shop sporting an obvious bulge.

Out one door and in the other. Brian opened his mouth, but Justin cut him off. “Gotta go, man. Drank too much water.” He grabbed his change of clothes from behind the counter and hightailed it toward the back.

Thank fuck no one was in the men’s room. The wood against his back was as hard and unforgiving as his cock. He couldnotbe seen like this. Only one solution, really. He had to change out of his suit. No one would notice if he took a bit more time.