Page 94 of Mr. Perfect
Todd gave him a brief overview of the program, then said, “Half of the enrollees didn’t show up for work today. Don’t you think that’s strange?”
He did, but Felix shrugged casually. “This is information you should tell the police, not me.”
“Okay. I tried,” Todd said, throwing up his arms and stalking back to his vehicle.
Jude and Felix went back inside once he drove away.
“None of the men currently participating in the program have a history of violent crimes,” Felix said. “Why would they run?”
“Because they might be connected to someone who is more violent,” Jude suggested.
“Or because they’ve lived out their usefulness, and Spencer no longer requires their services.”
Jude narrowed his eyes. “He has the documents he needs and plenty of money tucked away offshore. He’s about to make his move.”
Felix nodded. “I’ll call Rocky.”
“At least this stakeout is more romantic than the last one,” Felix said one week later as he leaned against Jude in the stern of an aluminum jon boat.
“Mmmhmmm,” Jude said, nuzzling his nose against Felix’s neck.
“Speak for yourself,” Rocky grumbled from the bow. “In fact, don’t speak at all. We’re supposed to be sneaking up on the backside of Spencer’s property under cover of darkness. The sound of you two making out is going to give us away.”
Felix felt Jude tense against him and knew his big guy was about to go toe to toe with Major.Again.Felix had been confident that Rocky and Jude would get along once Felix set the record straight, but Rocky hadn’t softened toward Jude much. Felix thought the stakeout would be an excellent opportunity for them to get to know each other better. Wrong again. Rather than referee another argument, Felix took one for the team and pressed his lips against Jude’s. He hadn’t planned to let his hands roam over Jude’s sexy body but couldn’t seem to help himself.
“I’m wearing night vision goggles, Fee. Maybe you halt your hand at his waistband unless you plan on giving me a really good show.”
Rocky’s voice broke the sensual spell Felix had been under. “Sorry, Major.”
“God, I’m acting like a complete asshole,” Rocky said a moment later. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“What’s bothering you?” Felix asked his friend. “Besides the fact that we might’ve been way off about Spencer planning to leave town.”
The Spencers lived in a gated community in Isle of Hope. The secluded location prevented Felix and company from watching the house for any signs of unusual activity. Not that they expected to see moving vans parked outside their estate or anything glaringly obvious. The team had settled for randomly tailing the couple when their work schedules permitted. If the Spencers’ routines this past week were anything to go by, they lived a busy but dull life.
Cameron worked, played golf, and sat on committees. Brigitte spent most of her time chauffeuring their preteens, a twelve-year-old blond boy who was the spitting image of his father, and a ten-year-old girl whose red hair was a few shades lighter than her mother’s. The kids had at least one activity a day, sometimes two or three. When she wasn’t with her children, Brigitte was playing tennis or also serving on a committee. There were absolutely no signs that either of the Spencers planned to abandon their lives like snakes shedding their skin. Which is why Felix, Rocky, and Jude were in an aluminum boat with a small trolling motor on the Skidaway River at ten o’clock at night. It was the only way to get eyes on the property that backed up to the waterway.
“It’s nothing and everything, I guess,” Rocky replied. The man was such a curious enigma. “Whatever the cause, I shouldn’t be taking it out on you and fuckface.”
“Hey,” Jude said. “Don’t call Felix hateful names.”
Rocky snorted, and it was the closest thing to a laugh Felix had heard all week. “Maybe you’re not completely awful, Arrow.”
“Aww, shucks.”
“Felix obviously likes you, and I trust his judgment,” Rocky added.
Jude chuckled. “You’re too kind.”
Felix more than liked Jude. He was head over heels in love and felt like a kid again. Each new day was a different discovery about Jude that entrenched the man deeper inside Felix’s soul. Jude was determined to make friends with Pete and Pearl and researched ways he could endear himself to the peacocks. One night, he showed up with a box of live crickets he’d purchased from a pet store. Pete and Pearl went crazy eating the insects but still cornered Jude against the house the next morning when he’d tried to leave for work. Mostly, Felix loved how he could just be himself around Jude.
He was enough.
And he learned new things about himself, too, once he’d let his guard down. He liked making Jude happy and finding ways to draw out the dimples. He’d never be a chef, but Jude was turning him into quite a gourmand. Food had been a necessity for survival, but Felix loved trying new tastes and textures. They even started cooking most dinners together. Jude was a patient teacher, and Felix was burning himself and the food less these days. He especially liked spending every night in Jude’s arms. They spent most of their nights at Felix’s house because of Pul, but he’d stayed over a few nights at Jude’s.
Neither man had confessed the depth of their feelings, but it was as apparent as the hard-on pushing against Felix’s jeans.
“Kill the trolling motor,” Rocky said. “According to the map, the Spensers’ house is just around the bend. We’ll paddle the rest of the way.”