Page 92 of Total Creative Control

“What’s his deal?” Tag said a little later, once they had their drinks and had cooled down a bit.

He was cosied up next to Aaron, his toned body glistening beneath the zombie body paint, one arm stretched invitingly along the back of the loveseat.

Aaron took a pull of his beer. “Whose deal?”

“Lewis Hunter’s.” Tag gestured towards the far end of the bar. “He can’t take his eyes off of you.”

Aaron’s cheeks warmed as he glanced in the direction Tag indicated. Sure enough, Lewis was standing with Jason and a couple of theLeechescrew. Jason and the other guys were joking and laughing, but Lewis was watching Aaron, frowning, and this time his gaze didn’t slide away.

“Looks to me like he’s into you,” Tag said, raising curious eyebrows.

“He’s really not.”

“Come on.” Tag sipped his bright orange cocktail. “Did you guys have a thing? I thought I picked up an odd vibe earlier.”

Alarmed, Aaron glanced at Chika and Marc, but they hadn’t heard. They had their heads together and were deep in conversation—scandalous conversation judging by the expression on Marc’s face. Good. Aaron did not needthatrumour floating around the office.

“Nah, it’s just work stuff,” he told Tag breezily. “Lewis was pissed off when I took this other job—he wants me back as his PA, and it’s not going to happen.”

“No?”

“Nope. I’ve moved onwards and upwards. There’s no going back.”

Tag grinned, clinking his glass against Aaron’s beer bottle. “Onwards and upwards, then.” Draining his glass, he set it down. “Another?”

“Sure.”

Tag rose from the loveseat, then smiled widely. “Oh, hi, Toni. Come and join us.”

Aaron glanced up to see Toni approaching, looking rather more dishevelled than last time they’d met. “This bloody wig,” she complained, dropping with relief into an empty chair. “It’s roasting.”

“Take it off, then,” Aaron said. He’d discarded his wizardly robes as soon as he’d sat down and was left in black jeans and a skinny t-shirt bearing the legendWhat’s up Witches?in silver sequins.

She looked at him, aghast. “My hair’s been under a hairnet for hours!”

Aaron laughed, but stopped when Tag nudged his knee, nodding at something over Aaron’s shoulder. “Watch out,” he said quietly. “Incoming.”

Turning, Aaron was startled to see Lewis striding towards them, a determined, if pained, look on his face. Aaron rose to his feet to greet him, and Tag rose too.

“Don’t worry,” Tag whispered in his ear, slipping his arm around Aaron’s waist. “I’ll protect you.”

“Lewis!” Toni exclaimed, beaming as he joined them. “You look a-may-zing. Are you after Jay Warren’s job?”

“No,” Lewis said flatly—in lieu ofhello, presumably.

Even as he answered Toni’s question, his gaze was on Aaron, who found himself acutely aware of Tag plastered to his side with his obscenely short-shorts, acres of bare skin on show, and all those gleaming, toned muscles.

Aaron didn’t know where to put his free hand.

Lewis gave a curt nod, unspeaking. But his gaze didn’t move away.

From beside him, Tag said, “Mr. Hunter—we really must stop meeting like this.”

Lewis turned to him. “Tag, isn’t it?” he said after a pause. “What happened? Did you forget your costume?”

“Don’t be an arse.” Toni prodded his leg with her foot. “Sit down. Where’s your drink?”

Lewis just shrugged.