Page 14 of Up in a Blaze (Polished P & P #4)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

HENRI

A couple of days later, Blaze and I walked into the compound hand in hand. We went straight into the common room where I was meeting some friends to go over the outfits for the Playhouse.

As soon as I saw Raya with her sister Wrenley, and Courtney, I turned into Blaze and lifted to my toes kissing his jaw.

“You have fun, mon amour.”

He snorted, kissed me quickly on the lips, and made his way over to the other table that was occupied by Torch, Death, and Quake.

The only reason Blaze was with me and not glued to a screen at Polished was because Tech had warned him off or he was going to blow up all their babies. He was totally full of shit, but he could see Blaze needed some extra time away before they were glued to their computers as the boats drew close.

“Bonjour, ladies, I appreciate you joining me.” I opened the folder and handed out the papers I’d printed. “What are your thoughts on these?”

“I’m not sure about the doctor and nurse outfits. They’re not very sexy,” Wrenley said with a wince, like I wouldn’t want to hear that suggestion.

“Thank you, chéri. That is the advice I am after.”

“You can’t go wrong with a cowboy and cowgirl.” Courtney passed that sheet over to Raya, who rubbed her bulging belly while she looked at it.

“What are the waitstaff going to be dressed in?” Wrenley asked.

“For both men and women, I would like cropped, white, short-sleeve shirts. On the bottom, black shorts that stop just below the bottom, and combat boots since they’ll be on their feet day and night.”

“I love that,” Raya said.

Courtney nodded. “Yeah, running shoes wouldn’t match the outfit, but you can get away with boots. So much better than heels.”

“Oui, we need them to be as comfortable as we can.” I glanced up at Torch as he stopped behind Wrenley. He tipped his chin up but didn’t say anything, just wound Wrenley’s hair around his hand. She smiled softly, leaning back.

“School wear would also be a good one,” Raya suggested.

I spread the papers out. “I thought I had some printed, but I must have forgotten them. What about this one?” I pushed the paper into the middle of the table.

Torch snorted but stayed quiet. Raya, Wrenley, and Courtney grinned.

“Do it,” Courtney said

“Hey, whores,” Eve called before she made her way over to us. Quake watched her walk before Death asked him something.

“Sorry I’m late.” She glanced down, and her eyes widened. “Yes. Do that. It’s wicked.” She pointed at the biker and biker babe outfits.

Smiling, I pulled my phone out for notes. “Perfect. I’ll write down these ones as a definite. Any other suggestions?”

“What about fantasy?” Wrenley asked. “Vampires, prince and princess. Elves.”

I gasped and pointed at her. “Oui, I love that idea.” As I went to add it to my notes, my phone rang, but the screen lit up with a number I didn’t recognize.

Brows furrowed, I answered, “Bonjour?”

“H-hi, um, Henri.” The soft tone had me straightening.

“Sawyer, is everything all right?”

“Blaze,” I heard Torch call.

Sawyer made a noise. “Sorry. I’m really sorry to call.”

“Chéri, I told you to reach out to me at any time. What can I help with?” A large hand pressed down on my shoulder, my beautiful beast showing me his support.

“I… I don’t know anyone else.” He made a frustrated sound. “My neighbor, Miss Cora, she usually looks after my brother when I work, but she’s sick with the flu.”

“Can’t you take the night off, chéri?”

“No! I mean, no, sorry, I can’t.” He needed the money. He made a good wage, so where was it all going if he was desperate to work?

“What do you need from me, Sawyer?”

He sighed. “Do you think they would let me bring him into work?”

“How old is he?”

“Eleven. He’s really quiet and polite and good but shy with new people.”

“Chéri, I doubt they will allow a boy his age into the building. What about one of the old ladies from the club? I am sure one of them can help.” Courtney was already nodding and at least she had two children herself. Younger than the brother, but that didn’t matter.

“I-I don’t know them.”

He knew me. He trusted me. He wanted me to look after his brother, but he was worried to ask, knowing I worked his hours too.

My chest warmed. I wanted to help him. After all, he had come to me, even when he probably hadn’t wanted to reach out.

“Sawyer, give me one moment please.”

“Um, okay?”

I took my phone away and muted the call. “Mon amour, I would like to help Sawyer by babysitting his brother for him tonight, but I need someone to cover my shift.”

Blaze grunted and pulled his phone out. He stepped away while he made a call.

“Torch, since Sawyer said his brother was shy, I think the compound would overwhelm him. Do you think Death could add my house to his schedule tonight and have the security firm do drive-bys? I know, even with the cameras inside my house, Blaze would be more at ease if that could happen while he’s at work. ”

“I’ll talk to Death,” Torch said. He kissed Wrenley’s temple before he too moved over to the table where Death was still with Quake.

Lifting the phone, I unmuted the call and rested it to my ear. “I am back. We are waiting to hear if I can be replaced tonight and then I will take care of your little brother.”

“Henri—”

“Non, chéri. It is not set yet, but please do not argue with me over my offering. I would very much like the night off and to spend it in the company of your brother. Let me help if I am able. Please.”

Silence met me on the other end.

“Henri,” Blaze called.

“I will be back, Sawyer.” I muted the call again and shifted on the seat to face Blaze.

“State has someone to fill in. We’ll go pick Sawyer up, and I’ll stay?—”

“Non, mon amour.” I glanced to Torch when he walked back.

He nodded. I smiled. “You do not need to stay with us at the house. We will be safe. You have the cameras you can watch from your toys at Polished. Plus, Torch has organized the security office to put our place on rotation for tonight.” I smiled. “All sorted.”

His jaw clenched. He didn’t like it, but I would be safe.

“Take this panic button for home,” Death said from behind me, making me jolt. He handed me a small device. “Just press there, and the cavalry will come.”

“Thank you, chéri.” After pocketing it, I reached out and took Blaze’s hand. “See, we will be safe.”

When my lover nodded, I kissed his hand before dropping it and hitting the Unmute button before placing the phone to my ear. “It is organized, Sawyer. Blaze and I can drop over to pick up your brother?—”

“Wait, um, no, thanks. I can drop him at your place before I go to work. Is that okay?”

He wished for us to not see his residence. Why?

“That will work, sweet Sawyer.” I gave him our address, and we ended the call.

Standing, I got all the scattered papers together.

“Sorry to cut this short, ladies. But I have a babysitting duty…. Wait, what do eleven-year-olds like to do? We have those gaming systems you love, mon amour. Do they color? What do they eat? What time do they go to bed?” I dropped to the seat again as my body twisted with nerves.

“I should not have agreed. I know nothing about eleven-year-olds.”

“Relax, Henri. You’ll do fine. You were a little boy back in the day,” Raya said.

“Kids like pizza, ice cream, and cookies,” Courtney suggested.

“You can call any of us if you’re stressing out. Or reach out to Lucas’s parents. You’re not alone,” Eve told me. I nodded.

Blaze’s hand clamped around the back of my neck. “There’s nothing you can’t do.”

I tipped my head back and stared up at him. “Thank you, mon amour.” I stood again. “And many thanks to you all. I will reach out if needed.”

“Good luck,” Wrenley said.

I blew her a kiss, and we said our farewells. I wanted to make sure the house was tidy and we didn’t have any sex toys lying about.

* * *

Blowing out a breath, I clasped my sweaty hands together and looked to the clock on the wall again.

They should be here any moment, which would leave Sawyer enough time to get to work.

Turning to Blaze, who sat on the couch watching me with a slight smile on his lips, I suggested, “You and Sawyer should drive to work together.”

His brows rose.

“It would save taking two cars and then I know you’ll come home at a decent hour to get some sleep if you have to drop Sawyer back.”

“You want me to talk to him?”

“Well, yes. If he will talk to you.”

“What happens if he’s too scared to get in a car with me?”

I scoffed. “Please, you are not scary, mon amour.”

“Others think differently.”

“You are big, but you are not the only one. Quake is ginormous too.”

He stood, crossing his arms over his chest. “Ginormous?”

I snickered. “You are large, mon amour, and if you cut out the resting bitch face, I am sure Sawyer would be happy to travel with you. Tell him it’s for safety.”

“How about we see what he’s like when he rocks up?”

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “But—” I heard something outside and headed toward the window. Sawyer climbed out of a small, beat-up car. “They’re here,” I informed Blaze, rushing up to kiss him and then running to the front door.

I watched their approach through the peephole. Sawyer’s brother looked like him a lot. Both had blond hair, slim builds, and were on the smaller side in height. I suspected their eye color matched too. Sawyer had an amazing light blue.

When they grew close, I opened the door and smiled. “Bonjour, Sawyer and brother.”

Sawyer gave me a hesitant smile in return. “Hi, Henri. This is Arlo. Arlo, Henri.”

The boy glanced up and waved before he looked down again while his other hand tightly held the backpack strap over his shoulder.

“Come in. Make yourself comfortable, Arlo.” I stepped aside, and they walked by. After closing the door, I went into the living room where Blaze still stood. “Mon amour, fix your face before you scare them,” I warned.

Blaze rolled his eyes but kept looking grumpy like he always did. Just the way I loved him.

“Sawyer, you know my grump. But Arlo, this man is mine, and his name is Blaze.”

“Hi, Blaze,” Sawyer offered shyly.

Blaze grunted, and when Arlo looked up and up and up, his gaze widened as Blaze tipped his chin, and said, “Hey, kid.”

“You’re big,” Arlo blurted.

“Arlo,” Sawyer snapped with a wince. “Sorry.”

I laughed. “No need. Blaze is big, Arlo.”

Arlo nodded, still watching Blaze.

“Thank you for doing this, Henri.”

“It’s no problem, chéri. Arlo and I will find some fun. We have all the streaming channels. Well, most I think, and Blaze has some of those video games. Plus, I haven’t had pizza in a long time, so I was going to order us some.”

“Arlo would like that. Right?” He nudged his brother in the shoulder.

“Yeah. Thanks.” He finally looked away from Blaze and down to the floor again.

“He’s got some homework to do too,” Sawyer said, which made Arlo grumble under his breath.

“I will make sure it gets done.” I hoped I knew what Arlo was learning. What grade was he even in? “Sawyer, Blaze thought it would be a good idea?—”

“Henri,” Blaze bit out, tone scolding.

I sighed. “ I was thinking it would be easier to go from here to work together since you have to come back to the same destination. It will also help me get mon amour away from those computers at a better hour.”

Poor Sawyer looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“Don’t have to, kid. No stress.”

“No, I, um, I don’t mind. It’ll save gas.” He blushed, probably not meaning to admit that. “Thank you.”

But why did he need to save on gas?

From what Blaze said, Sawyer lived in a relatively nice area in a three-bedroom house. His wages could easily cover repayments, if there were any, and all the expenses on top.

There was something we weren’t seeing. I glanced to Blaze, and he caught my stare and nodded. Yes, he was suspicious too.

“We’d better go,” Blaze announced.

I clapped. “Do not fear, Sawyer. I will take care of your little brother.”

Sawyer nodded before he clasped Arlo’s shoulder and turned him around. “Be good. I’ll be back just after midnight.”

“I will,” Arlo said softly. Sawyer pulled him into a quick hug and went to stand near the doorway.

Blaze stopped in front of me. He pinched my chin and stared down at me before he ordered, “Be good.”

I was no child.

“Mon amour?—”

His brow cocked.

Glaring, I snapped, “I am always good when you are not about.”

He snorted. “That I believe.” He kissed me hard, fingers gripping my hair. When he lifted away, with a final peck, he looked to Arlo and tipped his head my way. “Keep an eye on him.”

Since Arlo was already watching wide-eyed, an abrupt laugh escaped him when I harrumphed, and Arlo quickly covered his mouth.

“You are not funny, mon amour.”

He smirked. “The kid thinks so.”

“He is only being nice.” I looked at Sawyer. “Bye, Sawyer.”

He smiled with shining eyes. He’d been watching too. “Bye. Thanks again.”

A hand clamped to the back of my neck and squeezed before Blaze walked off with a grunt.

Facing Arlo after they left, I grinned. “I will order pizza. What type do you like?”

He shrugged. “Um, ham and cheese?”

“Perfect, I will get that and some garlic bread. You will share with me, oui?”

His head jerked back. “Wee?”

“Sorry, I am French. Oui means yes in my language. Please let me know if I say something you don’t understand.”

He nodded, looking away and back to me. “Ah, yes to garlic bread, please. And it’s cool. The, ah, accent.”

“Thank you, sweet boy. We will work out what we’re going to do after I order. I won’t be long.” I quickly slipped out of the room toward the kitchen. I wanted to give him a little time alone to look around without me hovering.

I really hoped this night went well. I already liked Arlo’s company.