Curious (The Finn Factor 1)

His lover. Owen Finn.

He adjusted the Bluetooth in his ear. “I’m really not up for that kind of company. I have a lot on my plate right now. Anyway, I’d only disappoint him. The beard is gone.”

“What?” He ducked his head instinctively at her shout of surprise. “Your beard is gone? You shaved? Did you lose a bet? And are you really telling me not to come over again? The way you did this weekend and last week?”

“No.” Jeremy swore, slowing down as he drove past the crew decked out in hard hats, orange vests and tool belts. “Yes. Look, Tasha, I have to go but I’ll call you later. I’m not brushing you off, honey, I promise. I just—”

“Oh my God, you’re seeing someone, aren’t you? As in more than once, like a real live boy, seeing someone. Did you actually shave for them? Man or woman? Ooh, or is it a couple? That would keep you busy.”

“Natasha—”

But she had the scent. “I have to go back to work, but if you don’t answer the phone in two hours and tell me everything, I’m coming over and camping on your doorstep.”

“I’ll answer, I swear.”

“See that you do.”

On that ominous note, Jeremy ended the call and pulled up to the trailer that was the construction company’s portable office. Grabbing the bag from Owen’s favorite burger joint off the seat as he got out, he forced himself to look casual. He was having lunch with his friend. No big deal. He’d done it a thousand times before. Owen’s crew knew him. They’d never suspect that something had changed.

The trailer door slammed open and Scott, Jen’s fiancé, came stomping down the metal steps wearing an expression like a thundercloud. Hell. That couldn’t be good.

Scott saw him and grimaced. “Hey, Porter.”

Jeremy nodded as he passed, unwilling to start a conversation that would delay him from seeing Owen. He was pathetic. The man had left his bed at dawn this morning and he was already impatient to see him again. Missing him as if he’d been gone for a week. He had to find a way to get a handle on this soon before they got careless and someone found out.

Just not yet.

When he opened the office door, Owen looked up from his paperwork, a snarl on his lips. Then he realized who it was and his expression relaxed. “Finally. Lock the door in case that idiot tries to come back in to give me another bullshit excuse.”

Jeremy locked it and walked over to the small couch in the trailer, setting the food down on the coffee table before heading toward the mini fridge to grab a bottle of iced tea. “What’s he done now?”

“Enough. I swear he’d be fired by now if Jen weren’t marrying the bastard. He’s incompetent, lazy and I hate to say it, but he stole from petty cash. Nothing drastic, but it’s a little more than vending machine money. He says he used it to pay for the stripper so it was work related.”

“That man is a walking cliché.” He couldn’t have drawn a more stereotypical douchebag.

“Tell me about it.” Owen pushed back his chair and joined Jeremy on the couch before reaching for the food. “Thank you for this. I’m starving.”

Jeremy watched Owen attack the burger with the same gusto he did everything else. He was a man with big appetites. Jeremy swallowed, trying to tamp down his arousal at the thought, and drank his tea in silence.

“Aren’t you eating?” Owen asked between mouthfuls.

“Not hungry.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck.

“What’s wrong?”

Where to start?

“Tasha called. She’s upset I’ve been avoiding her. She thinks I don’t want her to bring her friend over because I’m seeing someone.”

Owen’s smile was dangerous. “She’s always been the smart one. Is this a new friend or the moaner from the party?”

“New guy.” Jeremy shrugged. “She knows I’m not into repeats.”

“Then she doesn’t know you as well as I do.” He paused. “Or does she? That brings up an interesting question. Other than me, have you ever been with the same man for more than one night?”

This wasn’t a comfortable conversation. “Rarely. I’ve had one or two weekends or four-day conventions with the same partner, but once the event was over? No.”

“Huh,” Owen grunted. “I had no idea comic book nerds were such sexual deviants. I would have taken you up on one of your invitations years ago. What about women? I’m excluding Natasha, of course.”

“Same. You?” He didn’t want to be the only one reciting his sexual resume.

Owen lifted one shoulder. “I have a few play partners I see once or twice a year who need more than cuddling after a session, but other than that, no.”

Jeremy didn’t like how that knowledge made him feel. So far Owen had been coming to him every night instead of going to the club, but how long would that last?