Torch (Unbreakable Bonds 3)

“It’s okay,” Ian said, tightening his arms around Sven. “I know him.”

Sven stayed perfectly still. “He shouldn’t have been sneaking in the back door.”

“You’re right, he shouldn’t have. But I get the feeling this particular cop doesn’t care too much about polite rules of society.”

Sven relaxed and Ian climbed off him and stood staring down at Hollis, who had blood trickling from his nose. Ian shook his head, scowled and stomped off to find him a towel. When he returned, Hollis and Sven stood glaring at each other.

“The fucker dove out of nowhere or I wouldn’t be bleeding.” Hollis took the towel and held it to his nose.

Sven’s eyes narrowed and he took a menacing step toward Hollis, pottery crunching under his big boots.

Ian kind of wanted to just sit back and let them duke it out. He had a feeling Hollis could hold his own, but Sven was highly trained and normally, he hated violence of any kind. Stupid horniness was showing its ugly side.

And speaking of horny, Hollis looked good. Rough and a little strange with the darker brown hair, but it was just so good to see him. Ian stood silent, staring longer than he should have, taking in the battered leather jacket, the faded jeans and wishing for that messy blond hair.

“Can we talk in there?” Hollis nodded toward Ian’s office. “In private?” He looked down and saw the baseball bat at Ian’s feet and paled. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Ian picked up the bat and smiled at Sven to let him know it was fine. He led Hollis into his office, glancing over his shoulder to catch Sven picking up a broom. “I’ll get that. It’s okay. Really.”

Sven merely frowned and started sweeping up the broken dishes.

Once he and Hollis stood in his small office, Hollis crossed his arms and stared. Ian stared back, liking the familiar aspects of the cop. Same tall, muscled body, same piercing stare. “I thought you’d moved.”

“I took an assignment that means I have to hide, use a different identity. I’m not even supposed to be here now.”

“Then why are you?”

A half smile tugged up the corner of Hollis’s mouth. “It’s not the first time I’ve checked in on you.”

“So you’re the one who’s been watching me?”

Blue eyes narrowed, making lines crinkle in the corners of Hollis’s eyes. “You’ve felt someone watching you? Is that why the bodyguard is back?”

“Maybe I’m dating him,” Ian snapped.

The other side of Hollis’s mouth went up in a full smile. “I don’t think so.”

“I could be.” Ian realized he sounded slightly petulant and changed the subject. “I wish you’d let me know it was you watching me. It made me…uncomfortable.” That was putting it mildly. “And just why have you been?”

“I’ve checked in on you several times, but I haven’t been watching you.” Anger darkened his expression. “But you’re right to trust that gut feeling. Tonight I came in because I caught someone sneaking around the restaurant earlier. I waited until most of the staff left to see you.”

A chill went through Ian. “What did he look like?”

“He took off before I could get a good look. Seemed small. I thought maybe it was a kid, but I wanted to warn you just in case. With the fires and everything going on, I needed to know you’re being careful.”

“So you broke your cover to warn me?”

“I didn’t break anything. I snuck in and ran into the blond monster.” He lowered the towel and frowned at the blood staining the white material. “That’s what I deserve for wanting to see you so badly,” he muttered.

Ian held his breath. “You wanted to see me badly?”

Scowling, Hollis tossed the towel into the trash can next to Ian’s desk. “You won’t want to use that again.”

“Avoiding the question?”

Blue eyes locked on him and that wash of electricity came back with a vengeance making Ian dizzy with the force of it. He tilted his head back, letting Hollis see his interest and his heart slammed in his chest when Hollis’s breath visibly picked up and his nostrils flared. “Yes, Ian Pierce, I wanted to see you. Badly. So much so I risked coming here when it could be the worst thing for you.”

“But it sounds like you came just in time to scare someone away. Maybe you should come around more often.”

Hollis shook his head. “I won’t be able to. Not for a while.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t suppose I could talk you into moving in with Lucas at that penthouse for a few months, could I?”

“I’ve got Sven.” Ian frowned. “Though we may be staying here to keep a closer eye on the restaurant since you saw someone out there. I love this place.”

“No. It’s not safe enough here.”

“No?” Ian took a step closer to Hollis. It made his neck bend back more but he made sure the man was looking right at him. “What makes you think you can say no to me like that? We’re not anything to each other, right? Acquaintances—and not very good ones at that—or you would have told me you were going to disappear.”