Well-Tailored (Thorne and Dash 4)

Unless, of course, everything came crashing down. What if he worked up the nerve to tell Marc how he felt and Marc ran? What if he didn’t? Which was worse?

He’s a twenty-four-year-old white boy. Do you really think he’s going to stay with you?

He could still take the offer and run.

And leave Marc all alone? Marc needed someone in his life.

So let someone else have him.

He tensed, balling his hands into fists until his nails pressed into his palms. He didn’t want any other man touching Marc.

Then you’ve got a problem.

No shit.

His stomach threatened to revolt, and he had to take a few careful breaths to ease his nausea. He’d been drinking coffee nonstop all morning with nothing to eat. Maybe he should grab a bagel before Thorne got there.

The door chimed. Too late.

He walked out front, and words spilled from his mouth. “Someone offered to buy me out. Am I crazy not to take the offer?”

“Whoa.” Thorne held up his hands. “I don’t think you’ve ever said that many words at once unless you were gushing over a fabric choice or telling me off.”

Darius glared at him. “I don’t gush. And I can’t tell you off right now because I need advice.”

“I didn’t think you ever listened to other people.”

“Not about their suits.”

Thorne smiled. “Slow down and start over.”

“In September, someone offered to buy the business. I turned it down, but they upped the offer and gave me until the end of the year.”

Thorne narrowed his eyes. “Who’s behind the offer?”

Darius had expected him to react more strongly, but he wasn’t used to Thorne in professional mode; of course he must keep his cool in negotiations. “I don’t know. They wanted to stay anonymous. My lawyer’s tried to find out who it is, but he hasn’t had any luck.”

Thorne gave an evil smile. “Give me the details, and I’ll put my law firm on it. No one hides from Marsden and Marsden.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do, because now I’m curious. And you should’ve come to me about this to start with. You do realize I make business plans for a living.”

“For huge corporations, not little tailor shops. And you’re going to tell me to stay because you need me. Where else would you get suits like that?” The navy pinstripe ensemble Thorne was currently wearing was one of the best he’d ever designed.

Thorne laughed. “One way or another, I’ll make sure you continue to make my suits.”

“Oh really.”

“Yes.” Darius loved Thorne’s absolute confidence everyone would do his bidding. Of course, most people did, except for Riley.

“Are you seriously considering the offer?” Thorne asked. His tone said he sure as hell hoped not.

“No. I don’t think so, anyway.”

“So what would make you want to sell?”

Was he crazy? “The money.”

“So it’s a good offer.”

Darius told him the amount.

Rather than gasp as Darius had done, he simply said, “That seems more than fair.”

“More than—”

“Any other reason to sell? Are you dissatisfied?”

“I was when I got the offer,” Darius confessed. “I’ve been bored, restless. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“I think you should ask Marc about that one.”

“Tosser. Listen to me.”

Thorne made a rolling motion with his hand. “Go on.”

“I’ve got a new direction now. I’m working with Marc to sell his costume designs.”

“But you’re considering walking out on him?” Thorne’s voice was like ice.

“No, I’d help him set up his own company and invest in it and—”

“Darius, do you know how hard I fought what I feel for Riley?”

“Dear God, are we about to have a relationship talk?”

“We are. But I won’t tell anyone.”

Evil bastard. “You damn well better not.”

“Don’t run from Marc. He’s a good man, an amazing friend, and if you hurt him, I will come after you.”

“Oh, really?” Darius didn’t doubt it. Thorne would be dangerous when it came to people he cared for.

“Yes, really. Just tell him how you feel.”

“I don’t even believe in relationships.”

“Fuck that. Neither did I until Riley. Trust me. You can’t fight this.”

“I…” What the fuck could he say?

Thorne studied him long enough that it became unsettling. “Why are you so opposed to letting yourself fall for him?”

“Why were you?”

“Because I got hurt in the past, and I thought it would ruin my focus on work, complicate things, a lot of other stupid ideas.”

Darius understood that. Maybe they weren’t so different after all. “My mother died when I was eight, and it was like I lost my father too. He grieved constantly, paying more attention to memories of her than he did to me. He’s never gotten over her being gone, and it’s been almost thirty years. I don’t want something like that to happen to me.”

“Do you think your father would’ve changed that if he could? Do you think he’d rather not have loved her like he did?”

“Better to have loved and lost and all that bullshit?”