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Music played in the elegantly decorated ballroom of my family home and as I closed the patio door, I breathed a sigh of relief as it faded behind me. My mother Clora still carried on the tradition of employee soirées as celebrations for jobs well done or the Christmas party. She was the face of Sander's Investments since my father passed away a few years earlier. I hadn't taken my place at the helm yet and, honestly, I didn't believe I ever would.
Removing the beautifully tailored jacket of my signature pinstripe suit, I draped it over one of the patio chairs. Tipping my head back, I stared up at the night sky. I frowned as I heard a soft sob close by and as I searched the shadows, a tall, husky frame almost blended into the darkness. I lightened my steps as I approached the huddled form, stopping mid-step at the sight of the most beautiful man. I couldn’t resist approaching him.
That's when I noticed the tears that wet his face—a handsome one etched with time and experience. He was vaguely familiar, but I didn't know why. Another hitch in his breathing caught my attention and urged me forward. He flinched as I stopped in front him. He was tall, enough that I had to tip my head back to study his expression.
Slowly I raised my hand, gauging his reaction to being welcoming of my touch. "Such beautiful eyes should never have a tear in them." I stroked his spiky lower lashes as I smiled at him. His wavy silver hair fell across his furrowed brow. My thumb gently traced the lines beside his eyes.
As I caressed my hand around to the back of his neck, he didn't take his gaze off mine. I gripped him tight to bring his slowly down to me. I’d never been known for my ability to think first, but I gave him plenty of time to tell me no until his breath fanned my lips.
"Oh, baby, you going to let me kiss you? Yes or no?" I teased him as his attention never moved away from my face. A stuttered yes was the prettiest sound I'd ever heard. His lips were stiff against mine, but a fine tremor moved along his body.
"Open for me, baby…" I felt just the tiniest movement of his lips parting and then the patio door banged open, and he shoved me backward. He darted out into the night without ever looking back.
I muttered curses under my breath as I shoved my hands into my pockets. It was an employee party; he had to work for my family. There was nowhere that man could hide that I wouldn't find him. That beautiful, sad man needed a Daddy to make him smile.
Brian Asher. That was my boy's name. I'd searched every floor the Monday after the party until I’d gotten that information. I'd worked my way down from the executive floor until I reached the fourth where the legal department was housed and spotted him behind his desk. I'd thought he was pretty the night of the party, illuminated only by the small lights in the flower beds. In the full light, he was even more stunning, with his silver hair neatly styled and a gorgeous face with full lips I was dying to kiss again, this time without interruption. His baby-blue dress shirt showed off powerful shoulders and a broad chest.
"I'm going to seduce the head of our legal department," I announced as I watched my mother behind the massive desk. She slowly panned away from the screen of her laptop, her pretty gray eyes that matched mine boring into me. I smiled sweetly; it was the expression that had gotten me out of trouble since I was a baby. The dimples were her weakness. Of course, being the only child also helped; I'd gotten away with a lot in my twenty-seven years.
"Why do you do this to me?" she asked.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Why don't you just go to a club find someone to hook up with? I'd really appreciate it."
"Nope. He's mine."
"And he's the head counsel for the legal department. That’s sexual harassment."
"I don't work here," I reminded her, smiling because I knew I was about to win.
"Again, why do you do this to me?”
" Oh Mother, you're so dramatic."
As she leaned back in her chair, she shook her head at me. What could I say? The woman spoiled me rotten and expected me to behave. I'd wanted to give her the courtesy of informing her of my plan before I approached my boy, but that’s all it was—a courtesy. Nothing she said was going to change my mind about claiming him. One look, one kiss, and I was already so obsessed with the beautiful man. To me, he was perfect. What was I supposed to do: ignore it? Absolutely not.
I was all for claiming my feral lack of impulse control. Was I going to do better? Hell no. She'd made the man I was, so she should know better by now. I just kept staring at my mama, watching her blood pressure rising by the second.
"Which one is it again?"
"Brian. Silver hair and beard. Big blue eyes. Husky body meant to be cuddled on my lap."
She groaned and started to rub her hands over her face but stopped short the moment she seemed to remember that doing so would mess up her flawless makeup. I knew every professionally covered gray hair she had was all my fault and I took pride in every one of them. I took every opportunity to remind her that my gay ass didn't ask to be here. Although, my homophobic male genetic contributor was rolling himself dizzy in his grave. If the afterlife existed, he was screaming into the abyss listening in on mom and my conversations.
"How old is he?" she asked as she leaned back in her chair.
"I don't know. Gloria in human resources wouldn't give me his employment record even though I asked nicely and everything. She forgets that my name is on the building."
"Your name isn't on the ownership papers. There's nothing I can say to talk you out of this?"
"Nope." I said and popped the P. The heavy sigh she released told me everything I needed to know about her thoughts on what I assumed she thought was my latest scheme.
I didn't blame her. It wasn't like I'd taken much seriously in my life, but this, Brian, my boy… I was making him a priority. Although, I had to anticipate my reputation wouldn't go over well with a man like Brian. Yet he was worth the effort.
"Get the hell out, don't you have some party to plan for?"
"No, Mama, I was going to do some recon and maybe say hi to my boy again."
