Try (Temptation Series)(94)
“Oh, fuck off, Cole. Why do you suddenly need a play-by-play? We signed the client, so get off my ass.”
“Maybe if you’d said that this morning to Mr. Morrison, you would have been here on time.”
Logan’s mouth fell open, and the words he was about to say got stuck. When his phone vibrated on the desk, he glanced at the message quickly and saw that it was Tate. Knowing Cole would not be leaving anytime soon, Logan looked back to his brother as he absently hit a button to Ignore the message. He’d call Tate back as soon as his over-attentive business partner left. “That was last night’s activity, if you must know. And aren’t you the comedian today?”
“I try.”
“No, you don’t—ever. So, what gives?”
Cole tilted his head to the side. “You were with the bartender, huh?”
Logan sat forward and clasped his hands together, glaring across at Cole. “Yes, Counselor. I know you’re not stupid, so you already know all of this. Get to the point.”
Cole raised a hand and stroked his chin with a shrug. “Bit messy, don’t you think?”
Logan knew exactly what he meant, but he’d had just about enough of Cole’s veiled comments. “Sure it is, but he’s so much fun to lick up, and he’s so…vocal. Oh yeah, Logan.”
* * *
Tate stared at the phone in his hand and felt something between panic and burning rage. Surely, what he was hearing at the other end was not what he thought it was, but as he watched the seconds on the display change, it was confirmed. The call from Logan was definitely connected.
When his message had first gone through, his phone almost immediately began to ring. Sitting down on the couch, Tate had relaxed back into the leather, thinking he was about to talk with the man who’d left him in bed this morning.
Instead, he was sitting on the couch, listening to—
What? A conversation between Logan and—Tate could only assume—Cole? One in which Tate was not only the central character, but also the comedic relief.
* * *
Cole didn’t even flinch at Logan’s reenactment. After years of knowing one another and working together every day, Logan figured it would take a whole hell of a lot to shock his brother.
Instead, Cole asked, “What are you doing with this guy?”
Logan couldn’t help himself. “Well, last night, he was actually the one who did…”
“Logan?”
“Yeah?”
“Stop fucking around and answer me. I walked in on you doing and being done all through college. I hardly think I’m going to be horrified now. So, cut the crap. What are you doing with this guy?”
Logan glared at Cole. The asshole is right. He knows me better than anyone. “I’m just having fun, okay? It’s nothing serious. Just the usual.”
Cole’s eyes pinned him in place as he sat forward in his chair. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Do you even remember what fun is?”
“Kind of. Yes,” Cole answered stoically, not a smile in sight. “Does he know he’s just a piece of ass?”
Logan frowned, discovering he hated that fucking description, but he offered no defense. He didn’t need Cole all over him about this.
“How is this your business? And yeah, I’m pretty sure he knows we aren’t running out to buy wedding rings.”
“You know, it’s okay to admit that you like the guy.”
Logan shook his head. He had no idea why Cole was being such a pain this morning, but it was getting really damn aggravating.
“What the fuck, Cole? Get off my case, would you? I have dated before.”
“When? College?”
“Maybe,” Logan replied vaguely, knowing of only one other person he had ever dated.
Cole stood and placed his hands on the desk and looked down at him.
“If you mean Chris, that is not dating. That was fucking, hiding, lying, and then him bailing like a pussy when everyone found out. And he was gay.”
Logan sat back at the anger on Cole’s face. He had been referring to Chris, but he hadn’t really wanted to rehash it, especially not that way.
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Yes, it was. So, I will ask you again,” Cole began. “What are you doing with this straight guy? You know how things like this end, and I don’t know why, but you always end up giving a shit about the wrong people.”
“That’s not true, and it doesn’t matter. I told you, this isn’t that serious.”
As soon as the words had left his mouth, Logan recognized them for the lies they were. But he wasn’t about to confide in Cole, not when he was royally pissing him off.
* * *
Tate wondered how he hadn’t hurled his phone across Logan’s living room as he glared into the brightly lit surface shining back at him. He was livid. With every word that passed between these two, Tate’s temper rose, and the trust he’d been so reluctant to give crumbled.