“What? When?”
“About an hour ago. I wanted to run something by him before I brought it to you. Someone who knew you and the situation.”
Nolan’s hands were gentle as he wrapped gauze around the wounds. Zack shifted so their faces were closer. “What’s that?”
“I want to be the project manager for Ringside.” Nolan cast him a quick glance, but continued. “What I’m proposing is this: I’ll come on and look after the construction, organize the fund-raising, and oversee grant applications. If I’m able to make progress, and if we get some money, then I’d like to ask for a small salary. Just enough to make sure I don’t get thrown out of my place or starve. You can’t do this and your job at Compass. It’s too much for one person. Max means well, but he has a business of his own to handle. Though I do have plans to use Frantic as a base to launch some fund-raising, but we can talk about that later. There, one done.”
Zack let his bandaged hand fall to his lap and held the other one up. “I’m surprised you want anything to do with me at all.”
“What do you mean? Ringside has so much potential, both as a gym and as a chance to give teens a safe place to figure things out. You know how much it helped you. I wish I’d known about it when I was younger. A chance to be a part of rebuilding that would be a privilege.” Nolan finished fixing Zack’s hand before he slid his own onto Zack’s thighs. “And it will give me a chance to spend time with you.”
“My previous statement still stands.”
“Why? Because you were forced to fire me? Don’t be an ass.” Nolan tightened his grip on him. “You were the first person in over two years to treat me like a person. You didn’t let my disability define or limit what you believed I could accomplish. You pushed me, yelled at me, treated me exactly the way you’d treat anyone else. Did I have a few setbacks? Sure. But even so, I feel more like my old self. I even looked in the mirror this morning and didn’t hate what I saw staring back at me.”
God, how could anyone hate anything about you? Zack cupped Nolan’s face with his bandaged hands. “I’m glad I fired you.”
“You are?” Nolan’s voice shook. “Why?”
“So I can do this and not worry.”
The kiss was unlike anything he’d shared with anyone else. Love welled up, all-encompassing and bright. The scrape of stubble against his face sent chills through him, making every cell in his body burst with awareness. The swipe of his tongue against Nolan’s had them both groaning, clawing at each other to get closer. He pulled at Nolan’s shoulders until Nolan climbed into his lap.
Now that they were at the same level, it was far easier for him to bury his fingers in Nolan’s hair. His fingertips brushed against the scar hidden beneath the surface. Nolan stiffened for a moment, so Zack deepened the kiss as he deliberately traced the ragged trail.
“You’re the bravest man I’ve ever met.” Zack nipped Nolan’s chin. “And I still don’t even know what happened to you.”
Nolan’s lids were heavy and his lips swollen from their kiss. “Do you want to know? It’s not pleasant.”
“Tell me.”
So, sitting on his lap in a defunct boxing gym, Nolan Carmichael told him every detail of the horrific accident that had forever changed his life. And Zack Anderson, frustrated, angry, and sometimes dragon-like, fell in love.
The gym was a zoo. Or it could have passed as one, given how many people were currently careening around Nolan. Sawdust-coated teens carried lumber and tools around the perimeter of the room, hammered away at the framework of the center ring platform, and scrubbed away the final decades of grime and old paint from the walls. Seated on a pair of overturned plastic buckets, a pair of future interior design consultants pored over a booklet of paint swatches, happily debating about the best shade of something called “greige.”
They’d made tremendous progress on Ringside in the four months since he’d come on as project manager. Not that he was completely responsible for the success; Zack had worked hard as well.
He’d be working even more soon; he’d officially resigned as CTO of Compass the previous week.
“Nolan?” François, the contractor, sauntered over. “Did you have a chance to review the list of trades I want to use?”
He’d learned so much about contracting it was terrifying. Not that he understood it all—that was why he had François. “You’ve worked with them all before?”
“They’re my normal crew. I trust them.”
“And I trust you. When will they start?”
He fought the urge to check the time again, though it was hard to avoid given the giant-ass clock they’d installed on the back wall. The second hand ticked away, taunting him by seeming to slow down, stretching out the interval before he knew Zack was due to arrive.
Considering how much Zack had needed Nolan’s help when they’d first met, it was strange how quickly Nolan had come to rely on Zack as well. Not regarding things like healthy workplace communication or empowering team dynamics—their boss-assistant days were well behind them—but rather in little ways.
He loved how Zack made him coffee and brought it to bed first thing in the morning. He adored the way Zack refused to treat him differently than anyone else, but was there with a supporting hand the instant Nolan indicated a need for help. And he could no longer do without those moments in bed when brash, impulsive Zack placed kisses across every one of his scars . . . and slowly, patiently, mended his heart.
François looked around at the calamitous bustle. “It’s too quiet here. Where’s your partner?”
Yes, Zack might no longer be Nolan’s boss, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t up to bossing everyone else around. “He’ll be back soon. I sent him on errands this morning. Figured you’d appreciate having him out of your hair for a while.”
“Sure you can’t convince him to go back to work?” The Frenchman chuckled. “Those kids will want lunch soon. I think they have some sort of thank-you planned.”
“Oh right. I forgot this was their last week.”
“They’ve had a great time and learned a lot. If it’s okay with you, I’ll give them a bit longer today.”
“Yes. Actually, take them over to the Pear Tree for lunch, and charge it to our tab. I’ll call ahead to let them know you’re coming. A little thank-you from us.”
It was then that Zack returned. Strange how Nolan could tell without seeing. The air in the room changed, became charged with the excess energy that floated from him. “Why don’t you head over now?”
François winked. “Will do. Children, pack up. Mr. Carmichael was so annoyed with you that he’s sending you to lunch early. His treat.”
Zack stood to the side as the teens left, banging against one another and laughing as they went. Before long it was just the two of them.
“Our treat?” Zack lifted an eyebrow. “That’s going to be expensive.”
“I’ll take it out of my grocery bill.” He leaned in and gave Zack a quick kiss. “Did you find everything okay?”
“I did.”
“I only wanted a few paint samples. I figured you would be back long before now.” It was weird, but Zack seemed nervous. That couldn’t be right. “Are you okay?”
“Yup.” Zack let out a little sigh and reached into his pocket. “I was hoping you might be interested in having this.”
The object glinted from the overhead lights. Nolan looked at it, then looked again to be certain it was what he thought it was. “A key?”
“To my condo. I figured you spend three or four nights a week there now, you might like to be able to come and go whenever you’d like.”
“To your place?”
“You could even move a few of your things in. More than a spare toothbrush and toiletries. Clothes. Books. Some of your physio equipment. I could set up the spare room as a place for you to work out.” Zack licked his lips. “If you’d like.”
“Are you . . .” Nolan took the key and held it in his hand. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“Yes.” Zack cupped the back of his head and kissed him softly. “I haven’t been this happy before in my life. Even Max said so. I can’t wait to see you every day. I need you. You’ve become the strongest drug in the world. I’m an addict, and I never want to be cured. Move in with me. Please.”
Tears welled up in Nolan’s eyes, and for a moment he didn’t know if he could speak. “What about my place? I signed a yearlong lease. God, I need to call Tina. She’ll freak.”
“We’ll find someone to sublet, or see if you can find someone to take the lease over. Worst case, we’ll keep it until you can get out of it. I don’t care, we’ll make it work.” Zack slid his hand to the base of Nolan’s spine. “So is that a yes?”
Joy exploded through him. “Of course it’s a yes.”
“You should know I’m a bit tough to live with.” Zack smiled. “I have a bad habit of playing pranks.”