Page 28 of Survival Game

“I am,” Ryan acknowledged. “I give thanks every day for coming through it like I did.”

Kyle nodded and looked at his watch. “It’s time to leave the office, boss. Mango asked me to get you home a bit earlier.”

Ryan frowned. “Why?”

Kyle tried to keep the glee out of his voice. He knew exactly what was going on. He’d helped Mango pick out the outfit for Ryan, who was going to look so damned hot in it.

“Dunno. He told me to kick my boss out at nine o’clock sharp or he’d come down and get you himself.”

Ryan swore but he stood, looking for his suit jacket. “Damn man is a pain in my arse.”

“Isn’t that the whole point?” Kyle smirked. “Have you seen Eric lately? He hasn’t been around since he came in a while ago.”

Or since we had a breathless, heavenly frot at my place.

Ryan shook his head. “No, he’s away for a couple of weeks. He went backpacking with some friends in the Grand Canyon, I think.”

Kyle’s stomach clenched, his chest constricting.

Eric went away to the US and didn’t even bother to let me know? Bastard. A text would have sufficed.

He forced himself to stay calm. “Oh. That sounds cool. Well, you’d better get going before that boyfriend of yours comes down and drags you away.”

He shooed Ryan out of the office and watched him climb the stairs to his flat. Once he was out of sight, Kyle went into the office and closed the door. He stood, shoulders bowed, staring out of the window.

Kyle sat nursing his drink, staring at the frenzied hordes of hopeful gamblers surrounding him. He’d come down to the Hippodrome Casino in the West End in the hopes it would lift him out of his doldrums. So far all it had done was get him tipsy and make his hands itch to take over from the croupier and earn himself some money at the craps table.

He watched idly as the dealer shuffled the cards and dealt another losing punter his hand.

“So, are you going to drink that or just glare around the room looking sexy?” The lilting Jamaican voice made Kyle look up as a rather attractive black man, perhaps a few years older, sat down next to him. Tall, clean-shaven and dressed in a deep blue suit with a light yellow shirt and matching tie, he looked made for the cover of a fashion magazine. Then the man grinned, making him look even more delicious.

Kyle looked down at the whisky he’d been nursing. “I’m drinking it, just making it last. This place isn’t cheap.” Shit, now he’s going to think I’m asking him to buy me a drink.

Sure enough, Jamaica laughed. “Then, my friend, I shall buy you another while you finish that one.” He gestured to a passing waitress who swished over and took the order.

Kyle panicked. He didn’t tend to take drinks from strange men in casinos. He’d learnt his lesson a long time ago on that one.

“No, shit, that wasn’t a hint to buy me a drink. Honestly, I’m fine with this one.”

“Nonsense. I insist. A beautiful man like you deserves it.”

Kyle frowned. “It’s a little risqué to go around paying that type of compliment to strange men in places like this. How do you know I wouldn’t pop you one in the nose for trying to come onto me?” He squinted through slightly hazy eyes. Crap, the whisky was starting to go to his head with mega force now.

The man reached out a hand. Kyle shook it, and was engulfed in warm skin and firm fingers. “My name is Louis Devon Thomas. Now we are no longer strangers, Mr Violet Eyes. Now please, could you return the favour by giving me your name?”

“My name is Kyle. And my question still stands.”

Louis inclined his head graciously. “You work at Club Delish. I live in this area and frequent it often. I have seen you there. I didn’t expect to see you here on a busy Friday night. From what I have seen of you, you are always working. Imagine my delight when I saw you sitting here. Alone.”

Kyle’s insides constricted and a chill fingered up a spine.

Louis must have seen the flash of panic because he leaned back and shook his head. “I promise you, I’m no stalker. This is a coincidence, nothing more. You have nothing to fear from me.”

Kyle’s face flushed. “Sorry, I’m being paranoid. Ignore me.”

Louis frowned. “I will do no such thing. I saw fear in your eyes just now. You are quite right to question my intentions.”

Wow, that’s unexpected. Someone who doesn’t think I’m a freak.