Chapter 75

“Yes, it was kind of scary. He coped. He took a deep breath and got on with settling her in the house. I was very proud of the way he handled it, yet it bothered me that he did not rail and rant.”

“I told you they called him the Ice Man at the Shore. Jim believes Brian internalizes his feelings,” said Reed. “That’s a straight path to an ulcer.”

“It is also a path to nervous collapse. Is there anything I should know about this evening?” Bear asked.

“Yeah, you need to talk to Tom Martino. He is in the bar.

I spoke to him today on the phone, and he came over tonight deliberately to see you.”

“Let’s take this to the bar and see what Tom has to say. Is Jim Boy available?” Bear asked.

“Yes,” Reed answered. “I sent for him as soon as I saw your car in the driveway. You brought out the Cobra, a huge treat to give a boy who doesn’t wear your collar.”

“It was well-deserved,” Bear said roughly.

“I’ll hear the rest of that story with Cognac. Tom is waiting at the private bar. Jim Boy can give Brian the nickel tour while you and Tom exchange information and I presume tell me what the fuck is going on?”

Jim Boy appeared at Brian’s side.

Reed said, “Jim, you are to give the boy the club tour he missed. He is unable to speak to anyone but you, so make sure you stay by him in case trouble comes along. Anything you’d like to add, Bear?”

“No, Reed. The boy has been given his instructions and I have every confidence in Jim.” Brian watched from his position on the floor as the two men left.

“Get up, hon, you can’t see the club from the floor.” Jim held out his hand.

Brian put both hands behind his back. “I’m sorry Jim. If you don’t mind, I’ll get up by myself, I need the practice.”

“Okaaaaaaaaaaaaay, a bit of a stickler, aren’t we?”

“I love him, Jim. I’ll do anything I can do to keep him,” Brian whispered as if in half prayer.

“Oh, I can help you there. I can tell you what he likes and what he doesn’t care for at all. I can even tell you all about Antonio.” Jim giggled.

Brian put both hands over his ears in the universal symbol of becoming deaf. “If you try to tell me, Jim, I’ll not listen. I appreciate what you want to do for me and I love you for trying.

However, Bear is my destined mate. I must learn his desires and preferences either by myself or through him. To do it any other way would be cheating.”

“Don’t you even want to hear about Antonio?” Jim asked, eyebrow up in disbelief.

“Damn you, Jim. Of course, I want to know everything about Bear. I would sit here and listen to you talk about him all evening and every damn evening after. However, I don’t think he wants me to listen to gossip. He wants me to find things out for myself.

I fully intend to honor his wishes, so if you don’t stop, I’ll have to go find him.”

“Don’t get all huffy, honey. I had to ask, you know. If you had listened, I would have known right away if you were not the right boy for Bear. It is important to Reed that Bear gets the right boy this time. So, please forgive me, I but follow the orders of my Lord and Master,” Jim said with a wink and a wiggle.

“You do that very well,” Brian said.

“What?”

“Flirt, wink, wiggle, interrogate…fight, patch people up.

You’re a very talented man, Jim. I would really like for us to be friends.”

“I agree, brat, I agree. Let’s cut through the Cigar Room and find our Sirs.”

“Wait,” Brian shouted after Jim. Jim came back to where Brian was standing. “I can’t go through the Cigar Room.”

“Why not?” asked Jim, a bit irritated.

“Sir detests the smell of smoke on my person or my clothing.

He just spent a fortune on toiletries and scents for me from London. It would displease him were I to come to him stinking of cigars and cigarettes. If you want to cut through the room, could you give me directions to get to our Sirs by other means?”

“You are obsessive, but so is Bear, so I guess you are a match made in Heaven,” Jim grumbled. “Come on, we’ll go the long way.”

They were almost to the door of the private bar when Jim bolted ahead of Brian. Brian looked to run after him, but was body blocked by four huge strangers. Trusting in the club rules, Brian put his finger on his lips and displayed the color of his tunic.