Chapter 115

Even his parents had called him to say they’d heard about his success. They expected him to bring Ryan to meet them within the next few weeks. Chris had been vague to them about when that would be because things had been going so well with Ryan he didn’t want to jinx it.

Part of him was still worried, okay maybe a lot worried, about mixing pleasure with business. So much could go wrong with his sleeping with his chef. And Damon didn’t have to tell Chris. He knew Ryan was a large part of the restaurant’s success.

But everything was going great between them. Really great. So Chris tried not to worry about it too much. Everything in his life seemed to be falling into place in perfect sync. So perfect he should have expected something to go wrong, but really, he did not.

The restaurant had closed and the last couple had just walked outside when the door of the restaurant opened.

Chris didn’t look up from the figures he was reading. “Sorry, we’re closed.”

“Even to me?”

He froze at the sound of the slightly accented voice. There in the doorway stood Armand. He wore an expensive wool coat, a plaid scarf, and he had a smattering of stubble over his jaw. For just a half a second Chris’s heart kicked up. And then he ruthlessly pushed such stupidity aside. Armand was not who he wanted now.

“Especially to you.”

Armand smiled, showing perfect white teeth. “Oh, come on, baby, you don’t mean that.”

“Yeah I do. We’re closed, like I said. What do you want, Armand?”

“I want you, Christopher. I want you back.” He stepped over to where Chris stood behind the host podium. “Let’s go to your apartment and talk.”

Chris shook his head. “That opportunity passed a long time ago. I’m not interested.”

“At least hear what I have to say. Please? What harm could there be? I came all this way.”

He knew he should tell Armand to take a hike, and really he intended to do just that, but part of him was curious as to what Armand thought he could possibly say to change his mind.

“Damon?”

Damon came from around the corner. “Yeah?” He frowned. “What the hell is he doing here?”

“I came to get your brother back,” Armand said.

“Chris—”

He shook his head. “I’ll just be a second outside.”

Chris snagged his jacket from under the podium and shrugged it on as he went outside to the patio area of the restaurant. There was a damp chill in the air.

“Can’t we go to your apartment?” Armand asked. “It’s private.”

“We don’t need privacy. And I don’t expect this to take long.” Chris stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. “Armand, let me get straight to the point. I’m seeing someone else.”

“What?” Armand frowned. “Already?”

Chris laughed. “You were seeing someone else while we were together.”

“That was a terrible mistake I regret.” Armand took a step closer. “I want you back. Whoever this other guy is, you can’t feel about him the way you feel about me.”

“I actually don’t feel anything about you except maybe…resignation.”

“That can’t be true. We were so much in love.”

“I was in love. You were just playing around.”

“No,” Armand insisted. “I was a fool. I didn’t realize how much I really loved you, Christopher. I’m ready to give up the other men.”

He sighed in spite of everything. “Men? So there were several, weren’t there? I thought maybe there were.”

“Well, yes, baby, but that’s all over now. We can get married. We’ll live in San Francisco together. You can open a restaurant there if you wish.”

“Look, Armand, I’d like to think you’re sincere, and maybe you are, but really, it doesn’t matter. I don’t feel that way about you anymore. I’m sorry.”

“You can feel that way about me again,” Armand said, stepping close. His hand closed around the back of Chris’s neck and he covered Chris’s lips with his own.

Armand had always been really good at kissing but the only thing Chris noticed now was it was not Ryan kissing him. He pushed Armand away and shook his head.

The door opened and Ryan stepped outside. He glanced very briefly at Chris before fixing his stare on Armand.

“Is there a problem, Chris?” Ryan asked.

“Not at all. This is Armand. Armand, this is Ryan.”

Ryan walked past Armand to stand next to Chris. “Ah, the cheating ex.”

Armand flushed. “Who are you?”

“Ryan is the guy I just told you about.”

Armand looked at Ryan with disdain. “Does he not work for you? You are sleeping with the help now?”

Ryan grinned. “I’m really good.”

Chris stifled a laugh. “So, you see, you’re wasting your time. See you, Armand. I hope you have a nice life.”

Armand straightened his plaid scarf around his neck and walked away.