Alex
glanced at him again, and Leslie winked. He lifted his
beer, and took a sip to cover his smile as Alex headed
toward him. Robert trailed after him, looking amused.
Alex stopped directly in front of him.
“If
you take my car, I won’t call the cops. I’ll deal with
you myself.” Alex narrowed his eyes.
Leslie glanced down at Alex’s clenched fist, then
reached out for it. He moved slowly enough that Alex
could have moved if he didn’t want Leslie to touch
him. Alex stood still. Leslie lifted Alex’s hand,
uncurling his fingers, then shook it.
“Nice to see you, Alex.”
“I’ve met you before.”
“I
know. That’s why I said nice to see you,” Leslie
replied.
“I’ve seen you and I still want to deck you.” Alex
frowned.
Leslie studied him. “That’s not all you want to do.”
Alex
stiffened and tried to pull his hand away. Leslie held
it, rubbing his thumb along the top of Alex’s.
“When did they meet before?” Hector asked.
“At
Bacchus Sloan, the day I met Miguel. Leslie was our
waiter,” Robert said.
“Is
this the one….” Mackenzie began, and Leslie turned his
gaze to his brother.
“Yes.” He glanced at the other men around him and
stated firmly, “Leave it.” Then he focused back on
Alex.
“The one what?” Alex demanded.
Leslie studied the rigid way Alex held himself, then
shrugged. “You’re not ready to hear it yet.”
Alex jerked his hand away. “That urge is getting
stronger.”
“They say aggression is a way of acting out your
sexual frustrations,” Leslie replied.
The
others around them chuckled. They were used to his
blunt ways.
“Maybe. But then again, it could just be your presence
makes people prone to violence.” Alex’s eyes crinkled
at the corners.
“I’ve been told that a few times.” Leslie laughed and
Alex joined in.
“I
completely understand why. And if you think you’re
going to pull on me what you did to Del, don’t try.
I’m meaner and I don’t mind spending time in jail,”
Alex warned.
“When I saw you, I decided not to take your car.”
Alex looked surprised, then suspicious. “So you were going
to steal it.”
“He
doesn’t steal it. He borrows it, then gives it back!
Or, supposedly that’s what he does,” Del called from
where he sat, playing a hand of poker.
Leslie’s smiled widened. Del didn’t believe that for a
minute and was still trying to work out ways to get
him arrested.
“As
Del said, I was going to borrow it, but I’ve changed
my mind.”
“Okay.
That’s a good thing. My car is not leaving my garage,”
Alex sounded adamant.
“It
won’t,” he assured Alex.
“Your mouth is saying you won’t, but your eyes are
saying you’re up
to something. I can already tell, you’re going to be
trouble.”
“I
could say so many things about your noticing my mouth,
but I’ll resist.” Leslie winked. “And I am trouble, but of the very best kind. I keep my word.
Your car won’t leave your garage.”
Alex
lowered his lids and he licked his lips, but he still
wore the suspicious expression. “Wh—” |
