***
It was more difficult on both Shane and Chris in that afternoon’s meeting than it had been in the previous one. Much as both men had been shocked and confused in their first meeting, it was difficult this time because they had to make an effort to stop staring at each other. They were in Shane’s house for a presentation on the prototype as planned. There were six men and two women in the huge showroom.
Though Shane did make a conscious effort not to stare at Chris because he didn’t want the others to notice their odd behavior, he sometimes couldn’t help but look at Chris. Shane would feel Chris’ eyes on him and turn to look at Chris as though he was being controlled by a force. Their eyes would meet, then each man would give the other a slight smile and then look away. Chris looked down when his cell phone vibrated on the table. It was a message from Shane.
Shane: Stop staring.
Chris: Can’t help myself. Why don’t u stop staring back?
Shane: Dude come on…
Chris: Then stop being so…
Shane: What?
Chris: U know what. U’re too fuckin sexy. And stop biting your lip. That turns me on.
Chris looked up just in time to see Shane release his lower lip and look up in his direction. And the smoldering desire in those beautiful eyes was so intense Chris felt himself harden. Shit! Shane shook his head slightly and started typing again.
Shane: U asshole! Now I’m hard.
Chris: Get in line, pal.
Chris was getting very nervous because he knew Damon would tease him mercilessly if he noticed what was going on. But he couldn’t help himself. All he had eyes for was Shane. It felt like he hadn’t seen Shane in years instead of a mere day. He’d missed him so fucking much. When Shane was called to address the meeting, Chris watched as he moved to stand in front of a projected image of the prototype. His gaze drank Shane in, roaming passionately over his sexy frame.
Shane looked so edible in his grey three-piece suit, Chris’ heart skipped a beat. The man was utterly and devastatingly gorgeous. Chris tried to think about something else…anything to get his mind off his own stubborn cock, the sexy hunk melting him with his hotness and his equally sexy voice. Chris turned his head and looked around the showroom. The showroom in which they were having the meeting was big and made up of glass. It was impressively classy.
Chris had never taken the time to take a good look around Shane’s house. The house was huge. He’d only been to the den, the dining hall, and that room adjacent to the den…and of course the gym as he’d worked out with Shane in his ultramodern gym on Saturday morning. Chris hadn’t been to the rest of the house and had therefore not seen Shane’s remarkably stylish showroom. Well, it was not as if under the peculiar circumstances, he could have asked for a tour. How would he have put it?
‘How about a tour for your stalker, Shane?’ Chris almost laughed.
Shane would have finally used that gun on him. And the only times Chris could have asked for that tour, it never even occurred to him to ask because he just wanted to sit and talk with Shane. As he listened to Shane give his concluding remarks after his presentation, Chris realized he hadn’t heard most of what he’d said. Shit! Was that how it was going to be with every meeting he had to attend with Shane? Damon was going to kill him for sure, Chris groaned unconsciously audibly, causing Damon to look at him.
“What?” Damon asked.
But just as Chris was about to give Damon a bullshit reason, there was a commotion at the door. Then a little girl of about four burst into the room.
“Daddy, daddy…” The little girl squealed and laughed at the same time as she flew towards them.
“Stop running, Adele.” A pretty brunette ran in after the little girl. “I told you your Daddy is busy.” She admonished exasperatedly. “I’m so sorry guys.” She apologized as she ran after the girl, who Chris realized was actually running straight for Shane’s outstretched arms.
All the breath left Chris’ lungs as he watched Shane cradle the little girl in his arms. His face was buried inside the little girl’s hair and everyone could see the love he had for the girl. When he eventually raised his head and looked at the delighted face of the girl…who by now Chris knew was called Adele, Shane’s face was alight with happiness.
“I missed you so much, baby. How was Disneyland?” Shane laughed as he looked at his daughter, totally forgetting about his audience.
“I saw snow-white, the wicked queen, the seven vwarfs, simba, mufasa, peter pan, rum…”
“You can tell daddy all about that later, darling.” The brunette said as she went up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to Shane’s lips. “Sorry about that.” She said as she reached out to take Adele from Shane’s arms.
“I’m sorry folks.” Shane finally turned to his audience and apologized. “Meet my daughter, Adele. She came back from Paris this morning…Disney World to be precise so you can all understand the excitement… She even saw the seven vwarfs.”
There was laughter and general amusement from all the people in the showroom except for one…Chris. Chris Donovan’s heart raced madly. He didn’t need to be a genius to know that Adele was the daughter of Shane and the brunette, and they were a happy family. He thought the little girl was adorable and he was happy for Shane that he had a beautiful daughter. But he couldn’t help but look at the wedding band on the brunette’s finger. The fact that Shane wasn’t wearing one didn’t really count.
Most people opted not to wear their rings. Besides, Chris couldn’t have imagined the care and affection between Shane and the brunette. It was obvious for all to see. When he watched the brunette kiss Shane he’d felt such blinding jealousy within, Chris had felt dizzy. And that had scared Chris because he’d never had that feeling in his life. Those kissable lips of Shane’s must be covered by his and his alone, Chris thought with anger but then, from the look of things, it was rather obvious he didn’t have any rights and it hurt.
Chris knew he’d wronged Shane cruelly and didn’t need to expect anything from the man but couldn’t Shane have at least told him about his status? The idea that Shane could keep something so important such as a wife and a child stung Chris, cut deeper than just about anything. Chris almost gasped at the physical pain that burst through his heart like a bolt of lightning. Then the numbness followed.
Something died inside Chris.