Landon's Desire (Book Three of The Pulse Series 3) (31 page)

***

All was a buzz at Liberator Industries. A big name Italian actor, whom Landon had never heard of, had placed an order for the brand new Bentley Flying Spur and Liberator was customizing the security features on it. Security was on high as the parts were being inventoried and moved to a private part of the warehouse. The work was starting today with a strict delivery date of two weeks. Landon wanted to be there from beginning to end which took him away from the club, and Carl.

“As soon as all the parts arrive, let me know, I’ll be in my office,” Landon told Tony, his top mechanic.

Once in his office he checked his emails and caught up on the usual paperwork requiring his signature. His secretary Morgan made sure he kept up, never allowing him to shirk his duties for one minute. He was pretty sure she was crushing on him, a smile never left her face while he was in the building and she took every opportunity to touch his arm, laughing and giggling at his stupid jokes.

Today was the day he was going to break her heart. He needed her help to make wedding arrangements while he was busy with the security on the Bentley.

“Morgan, can you come in here a moment?”

She stepped into his office with a huge smile. “What’s up?”

“I need you to do me a huge favor,” Landon asked.

“Sure thing.”

“I need you to call city hall and book the Kelleher Rose Garden for my wedding on the twenty first, if they make a fuss because it’s such short notice, tell them I will make a donation, the usual amount.”

“Okay,” Morgan looked at him confused.

“Morgan, do whatever you have to do to make this happen,” Landon said. “I’m getting married that day, come hell or high water, it’s going to happen.”

“You’re getting married Landon?” he could hear the disappointment in her voice and see the sweet smile leave her face. “I never knew you were seeing anyone, I mean…you never mentioned…none of my business, I’ll get right on that.”

“Morgan, wait,” Landon stopped her. “You know I’m gay right? I’m marrying Carl from the club.”

Her brows rose. “You’re gay? Get outta town,” she slapped his arm and laughed.

“And all this time I thought I stood a chance,” she giggled. “At least I don’t have to be jealous of a woman.”

“If I was straight Morgan,” Landon threw his arm over her shoulder. “You’d definitely be the woman for me.”

“I’ll call city hall right away,” Morgan went to leave, turning back to ask, “will I be getting an invitation?”

Landon smiled, “Top of the list.”

She smiled, closing the door as she left.

It was a few minutes after nine, Carl would still be sleeping. Landon decided to leave a text before going back down to the garage to check on things.

Morning Babes, taking care of city hall, what’s your favorite flower?

Love you! L.

Down in the garage, production was in full swing. Everything was carefully laid out on the floor, each part labeled, numbered and catalogued. Tony was sitting in the center of it all with his legs crossed and typing on his laptop, inputting all the parts with numbers to the blueprint of the car. He was meticulous in his work and insisted there be no interruptions while placement was being made. Landon tiptoed over to a card table set up for the men to take breaks and sat with a coffee and his phone.

The last details for the sale of
Pulse & Passion
had been taken care of, all that was required were a few signatures and the money transfer would take place. He left Mikala a text asking her to call and smiled when a message from Carl appeared on his screen.

Good Morning, Ace! It’s lonely here in this big bed without you snoring!

My favorite flower? Gardenias

What are you up to?

Love you too! C.

I do not snore! Lol

We need boutonnieres for the wedding, I will order them today.

And if anyone snores it’s you!

Kisses. L.

What’s left to do? You stole the list!

Sneaky fucker, I want something to do.

C.

No kisses, Babes?

You pick out our tuxes, whatever you like and make the appointment.

I have to go, see you for dinner let’s do Thai, my treat.

I love you. L.

Hugs, Kisses and a BJ! C.

Landon laughed. He called the florist and arranged for a special order of gardenias, happily they were in season. He took the list from his pocket and happily stroked off flowers.

Eden had supplied him with a quick fix for invitations and they were being printed off and sent to her. She was pleased to make sure they were addressed and delivered by courier to all the guests and her caterer friend, the one that Mikala had used for her wedding, was sending over a menu today. He and Carl would go over it at dinner and that would be the last item on the list done. He sighed at the thought.

“Landon,” Morgan called, over the loud speaker. “Call on line two.”

Rushing over to the phone hanging on the wall, he caught the tail-end of Tony’s nasty glare, damn the phone.

“Landon here.”

“The papers are all drawn up, the name transfer has been made from Mikala Reed to Carlton Ward and yourself,” Darius said. “All I need is your signature and it’s a done deal, the deposit will take place within twenty-four hours.”

“Perfect, I’ll drop by on the way home,” Landon told him. “Thanks Darius, I owe you.”

“Not a problem, oh, I’ll need Carl’s signature on the final papers.”

“Thanks.”

Since there was pretty much nothing Landon could do until Tony was finished mapping out the system, he bid Tony and the boys farewell for the day and went back to his office.

Morgan smiled up at him from her desk, holding up one finger for him to wait while she finished her call. He poured himself a coffee and leaned his hip on her desk.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Liberatore will be pleased, goodbye,” she said, ending the call and asked, “I was supposed to use Liberatore right, they asked for the groom’s legal name. You’re the groom right? Excuse my ignorance, I’m so confused.”

“You are not ignorant, it’s the ones that don’t ask that are ignorant,” he clarified. “We’re both the grooms.”

She nodded. “Well that makes sense, I’m happy for you.”

“I assume that was city hall on the phone?” he asked.

“Oh. Oh my God, yes it’s all set for Saturday the twenty first at three pm.”

“I better let Eden know the time for the invitations,” he told her. “I’m leaving for the day, I’ll be back tomorrow. Call me if anything comes up.”

“Will do, have a good afternoon.”

“You too.”

And with that he turned on his heels and ran out the door. Texting the info to Eden, he headed to see Darius’ office. Being as excited as he was, he signed the papers, took them to Mikala to have her sign, gave Emma a quick kiss and returned the papers to Darius, all within an hour.

He was a dynamo today.

The sound of the phone ringing echoed through the hands free, it rang four times, not unusual for the club.

“Good afternoon,
Pulse and Passion
,” Carl answered, in his best sexy operator voice.

“Tell me you’re not alone,” Landon said. “And there’s someone else to cover your shift.”

“I’m not alone,” Carl snickered. “In fact we’re quite busy.”

“Oh,” Landon put on his most disappointed voice. “I was hoping you were available for an early dinner.”

“I wish I could but the new guy Mik hired is here, I need to stay with him for a few more hours. You know, show him the ropes.”

“So you’re not completely brushing me off for the new guy?” Landon asked.

“Not completely, come home and let me see your sexy face.”

“I’m five minutes away,” Landon laughed. “I’d say be naked but…”

Carl laughed then stopped short when an almighty clatter roared through the phone.

“What the fuck was that?” Landon asked, alarmed.

“Fuck!” Carl hollered. “The new guy, I have to go, see you soon.”

The cleanup was still underway when Landon arrived and peered over the end of the bar. The new guy had toppled over several towers of glasses and was busy sweeping them into a small dust pan with a hand broom. Carl rolled his eyes as he walked over and gave Landon a long lingering kiss.

“Try to remember you were the new guy at one time,” Landon reminded him.

“So I keep telling myself,” Carl whispered. “His resume said he had lots of experience, worked at some bar called Gigi’s, for two years and a strip joint before that.”

“Gigi’s?” Landon’s interest perked. “There was a bar in Detroit called Gigi’s, I went there more than a few times.”

In fact he frequented the place. After Steve’s death it was where he spent the majority of his downtime, screwing anyone willing and able. He was actually far more ashamed of himself than he would admit. It was not his finest hour.

“I’m going to go get out of this suit and into something more comfortable before dinner.” Landon stood at the same moment the new bartender did and their eyes met, to the horror of Landon.

“Tristan.”

“Landon, what are you doing here?”

Carl looked from one to the other. He stepped closer and asked, “You know each other?”

“Tristan’s an old friend from Detroit,” Landon admitted, leaving the fact that he was his last sexual partner before Carl.

“What are you doing here, Tristan?” Landon asked, cautiously. “I thought you were going to school, with the
scholarship
, what happened with that?”

Tristan gulped knowing exactly what he was asking, where did the ten grand go for school? Landon’s one brow rose, his jaw twisted and he walked away. Tristan looked nervously to Carl then took the dust pan to the dumpster outback.

When he returned Carl looked at him suspiciously. “Is there a problem between you two? I sense animosity. Don’t make me regret you working here.”

“There’s no problem, hell I haven’t seen him in ages,” Tristan confessed.

“I’m going to have Rex run over the register with you,” Carl waved for Rex to come over. “I’ll be back before you leave. I need you to fill out a few forms for Mikala.”

A strange tingling feeling crawled along the skin at the back of his neck, as Carl scaled the stairs two at a time. He walked into the apartment and heard the shower running. Jumping up on the bathroom counter, he sat quietly watching Landon shower. There was more to the story than Landon let on, Carl knew he was hiding something, Tristan wasn’t just some friend.

The water stopped and Landon jumped when he opened the shower door and Carl was sitting there. Carl tossed him a towel.

“Jesus Carl, make a fucking sound so I know you’re there, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

As he dried off he could feel his skin prickling from the stink eye Carl was burning into his flesh. He tried to ignore him, tried to play it off as if Carl weren’t in the room staring him down.

Landon slipped into his briefs and turned to Carl, spreading his legs and stepping between them. When he attempted to kiss him, Carl turned his head. Landon moved back, crossed his arms over his bare chest and waited

“Your friend downstairs,” Carl gestured to the floor. “How do you two know each other and why do I get the distinct impression, neither one of you is willing to give up the real story?”

“Babes, don’t do this,” he warned. “Don’t make this something it’s not. I love you, only you.”

“Then tell me what’s going on.”

“Remember the anniversary cards that I told you about?

“Yes.”

“Johnson thinks Tristan has something to do with the cards. All of a sudden he’s here without a warning? I don’t like it but I need Tristan to think I don’t know anything until I can get a hold of Johnson and let him know he’s here. I can’t imagine why he came all this way, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

There were so many questions he needed answered but didn’t want to ask before contacting Johnson, he had left two messages and was waiting patiently. Carl on the other hand was not going to sit so patiently without an explanation.

A crowded restaurant was just the thing Landon needed, Carl wasn’t about to go ape-shit in front of an audience.

Carl narrowed his eyes into tight slits, his mouth a tight straight thin line.

“Trust me,” Landon asked, pinching Carl’s chin between his finger and thumb and looking into his eyes. “I’ll tell you everything at dinner, go get dressed.”

TWENTY-TWO

At
The Silk Thai
they were seated at a table by the window, the frown had not left Carl’s face from the moment Tristan and Landon saw each other.

“Since you’re not speaking will I order for both of us?” Landon joked, with a smirk and Carl continued scowling.

“I’d like the barbeque duck, my dinner companion will have the red curry with chicken and can we have the tulip dumplings and shrimp cakes to start?” Landon asked, handing the menu to the pretty blonde waitress.

“And to drink?” she asked, tucking the menus under her arm and holding her pen to the paper waiting.

“I’ll have a sparkling water,” Landon smiled, and both he and the waitress turned to Carl.

“A large iced tea please,” Carl directed his answer to the waitress, she nodded and walked away.

“Are you going to sit there all night pouting?” Landon goaded him on.

Carl faced the window, watching cars and pedestrians pass, ignoring Landon.

“You’re acting childish,” Landon whispered, as he reached for a napkin. “And I’m getting tired of this one way conversation. I’m going to get my dinner to go in about two minutes.”

Carl harrumphed.

Landon went to stand and Carl grasped hold of his wrist.

“Talk.”

“Tristan and I had sex,” Landon blurted. “For a very short period before I moved to Boston.”