Winner Takes All (5 page)

It was Kyle who broke the kiss. “Come back with me. Just talking. No coworkers around worried if we’re sharing company secrets. No customers we have to pay attention to.”

“I need to sleep. We have more of the show plus the break down tomorrow.”

“Me too. Food, chat, sleeping curled up together and, if you’re nice, maybe I’ll make out with you in the shower tomorrow morning.” Kyle kissed Jim’s neck and felt the tension start to ease. “Hey, I’ve respected the fact that you can’t be out at your company. I’m not trying to give you a blow-job behind the booth, though I’d love to. I’m playing the game, but you have to meet me halfway and tell me the rules. If all you wanted was sex, playing hard to get only threw me off.”

“Right now, you want more, but it won’t last.” Jim tried to get away.

Kyle blocked his exit. “I do. Okay, I know our connection here has been sparing, fighting, and sex related, but we’ve got to do our jobs. If you won’t agree to a date or even to see me after hours, I’m stuck.”

Taking a deep breath, Jim nodded. “Fine. You want to play the victim, good. We both know there are plenty of ways to sell.”

“Sell? What? Myself? Stop with the riddles and talk to me. We have so much in common. Work. L.A. Martial arts. Come one, what’s holding you back?”

“Nothing.”

“It’s something. Your family doesn’t know you’re gay? Is that it? Hey, martial arts saved my ass in high school. I got crap, but I could defend myself from the football players. It’s hard to come out, but it’s worth it.”

Jim chuckled. “I’m out. My family wasn’t thrilled, but that isn’t the problem.”

“I’m done guessing.” Kyle backed away. “You don’t want me. Maybe, you’re the type who likes men chasing you, but who never wants to commit. You win.” Kyle turned to walk away.

“You’re the one getting cruised daily,” Jim accused.

Kyle turned. “It’s my fault that I get hit on?”

“You play into it. You flirt. You take numbers, and I saw that guy slip his room key into your jeans front pocket. You didn’t stop him. So go get what you want from him.” Jim was red with anger. “We’ve gotten each other off, and it’ll be out of our systems. We’re done.”

Kyle had never seen Jim like this. Kyle had suspected Jim ran deep but hid his feelings. He wasn’t indifferent. Unfortunately, he’d gotten it all wrong. Kyle hid his smile. Jim was jealous.

Walking over, Kyle needed to get the reasons straight so they could start fresh. This he could do.

The lights snapped on making Kyle and Jim squint.

“Well, well. Looks like you guys had a little party.” A black, female security guard approached with a grin. “Hope it was worth it.”

“Damn!” Kyle saw the lube packets in her hand. “Cameras.”

“No, the cleaning crew was running behind tonight. They heard you two going at it and reported it. But you can’t call it an impulsive fling if you brought lube. Let’s take a walk up to the security office.”

Jim covered his face with his hands. “I’m dead.”

“Relax doll, it’s sex not murder. We do have a policy about public areas even in Vegas. You two visiting for the tradeshow?”

“We’re working some booths,” Kyle said.

“Okay, well you might get in a little trouble then. I mean you paid to exhibit here, but they try to keep this a family function.” She shook her head.

“Who lets their kids out after midnight?” Kyle countered.

“You take that up with the security director.” She opened the door to an interview room. “One in here. The other across the hall.”

“We’ll stick together.” Kyle had to try it.

“Honey, that’s what got you in trouble in the first place. You boys had a hotel room, and you couldn’t do it there?” She sat Jim in the one room and closed the door.

“I need to talk to him.” Kyle pointed.

She patted his shoulder. “Tomorrow. Right now, you need to talk fast to cover your buns. You can make up with your man tomorrow. Assuming you’re not asked to leave tonight.”

Kyle went in the other room and waited. Of all the places he’d done it, he’d never been called out like this. But caught by a group of cleaning ladies? He felt guilty.

He knew he’d let Jim push him way too far. He needed to get a grip and walk away. This was a sign. Jim had played games off and on. This could be another excuse, and Kyle would still end up alone.

Right then, he just wanted to keep his job since he’d clearly lost the man he wanted.

* * * *

Late the next morning, Kyle and Arthur broke down their booth with everyone else. He’d been banned from manning it today, but Arthur couldn’t pack up solo.

“I didn’t tell the boss, I swear,” Arthur said.

Kyle had two texts already. He had a phone meeting with the boss in ten minutes. “I know. The hotel had to tell the tradeshow organization, and they complained to the company. It’s not you.”

“I like Jim. I don’t play your way, but I was rooting for you two. Where is he?” Arthur nodded across the aisle to their booth. Only Ms. Chen was trying to break it down now.

She saw Arthur’s nod and strode over, staring daggers at Kyle. “Please keep away from our booth and all Ping employees in the future. Your conduct is not what is deemed acceptable.”

“Where’s Jim?” Arthur asked. “Kyle didn’t do it alone.”

“That man is no longer employed with our company. I have no idea where he is. Good day.” She turned and headed back to her booth space.

Kyle grinned. “You still think she’s hot.”

“Hot, sure. And now, bitchy and cruel. I’m not into the dominatrix thing. Now, I’ve got no chance. So Jim didn’t knock on your door after they heaved him out of the hotel?”

“Nope. Guess I’m still single.” His phone rang and he saw it was his boss. “Now, let’s see if I’m still employed.”

“Hey, Debbie,” Kyle answered the phone.

“What the hell did you do?”

Kyle walked away from the booths and headed for a more private area. “I’m sorry. I lost my head. Guys do that to you.”

“I know but at a show? Caught? Come on. We pay for your hotel room.” She started to chuckle. “In the martial arts ring? Really?”

“Yes. We were sparing, and it went too far. Look, I’m really sorry. Bad judgment. First time and last. I can’t take it back.”

“Well, I talked with the HR guys. You’re getting a stern warning in your file, a two-day seminar on sexual harassment and appropriate conduct in the workplace. Arthur will be the lead on tradeshows until you can prove you can keep it in your pants.”

Kyle felt a little lighter. “I’m not fired?”

“No, you’re not. Between us, I had HR worried you’d sue us for discrimination if they even hinted at stronger discipline.”

“Being gay finally pays off in the workplace.” Kyle gave Arthur the thumbs up.

“You owe me,” Debbie said.

“Still looking for another marketing guy for shows? You said you wanted three of us on this.” Kyle knew just the guy, and he was feeling lucky.

“Yes. Why?” Debbie asked suspiciously.

“Our top competitor’s best guy is free. Ping cut him loose.”

“Your boyfriend got fired over this? Hope he’s suing.” Debbie chuckled. “That’s Jim? Your partner in crime? What’s his cell number?”

Kyle rattled it off by heart. “And he’s not really my boyfriend. But he’ll have all their information, and he’s great. Arthur even likes him.”

“Okay. I’ll talk with Arthur. But I’m not hiring a headache. If I do this—and believe me I want to screw the competition any way I can—but
if
…can you two work together? I don’t care what you do on your own time in private!”

Kyle had no idea where they stood right now, but he’d started the late night rematches that had gotten Jim fired. At the very least, he could give Jim a chance at a good job at a less conservative company. “We can work together. Don’t worry about that. I think that was part of the problem. He was afraid I was after him for work secrets.”

“You guys just keep whatever you do after hours, out of the office and public arenas. Let me see what I think of him first.”

“Got it. Thanks, Debbie!” Kyle ended the call and took a deep breath. He was one lucky bastard!

* * * *

Three days after the big shame in Vegas, Jim walked up to Kyle’s apartment door and knocked. All his plans had been focused on putting that period of his life in the past. The unfinished business with Kyle nagged at him.

When the door opened, Jim braced for the deep attraction he always felt with Kyle.

“You lost?” Kyle stood there in a T-shirt and shorts.

Jim almost tackled him right there. But things had only grown more complicated since Vegas. “I received a call from a woman named Debbie who said she’s your boss.”

“She is.” Kyle nodded but didn’t invite him in.

Jim looked around to see if Kyle was hiding a man in his apartment. “She said you gave her my number for a job. I have an interview tomorrow.”

“Good. The old place fired you, didn’t they? Ms. Chen said you weren’t Ping material.” Kyle opened the door fully. “Come in.”

“I got fired. Conduct and ethics. Thanks for the job lead.” He followed Kyle into the nicely furnished apartment with big screen TV.

“I can’t hire you. That’s up to Debbie. She loves to snag the competition.” Kyle stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“You didn’t get fired?” Jim had been out of the loop and until Debbie called, he didn’t know Kyle’s fallout. Jim had wanted to call or text, but he’d resisted. Between his own disgraceful termination and the guilt of what he believed Kyle was going through, Jim couldn’t let his heart rule his actions anymore.

Kyle smiled. “No. Public companies are a little more procedure heavy. My boss talked with HR, and it became bad behavior versus potential discrimination because I’m gay. Would they have treated a straight couple the same? But I got a warning and seminars and all that crap. Lots of jokes in the office, but it was my first offense and all.”

Jim stared at the sexy muscled man. “You wouldn’t have sued.” He admired Kyle’s smart boss for wanting to keep a good employee despite a mistake. No one was perfect. Jim hadn’t grown or learned anything from his last job, but he was looking at life a bit differently now. Career wasn’t everything.

“No, but Debbie protects her people. I do my job. I do it well. Just a little bad judgment about where I conducted my personal life. Debbie’s words yesterday were
you could’ve at least gone into the men’s room
.”

Jim laughed. “She sounds like a character.”

“She likes marketing and sales guys who know and use the equipment. That’s our advantage. Our job is to make sales and get the leads. She’s here to run interference with corporate crap and to ride us to get as much out there as possible so we hit the numbers. Bonuses are pretty good.”

“You want to work with me?” Jim asked.

Kyle nodded. “We’ve got a lot in common. Wrestling fetish aside, you and I get along great. Arthur likes you, and he’s straight so he won’t hit on you. You’ll fit in if you stop playing defense and get on the company team. Be yourself.”

“I need to clear the air if we do end up working together. I shouldn’t have gone off like that. Who you sleep with at shows isn’t any of my business. I kept you at arm’s length for my career. At least, it’s part of what I told myself. I couldn’t resist the sex, but we didn’t have any commitment. You can take all the room keys you want.” He’d planned the little speech and fumbled it a little. They could be co-workers. Air cleaned and a fresh start as of now.

But he didn’t want to leave. Free of the family owned company and their policies, Jim wanted to try something different. To see if Kyle wanted to quit cruising and servicing random guys.

“Actually, I’m glad you went off. You’re a hard man to read so you can get honest with me like that any time. Arthur told me to give up three shows ago. I don’t take no for an answer.”

Jim took a step closer. The attraction drew him in. “You’re a good salesman.”

“That’s part of the problem. A salesman has to be nice and charming to everyone. I take all the business cards and pass them on to the right regional guys to follow up. I don’t hook up with potential customers.”

Jim lifted an eyebrow.

“Okay, on the rare occasion I have. When I was in my early twenties, of course. But if I wanted to hook up without career fallout, I can go to the gay bar and get laid. That room key that guy put in my pocket, I had Arthur turn it in as lost to the front desk. I don’t need drama when I’ve got a good guy I really am crazy about.” Kyle pulled his hands out of his pockets and grabbed Jim by the jeans pockets and pulled him close. “Still hate me?”

The reality sank in that Kyle played the charm for sales. For all the fighting, sex and talking they’d done, he could tell Kyle wasn’t selling him a load of crap now.

“Never.” Grabbing Kyle by the front of his shirt, Jim kissed him hard. Kyle dropped back to sit on the sofa and pulled Jim with him.

When the kiss deepened, Jim leaned back. “One more thing.”

Kyle flopped back in defeat. “You’re killing me.”

“No, really. I know what you’re talking about when you mention how you were in your early twenties. I worked for a different company, and I fell for it. Married guys who said they weren’t. Guys on the down low who acted out when they were away from home. I got so mixed up and jerked around that I sought the private company suppression to help get myself in check. I knew it would keep my personal and professional lives to separate.”