“Dude, it’s fine,” Dom said when he finally stopped laughing. “Yeah, I’m gay. And dating is that same kind of minefield shitstorm for us too.”
Trent snorted. “Tell me about it.”
Dom watched as a look of longing crossed over Trent’s face for a moment, the water forgotten in his hands. But then he shook his head and smiled crookedly at Dom. Yeah, there was definitely a story there. Was Trent in the closet? Or was it that he cared for someone he was having trouble snagging because of his complicated life? Ooooooh, Dom was dying to ask him. Digging around in Trent’s life would be such a great distraction from his own worries about Abe. But he kept his mouth shut. From what he could see, Trent’s privacy was pretty much nonexistent. If he managed to keep a secret or two to himself, then Dom was happy to let him have them.
“I’ve always kind of wondered,” Trent started again. “Is dating hard when you’re working security? I’ve got some friends who have personal security on their payroll. They travel with them and spend a lot of time together. Not much time for dating.”
Dom shrugged, accepting the bottle of water from Trent when he held one out toward him. “I haven’t done much long-term dating while working security. More of the short-term, ‘gone by morning’ kind of thing.” Trent chuckled and flopped down in one of the cushioned chairs around the small coffee table. “But this guy…he’s different. We’ve been friends for a bit, and he’s got a good understanding of the crazy schedule I have. We text and sometimes grab a bite to eat. Nothing big.”
“But you would like something a little bigger? Maybe breakfast?”
Dom huffed a laugh. Breakfast the next morning with Abe after a night of great sex? Yeah, that sounded like a big slice of heaven. He couldn’t imagine where things would lead with Abe, but he’d like to at least have the chance to try.
“Breakfast sounds pretty good to me,” Dom agreed.
Trent sat up in his chair and placed his unopened bottle of water on the table in front of him. “I know you don’t know me. I’m just some lucky schmuck who occasionally pretends to be a cop or a CEO or a super spy, but in those rare moments when I get to be a real human being, I regret all those times I didn’t at least push for a little something more. Even if it all blew up in my face, at least I would have known.”
“I should ask for breakfast?” Dom asked with a wide grin.
Trent snorted. “You might consider asking for dinner and a movie first, then see where it goes.”
“I’ll give that a try. But first, you’ve got an interview starting soon with some reporter from Vogue. Or was it Cosmo? You gonna provide your top ten list of sexual positions?”
Trent winked at him and gave his patented movie-star smile that he whipped out when the fans were about. Dom noticed that he’d tried the smile on him only one time when they first met and then promptly stopped when Dom had established that he was the law. “You need some new techniques to add to your repertoire?”
“Oh, no. I’m good. Real good,” Dom teased, drawing out the last two words.
Trent laughed, and Dom shook his head. At least the guy had some time to relax before yet another interview. A knock at the door cut off Trent’s laugh, and Dom went to answer it. Their fun was over for now.
Opening the door only part of the way, Dom gave his best glare down at the young woman in the business suit with a large bag over her shoulder. She held out a badge that contained her press credentials. It all matched the information Trent’s assistant had forwarded over to Ward Security that morning.
With a grunt, he handed back the badge and moved out of the doorway so she could enter. “I need to check your bag,” he said, keeping his body between her and the path to Trent.
Her face twisted in a look of shock and anger. “They checked my bag in the lobby.”
“They checked it. Not me.” He waved his fingers at her. “Hand it over or no interview.”
She huffed and pouted but still handed over the bag while muttering under her breath. He ignored her shitty attitude, quickly searching through a bag that contained her wallet, lipstick, four pens, an iPad, a condom, and a tampon. At least she was prepared for just about anything. Without comment, he handed the bag back and ushered her around the corner, past the medium-sized conference room table to the two padded chairs and coffee table.
Trent stood and warmly greeted her, apologizing for the added security precautions, which she smoothly brushed aside. For him, she was understanding and compassionate. Dom was just the help. Catching Trent’s gaze just past the reporter’s shoulder, Dom rolled his eyes and made a strangling motion. Trent smirked at him before directing the reporter to sit down so they could start the interview.