Andrei stood in the kitchen, arms crossed, frowning. Walking over to the man, Lucas grabbed his wrist, ignoring the bodyguard’s slight flinch and slapped the pill bottle into Andrei’s palm with his injured left hand.
“Hold onto these,” Lucas muttered. “We both might need one before this is over.” Quickly releasing Andrei, he stepped away so the island in the center of the kitchen separated them.
“Wouldn’t you rather I went to the guest bedroom?” Andrei offered, still looking confused.
“What kind of bodyguard are you? You’re staying out here to protect me.” Lucas couldn’t stop the grin he knew would look both wicked and tired. “That woman is scary.”
Andrei pressed his lips tight together, but there was no hiding the laughter in his dark eyes. Lucas flashed him a wider grin before he could stop himself. Shit. Was he flirting? Fuck, it had to be the drugs. Or, he wanted to be able to blame it on the drugs. But sadly, there was no way the Percocet had kicked in already.
Lucas enjoyed the luxury of slowly examining the other man’s face. Closely trimmed dark whiskers accentuated a sharp jaw while a mustache framed full lips that kept drawing his eyes. He had high cheek bones that Lucas wanted to run his fingers along. His thick, black eyebrows accented dark eyes, and were arching like raven’s wings right now. Andrei looked young—maybe mid-twenties—but that only piqued Lucas’s interest. Rowe was a smart man and hired only those people with the skills to handle this line of work. What was hidden in Andrei’s past that had earned him Rowe’s trust?
“Ex-military?” Lucas suddenly inquired, but Andrei didn’t seem particularly surprised by the question.
He shook his head, his eyes locked on the bottle of pills in his hand. “No. I was a professional mixed martial arts fighter until an injury a few years ago.” Andrei lifted his gaze to Lucas, something hardening in those dark depths that threatened to rattle him. “Rowe has seen that I’m thoroughly trained in close-quarter combat, a variety of weapons, and defensive driving.”
Lucas smiled slowly, enjoying the flush that dusted Andrei’s cheeks. “I don’t doubt your skills. Rowe would never have assigned you if you couldn’t handle it.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Vallois,” Andrei started, breaking into Lucas’s wandering thoughts. “I—Rowe—gave me some … confusing information.”
Lucas’s smile disappeared, but his growing irritation was actually directed at his old friend. “He told you I was gay,” he said flatly.
Andrei nodded, looking uncomfortable again.
“Was that just information or a warning?”
“Information, I’m sure.” Andrei’s dumbfounded expression helped to ease Lucas’s ire. It was bad enough he had to allow this stranger into his home, he wasn’t going to endure intolerance here as well.
Lucas grunted, staring at the man for another second. “Your boss is an ass. I’m bisexual. I like both genders in my bed.”
“At the same time?” Andrei asked and then flushed. It was obvious the man hadn’t meant to ask his new employer about his sex life.
Lucas’s lazy grin grew, resuming his flirtation with the man. “Only on special occasions.”
Andrei’s grin returned a little. “And what constitutes a special occasion?”
The sound of keys jingling turned Lucas’s head and he answered almost absently. “Just the days of the week that end in ‘Y’.”
Andrei huffed a laugh but Lucas was listening to the person trying a key in the lock only to fail. There was a muffled curse followed by a familiar hammering on the door.
“Rowe changed the locks?” Lucas inquired, still smiling.
“He changed all your security measures.”
“Well, let her in. I’m fixing myself a drink.”
Those dark brows came together in concern. “That might not be wise with the Percocet.”
“Don’t mother me, Mr. Hadeon.”
Andrei held Lucas’s dark gaze without wavering, making it clear that he would not be a pushover for Lucas. “It’s my job to keep you alive, Mr. Vallois.”
“Answer the damned door. I’ll make a small drink.”
Andrei gave a soft grunt before turning to the door. Lucas fought to unclench his teeth as he shoved away from the island to walk over to the sideboard. He poured two fingers of whisky into a tumbler and was replacing the crystal top to the decanter when Stephanie Breckenridge’s heels clacked across the hardwood floor.
“What’s going on?”
“In general or were you after something specific?” Lucas took a sip of the whisky. The Percocet was just starting to kick in, easing the aches and putting a nice protective fog around his thoughts. Andrei might have been right about the alcohol being a mistake, but he just didn’t give a damn.
“That security guard wouldn’t let me up. Said I’m not on the list.” Her tart words were accompanied with a sharp tapping of her foot. “And you changed the lock.”
He still wasn’t sure why he’d given her a key. Lucas turned toward the kitchen, keeping his back toward Stephanie as he pinned Andrei with a narrowed gaze even though he could feel his grin lurking on his lips. “Shall I ask who Rowe put on the list?” he drawled.