“He’s holding up. He seems better this morning.” Eli paused. “What about his assistant Frankie? Does he need a detail? I asked him if anyone’s contacted him about Billie, but he said no.”
“Unless he’s followed or questioned, status quo for now.”
“Got it. Frankie will also be attending the launch party.”
“That’s fine. We’ll have you with Frankie and Luis accompany Billie. Then Oliver and the rest of the senior team on the band. I’ll be there with Dax officially, but unofficially I’ll also be keeping watch.”
“Sounds good, boss.”
“Luis is on the way to switch off with you this morning.”
“I’ll be with Billie as well until early afternoon. I’m taking him to my mom’s place for lunch.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?”
“He needs a break from his work and all the stuff that’sbeing posted about him online. And he’ll have two bodyguards. Trust me when I say no one is following us to my mom’s house in Queens. And even if they did, she’d kick their ass.”
Eli could’ve sworn he heard Mason chuckle on the other end of the line. “Okay, but remember what’s going on here. This is not the time to get distracted. You have to be in work mode, not boyfriend mode.”
“You have my word, M.”
****
Billie
“Where are we going for lunch?” Billie asked for the tenth time as they crossed the Queensboro Bridge. Luis was driving, and Billie was in the back seat with Eli. They’d been good about not touching each other around others. Eli had a job to do, and Billie had enough self-control to behave. Although Eli had broken a rule last night and snuggled him in bed. Good thing, too, because he was having a hard time sleeping without the big guy beside him. But it was way too early in their relationship to tell Eli that. Billie still had to get used to the idea himself.
Eli had been evasive about this lunch outing, and it was killing him. Billie took a half hour to decide what to wear because he didn’t know where the hell they were going. Settling on a more casual look, he threw on ripped jeans, a white t-shirt, and a fuchsia blazer plus his favorite gold heels. When he’d asked Eli how he looked, the bodyguard smiled and said perfect. That was helpful—not.
“Come on, give me a hint, Eli!” he begged again.
“Are you like this at Christmas, too? Trying to sneak a peek at what’s under the tree?”
“Definitely. The suspense is getting to me. Just tell me. Tell me! Please.”
Luis drove through an older neighborhood in Queens with low-rise buildings and single and semi-detached housespacked in beside each other. They pulled up to a small brick house with a red door, a petite woman on the driveway waving at them.
“Who’s that?” Billie asked.
They got out of the car and the woman all but ran to Eli, hugging him tightly.
“So glad you made it, sweet pea.”
“Sweet pea?” Billie repeated as he stood in the driveway. Eli had his big arm wrapped around the woman’s waist as he drew her near. Her dark brown eyes looked familiar.
“Billie, I’d like you to meet my mom, Theresa Morgan. Mom, this is Billie Rourke.”
“I’ve heard so much about you! Not the stuff in the tabloids. I don’t read that garbage. But my Eli has told me all about you. Welcome to my home.”
“So nice to meet you, Mrs. Morgan,” he replied and turned to glare at Eli, then back at Theresa with a smile. “I’m so embarrassed. I didn’t know we’d be coming here, and I didn’t bring…”
Theresa waved her hand. “Stop right there. First off, call me Theresa. Second, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” She paused. “Hi, Luis, how are you? I hope you brought your appetite.”
“Afternoon, Theresa, and yes, I’m starving. Coffee this morning didn’t cut it.”
“Come into the house, everyone, and get comfortable. I have lunch ready.”
Billie walked in first and was hit by the most delicious smells of garlic and spices. Then he looked around at the living space. It was small with an L-shaped sofa and a recliner, then opened up to a dining area and the kitchen beyond. The house reminded Billie of his childhood home, and a sudden ache tightened his chest. As he walked into the dining room, henoticed the wall of family pictures. He’d have to have a good look at that later.