Page 16 of Out of Reach

“This is my boyfriend, Hawk Sterling,” Jude said, sounding more natural than Hawk would have expected since Hawk had only just sprung that on him. “Hawk, this is Sam Prescott.”

“Nice to meet you,” Hawk lied, shaking the deplorable man’s hand.

Prescott’s smile directed a Jude was indulgent.

“You already have a new man, how quick you are,” he said, taking a seat at the table.

A server approached, saving Jude from having to reply. Prescott treated him like a cute child. Hawk knew it had to make Jude furious. When Jude turned to the server, recognition flashed in his eyes. “Zion!”

The young man gave Jude a sunny smile. “Hi, Jude! It’s great to see you again. I’ve moved up from the mailroom.”

“Could we possibly have this reunion later?” Ricci asked, sipping his drink. “We have business to attend to.”

“Of course,” Zion said, stepping away.

“How long have the two of you been together?” Prescott asked Hawk pleasantly.

“I didn’t leave you for him,” Jude said.

Ricci interrupted, “Do you have any allergies, Mr. Sterling? I would have inquired, had I known you were accompanying Jude today.”

“None, thanks,” Hawk said, smiling. Taking Jude’s hand where it rested on the table, he laced their fingers together, just because he could.

Ricci turned the conversation to business, and Hawk half-listened while looking around. Other than the servers and Prescott’s assistant standing a few feet away awaiting instruction, three beefy men hovered close-by. Probably Prescott’s men.

Had Jude really lived with this slimeball for months?Sleptwith him?

When the food arrived, talk of business was suspended as everyone enjoyed their meal. The lamb was so tender it fell off the bone with a touch of the fork. The asparagus spears were cooked to perfection. As a different server placed a plate of cheesecake with a drizzle of strawberry preserves over it in front of Hawk, Ricci began to outline details of Jude’s contract, which his assistant immediately produced. Hawk wished Jude would throw it in Prescott’s face but knew there was little chance of that happening. If Jude wanted to model, he could only do it under his ex’s say-so. If it had been Hawk, he would have told Prescott to go fuck himself and found another career path. But this was Jude’s dream and Jude’s life, which no longer involved Hawk.

He was surprised when Jude declined the gold pen Ricci’s assistant held out to him, instead folding the contract and slipping it into his jacket pocket.

“I’ll have my lawyer go over this and get back to you,” he said pleasantly. Eying Hawk’s unfinished cheesecake, he said, “You going to eat that?” When Hawk shook his head, Jude finished it off for him, licking the rich topping from his full bottom lip.

Pointedly looking at his watch, Hawk pushed away from the table. “Thank you for the delicious meal, but Jude and I have somewhere we have to be.”

Seeming as eager as Hawk was to leave, Jude stood and held out his hand to shake Ricci’s.

“I was hoping you would agree to meet me for dinner tonight, Jude,” Prescott said, following us to the door. His eyes flashed to Hawk. “Alone.”

Reaching the building, Jude turned to look up at the imposing man.

“Sam, we have nothing to discuss. Unless this…” he gestured to Ricci “has strings attached, in which case I’ll just hand this contract right back.” He reached into his jacket.

“Of course it doesn’t. I might have helped you get into this business, but it wouldn’t have done a bit of good if you hadn’t had what it takes.” He stepped closer, moving to block Jude from Hawk’s sight. “You know I like to remain friends with my exes. And we didn’t exactly split on good terms. I’d like a chance to rectify that.”

Hawk stabbed at the elevator button, wanting badly to tell Prescott to fuck off and drag Jude away, but it was Jude’s call.

Jude hesitated, then said, “Fine. At a restaurant, though, not at your place.”

“Aurora’s, then,” Prescott said, smiling. “I’m sure Ricci can secure us a table.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Jude

Ricci had gotten Sam a table. It had been less easy for Slade Falcon to secure one for Andi and Sean, but he’d managed it. Jude wore a wire hidden in his shirt collar—that and the presence of Andi and Sean was the only way Hawk would allow him to meet Sam.

“You look beautiful, baby,” Sam said as they sat across from each other at the intimately small table. He wore a black Armani suit, crisp white shirt, and cobalt tie, with diamond cufflinks sparkling at his wrists, while Jude wore the same suit he’d worn to lunch that day, only with a slightly dressier shirt. “Although a little less dressed for the occasion than I’d hoped.”