Page 29 of Out of Reach

“Sam, don’t,” Jude said.

Fists tightening at his sides, Hawk made for the door.

But then Jude said something and their footsteps faded away down the hall. Realizing that Jude had gotten Prescott out of the way for him, he again looked toward the closet, indecision warring inside him. Could he really take the time to go through Prescott’s closet knowing that Jude was alone with the man? Squeezing his eyes shut, he let out a quiet groan, and, with a final glance over his shoulder, he left the office.

***

An hour later, Hawk had searched everywhere for Jude and Prescott without success. Where the hell had they gone so quickly?

He’s not going to hurt Jude,he told himself for the umpteenth time as he climbed the stairs to check the upper floors.

He hoped to hell he didn’t find Jude tangled up with Prescott in bed because he wasn’t sure he could contain his rage if he did. Starting with the suite next to his and Jude’s, he knocked softly on the door. When he didn’t get an answer, Hawk tried the knob and found it unlocked. The room was dim, but Hawk could make out Eliza asleep in the bed. He wondered if Prescott had slept in there with her.

After a systematic check of every room on that floor as well as the one above it, knocking on doors and pretending to need a tube of toothpaste, it became clear that Prescott and Jude were not in the house. Had they gone somewhere in the car? It was more likely they’d go for a walk on the beach.

Back in their suite, Hawk stepped out onto the balcony, looking past the pool toward the beach beyond. Sure enough, in the distance, he could just make out two figures—one tall and bulky and one shorter and slim—walking toward the house in the early morning light.

Turning away, Hawk went back inside and headed downstairs.

The partiers finally gone, the servants were tidying up. The enticing smell of bacon and freshly baked bread drifted from the kitchen. Helping himself to coffee from the carafe on the sideboard, Hawk walked outside to sit by the pool and await Jude’s return.

“Hey, I thought you might sleep late,” Jude said when they reached the patio and he spotted Hawk.

“The delicious smell of breakfast woke me up.”

Jude wore shorts and a white shirt and was carrying his shoes. Hawk gave him a once-over. Satisfied there wasn’t any sand stuck to his clothes that might indicate that he’d rolled around on it for any reason, he raised his eyes to find Prescott staring at him knowingly, a smirk on his face. Like Jude, he was barefoot and dressed casually, his beige linen pants rolled to just below the knee and his shirt open. Remembering how Jude had loved to run his fingers through the hair on Hawk’s chest, Hawk thought bitterly that Jude must have adored the gorilla-like pelt on Prescott’s.

Prescott turned to Jude and kissed him on the cheek before heading inside without saying anything to Hawk.

“Good morning to you, too,” Hawk mumbled after him. He looked at Jude. “Have a nice walk?”

“It was a beautiful sunrise,” Jude said.

“Sounds romantic,” Hawk said.

“I, uh, thought it was a good excuse to get Sam out of the house so you could finish what you were doing.”

Hawk nodded. “I heard you in the hall.” Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to relax. Jude had been helping him, and he was acting like a jealous ass. “Thanks for that. Unfortunately, your sacrifice was for nothing. Prescott probably doesn’t keep anything of note here.”

Jude hummed. “You’re probably right. Let’s see if breakfast’s ready. I’m starved.”

As they entered the house, Hawk curled his hand around Jude’s. A few guests had come downstairs and stood loading their plates at the sideboard where an array of breakfast foods had been set out since Hawk had gotten his coffee.

As Hawk and Jude sat down at the table with their plates, Gabriel asked Prescott, “What’s on the agenda for today?”

“I thought we might go out on thePleasure Dancer,” Prescott said.

At Hawk’s inquiring look, Jude whispered, “His yacht.”

Gabriel nodded, spreading butter over a flaky croissant. “Awesome. Nothing like a day out on the water, and the weather report said it’s going to be gorgeous today.”

“Where’s Seb?” Jude asked, glancing around at the hungover faces. “And Eliza?”

“Lizzy’s sleeping in. She never eats breakfast, anyway.” Prescott said. “As for Seb, he left last night.”

“He left?” Jude asked. “I was looking forward to talking to him.”

“He had an engagement.” Prescott forked a piece of sausage into his mouth. “Do you fish?” he asked Hawk.