Prey for Love Read online

  Phillip lightly rapped on the frame of Manny’s doorway. The man looked up from his computer, a smile forming instantly. “I’m ordering some pizza for tonight,” Phillip said. “The QC guys are staying late doing some testing for me, so the least I can do is feed you all.”

  “Thanks. Are you going to join us?” He leaned forward just a little.

  Phillip shook his head. “I have an appointment. Though testing Harbinger would be amazing fun.”

  “I know what you mean.” Manny’s eyes seemed darker, and he drew a little closer. “I’d love to play you and see what you’ve got.” His smile grew brighter.

  Phillip sighed as he thought about the chance to play. It would have been tempting, if he hadn’t been so anxious to see Barry again. “Maybe some other time.” He said good night, then turned and headed toward the main entrance.

  As he pushed through the office door, he wondered what else this day had in store for him.

  Chapter 2

  THE PASTA House was not the type of place Phillip would have expected Barry to choose for dinner, but he was happy he had—it was one of his favorite restaurants. He was lucky enough to find a parking place close by and locked the car doors, ambling down the sidewalk toward where Barry waited for him, wearing tan slacks and a red polo shirt that hugged his chest and arms. Jesus, Barry had grown up and filled out in all the best ways.

  “Thank you for this,” Phillip said as he approached. “It was a rough day.” That was the understatement of the century.

  Barry pulled open the door, holding it for him, and Phillip went inside the small dining room. There were probably more tables on the sidewalk than inside the restaurant. The walls were lined with banquettes, with a single line of chairs across from them at the tables. That was all the space there was, and Phillip wondered how Barry had managed to get a reservation. The Pasta House was a Milwaukee institution, with a reputation that went well beyond the city. They were often booked for weeks in advance. It was notoriously small and incredibly delicious, with all their pastas made in-house.

  “Barry,” a man called as he came out from the back, arms outstretched. He was about their age and had the same sort of build as Barry, though his hair was longer, extremely lush, and shiny black. The two of them hugged tightly, patting each other on the back and smiling.

  “Phillip, this is Marcello. He and I served together for two years. His family has owned this restaurant since it opened. Marcello’s mother is the woman behind the incredible pasta dishes they serve.” He turned back to Marcello. “This is Phillip. He and I were best friends when we were kids, and he saved my academic butt more times than I care to remember.” Then he added to Phillip, “Marcello, on the other hand, saved my real butt from far too many bullets.”

  “Come, sit down,” Marcello said as he motioned to the only empty table. “I saved this one for you. Mama will be up to see you as soon as she stops terrorizing the kitchen staff.” Phillip could tell he was teasing, and the easy manner between the two of them made Phillip wonder if Marcello and Barry had ever been involved. “I need to go perform a high-risk rescue, but I’ll be back out soon,” he said, grinning. Then he hurried away as Phillip slid onto the banquette seat, leaving Barry the chair.

  “Marcello and I enlisted a month apart, and our first deployment was to the same posting.” Barry put his napkin on his lap, but didn’t reach for the menu. “Don’t worry. I called ahead and requested Mama’s special. The reason the staff is being terrorized is because Leona is in the kitchen cooking for us. She doesn’t do it often, but Marcello and I are like brothers.” A shadow passed in front of Barry’s eyes and then faded away.

  “I suppose sharing hardship makes you close,” Phillip said.

  Barry didn’t answer as their water glasses were filled and garlic bread, steaming a little from the basket, was placed on the table. “It’s hard to describe. I can name every man I’ve ever served with. I know what each of them looks like, and even after eight years, I would know them in an instant by voice, by smell…. They had my back, and I had theirs. When bullets come your way or you’re stuck in some hellhole where there’s very little law outside the gates of the base and your job is to try to instill some kind of order… I know every guy, from every tour of duty. They’re all my brothers. Like Marcello.”

  All Phillip could do was reach for his glass and nod. His life had been very, very different from Barry’s, and a lot less interesting. But that was okay with him. And he had a few close friends, but none of them that he would consider brothers. It sounded scary as hell and comforting at the same time. Scary because there was no way that Phillip could maintain an active relationship with that many people—he’d rather spend his time buried in his video games. And yet, it would have been comforting to know that he belonged to a tribe and that those people would be there for him, no matter what. He’d never experienced anything like that. “That’s so cool.” Yeah, it probably sounded lame, but it was what Phillip was thinking and it just came out. “And yet strange.”

  “Don’t you have people to watch your back?” Barry asked. “You own your own company.”

  Phillip laughed. “It doesn’t work that way. It’s my job to look out for everyone else. I didn’t realize when I started the business just how worried I would be for the people who work for me. I only wanted to develop video games that I could spend hours playing. There have been times when I thought about giving up, but then what would happen to all the people who work for me and their families? I feel responsible for them.”

  “I guess I can see that. You helped me so much, back in the day. College was difficult for me, even after the Marines. I had to work hard to get through it.”

  Phillip snickered. “I thought college was easy. It’s only life that’s hard. I wish I’d have understood that back then.” Well, difficult and lonely. “I’m so glad that you went back. I always knew you had it in you. I tutored a ton of people, and you were the most tenacious.”

  “Stubbornness can be a pain in the ass a lot of the time. But sometimes it helps. I guess I don’t believe in giving up.”

  Phillip thought a minute. “Maybe that’s something we have in common.”

  Barry grinned. “I always thought that.” That smile touched Phillip deep inside, in a way that no one else’s had before. It was as if Barry somehow saw something different about him.

  “How are your parents? I remember your mom’s cookies,” Phillip said with an uplift in his voice, thinking of things to catch up on.

  “They’re retired. Mom still bakes some when I visit. They’re huge Disney fans and they both work part-time at the Magic Kingdom.” Barry smiled. “Things turned around for them after I joined the Marines. But they still need to work so they can do the things they want to do, and I help them out when I can.” He grew sad, and Phillip wished he hadn’t mentioned them.

  “Barry, sweetheart.” A small woman with enough energy to power the city breezed into the room, throwing her arms around Barry before he could even get up. “The boys are bringing you some antipasti, and I have some special salads coming out after the pasta, just like back home in Florence. Then there’ll be a little pasta, and a special Florentine steak I made especially for you boys. I hope you brought your appetites.” She grinned at both of them.

  “Leona, this is Phillip. He was my best friend when we were kids, and he’s had a hard day.”

  She straightened up. “Then you sit back and let me feed you. No one can feel bad after one of my meals.” She hugged Barry again and extended her hand. Phillip took it and held it a few seconds. It was a sweet gesture. Then Leona breezed out as the antipasti arrived—a board with heavenly goodies laid out on it.

  Phillip put a few choice tidbits on his plate. “How did you know Roger?”

  “He and I were friends the first time I went to college. And then, after I got back from DC, he approached me about coaching. He was working up something in his athletic program. I don’t know why he thought I’d be good at that.” Barr
y shook his head. “Team sports were never really my thing. But I worked with him and….” Barry wiped his mouth. “Roger was diabetic. Actually, he was what you’d call a brittle diabetic. His disease was hard to manage, and he’d developed other health issues having to do with his circulation.”

  “So there was nothing suspicious about his death, as far as you know?” Phillip asked.

  “Not that I know of. I talked to his sister, and she said that the doctors think that he must have mistakenly taken too much of one of his meds. It turned out to be more than his body could take. Why?”

  “No reason,” Phillip lied. He didn’t want to think about the other things he’d found out today. His mind was running in circles.

  “How did you know Roger?” Barry asked as he leaned over the table, and Phillip’s spine tingled, sending warmth passing throughout him under the gaze of those intense sapphire eyes.

  “I tutored him, the same way I did for you and… well… I liked him. He was sexy and an athlete, and he was nice to me back then. I was this geeky, gangly kid….” He felt the color rise in his cheeks. “I had a crush on him, and he used to flirt back, but nothing came of it. Once the tutoring was over, things cooled.”

  “So nothing happened between you back in college? I thought you might have dated other guys back then,” Barry asked, taking a bite of prosciutto.

  “Not really. But I met up with him a few weeks ago at a charity dinner, and he asked me to a game up in Green Bay. I thought we clicked. There were sparks, and he kissed me good night when we got back. Then I found out that he’d died.” Phillip tried not to make too much of it. At least he knew what had happened, as opposed to just being left hanging, the way he’d been with the others. He finished off his antipasti and hummed softly. The food was really good, and suddenly, he could feel his appetite returning. “I don’t want to be maudlin or anything, but today was just kind of rough. I hate funerals. Can we talk about something else?”

  “Sounds good to me. Do you travel much?” Barry asked. And throughout the evening, they talked about Italy, Paris, the Eternal City, and London. It was surprising the number of places they had both seen, Barry while in the service, and Phillip mostly for business.

  “I did a deal in Korea a few years ago. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle the food, but I was wrong. It was amazing, and the culture and history…. It’s all so different from ours.”

  “I spent a lot of time in the Middle East, as you could probably guess. It wasn’t a bad time to be a Marine. The folks who were there before me had a more difficult time. I even flew down to South Africa during one of my leaves. It’s a very different country—stunningly beautiful. But like a lot of places I went, I experienced incredible beauty, yet saw abject poverty that nearly broke your heart.”

  “Yeah, I went to the Caribbean a few years ago to get away. I rented a house, and sat up on this hill on my veranda, knowing that the people working around me were luckier than most, because they, at least, had a job. ” He sighed. “I’ve been thinking of starting a foundation to try to help people in those poorer countries. Then again, maybe it’s better to donate to one of the foundations that’s already doing that kind of work.”

  They’d barely finished the antipasti before the server brought the most amazing dishes of pasta. The scent was irresistible. “Oh my God.”

  “Yeah. The pesto is incredible. I love how she adds just the slightest amount of cream to make it richer. Leona knows this is my favorite,” Barry said. Then there was no more conversation, only small grunts of appreciation. At one point, Phillip closed his eyes and let the flavor carry him away.

  “I think I’m going to tell my assistant to order my dinners from here, if they’ll deliver.”

  Barry nodded as he swallowed. “Ask Marcello. I’m sure he can arrange it for you.” Barry suddenly scowled as his attention shifted to the large windows in front. Phillip looked over, but only saw a few people passing outside of the restaurant.

  “Something wrong?” he asked, wiping his mouth and sitting back happily.

  “I don’t know. I think I’ve seen the same person walk by a couple of times. He stares in the window, then moves on.” Barry shook his head. “Sometimes I get overly suspicious. I’m used to watching for people doing things out of the ordinary—it’s the key to catching suicide bombers or enemy fighters. Of course, the guy could just be waiting for someone, but his actions seemed strange.” Barry turned back to him. “I was wondering… are you with someone right now?”

  “No.” Phillip scoffed lightly. “I have the worst luck with guys. I think the longest relationship I’ve ever had is two months. I’ve got the awful feeling I must really suck in bed, because I can’t keep a guy any longer than that.”

  “Try having a relationship with someone when you’re gone for a year at a time. Every guy I meet… well, let’s just say that it’s been too much for them. The last boyfriend I had lasted almost four months, and he was another Marine. We had a good thing going, and I thought we were serious, but duty assignments had other ideas, and he ended up halfway around the world. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder… just lonelier.” Barry gave him one of those looks.

  “Did you at least get to say goodbye and end things?” Phillip took a drink of his water and leaned over the table. “A year ago, one of my boyfriends sent me an email telling me things weren’t going to work out and that we should just be friends. Then he closed the account.” Phillip met Barry’s gaze in a “top that” sort of way.

  Barry hissed. “That’s pretty bad. But how about a voicemail that I didn’t get for four days because we were out on a mission and I’d had to leave my phone in the barracks? By the time I got back, the number had been changed.” Barry folded his arms over his chest, looking smug.

  Phillip smiled indulgently. “The last three guys I dated—died.”

  Barry’s mouth fell open. “Okay, you win.”

  Phillip sighed. “Somehow, I think I should take a bow, but I’d probably stab someone in the eye.”

  Barry laughed, then tensed, standing up. “Excuse me.” He strode down the center of the restaurant and out the front door. Phillip watched, wondering what was up. And, okay, he let his gaze wander over Barry’s retreating form, swallowing at the way he filled out those pants. My God, I bet you could bounce a quarter off that backside. His throat went dry, and when he glanced around, he noticed that most of the women, and maybe a few of the men, had turned to get a better look at Barry as well. Not that Phillip could blame them. Of course, the staring stopped as soon as Barry came back in and headed toward their table.

  “I thought I saw that guy again.” Barry pulled out his chair and sat down as their salad course arrived.

  “Did you get a good look at him?” Phillip asked.

  “No. But I think I scared him off. He jackrabbited away as soon as I got up, and I couldn’t see him out on the street.” He put his napkin back on his lap and finished his salad. “I’m probably being overzealous. But after years in the Marines, not to mention security work, suspicion becomes second nature.” He finished his salad. “So, were you kidding about the last guys you dated?”

  “Nope. Albert died six months ago, apparently, Winston three months ago, and now Roger. I found out about the other two today, and I have to admit, it freaked me out a little.” Well, more than that, but he didn’t want to seem like a giant wuss. “Apparently they were accidents, but, well, it makes you think. Maybe I should stop dating.”

  Barry rolled his eyes and leaned over the table, his eyes growing an even deeper blue, like the color of midnight. He licked his lips, and Phillip drew closer to him as if pulled by an invisible magnet. “I’m willing to take my chances.”

  Phillip swallowed hard and wondered if he’d heard clearly. “Huh?”

  “I’ve liked you since we were kids. Back in college, though, you and I were on different pages. Back then, I wasn’t sure of who I was. You were just yourself and didn’t give a damn what anyone thought of yo
u, and I was still figuring shit out. But now it seems we’re at the same point in our lives. And unless you’re in mourning or something—and I would totally understand if you are—maybe you and I could see each other again.”

  Phillip thought he must have misheard. “Are you messing with me?” He waited and Barry shook his head. “Seriously, you thought about me that way in college? I was the biggest geek on campus, and a gay geek at that.” God, there had been so many times when he’d felt like a total freak back then.

  “You were cute and so earnest, though.” Barry smiled, his voice just above a whisper, and Phillip had to strain a little to hear him. “And you were genuine. So many people put on airs or pretended that they were more than they were. You never did that.”

  “I was so uncomfortable in my own skin then. It wasn’t until I graduated and was actually on my own before I became comfortable with myself.”

  Barry lifted his glass, watching him over the top of it. Phillip liked being the object of Barry’s attention. “Do you think you were alone in that regard? Everyone needs to figure some shit out for themselves. I was a Marine, a gay one. When I figured it out, the first guys I told were friends, and they understood. A few men gave me a hard time. I ended up breaking one guy’s nose, and the other ended up with two black eyes that swelled shut. I was only defending myself, and my buddies stood up for me. No one bothered me after that.” He nodded. “I was just one of the guys. Being gay didn’t mean I was weak or different from anyone else. Knowing that meant I could stand tall and hold my head up. I was a Marine, the same as everyone else… and I was a damn good one.” He smiled that amazing smile once again.

  “I can understand that.” There were times when Phillip would walk into a meeting, and he knew that some of the others would take one look at him and immediately assume they had an edge because he was a geek. Phillip wasn’t good at everything, but he was savvy enough to hire good people. And when it came to lawyers and dealmakers, he’d hired the best. He didn’t have to be able to do everything—he just needed to find the people who excelled where he didn’t. Computers spoke to him; people sometimes not so much. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of finding your tribe.” Phillip liked to think he had found his. He was a gamer, through and through.