Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Seth sat on Frank’s couch in his office, his fingers laced together on his lap. The only thing keeping his nerves at bay was Kit pressed against him from shoulder to foot as if seeking comfort. They’d sat there for ten minutes. Waiting. In silence.

Frank sat behind his desk looking like a king on his throne. Except instead of surveying his land, he was surveying the security footage of what happened. Seth felt Kit shift uncomfortably, his arms folded over his chest like he was trying to cover himself up. With every passing minute, he seemed to slouch more and more in his seat.

Seth cleared his throat. “Um, Frank?”

Frank held a hand up to quiet him, his eyes still on the screen.

“Sorry, it’s just, could we get Kit a shirt? It’s cold in here.” It wasn’t really, but Frank would know that. The man lifted his piercing honey-colored eyes to Seth before moving his gaze to Kit then back. He motioned to the cabinet.

Seth stood and opened the door to the large cabinet that housed several club T-shirts Frank handed out for promotion. He grabbed a size he knew would probably fall just above Kit’s knees and handed it to Kit, who swiftly put it on with a barely-audible “thanks”.

“You’re welcome,” Seth said quietly before resuming his seat, smiling internally when Kit once again nudged over, so he pressed against Seth.

Frank sat back, his arm on his desk, fingers drumming the sleek, black surface. He narrowed his eyes at Kit then motioned to the monitor with a finger.

“Explain.”

Kit coughed into his hand before speaking up. “I um, didn’t realize how close I was to the edge.”

“Why?”

Kit paused before opening his mouth, but Frank cut him off.

“I’ll tell you why. You were distracted.” Frank moved his eyes to Seth. “By him.”

This was bad, so very bad. Wait, Kit had been distracted by him? Seth found himself smiling until he noticed Frank’s scowl deepen. Oh, that was a mistake. Don’t smile, idiot!

“Is there something I should know about?” Frank asked, turning to face them. He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, and laced his fingers together.

Seth and Kit shook their heads so fervently they resembled a couple of Bobbleheads.

“Then would one of you care to explain why one of my dancers got so distracted he fell off the goddamn plinth while one of my bartenders abandoned his post without a word to catch said dancer before he ended up needing a fucking ambulance?”

Seth had no idea how he was supposed to answer that. Should he admit how his heart hammered in his chest when he saw how close Kit had been getting to the edge of the plinth? Or how terrified he was when he saw Kit’s sneaker slip over the side? When he’d been falling? Seth hadn’t thought, just reacted.

“You know what? Don’t bother. I’m too tired for this shit right now.” Frank let out a weary sigh, and for the first time that night, Seth noticed the bags under Frank’s eyes. The man was never anything short of unflappable and impeccable. He motioned between them. “Is this going to be a problem?”

“No, Sir,” they replied in unison.

“Good. I hate to lose either of you. Kit, go home. Tomorrow night I want you focused. Seth, get back behind the bar.”

Another unified response. “Yes, Sir.”

Frank didn’t need to dismiss them. It was clear the conversation was over. They got up, and Kit headed for the door. Seth started to follow then paused, turning to look at Frank.

“Is everything okay?”

Frank arched an eyebrow at him, and Seth grimaced. “Besides that.”

The man was quiet for so long, Seth figured he wasn’t going to respond, so with a sigh, he headed for the door.

“You’re a good man, Seth. Good men tend to get their hearts broken too easily.”

Seth stopped and turned, stunned by the heartache in Frank’s gaze as he stared off at nothing. He wanted to ask, but it wasn’t his place. They respected one another, and Seth looked up to him. Hell, everyone did. Frank was a fighter through and through.

Everyone who worked at Sapphire Sands knew about his rough time on the streets as a gay teen when his father kicked him out of the house with only the clothes on his back. The man had clawed his way out of the gutter, gotten an education, become a firefighter before an injury had him retiring early. Now he was a wealthy businessman with a growing empire.

Instead of responding, Seth nodded before leaving. He took off down the hall, hoping to catch up to Kit. Thankfully Kit hadn’t gotten too far as he stalked away grumbling at himself.

“My God, can this night get any worse?”

“Kit, wait!”

Kit spun on his heels abruptly, not giving Seth enough time to stop or catch Kit after he bounced off Seth. He landed on his ass with a painful groan.

“Who am I kidding, of course things can get worse,” Kit grumbled.

“Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were going to stop.” Seth reached down to help him up, but Kit jerked his arm away, snapping at him.

“I’m fine.” He pushed himself to his feet then brushed himself off. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay,” Kit growled, his eyes growing glassy. “I made a complete asshole out of myself in front of the whole club, but worst of all Frank. He probably thinks I’m a fucking airheaded moron.”

“He doesn’t think that,” Seth said gently. “No one thinks that. It was an accident.”

“It wasn’t an accident. Frank was right. I let myself get distracted.” Kit shook his head, his expression determined. “And it’s not happening again.”

Despite Kit’s words, Seth smiled. “You were distracted by me?”

Kit’s ocean-blue eyes went comically wide, as if he hadn’t realized what he’d said. “Um, no.”

“But you just said—”

“I know what I said,” Kit hissed like an angry kitten. If he’d had fur, it would be all bristled. God, he was adorable. “Just stay away from me, and everything will be fine.”

“But I wasn’t near you when you got distracted,” Seth pointed out.

“Listen, you.” Kit poked him in the chest. “Ow!” He pulled back his finger as if he’d been burned. “Jesus, would you stop making me hurt myself! You and your annoyingly hot muscles and perfect bone structure, and why does your hair look so freaking soft,” he demanded.

“Uh… conditioner?” Was he being yelled at, or complimented? It seemed like both. He’d never been angrily complimented before.

Kit let out a frustrated grunt. “Just stay away from me, Seth.” He stomped off, and Seth stared after him.

Seth might have no clue as to what was happening, but as he headed back toward the bar, he couldn’t help the smile that stretched across his face. Things were getting interesting, that was for sure.