Hamish

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IN THE COURSE OF HIS military career, Hamish had, on occasion, walked into enemy fire to save one of the marines under his command. If that experience had been a ten on a scale of fear, heading into his office when everyone knew about his upcoming date shouldn’t have even registered. Yet, here he stood, staring at the front door with a sense of foreboding.

Come on then, Hamish. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, would you?

The morning would undoubtedly be chock-full of endless teasing. Hamish never played the field when it came to dating—unlike almost everyone in the office. None of them would miss an opportunity to harass a man they considered to be unflappable. Bracing himself, he opened the door and walked in.

Wyatt sat in his office, leaning back with the chair balanced on two legs and his feet propped against Hamish’s desk. He had a report of some kind in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. “I can hear you watching from the door, Hamster.”

“Lying fuckwit.” Hamish wondered if getting a smaller desk might stop everyone from putting their shoes on it. Probably not. “Any particular reason you’re dirtying up my office?”

Wyatt waved the paper in his hand before throwing it on the desk and pulling out an American quarter. “Coin toss on who has to take this security job in South Sudan?”

“You’re definitely a tosser.” Hamish moved around the desk, snatching up the report and dropping into his seat with a groan. “Isn’t it your team’s turn to travel?”

“Technically.”

He narrowed his eyes on the former Navy SEAL. “Why don’t you just tell me why we’re switching up the rotation instead of pulling out your trick coin?”

“Aled’s mom is sick. He wants to travel to France to spend time with her and cook up some of his plant miracle shit. Voodoo’s in New Orleans with his folks, Trace and Scorch want to climb some fucking mountain.” Wyatt dropped his feet to the floor. “We’ll take the next two—promise. My husband needs me, you know?”

In the seven years since they’d rescued the botanist on a boat in Anguilla, Hamish had enjoyed the pleasure of watching Wyatt and Aled fall head over heels in love with each other. No matter how strong the younger man might be, the Navy SEAL could never quite seem to get beyond his need to be protective. Hamish didn’t see a point in arguing about it.

I may as well save my breath and agree to it.

Hamish remembered when his own parents had died within months of each other—one from cancer and the other from a stroke. Wyatt and Aled had that sort of long-lasting relationship. “We’ll manage. When are your lads back in the office? They’ll have to cover some of the speaking engagements, since Lily and Vinnie will be coming with me.”

“Not Nye?”

He shook his head before nodding toward the large calendar on the wall that everyone used to jot down their days off. “He blocked off the end of the month because he’s testing out some new prosthetics for a robotics company.”

“Oh?” Wyatt glanced up from where he’d been making notes on yet another report.

“Freddie put him in contact with this company. Nye’s hoping to get even more use out of his arm in particular.” Hamish hoped his friend would be able to recover better range and control. “Why don’t we sort out the schedule this afternoon? Get everyone clear on who’s doing what and going where, yeah?”

“Perfect.” Wyatt bent forward with a calculating smile on his face. “Now, what’s this I hear about you having a first date at a family dinner?”

Hamish turned his attention to the stack of files in front of him. “You can leave at any time.”

“Chair’s comfy.”

He levelled a stony glare at the man; a warning Wyatt completely ignored, of course. “I’ve no interest in adding fodder to the office gossip.”

“You know we’re only going to make shit up if you don’t.” Wyatt took a slow sip of his coffee. “Well?”

“Blackmail is illegal.” Hamish sent a withering glare toward the man. “I’ll give you one bit of information for every client email you handle.”

“Fucking bastard.”

“I am not. I’ve seen the photographs from my parents’ wedding.” Hamish dodged the file thrown at his head. “How about we both get to work?”

With much grumbling, Wyatt vacated the office. Hamish didn’t believe for a moment the others wouldn’t all find their way to his office to harass him. He opted for the cowardly way out by spending his day handling the long list of phone calls that had been put off for far too long.

By the end of the day, Hamish had accomplished more work than ever before, by simply trying to avoid being prodded for details. Wyatt still managed to smirk at him far too frequently. He planned to duck out of the office early for a much-needed drink at the nearest pub.

Maybe a pasty?

Too soon?

Akash does make genuinely good pies.

Oh, bloody hell, I’ve got it bad.

“Going to stop by after work?” Lily waltzed into his office with a mischievous grin on her face. She held out a fancily decorated tin. “Give him this.”

“Why?”

“It’s some sort of fancy tea. Traded for it with one of our contacts. It’s expensive, and you can’t buy it here.” She shoved the box into his chest. “I badgered Freddie into finding out what Akash likes.”

“Why?” Hamish asked for a second time.

“Will you trust me on this one? Please? He’ll love the tea.” Lily backed out of his office quickly. “Also, I’m leaving early.”

Hamish snorted in amusement as she disappeared from view. “Of course.”

Twisting the black and gold tin in his hand, Hamish inspected the intricate designs painted on it. He had a feeling it had cost her more than a favour. Lily had a tendency to bolt after any show of what might be emotion; something he usually avoided prying into.

Everyone deserves to have their secrets.

Canister of tea in hand, Hamish utilised all of his combat-honed skills to outmanoeuvre Wyatt and Nye to get to his vehicle. He hoped Akash wouldn’t mind yet another impromptu visit. He didn’t want to send the man running before they’d even managed a first date.

Let’s hope the first isn’t also the last.

In their type of work, Hamish often found himself gone for weeks or months at a time. He’d learnt the hard way to take advantage of the time available to him. Akash would hopefully be inclined to be patient with the occasional long-distance periods that a relationship with him would require.

As Hamish drove into one of the empty spots near the bakery, he almost immediately realised something had gone wrong. Hopping out of the vehicle and rushing up the pavement, he crunched over broken glass. Someone had shattered one of the large panes at the front of the shop.

“Hamish? That you?” Alex stood nearby, struggling to hold up a large piece of wood. “Can you give me a hand? We’re trying to board up the window.”

“What happened?” Hamish grabbed the thin wood and helped press it carefully against the remains of the window. “Someone take a brick to the window?”

“A cricket bat.”

What?

“Did you say a cricket bat?” Hamish had to remind himself not to drop the wood while he blinked in surprise at the blond teenager. “Why? Do you know who did it? Is everyone all right?”

With quite a bit of stammering and fidgeting, Alex managed to explain how his and Alice’s stepfather had decided to pay them all a visit. The man had taken the bat to one of the windows before Akash had managed to disarm him. Hamish was impressed. It appeared his baker had a few hidden talents, including a secret identity as a ninja, according to the teenager.

With a few gentle questions, Hamish learnt that Akash and Alice had gone to the police station to make their statements to detectives. As Alex hadn’t seen it happen, he had stayed behind with a few university friends to clean up. Hamish opted to stay and give them a hand until his baker returned.

The baker.

The. Baker.

Not. Mine.

Not yet, anyway.

Bloody brain. Stop it.

After two hours of cleaning and fixing things, Hamish also gave a call to a mate of his who ran a glazing company. He promised to have someone out to repair the window first thing in the morning. It would be one less problem for Akash to stress over. Alex offered him a slightly watery smile by way of thanks.

“You know it’s not your fault, right? All this shit.” Hamish gestured toward the boarded-up window. “Your stepfather sounds like a real wanker. His actions aren’t on your shoulders. He’s a grown man who should know better.”

“But....” Alex shrugged helplessly, clearly at a loss for words.

“Hamish has it right.” Akash led Alice into the room with his arm around her shoulders. “Why don’t you two head up to my flat to relax for a bit? I’m sure Ganesh could use the company—and you both look like you could do with a bit of peace and quiet. There’s leftover takeaway in the fridge if you want it.”

The twins trudged out of the room with their arms linked. Hamish stood awkwardly, a broom and dustpan still in his hands. He thought Akash might need a bit of quiet as well.

Hamish couldn’t help watching Akash as he dealt with the twins. The baker seemed to have limitless patience with them. His eyes followed the man all around the bakery, slowly drifting down to focus on one particular part of his body.

He looks dead on his feet.

Right, do something useful then, aside from staring at how those jeans cling to his arse.

They look bloody amazing on him. Love to— Get your shit together, Hamish.

Deep breath.

You can’t rip him out of his clothes. Not yet.

All of his deep breathing did nothing to assuage the way his cock hardened in his trousers. Shit. Hamish grasped desperately at the first non-sexual thought to cross his brain. It didn’t work. He used his innate stubbornness to force his mind away from the delicious arse of the man in front of him.

“Oi. My eyes? Up here?” Akash snapped his fingers and snickered when Hamish jerked in surprise. “Thanks for staying with Alex.”

Hamish waved off the thanks. He’d never even considered leaving the obviously uneasy teen alone. “How about we have a late supper together? If you let me borrow your kitchen, I could cook something up.”

“You cook?”

“I’m no genius like you—but I can whip up something tasty.” Hamish had taught himself how to cook after growing tired of takeaways. “I promise not to burn the place to the ground.”

“Good. Not sure my insurance would cover it.” Akash locked up the shop and gestured toward the door leading to the kitchen. “Go on then. Just don’t give me food poisoning.”

“Have a little faith.”