Everyone's Man – 18

 

"Oh boy," Marc murmured under his breath as the elevator doors opened. Bill was standing, obviously waiting for it, if not for him.

 

"About time you decided to show up," Bill growled angrily, putting his hand to the doors to keep them from closing. Then he saw Colin and his frown deepened into a scowl. "Did you think I'd be gone already?"

 

Colin pressed as far back into the corner of the elevator as he could, staring down at the floor with the obvious hope that the man would think he was just someone else who happened to live in the building.

 

Marc wasn't having any of that. He beckoned to Colin to join him. "Bill, this is Colin, the young man I mentioned a couple of days ago."

 

It took Bill a moment to realize what he meant. His tone softened slightly as he asked, "Why is he here?"

 

Before he answered, Marc stepped off the elevator with Colin reluctantly in tow. "He needs a safe place to stay for a day or two."

 

"Why here, though?" Bill looked Colin over with a jaundiced eye. "Surely there are plenty of other places. A hotel if it comes down to it."

 

"It was spur-of-the-moment. We checked for safe houses. There aren't any for men around here." Trying to seem casual, Marc glanced at his watch. "You're going to be late if you're not careful."

 

"True." With a great show of proprietorship, he wrapped his arms around Marc, kissing him long and hard while casting a quick look over Marc's shoulder at Colin to let him know that Marc was off-limits. "Be here when I get home," he ordered as he entered the elevator.

 

"Damn," Marc growled once the doors had closed. "Sorry about that."

 

"Is he always like that?" Colin asked, following Marc down the hall, "Because if he is, maybe I should go to a hotel."

 

"Over my dead body. We have the room and you're staying. As for your question, he's not really all that bad. He just has a jealous streak a mile wide at times."

 

Marc unlocked the door to the apartment and ushered Colin inside. Colin whistled in appreciation. "Not bad, not bad at all. You do well for yourself, Doc."

 

"Actually, it's mostly Bill. He's the big money maker." Marc tossed his jacket over the back of the sofa, scrubbing a hand over his face. "Come on, I'll show you your room before I pass out," he said, suddenly feeling dead-tired and not wishing to get into a discussion of his personal life with Colin at the moment.