Chapter Two

He smelled good today. So fucking good. Ben had to stay at his desk to keep from sniffing him. The temptation to ask if Rider got a new cologne was killing him. Fuck. He smelled delicious. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Rider's mood was complete shit. He had already barked at Ben twice. His face was twice as hard as usual, and Ben knew him well enough to keep his mouth shut. Rider didn't get like this often, but it was always bad when he did.

"Where in the fuck are this week's stat sheets?"

Ben bit back a tired sigh. "In the file on your computer, clearly labeled as stat sheets."

Rider shot him an irritated look. "No fucking shit, Ben. The file is missing. Did you think I asked because I have nothing better to do?"

After a calming breath, Ben moved to his feet and crossed the room. He leaned over Rider's shoulder. That smell hit him square in the face. He fought his eyes from slipping closed. Damn. He wanted to wallow in that scent. Instead, he used Rider's mouse to click around. He opened the file finder and searched stats, finding Rider's lost file. Ben opened it and walked away before he rubbed himself against Rider like a cat.

"How in the fuck did it end up in the cloud?"

"It's always in the cloud," Ben said, trying to hold on to his patience. "That's how you're able to access it from any device."

"I'm detecting a tone."

Ben met his stare.

Rider's eyes were narrowed.

It seemed they would be fighting today. "What tone would that be?"

"A snippy one."

Ben's eye twitched. "You're hearing things." Now he sounded snippy.

"I don't think I am." Damn. Rider sounded pissed.

"I'm guessing now isn't a good time to tell you to calm down."

The muscle in Rider's jaw ticked. "Are you trying to get fired?"

Ben ran his tongue over his teeth. Rider obviously needed to have it out with someone. That was fine. Ben had time. "Do you want to fire me? Fine." He pointed at the nearby thousand-dollar coffee station. "Go right over there and show me step by step how your coffee is made." Ben swiped his hand through the air. "Scratch that. That one is way too hard. Let's try an easier one, since I'm so disposable to you. Tell me where your car keys are right this second. Go on. I'll wait."

They held each other's stare.

Neither of them blinked.

Finally, an adorable and contrite smile touched Rider's lips. He leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair, making it stand on end. Rider flattened it out again. "Sorry. I talked to my mom this morning."

Ben winced. Rider's mom, Jules, was the fucking worst. She was spoiled and high maintenance, even though she had done nothing to deserve it. After marrying a professional football player, she had produced three sons who all grew up to play various pro sports. She fully expected to be regularly compensated for giving them life. That was all she had done. Nannies had raised them.

"What new toy has she decided she wants your dad won't buy her now?"

"A twenty-three-year-old pool boy named Stephan."

An unexpected laugh burst from Ben. He covered his mouth. "Sorry."

Rider shook his head. His smile was everything. "Don't be. It's fucking ridiculous. Apparently, Dad fired the equestrian trainer she was sleeping with, but he refused to get rid of the tennis instructor he's fucking. So now she wants a full-time pool guy he won't fund." Rider swiped a hand over his face. "It's all so goddamn dumb."

"Why don't they just get divorced?"

Rider shot him a look like he thought Ben was an idiot.

Ben nodded. "Right. No one is willing to split the assets."

"Bingo." Rider straightened in his seat and eyed his desk as if he had forgotten what he had been doing. After a moment, he sighed and met Ben's stare again. "Let's get out of here for a few hours."

Ben shrugged. "Okay." If it meant Rider's mood improved, he would do anything. He despised Rider's parents for just this reason. Rider lived under constant pressure. He already had ulcers and didn't sleep. The last thing he needed was more people crushing him with impossible expectations. Ben opened the top drawer of his desk and grabbed Rider's keys.

Rider laughed at the sight of them. "Where did you find them this time?"

"They were on the floor in the bathroom."

With a shake of his head, Rider stood. "I honestly couldn't live without you."

Ben didn't bother hiding his bright smile. "I know." Together, they headed out while Ben did a happy dance inside. He had made Rider laugh. His day was complete.

Rider hadn't just been talking shit. He genuinely couldn't live without Ben. The guy ran his entire life, keeping him on track and picking up every place Rider lacked. Stress made him forgetful as hell and he lost everything all the time. Ben never hesitated to go toe to toe with him when he was being an ass. Honestly, that was exactly what he needed. Someone weak could never survive him. Ben's bravado always snapped Rider from his bad moods.

For that, Ben deserved a nice day away from the office. They went to lunch at Ben's favorite restaurant. Rider could take it or leave it. It was one of those too busy places that anchored every mall. The food was just all right, in Rider's opinion, but he had been raised completely different than Ben. Ben saw the place as overpriced and nice. For Rider, it was kind of blah. But it was attached to an upscale mall, which gave Rider an excuse to take Ben shopping. Unlike his undeserving and ungrateful mother, Ben deserved nice things. Rider loved spoiling him because Ben fucking hated it. Every gift made him visibly uncomfortable. Rider enjoyed watching him squirm.

"Which store should we hit first?"

Ben shot him a laughing look. He tapped his chin. Rider couldn't wait to hear what sassy thing he intended to say. Ben surprised him. "Show me where you bought this new cologne. I'm in love."

Hunger unexpectedly punched Rider in the gut. Until that moment, he hadn't realized how badly he wanted to hear that L word roll from Ben's tongue. Plus, he had admitted to liking Rider's scent. That felt like a win.

"As you wish." He grabbed Ben's hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm, being the gentleman. "This way, my good man."

Ben chuckled at his ridiculousness, but he didn't pull away. As they headed inside a high-end department store, Ben laughed again. "I honestly thought you'd tell me some exotic lover gave you the cologne. You're not someone I picture out shopping for something like that… at the mall."

Rider shot Ben an irritated look. "Don't be ridiculous. You, of all people, should know I don't date."

Ben didn't meet his stare. His gaze swept the store, taking in every detail. "Why is that? Anyone would be lucky to have you, and I know people trip over themselves to win you."

You. The reason is you. That thought was so loud, he worried he might have said the words aloud, but Ben didn't react. Rider assumed he managed to keep his trap shut. "Who has time for that bullshit?"

Finally, Ben's gaze swung his way. Their gazes collided. He swore something built between them. Ben looked away first. "You had time to go cologne shopping. That means you have time to date."

"I had to come here for a different reason. The cologne was an afterthought."

"Nice afterthought. Then again, you've always had good taste. After all, you hired me."

"Best decision I ever made."

They exchanged a smile.

Ben squeezed his arm. "So what were you out shopping for when you had this afterthought? I'm genuinely curious now."

Rider shrugged. "Someone I know has a birthday and a two-year anniversary of working for me next week."

A loud and obnoxious gasp burst from Ben. "Who? Is it Cynthia in accounting?"

Rider laughed. Ben was one of a kind. "Does she have a birthday next week? How sad for you, having to share your day with someone else."

Ben chuckled. "I'm sure I share my day with millions around the world."

"Yet there's only one you," Rider said, trying to keep the mood light. "Now, you are notoriously hard to buy for, so what would you like?"

Ben huffed. It was an adorable sound. "You didn't even buy me anything? I'm joking, of course. Please don't buy me anything."

"A surprise it shall be." He slung his arm across Ben's shoulders and steered him toward the shoe section. "For funsies. Let's get you some new shoes. The ones you're wearing are terrible."

Ben laughed. It was genuine and turned heads.

Rider couldn't look away.

"You bought me these shoes."

"But they're so last year," Rider argued.

"You bought them two months ago."

Rider played dumb. "Did I? I don't think that's right. Either way, two months is too long."

Ben shook his head. "You're impossible."

Rider's face hurt from smiling. All the stress fell away, leaving him feeling free. He only felt this way with Ben. Rider said what he always did whenever Ben complained about him. "Don't fuss. You love me."

Ben flashed him an exasperated look. One of these days, Ben would agree. Rider lived for that day.