Read Online The Trouble With Tony by Eli Easton - Free Book Online

did as a surrogate. He’d seen the young man take on cases that would have made Jack’s dick shrivel like he’d stuck it in lemon juice—burn victims, disabled, the elderly, and the extremely obese. Michael took on anyone who needed him and handled them with compassion and respect. Jack admired that greatly.
    But he was suddenly aware of the fact that he didn’t like the idea of Michael touching Tony DeMarco— at all . He’d had a whiff of it when he’d shown Tony Michael’s profile; he’d almost hesitated to hand it over. At the time he’d chalked it up to being uncomfortable with Tony’s questions about surrogacy. It felt premature to Jack and a little… odd. But now, looking at Michael, he realized it was more than that. It was… personal. And that thought was both disturbing and perplexing.
    Jack realized that he’d completely lost the thread of what Andrea was talking about and had been staring at Michael, really staring, with what he could feel was a stern look on his own face. Then again, Jack’s face was usually stern these days.
    That didn’t explain the staring, though.
    Jack looked around self-consciously to see if anyone had noticed. No one was looking at him. Trudy seemed raptly engaged in what Andrea was saying. But when Jack turned his eyes back to Michael, Michael was gazing right at him. The man winked and then smiled a slow, blindingly sweet and sassy smile.
    Jack looked down at his notepad. Fuck.
    After the meeting, Jack went directly to the staff room to get a cup of coffee. He’d prefer a drink, but this was as close as he was going to get during working hours. He was not entirely surprised when Michael strolled in after him. Damn.
    “So… Dr. Halloran,” Michael said leadingly. He draped himself against the counter and watched as Jack very, very carefully, poured hot liquid from the coffee pot into his mug with his left hand. Jack’s right hand was in his pocket, trembling.
    “No,” Jack said in a firm voice, without looking at Michael.
    Michael moved closer, sliding his body down the countertop. He had on a thin, long-sleeved black sweater that hugged his narrow torso. Jack carefully poured in a spot of creamer with his left hand, then stirred. He could see Michael studying his face in his peripheral vision, studying it with far too much perspicacity.
    “You’re cute. And you’re sad. I could make you feel good,” Michael said softly.
    Jack glanced at the young man’s face. How old was Michael, anyway? He looked young, God, so fucking young. Jack supposed he should feel flattered, except he had a feeling Michael was more drawn to the brokenness in him than the man. “No,” Jack said pointedly.
    Michael studied Jack’s eyes as if trying to see if he should believe him or not. Jack gave him his best frigid stare. Michael shrugged. “Okay, Dr. Halloran. You know where to find me.” Michael strolled out, lightly brushing Jack’s arm as he went.
    Jack turned to see Loretta in the doorway. Her face was pursed in a hurt glare and her amble bosom quivered. “You really don’t have to put on these elaborate charades,” she accused. “I get it. You’re not interested in me.”
    Jack groaned at the ceiling and took his cup into his office where he could bang his head on his desk in private.

~10~
    I T WAS a beautiful summer day on Saturday, the kind of blue-sky day that made Seattle seem like the best place on the planet to be. It was particularly beautiful at Discovery Park, where the dirt trails overlooked the sound and views of white-capped mountains—Mt. Rainier to the south, and Mt. Baker to the north—peeked through the fern-laden forest.
    Tony had talked Detective Mark Woodson into meeting there instead of at a restaurant, and they’d already run down to the lighthouse and back up. They reached the top of the cliffs and Mark stopped. He was panting, his sweatshirt damp with sweat, hands on his knees.
    “God, I’m dyin’. Why’d I let you talk me into this