King didn’t think it was possible for Leo’s face to get any redder.

  “But that doesn’t mean it’s okay. I don’t like people touching me. Except you. I don’t mind that. Shit. That’s not—that sounded kind of like I’m saying I want you to touch me, but that’s not what I meant. I mean I wouldn’t mind you touching me, and holy shit, I should shut up now.” Leo closed his eyes, letting his head fall against King’s chest as he muttered under his breath. “I am so not good at this.”

  “It’s okay,” King assured him softly, aware Leo hadn’t made to move out of his embrace, and King hadn’t released him. He should really let go.

  Leo shook his head. “No, it’s not. I’m an adult. Why am I so weird?”

  “Hey, look at me.”

  Leo shook his head again.

  “Leo,” King urged softly, placing his fingers under Leo’s chin and lifting his face. When Leo refused to open his eyes, King brushed his fingers down Leo’s jaw. His skin was soft, and he smelled of mint and something else. “Open your eyes.”

  Leo slowly opened just one eye, making King chuckle.

  “It’s okay. I promise. And you’re not weird. We all have our quirks.”

  “Is that what we’re calling it?” Leo asked with a huff.

  “Aw, now who’s grumpy? How about I make you some coffee with that peppermint mocha creamer of yours? In the meantime, you can put together a grocery list.”

  “For what?” Leo asked, leaning on the island counter when King moved away to get their coffee started.

  “You only have creamer in your fridge.”

  “I have to stock up during the holidays because it’s the only time they have that flavor. It’s my favorite.”

  “Makes sense. So how about a shopping list?”

  “For what?”

  Didn’t he just answer that? “Food, Leo. You have no food in your fridge. Or your pantry.”

  Leo opened his mouth, but King held up a hand to stop him. “Your fishy snacks are not food.”

  “I, um, don’t grocery shop.”

  “What do you eat?”

  Leo walked over to one of the drawers and opened it. King stared in horror at the collection of take-out menus. There were dozens of them, all neatly folded with tabbed dividers in alphabetical order.

  “I can’t cook,” Leo murmured, rubbing his arm as he stared down at his feet, his cheeks burning with obvious embarrassment.

  “That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Jack can’t cook either, but I’ve shared a few recipes that have worked for him. I can show you too.”

  “I, um, I appreciate that, but, uh, it’s not that I’m not good at cooking. I can’t. Too many uncertainties and variances. I have trouble focusing, which is not a good thing where heating and cooking things is concerned.” He shrugged. “Fire hazard and all that.”

  “Don’t apologize. How about you make me a list of what you like to eat. I’ll put together a shopping list and handle meals.”

  “I can’t let you do that. You’ve done enough for me as it is. It’s fine. I can just order takeout.”

  “I enjoy cooking. So do the rest of the guys. When we lived together, the guys and I used to take turns cooking. It was good for us. If we’re cooking for ourselves, why wouldn’t we make enough for you?”

  Leo peered at him. “Are you sure?”

  “I don’t offer unless I mean it.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, do I need to buy any kitchenware? Pots or pans?”

  “The kitchen is fully stocked. My sister set this whole apartment up for me. Like I said, I’m not… normal.”

  King walked back to Leo and took hold of his shoulders, smiling at the way Leo automatically stepped into his arms and laid his head on King’s chest. “What you’re trying to say is that something is wrong with you, and there is nothing wrong with you, Leo.”

  “My brain doesn’t work like most people’s.”

  “No, it doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong or that you’re somehow less than. It’s okay to need help, to lean on others who care about you and want to help you. Don’t for a moment think that you’re anything other than wonderful. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with weird. I think we’re all a little weird in our own way.”

  Leo wrapped his arms around King’s waist and let out a soft sigh. Instead of fighting it, King just went with it. He knew he was doing wrong. Leo was growing attached to him, and if he were honest with himself, he’d admit that he was also getting attached, and that wasn’t going to do them any good. Yet having Leo in his arms felt right.

  The air shifted around him, and he silently cursed himself. The problem with family was their inability to stay out of your business. He peered over his shoulder and glared at the five men standing there grinning like idiots. Ace’s smile grew wider, all gleaming white teeth as he put both thumbs up. Good God, when had his life turned into an episode of some teen drama?

  As if sensing something was off, Leo pulled back, his eyes huge when he saw the guys.

  “Morning,” Ace said cheerfully, waving.

  King groaned. Time to restore order. “It’s just like I was telling you, Leo. Here we have five perfect examples of weird. Chip is the most well-adjusted of the bunch.” Five smiles turned to scowls, and King felt better already. “Good morning, fellas. I hope you all slept well.” Jesus, he hoped that’s not what he looked like when he supposedly pouted. “There’s coffee.”

  Instant smiles.

  “Sorry, there’s only peppermint mocha creamer,” Leo said, clearly embarrassed.

  The guys shifted their gazes from Leo to King and back before they all spoke up at once about their love for all things peppermint mocha. Dorks. Man, he loved them.

  While Ace and Lucky got to making them all coffee, one pod at a time, King got the ball rolling. They all had a lot of work to do.

  “Lucky, can you and Ace run out and grab us all some breakfast?”

  “Sure,” Lucky said. “There is a great little café down the road. It had very good reviews. Something about frogs, but great food.”

  “Don’t get anything with tomatoes for Leo.”

  “No problem.”

  “After breakfast, Red, would you mind picking up some groceries for me? I’ll make a list, and you guys can add to it.

  Red gave him a little one-fingered salute. “You got it.”

  “Meal rotation sound good to everyone?”

  Unanimous yes.

  “Jack, you and Joker can take first watch. Make whatever arrangements you need for equipment.”

  “Roger that,” Jack pitched in.

  “Everyone, watch your six.”

  After coffee, they all dispersed, and King turned to find Leo grinning widely at him. He appeared a little starstruck, if King were honest.

  “Wow. I used to watch my dad give orders, but it was never like this.”

  “I wasn’t giving them orders.”

  “No, I know that, but you still have that commanding officer voice, like it’s an order but it’s not. What I mean is, the way they look at you, it’s like they’re happy to do whatever you ask them to do. Like making you happy makes them happy.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. You never noticed?”

  “No. They’ve always been that way.”

  “They admire you.”

  “I suppose they do. I was their warrant officer, and I’m older than them.”

  Leo rolled his eyes. “You’re older than Ace by, like, a year. You’re missing the point completely.”

  “No, I get what you’re saying. I just don’t see it. This is how we’ve always been.” He never really thought about what people saw when he and the guys were together. It had always been that way. If he was there, he was the guy with the plan, and everyone was happy to follow. Any one of the guys could lead if they wanted, and King would happily let them, offer his guidance if they wanted it, but they always turned to him first. King always assumed they did so out of instinct, not because they wanted to.

  “Must be really nice,” Leo said absently, nudging his empty coffee cup.

  “What’s that?”

  “Having such a big family. Knowing there are people you can count on who will be there for you without question. I mean, you didn’t even tell them why you needed them, just that you did, and they showed up, ready to do whatever you asked. That’s pretty amazing.”

  “You have that too, Leo.”

  Leo’s gaze shot up to meet King’s. “What do you mean?”

  “You have us. Whatever happens, you can always count on us. Always.”

  “But I’m not family.”

  “Yeah, you are.”

  Leo’s eyes filled, but he quickly blinked the wetness away. “I should go get dressed. Thanks again. For everything.”

  Before King could ask what was wrong, Leo was disappearing upstairs. Had he said something wrong? It was a statement he never made lightly, and he meant it. Whatever happened, King and the rest of the guys would be here for Leo. It was obvious Leo had been let down a lot in his life, and he had little faith in the longevity of any kind of relationship. Worst of all was that he clearly blamed himself for people not sticking around. King would show him what true friendship meant. If only King could stop his heart from warring with his head and trying to convince him there was more going on between them than friendship.

  Chapter 6

  Knowing King and the guys would keep him safe—plus the fact the entire building was occupied by Bowers and his men—Leo immersed himself in his algorithms and codes, surrendering to the power of his mind and letting it go. Routine helped him, and he continued his, despite the Kings.

  Family.

  King’s family.

  What was Leo supposed to have said to that? Other than how much he wanted it to be true. Leo didn’t dare hope. He’d had “friends” before. People who said they cared about him, but the moment they began feeling he was a burden to them, they vanished from his life like they’d never been there. He’d learned quickly to move on, to not let it hurt him. It wasn’t their fault he was too much to deal with. He’d learned to keep his distance from people. It was easier than getting attached and watching them walk away from him. He didn’t think he could stand the pain to see King do the same. What happened to keeping his distance?

  Kinda late for that now, don’t you think?

  No, he could still turn this around. All he had to do was focus on his work. He could do that. Lose himself in the program he was creating. With King in the same room with him day in and day out, Leo had no choice.

  Every morning when he got up, one of the Kings was already downstairs in the kitchen cheerfully cooking breakfast, with the exception of Jack and Joker. Jack wasn’t allowed near the stove, and Joker avoided it at all costs. Lunch and dinner went the same, with King bringing Leo’s meals up to him after Leo decided it was safer to eat at his desk. Eating meals with King and the guys gave him a false sense of belonging. He wasn’t one of them, no matter how many times King told him he was. When this was over, they’d go back to their lives, and Leo would be left behind. And why wouldn’t they? Leo felt guilty enough for keeping some of the guys away from their significant others. They tried to assure him it was part of the job and they talked to their guys every day. Ace apparently had a billionaire boyfriend, Colton, who ran a huge shipping company. They’d been living together in Colton’s mansion in Ponte Vedra. The story of how they got together had enthralled Leo.

  Ace’s cousin, Lucky, lived with his boyfriend, Mason, in St. Augustine Beach. Mason had been a cop, then a detective before being hired by King. Now he was a team leader for King’s department at Four Kings Security. Red’s boyfriend, Laz, was a freelance fashion photographer, and together they lived in Red’s beachfront condo in St. Augustine Beach, where the rest of the guys lived. Jack and Joker seemed to be enjoying their bachelorhood.

  Hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks.

  Leo managed to keep his distance from King as much as possible, using work as an excuse. He’d completed one section of the six sections of code needed, and a week later he’d finished the second. Four more to go, then testing. He typed away at his computer every day, stopping only when King made him. Leo was man enough to admit he growled a bit when King brought him out of his zone, but that only lasted as long as it took him to realize King had “woken” him up by brushing his fingers down Leo’s cheek and calling him sweetheart. Man, he was such a sucker. The only other time Leo seemed to snap out of it was when he was really thirsty or hungry. Like now.

  The loud growl of his stomach broke Leo out of his zone. How was he starving? Hadn’t King just made him a sandwich? Dropping his gaze to his watch, he cursed under his breath. Holy shit, six hours had passed since lunchtime? He turned his head and found a giant bowl of the most delicious-looking pasta he’d ever seen. It smelled so good he was in danger of drooling all over himself.

  “Chicken Alfredo, lots of mushrooms and Parmesan.”

  Leo blinked up at King. “How’d you know I love mushrooms?”

  King chuckled, amusement lighting up his blue eyes. “You told me so.”

  “I did?”

  “Yep. A little over two hours ago when I asked you. Has that always been a thing with you?”

  “What’s that?”

  King motioned to the pasta. “Eat. You’re getting so absorbed you lose track of the world around you. It’s like you’re in a trance.”

  Leo nodded as he stuffed his face, letting out a moan. God, this was so good. Way better than any of the take-out stuff he ordered. He swallowed his mouthful and took a sip of what he discovered was Red’s sweet tea. It was the most amazing sweet tea ever. “Yeah, once I’m in, I get lost in there until something pulls me back.”

  “Isn’t that dangerous?” King asked, concerned.

  “Oh, definitely. That’s why I have a program that stops my progress every four hours so I can hydrate.”

  King peered at him. “Except you haven’t been using it.”

  Leo cleared his throat, averting his gaze. “I disabled it.”

  “Leo, why would you do that? And why wouldn’t you tell me something so vitally important?” King took hold of Leo’s chin and turned his face, the genuine fear in his eyes stunning Leo.

  “You put your neck on the line for me, and in return I promised I would get this thing done.” Not to mention the longer he spent around King, the harder it would be when King was gone. They were already a month into this mess together, and Leo was getting too used to having King around.

  “Have you thought about how that would work out if you ended up dropping dead in the middle of it?” King’s brows drew together, anger flaring. “Did you think about what that would do to me to see something happen to you when it could have easily been prevented? What exactly did you expect me to say to your dad?”

  “I’m sorry,” Leo muttered. “I wasn’t thinking. I… I didn’t want to let you down.” Man, he sounded so pathetic. He knew better, but he was so behind he’d just wanted to catch up a bit.

  “Hey,” King said softly, grabbing Leo’s attention. “Don’t do it again, okay? Now eat up, then set your program for every four hours. You’ll get it done, but not to the detriment of your health.”

  Leo nodded. He picked up his bowl of pasta again as King headed for the bathroom.

  “I’m going to take a shower.”

  “Okay,” Leo said through a mouthful of pasta. King chuckled, and Leo chastised himself. What was he, twelve? He finished eating, then washed up his bowl and cutlery before returning to his desk. Did he need to take a shower yet? Shit, when had he last taken a shower? The days were all blurring together. He sniffed at his armpit and wrinkled his nose. Okay, he was smelling a little ripe.

  “Sorry, forgot my clothes on the couch.”

  Leo almost swallowed his tongue. Are you kidding me? Nothing could have prepared him for a naked, freshly showered King with only a short bath towel wrapped around his tapered waist. Wasn’t this how most porn videos started? Are you high right now? Don’t think of porn! Oh God, he was thinking of porn. Leo wanted to look away, but his body was a dirty traitor. Not only could he not look away, but his eyes were glued to King’s body. The man’s physique was obscene. He had no right to be that hot. King picked up his duffel bag, and Leo jumped from his chair.

  Eight-pack! “I was right!”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Um, I, uh, was right about that, uh, code I was thinking about earlier. I just remembered that I was right.”

  “Okay.” King didn’t sound convinced, but he didn’t ask, thankfully.

  You know what would be great right about now—other than you not acting like a total basket case? A strong breeze. A conveniently placed hook or doorknob where that towel might get caught. Please, Jesus, make his towel fall off.

  Leo blinked and jolted to find King standing in front of him.

  “Are you okay?”

  No. Why would he be okay? He was definitely not okay with King standing so close all naked and…. Leo reached out and poked King’s flat stomach. His eyes went huge, and he gaped up at King.

  “I’m sorry. I just poked you. That was inappropriate. You have an eight-pack. You’re forty-one, and you have an eight-pack.”

  King arched an eyebrow at him. “Are you saying I’m old?”

  Now would be a great time for a meteor to land on him. “No.” He shook his head fiercely. “You are not old. Nope. What I meant to say and failed miserably at, yet again, is that it’s impressive. I mean, some guys struggle to get any kind of pack, much less six, and in your case, eight. What do you bench? A couple of those tiny Fiats?”

  King blinked at him before barking out a laugh. He turned to head for the bathroom again, shaking his head in amusement.

  “I’m serious,” Leo called out after him. “You know what I can bench-press? The replacement spare. On the Fiat.”