Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Chapter 12
Ezra
The most stunning feature of Rosen and Shane’s bedroom was the fresco painted on the ceiling in the alcove containing their bed. Featuring fantastical creatures and men in shiny armor, it should have looked over-the-top. New money. But instead it was the expression of Ros’s artistic talent, and Ezra couldn’t help but keep glancing toward it as he tried on clothes. He was surprised that most weren’t from any well-known brands and often had an unusual design, which, he supposed, went with Ros’s personality. One of the sweaters he’d tried on was even handmade.
As he’d suspected, Ros wore a different size, since he had less muscle tone and was shorter, but many of the garments he’d been offered worked quite well. And the gray pants Ros had gotten online and intended to return not only fit Ezra but also showcased his legs. He’d paired them with a simple T-shirt, which he tucked in, and voila, he immediately felt more like himself. Not to mention that the gold-plated band of the Rolex elevated the outfit to new heights.
“You have no idea how happy this makes me. I can’t access any of my belongings right now,” Ezra said as his shoulders dropped a bit.
Ros, who sat on the floor alongside a Husky/Welsh corgi mix named Eros, offered him a smile. “Don’t worry. You can borrow all the clothes you like. I could also order some necessities for you, like underwear. If Frank bought something that’s your size, it could stand out to someone looking for clues.”
And there it was. Despite his sunny personality, love of quality food and art, Ros was well aware that whoever was behind Ezra’s temporary banishment to the junkyard wasn’t a regular citizen. No details have been shared, but as Ezra suspected, even this pretty boy knew Frank’s business wasn’t entirely legitimate.
He cleared his throat. “Thank you. Really.”
“That’s a nice watch,” Ros said in an innocent tone, but his big eyes revealed a curiosity that came with context. He recognized that the piece of jewelry on Ezra’s wrist wasn’t just a trinket.
“It was a gift,” Ezra told him, approaching the bed to fold all the items he intended to take with him. He smiled when his nape tingled with the sense of being watched.
It didn’t matter whether Ros was his type, or if he wanted to do anything with him, but being noticed made him feel like he still had it. That kind of leverage that only came with beauty.
“Generous. But I can’t complain since I’ve been blessed with six new fur babies last month. Do you know how long you’ll be staying?”
“Frank won’t tell me. But he’s protective,” Ezra added, sprinkling a pinch of suspicion in the thoughts no doubt swirling in Ros’s head. People like him rarely lived in junkyards in the middle of nowhere.
Ros cocked his head, walking up to the fur-covered bed and sitting against the headboard. “Did he give you that watch?” He grinned and winked at Ezra, in no rush to go downstairs.
Bingo. This was exactly where Ezra wanted this conversation to go, and Ros followed his thread like a good boy.
He was so different than the semi-friends Ezra had back in town. While he was asking questions, he didn’t try to show off, and he didn’t seem jealous either. It was just a feeling, but Ezra was good at sensing these things. Could it be that he was trying to work out if Ezra and Frank were a thing to understand if he could get Ezra as a third in his and Shane’s bed? It wouldn’t have been the first time.
“Well… yeah, but now I’m a bit surprised,” Ezra said. “This place must bring more money than it might seem. But then again, I don’t know anything about this type of business.”
Ros’s smile could have competed with the Mona Lisa’s. “There’s a lot going on here. Shane does some work with Frank, so I know. But it varies. Depends whether Frank has a buyer for the items, or if someone brings a collectible treasure with all the other crap. Jag helps sort through it, but it’s a lot of work. But I’m also pretty sure Frank has savings.”
It was a very enigmatic answer that didn’t confirm nor deny Ezra’s suspicions about Frank moving stolen goods, but he didn’t want to seem nosy and offered Ros his smile number five. “Yeah... I’m insanely grateful for what he’s doing for me. It’s just…" Ezra cleared his throat to appear sufficiently uncertain, but in reality, he was trying to coax out more information while he had Ros to himself. “I thought we had good chemistry going. And now he’s just… he’s just not making any moves.”
Ros sat up straighter, hugging a pillow. “Oooh! So you like him. Does he know? That’s weird. Why would he not make a move?”