Some Assembly Required by Bru Baker, Lex Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

moment.
    “Son of a bitch…,” Patrick growled to himself, his own inconvenient needs getting in the way. He pushed Benji away and held him at arm’s length. “C’mon, cupcake. Time to hit the showers and have a chat.”
     
     
    It was difficult to have a staring contest when only one participant was aware of the competition.
    Patrick sat in the café at his favorite table with the old man. He had no idea how long the guy had been coming in. But he was the one that always brought in the New York Times , Patrick’s only lifeline to the outside world. He also brought the crossword books. The old man left them behind, and Patrick had collected them in his greed for entertainment. But as the days went by, Patrick grew unsure if they truly were forgotten. Were they an offering?
    The old man had a name. Henry. Patrick once caught it on his credit card when he bought his usual plate of meatballs with extra sweet tomato jam.
    Patrick narrowed his eyes, his nose millimeters from Henry’s, but Henry seemed lost in some thought or another.
    Two could play that game.
    Patrick reached out and snapped his fingers against Henry’s ear.
    Nothing.
    Patrick hummed in thought. He’d crack into this puzzle yet.
    “Karin told me I’d find you here,” Benji said as he entered the café.
    Trying to play damage control for being caught, Patrick shoved his chair back from Henry’s table and cast a beaming smile at Benji.
    “Hey, cupcake,” he drawled as he gave Benji a once-over. The hipster skinny jeans definitely fit well. Really well.
    “We’ve moved on to cupcake?”
    “Well, you do have a sweet, creamy center,” Patrick said without a blink.
    Benji coughed into his fist and averted his gaze.
    “You should get that checked out,” Patrick said as he stood.
    Henry sipped his tea, still blissfully unaware.
    “Know of any doctors in CASA?” Benji asked, rising to the challenge.
    Patrick thumbed his chin. “Well, funny you should ask….”
    “Him?” Benji asked and nodded to Henry.
    Patrick’s gut clenched as Henry pulled out the Times and ran his fingers over the front page. “Him?” Patrick tried to keep his smile intact as Benji denied him his desperate moment for news. “Naw. He’s a—” Patrick snapped his fingers next to Henry’s ear, only to be rewarded with no response. “—pet project.”
    Benji narrowed his eyes. The skepticism was strong with this one. “Then, who?”
    “Me.” Patrick counted the seconds until Benji’s gaping reaction.
    “You.” Benji didn’t take the bait. Dammit.
    Patrick stretched with a long arch of the back. “Well… if you want to get specific, not medical. Particle physics. You know,”—he flicked his fingers dismissively—“superboring stuff about two bodies colliding together, creating a passionate explosion.”
    Benji coughed again. “Passionate?”
    Patrick feigned innocence. “Do you find my vocabulary intimidating? I could use alternatives. How about concupiscent?”
    “Wha—”
    “Or would you prefer something that rolls off the tongue? How about lascivious?”
    “Do you ever stop?”
    “But my dear Benji, we were just reaching the climax of our verbal copulation.”
    “Oh God!”
    Patrick licked his finger and hissed, mimicking a sizzle as he drew a one through the air. “Gotta be faster, pussycat.”
    Benji looked away, his jaw set in a stubborn way that made it obvious he was doing his best to deny Patrick a reaction. But his red cheeks and ears were more than enough.
    “So, do you know what happened?” Patrick asked. “How you got here?”
    Benji shook his head. “I drove, of course.”
    Oh boy. It was going to be a long day.
    Patrick led Benji two tables away and gently brushed his elbow. His fingers twitched at the shock darting up his arm. He had to be mindful of that. He’d had a rule against casual touches for years, but Benji was somehow making him forget that. It made Patrick worry about what other rules might be next. “You’re