Men of London 02 - Sight and Sinners by Susan Mac Nicol Page B

regarding Taylor evenly.
    Taylor swallowed, feeling strangely guilty at his last words about Draven being a bit of fun. “Listen, Eddie, I need to go. Draven’s just arrived, so I’ll call you later in the week, okay? Maybe we can make a plan to go out for a beer, you, me and Leslie. Like old times.”
    “No worries. I’ll speak to you soon. Oh, and Taylor?” Eddie’s voice lowered to a whisper. “Fuck his brains out.” The line went dead and Taylor laid his phone down on the side table and looked up to stare at Draven.
    “Do you always leave your front door open?” Draven asked quietly. “Anyone could have come in. I did knock but you were occupied.” For the first time Taylor noticed the brown folder under his arm.
    Taylor shrugged. “You know I don’t lock it when I’m home. It’s not a bad neighbourhood. Maybe I should start, seeing as how just anyone could walk in.” He smiled, meaning it as a tease, but Draven’s jaw tightened and he cricked his head from side to side as if loosening tight muscles.
    Taylor swallowed. “I wasn’t expecting you to come over in person. I thought you were going to call first, like usual. Did you get your business sorted out, you know, the stuff you do after work?” Taylor didn’t want to be nosy but it was a habit that was hard to break.
    Draven nodded, rather curtly Taylor thought. “Yes.”
    He said no more but Taylor saw an expression cross his face, something sad and rather unsettling. He looked at Taylor, a wary expression in his eyes.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to walk in on your private conversation. I don’t want to interrupt if you have plans.” He uncrossed his arms and took hold of the folder in his left hand. “I should go. Maybe this was a mistake coming here unannounced.”
    Taylor frowned. He didn’t want Draven to leave. “I told you that’s not a problem. I come over to yours without always calling first.”
    Draven drew a breath. “I guess. Is it all right then if I stay?”
    “Yeah, of course. I’ll get you a drink. Beer?”
    Draven nodded and Taylor fetched a San Miguel from the small fridge.
    Draven scowled slightly. “So that was Eddie? What was he doing? Checking out what my intentions were toward you? Finding out how much fun you were having with me?” There was a slight bite to Draven’s words and Taylor’s stomach plummeted.
    “So you heard the last part of my conversation then?”
    Draven didn’t reply but the way his nostrils flared told Taylor he definitely had.
    “It’s the only way to keep him off my back.” Taylor explained, fairly lamely he thought. “He’s not sure you’re the right person for me to get involved with, and telling him that will make him worry less.”
    “Whatever. You’re right. It’s nothing serious, anyway, I agree. Too early for that. It’s just a bit of fun.” Hearing his words repeated back at him in that flat tone made Taylor feel like a heel. He also didn’t like the fact that Draven thought “fun” was the key word for their budding relationship either.
    “Draven, I…”
    “I had another reason for coming around to see you.” Draven ignored him and moved over to the couch and sat down, placing the folder on the scarred wooden table in between the chairs. “I wondered if you could help me with a case I’m working on.” He raised that sardonic eyebrow at Taylor’s sudden intake of breath.
    “What? You thought I wouldn’t be able to get past my own inhibitions about what you do and see if there’s any truth in what you say you do?”
    “Well, yeah, it’s a bit surprising.” Taylor shuffled forward, suddenly conscious he was in old sweatpants and a grubby tee shirt while Draven was immaculate in a green polo shirt which showed off muscled, blond-haired arms and an impressive set of pectoral muscles. His trendy black jeans looked as if they’d been poured onto him.
    Way to impress a man, Taylor, looking like some of hippy guy in a coffee-stained tee.
    He slumped next to