Uniting the Souls Read online

  That was one of the reasons that Matt and I had been so excited to move to the new facility. The previous building only had space for thirty-five residents, but the number of kids needing help had been growing each year. It had torn us up to do it, but we had gotten to the point where we were going to have to start turning kids away. When the building’s contractor, Morgan Greene, developed the plans for the new center and told us that we would have enough room to house over one hundred kids, it was like a dream come true.

  A month after opening the doors of the new facility, there were nearly sixty-five LGBTQA teens that called Agape House home and from the sounds of it, every single one of them were in the kitchen. I made my way down the hallway and opened the large set of double doors to the kitchen, the noise level reaching a fever pitch as I stepped inside. I thought it was a beautiful sound though, because it was the sound of kids enjoying themselves as they ate a healthy breakfast before they left for school. I wondered how many of them had ever had that before they came to the center; probably very few, if any.

  I waved to several of them that called out my name as I made a beeline towards the cooking area of the kitchen in search of coffee. I gave Gladys a quick kiss on the cheek as I stepped behind where she was standing at the stove. Gladys had been in charge of the kitchen since before I showed up all those years ago and I’d taken to her right away.

  She had a no-nonsense attitude when it came to how she expected things to be done in her kitchen and she had a list of rules that were to be followed by the kids that ate there. They all were expected to be kind to each other, use their manners, and clean up after themselves as if it were their home. Those rules went right along with Matt’s list of chores that each kid was given on their first day at the center. There was rarely any argument about it because most of the kids were just happy to be able to stay there. I know I had been anyway, and the rules they had set in place for me had made me feel safe and secure. As if by being able to contribute something, I could safeguard my spot at the center.

  “I saved you a bowl of oatmeal,” Gladys said as I filled a large mug with coffee and doctored it with cream and sugar.

  “With brown sugar?” I asked, smiling at her hopefully.

  “Of course, I know what you like, sweet pea,” she answered back, an indulgent grin on her face.

  My heart warmed at the endearment. I knew that she loved each and every one of the kids that came through her kitchen, but it never failed to make me feel special when she called me that or set food aside for me, adding something extra that she knew I liked. She was the mother I’d always wished I’d had.

  I chatted with her for a while as I warmed my breakfast in the microwave and then I thanked her for the food and made my way out of the kitchen and sat down with a group of kids as I ate. I was just finishing up when I heard some of the kids calling out Matt’s name. My head whipped up and my heart leapt in my chest when I saw my boss walking through the maze of tables.

  Matt stopped to talk to a table full of kids and I took the time to admire him. He looked very handsome in his khaki dress pants and light-blue button-down shirt which showed off his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His dark curls looked soft and silky, but they also looked longer than usual which surprised me because he was always meticulous with his appearance and never let his hair get too long without scheduling a trim. It just went to show how preoccupied he’d been. In fact, he’d been acting strangely ever since the night of the center’s grand opening.

  I’d always had a bit of a crush on Matt, but it wasn’t until I got a little older and began working for him that my attraction had really developed. Unfortunately, Matt had never shown any interest in me, not that I’d seen him show an interest in anyone. Matt was a very private man who never discussed his personal life.

  That night, however, I’d seen the flare of desire in his eyes as he’d watched Hudson moving towards us. I’d felt jealous at first, but then he’d turned to me and the look in his eyes was different from the way he normally looked at me. I wasn’t quite sure what that look meant, and unfortunately, I hadn’t had an opportunity to try and find out because Matt had left shortly after Hudson introduced himself and I hadn’t seen him the rest of the evening.

  Someone had come up to me shortly after that wanting to discuss the new center and I’d grudgingly turned away from Hudson to talk to them. When I’d turned back around, the sexy man was gone. My eyes searched the crowd, but it was like he had vanished. I’d been shocked by my reaction to Hudson because up until that point, Matt had been the only man that had ever made my heart race, not that I had ever let him know that.

  Still, to suddenly find myself attracted to both of them had been disconcerting. I’d been left feeling completely confused by it all, but I hadn’t seen Hudson again after that and Matt had been avoiding me ever since, unless it had to do directly with our work at the center.

  As if he’d heard my thoughts, his head lifted and his gaze caught mine from across the room. I could see his brows furrow slightly as he looked at me, but then he turned his attention back to the kids he’d been talking to. My shoulders slumped and I let out a low sigh. I was going to have to try and find a way to talk to him so I could figure out what was going on. If I’d done something wrong or upset him in some way, then I wanted to know about it so I could try to correct it. Matt was too important to me to just let it go.

  I said goodbye to the kids at my table and told them I’d see them after school then I picked up my dishes and walked over, placing them in the sink. After refilling my coffee mug, I made my way back down the hall so I could get started with my work.

  “Good morning, Isaac!” Allison said as I walked towards my office.

  I smiled at the vivacious brunette sitting at the front desk. Matt had hired her to run the front desk shortly after we made the move into the new building. He’d explained that since I knew more about the center and the direction he wanted to take things than anyone else, that I was the perfect person to be his assistant.

  I’d been speechless when he’d shown me to my very own office right next to his and I’d stood there for a long time, tracing my finger over my name engraved in the gold plaque on the door. I’d had to swallow several times around the lump in my throat before I was able to tell him thank you, but the soft look he’d given me told me that he knew how much the gesture had meant to me.

  The center still relied heavily on volunteers from the community, but with the attention that had been drawn by having Carter’s Creed involved, the number of people willing to help had risen considerably. Matt had increased the permanent staff though to include more kitchen help, an on-call pediatrician, and of course, Allison. The only position that hadn’t been filled was a therapist who would be willing to come in as needed to talk with the teens and help them work through some of the things they were dealing with.

  I’d just sat down at my desk when there was a knock at the door. I looked up to see Matt standing there with a tentative grin on his face. I wished I knew why he’d started acting so differently around me. I smiled at him, trying to put him at ease, but his eyes widened and he dropped his gaze to the floor. I sighed.

  “Have I done something wrong, Matt?” I asked quietly.

  “No, not at all. Why would you think that?” He sounded surprised as his eyes shot up to mine.

  “Because you’ve been acting really strange lately. Almost like you’re avoiding me or something,” I told him, shrugging my shoulders casually so he wouldn’t know how worried I’d been. I watched him carefully as his shoulders slumped and he reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

  “I’m sorry, Isaac,” he said with a sigh. “You haven’t done anything wrong at all. I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”

  “Is there anything I can help with?” I offered. The smile Matt gave me that time was more genuine.

  “No, it’s something I have to work out on my own, but thank you. I actually stopped by to see if you had time to go over some ideas
I had for a project that I’d like to get the kids involved in; kind of a way for them to give back to the community that’s helped them so much,” he explained.

  “That’s a wonderful idea. I have time right now,” I told him.

  “Great! Do you mind coming to my office? I have all of my notes in there,” Matt said.

  “Not at all,” I told him. I stood from my desk, stopping to grab a notepad and a pen before following him next door to his office.

  I sat across from Matt as he explained his idea for the kids at the center to help with a community beautification project in which they would spend a couple of Saturdays each month cleaning up and making repairs to neighborhood parks and local playgrounds. I, of course, thought it was a brilliant idea and Matt became more animated as we began planning how we could turn the idea into reality.

  I could see him becoming more relaxed the longer we talked and I was glad that he had asked me to help with the project. Matt and I had always worked very well together and I was relieved to find that whatever had been bothering him wasn’t going to get in the way of that. Neither one of us stopped talking until we were interrupted by a knock at the door. We both looked up as Allison pushed it open and peeked her head in.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were in a meeting,” she apologized.

  “That’s alright, Allison. What’s up?” Matt asked kindly.

  “There’s a gentleman here to see you. He said he’s interested in the therapist position,” she said. Matt looked at me excitedly and we both grinned at each other.

  “Send him in, please,” he told her. She nodded her head and then disappeared back down the hallway. We both stood and I grabbed my things, intending to make myself scarce, but Matt stopped me before I could leave. “If you have time, I’d like you to stay. Choosing the right therapist is a big decision and I’d really appreciate your input on who I hire.”

  “I’d be happy to,” I agreed.

  I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. It meant the world to me that he valued my opinion. Matt held my gaze and for just a second, I thought I saw the same look he’d given me the night of the grand opening, but we were interrupted once again when the door opened and I turned my head, my jaw nearly hitting the floor when I came face to face with Hudson.

  I frowned as I watched the retreating form of the young woman walking down the hallway. Micah had told me that Isaac worked the front desk at the center and I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I was a little disappointed when instead of Isaac, I’d been greeted by Allison’s bubbly personality. It wasn’t her fault, she was a charming girl with a bright smile, it just wasn’t the smile that I’d been looking forward to seeing. I shook my head. That wasn’t the purpose of my being there, I reminded myself, although I still couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect of seeing the two men that had invaded my every thought since the night I’d first laid eyes on them.

  After listening to Rylie and Lachlan go on and on about the work being done at the center, I’d decided to check it out for myself during the grand opening. I looked around a bit, wanting to see what all the fuss was about and I had to admit, I was thoroughly impressed. It was obvious that a lot of thought and consideration had gone into the space, making sure that the kids who went there would feel welcomed and at home.

  I’d wandered the halls, thinking how lucky the young people of Chicago were to have a place like that to turn to and wishing that every city in America would offer places of support for their LGBTQA youth. Too many teens were being turned away from their homes each year, many of them living on the streets, getting hooked on drugs and being forced into prostitution just to try and survive.

  I’d returned to the party, determined to help in any way possible and anxious to meet the person responsible for starting such an incredible program. I met Micah and Landon on my way back into the main area and when I asked them who I should speak to, they’d pointed to two figures across the room saying that the dark-haired gentleman was Matt, the owner of Agape House and the other was Isaac, the front desk manager. They told me that either one would be able to find some way for me to volunteer.

  I’d made my way slowly across the crowded room and my steps faltered when Matt and I locked eyes. He was gorgeous with his thick dark curls and smoky gray eyes, which widened as he stared back at me with a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and heat. I felt inexplicably drawn to him and I moved closer, even more determined to meet him when movement to the left of him caught my attention.

  My eyes had darted to the person standing at Matt’s side for just a second, but then froze there as I’d taken in the stunning young man who must have been Isaac. He was nearly a foot shorter than me with light-brown hair that was a little longer on the top than the sides with blond highlights streaked throughout.

  I found myself being drawn to him the same way I’d been drawn to Matt and it left me feeling disoriented. They were both stunning, but how could I have such a visceral reaction to two different men in a matter of seconds? My mind felt foggy, but my feet continued to move me in their direction until I’d ended up standing right in front of them. Everything seemed to disappear around us until it was as if we were the only three people in the room.

  “Which one of you is Matt?” I’d asked as if I didn’t already know the answer.

  Somehow, I’d managed to make it through introductions, but my heart was racing the entire time. I tried to think of something else to say, but it was as if my tongue was tied in a knot. My eyes kept darting back and forth between the two men, taking in the slight crease between Matt’s eyes and the freckles dotting the bridge of Isaac’s nose. I’d had the strongest urge to kiss each and every one of those freckles while finding a way to make Matt smile. What the hell was wrong with me?

  Matt turned to look at Isaac and I saw the same mixture of emotions playing across his face when he looked at the younger man as he’d worn when he’d looked at me, and I felt disappointed as I wondered if there was something going on between the two of them already. If so, I’d have no choice but to walk away. Before I had the chance to find out, however, Matt suddenly said something about needing to talk to the mayor and then he’d spun on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.

  I’d turned to Isaac who was wearing a confused expression as he watched Matt walk away. He’d shifted his blue eyes to me then and opened his mouth as if to say something, but someone came up to him, wanting information about the new center. I felt completely unbalanced by everything that had happened so when another person walked up to join the conversation, I took the opportunity to slip away. I needed air and to get my bearings so I could try and make sense of the strange situation.

  I’d spoken to Lachlan and Rylie for a few minutes and then made my way outside where I leaned against the building, taking in several deep breaths while waiting for my heart to quit racing. I stared down at my hand which still tingled from where my skin had touched theirs when we shook hands. It was shaking and I grabbed it with my other hand to steady it. After several moments, I’d pushed off the wall and forced myself to move towards my car.

  I’d almost convinced myself on the drive home that night that I’d imagined the entire thing, but I woke the next morning with both of their names on my lips and my cock rock-hard and begging for release after the dream I’d had. I knew that I wouldn’t find any peace until I was able to see them again and figure out what the hell was going on. I’d tried to be patient and give them time to get settled into the new center, but I also genuinely wanted to become involved and help out in any way I could. When Lachlan mentioned that Matt might have been looking to hire a therapist, I’d decided that that sounded like the perfect opportunity.

  So, there I stood, trying to appear calm as I waited for Allison to return and tell me if Matt would have time to speak with me, and wondering what would happen if he did. Part of me expected that when I saw each of them again that there would be no spark, that I’d discover in the light
of day that I’d made more out of my reaction to them than was really there.

  “Matt can see you now, if you’d like to follow me.” I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of Allison’s voice right next to me. I’d been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t seen or heard her walking back towards me.

  “Thank you,” I said, returning her friendly smile.

  I picked up my briefcase and followed her down a long hallway. I couldn’t help looking in each open doorway that we passed, hoping to get a glimpse of Isaac, but he was nowhere to be found. My heart was pounding against my rib cage and I rolled my eyes at myself, not sure if it was nerves or anticipation that was causing me to react so out of character and I reminded myself once again of the main reason I was there. Allison stopped in front of the last room just as a phone started ringing in the direction we’d just come from. She turned to me with a startled expression.

  “I’m sorry, I need to get that. You can just go on in, Matt’s waiting for you,” she said with a wave of her hand as she rushed back towards her desk.

  I watched her leave and then turned to face the closed door. I straightened my shoulders and took a deep breath as I turned the knob and let the door swing open. My eyes widened as I came face to face with both of the men who’d left me so rattled after that night and I found my body reacting the same way to them as it had that first time.

  Matt stood behind his desk, a wary expression on his handsome face. His gray eyes looked tired, as if he’d had too little sleep, but he still managed to look stunning. Isaac stood on the opposite side of the desk closest to me, and while he looked surprised, I also caught a glimmer of excitement in his bright blue eyes.

  “Hudson, what are you doing here?” Isaac asked and my heart stuttered at the sight of the smile spreading across his face. It was open and friendly and showed off a set of straight, white teeth and I felt my lips curl up in an answering smile.