A Bid For Love

short glass vase someone thought would look good as a pencil cup placed against the smooth cherry surface of the adjoining door. Never let it be said the Bureau couldn't improvise.
    The voices came through miraculously clear. "You are just a piece of work, you know?" It didn't hurt Noah was a tad louder than usual. "I can't believe you did that, even to Asher."
    "What? Kissed his hand? Good God, Noah, to hear you half the time I'd expect you to figure he'd love it. Make up your mind already." Scott's voice wasn't exactly subdued.
    "It doesn't matter! If Asher is gay, fine! But he deserves to know you are before you go hitting on him." Asher could nearly hear the frown on Noah's face. He knew the tone too well not to know the expression that went with it. "And you don't make a pass at a guy in the middle of the office even if he is gay. Especially since it's pretty clear he isn't out. Jeez!"
    "I wasn't making a pass."
    Uh-oh. Asher knew Scott's tone as well. Far softer, filled with real anger. "I was goofing around over a cover, like I usually do. Like he does. Believe me, if I was serious about making a pass, I wouldn't do it in the office, and I sure as hell wouldn't do it in front of you." Asher could almost picture blue eyes bright with fire. "He gets enough grief from Eva. And plenty from you in all those little snide digs. Lay off."
    The silence stretched long enough concern blossomed in Asher.
    "Oh, my God, you have the hots for Asher!" Sheer disbelief colored Noah's tone. "You want him. You'd never turn all protective unless you wanted into those hand-tailored pants of his. God! That is just..." Silence again, though Asher could envision the shudder working its way up Noah's frame. "You really need to lay off then. Office romances are forbidden around here and you know it. Don't go seducing him. Don't seduce anyone around here, but especially him."
    More silence, only this time Scott would be taking one or more deep breaths, just to keep from ripping his best friend's head off in a very literal sense. The tension in Scott's jaw carried through in the tone of voice. "You listen to me, Noah. You don't have a damn thing to say to me about office romances. At least if I have a thing for Asher, I don't spend half my day mooning over him like some teenager on his first crush. I can work with him, I can carry on a grownup conversation, and I can let him breathe somewhere besides under my almighty shadow. You might think about how you act around Holly before you give me a lecture, old son. Now I've got a cover to make sure I don't get killed on. Why don't you let me do that and you do the same? While I pretend this load of horse shit never took place."
    The force of the door closing hurt Asher's ear and he rubbed it as he returned the pencils to the little vase, broad smile in place. His love really could be spectacular at times. And it didn't hurt that Scott voiced annoyance at Noah's endless waffling where his feelings for Holly were concerned. Asher suspected most of the unit had wanted to say as much for some time.
    Bravo, my fearless sweetheart. He grinned as he checked that Noah wouldn't see him exiting the conference room and strode off in search of his love.

    * * * *
    Scott pulled him off the dance floor, settling an arm around Asher's waist. "See? It wasn't so hard. You're a quick study, baby. Not usually my thing, but it's fun." The big agent turned just as they got to their booth, slipping his hands into the back pockets of Asher's Wranglers. "And I can't complain about the view of these jeans." Satin lips nuzzled the hollow of Asher's throat. "God, I'm glad you went with the rose shirt. It's gorgeous on you."
    "You didn't know it was rose until I told you. You thought it was red, even though it's not nearly vibrant enough to be so." Asher didn't even try to control his grin and leaned in when Scott pulled him close. The noise of the club made mics useless. Noah would give an old-fashioned hand signal when the time came to move in. But their mark's customer hadn't shown up yet, so there was some time to play and just fit in with the natives. "But I'm thrilled you like it. I have pajamas in the same shade." Lord it felt good to be an imp, to be free.
    "Yeah, but your PJs never last long when I'm around." Scott pushed him down into the booth, that talented mouth wandering up for a real kiss. "Don't look now, but I think our arms dealer likes watching us. He just ordered a fresh drink and moved to the other