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Lord of a Thousand Steps: An Age-gap, Sexy Babysitter, Single-dad MM Romance (Love in Laguna Book 4)

Page 18

by Tara Lain


  They both chuckled. She was a Tasmanian Devil in rose lace, but man, what a mother.

  Ian looked at Jim. “Are you nervous?”

  “Of walking out there in front of all those people? Hell yeah. Of marrying Ken? Not at all.”

  “How come you waited three years?”

  “We’ve been so happy, it didn’t seem like anything could make it better.” He grinned. “And to avoid a production like this. But now that it’s here, I’m excited.”

  “Good. I’m excited for you. I can’t wait to find out if being married makes you feel different.”

  Some music started in the main hall. Jim took a breath. “Okay. That’s our cue. You have the rings?”

  Ian patted his pocket. “Right here.”

  “You just stand to the side and produce them when the guy asks for them.”

  “Yep, I know. I talked to Ken about it while I was still flat on my back. And I practiced a toast for the reception too.”

  “Good man. Let’s go.”

  Jim opened the door. Whoa. You could make a 1950s epic movie with the cast of thousands in that room. Well, cast of hundreds, but still a lot. Jim walked out toward the area where the ceremony would be performed by a county commissioner. Ian followed and took his place beside Jim. Felt weird, all those people staring at him—or more likely at Jim. Mrs. Tanaka had wanted Ken to marry a good Japanese boy but ultimately succumbed to her son’s love for Jim—and Jim’s total charm when he wanted to express it. For most of these guests, this was their first view of Ken’s soon-to-be spouse.

  Ian looked out over the sea of people. Though a majority were strangers to him, he waggled a fast wave at Billy and Shaz, Jim’s business partner and his husband. Some of the other guys he’d gotten to know from Billy’s construction crews were there too.

  He glanced farther back and—what the—? He whispered, “Jim! Jim!”

  Jim turned. “Yeah, what?”

  “Why is Braden Lord here with his kids?”

  “Ken invited him.”

  “Why?”

  “Something about the kids seeing a gay wedding.”

  “Seriously?” Jesus, even from halfway back in the huge room, Braden glowed like a god. The lights pulled out the red tones in his shiny hair and reflected off his cheekbones. Suddenly, beside Braden, Mireille popped up and waved at him. He had to wave back. People’s heads turned to see who he was smiling at, and then they joined in smiling and waving at her. Way to create a scene, Carney.

  Fortunately, the music started and everyone turned their heads to look toward the back of the room. Through the door came six young women, dressed in beautiful kimonos, who sprinkled petals down the aisle. Ken must be splitting a gut. Behind them came three small children, all in formal clothes, who marched stoically forward.

  Finally Ken stepped through the door, holding the arms of both his mother and father. The whole group stood like he was a bride. But no “Wedding March” here. In honor of Ken’s love of all old musicals, a tenor began to sing “Tonight” from West Side Story. Clearly, this whole ceremony was an amalgam of whatever the heck Mrs. Tanaka wanted, mixed with what Ken and Jim would stand for. But man, the song worked. Two steps, and women were already dabbing at their eyes.

  Ken, in his black tuxedo that was almost as shiny as his hair, looked so handsome people were actually gasping. A little intake of air moved across the whole room. The moment Ken saw Jim, his face lit up, and his eyes never left Jim’s the whole walk down the aisle. Ian sighed, and his gaze crept to Braden.

  Bam! Braden stared back at him. It seemed like his lips parted. Ian shivered to his toes.

  Ken arrived at the head of the aisle, and the ceremony started. Like the processional, it combined Japanese traditions like nuptial cups where the grooms and their parents—in this case only Ken’s—drank sake from special cups, with the vows and rings of a Christian ceremony. Ian managed to get the rings out of his pocket at the right moment, but standing back from the action, he kept letting his eyes creep toward Braden. Sometimes people moved between them, but most of the time their eyes met. The words about loving and honoring washed over him. Happiness for his brother flooded every cell. The room seemed lit with magic—and that was far too sappy for him to even think.

  Finally, the groom kissed the groom—probably the first time many of these people had ever seen two men kiss—and they marched back up the aisle as a married couple, to thunderous applause.

  Jim and Ken were going to freshen up in a guest room and then arrive at the reception, which occupied the entire ballroom of the hotel. Still standing in the front, Ian stared out at the crowd as they filed from their seats and moved toward the festivities.

  Billy waved at him, so he walked down to where a bunch of guys from Jim’s company stood together. He didn’t see Braden. Not sure what to do about that anyway. Braden had taken such great care of him for days while he was sick, but they’d never spoken about Braden’s saying Ian didn’t respect himself. That still stung.

  “Hey, Ian, good job, man.” Billy embraced him in his giant arms—even bigger than Jim.

  “Did I stand up okay?” He laughed.

  Shaz, who looked resplendent in a black suit and pink tie that set off his mane of red hair, embraced him. “Fabulous, darling. Simply wonderful.”

  He started to shake hands with all the guys, but a small missile collided with his legs. “Ian!”

  “Mireille!” He reached down, grabbed her up in his arms, and gave her a swing, achieving the desired squeal of appreciation.

  She touched his face. “Thank you for inviting us. It was very lovely. I enjoyed seeing Jim and Ken get married.” That sounded a little coached. Ian glanced up. Here came the coach, walking with Jo-Jo and looking edible.

  Wait! Ian’s brain exploded. He’d never told Braden what he saw the day he took Jo-Jo home to get his game player. Holy shit! But when Braden had come home, Ian collapsed and hadn’t been fully compos until today. Okay, slow down. You haven’t wrecked anything—yet.

  Mireille waved a hand at her father. “Daddy, look. I found Ian.”

  Braden smiled. “I see that.” He leveled the deep blues at Ian. “How are you feeling?” He smiled. “You look well.”

  Ian’s breath hitched a little, and Shaz’s head came around like a dog smelling a bone. He gave Braden an appraising look.

  Mireille said, “Daddy, I believe these are Mr. Carney’s friends, but I haven’t met them yet.” She extended a hand to Shaz. “How do you do? I’m Mireille Lord.”

  His eyes sparkled. “I’m Chase Phillips, but people call me Shaz. And this is my husband, Billy Ballew.”

  Billy swallowed her little hand in his giant one. “Any friend of Ian’s is a friend of ours.” He flashed a glance at Braden. “Billy Ballew.”

  “Pleased to meet you. I’m Braden Lord.”

  “As in Lord and Kendrick?”

  “Yes.”

  “Honored. I love your designs.”

  “Thank you. I understand you and Jim are in construction.”

  Billy shrugged those massive shoulders. “That might be overstating. We’re a design/build shop. We mostly do tenant improvements and home remodels.”

  Shaz waved his graceful hand. “Nonsense. Billy designed and built my office, and it’s a masterpiece. Nothing less.”

  “I’d like to see it.”

  Ian nodded. “It’s on Ocean Avenue in Laguna. You can’t miss it. Best building on the street.”

  Billy and Shaz shook hands with Jo-Jo just before Mrs. Tanaka came fluttering up. “Ian, we need you for some photos.”

  “Oh, okay.” He leaned in toward Braden. “I really need to talk to you. It’s important.”

  Braden frowned. “A problem?”

  “Not exactly. Let’s talk later when we have a minute.” Mrs. Tanaka pulled his arm, and he succumbed. “Sorry.” He handed Mireille off to Braden. “See you in a while.”

  Weddings are exhausting! No wonder Ken and Jim resisted. It took three hours to g
et through the photos, cocktails, releasing of the doves—really?—before finally he stood at the head table to give his toast. He’d planned something short and sweet, but staring at Jim and Ken, the practiced words vanished. “Three years ago, I sat outside my brother Jim’s apartment, holding a dirty kitten in my jacket, with no place to go and no one I believed loved me. I barely knew my brother, since he had left home years before. I can’t imagine fully what Jim thought when he saw me. Here was a young man just starting his life, and suddenly he had an eighteen-year-old kid with a broken heart to care for. He never hesitated. He took me in. When Jim and Ken fell in love, I thought I’d be looking after myself, but Ken simply accepted us as a package deal, and from that day to this, we’ve been family. People sometimes wonder what kind of families a gay marriage produces. I’m here to tell you that the finest qualities of love, devotion, caring, and trust are embodied in this newly married couple, and if you want to see what a family is, I’ll tell you, you’re looking at one. To Jim and Ken. Thank you, and I love you.” He raised his glass and smiled at his brother who—wonder of wonders—was wiping tears from his cheeks.

  The whole room yelled, “To Jim and Ken.”

  Dinner arrived. Ian stared around the room, looking for Braden and the kids, and discovered that somehow they’d managed to get seated with Billy, Shaz, and some of the other guys from the company. Wish I could sit with them. He managed to consume some food between accepting the compliments of the guests on his “moving toast.”

  Finally, the dancing began. Jim and Ken walked to the dance floor, and with Jim leading, they moved into a sweet, not very imaginative box step. Jim’s “emergency” ballroom lessons of the last two weeks just about got him across the floor. After the obligatory newlywed shuffle, other couples joined in, including Billy and Shaz, and the fun began. Those two set new records in stylish. By the time the waltz ended and they broke into their uptown boogey, middle-aged Japanese ladies waited in line to dance with both of them. Billy grabbed Ken, another naturally fabulous dancer when he wasn’t restrained by Jim’s limited repertoire, and the two cleared the dance floor for a while. Most of these people might not have seen two guys dance together before, but now they were feeling left out if they didn’t have a same-sex partner.

  The band switched to something slow, and Ian felt a tap on his shoulder. Braden stood behind him. “Would you like to dance?”

  Ian cocked his head. “You sure?”

  “I’ll have to lead, since I never learned to follow.”

  Ian laughed. “I think that statement covers a lot of ground.”

  “Very true.” He extended a hand and Ian took it. On the dance floor, Braden pulled him close enough to tantalize, but not to shock. “I’m sure everyone’s been telling you how wonderful your toast was, but I wanted to add to the accolades. Not a dry eye in the house—including mine.”

  “Thanks. I didn’t plan it. Just popped out.”

  “I think that was obvious.”

  “Because it was so bumbling?” He grinned.

  “No. So sincere.”

  His cheeks heated. Change the subject. “Where are Mireille and Jo-Jo?”

  “Mireille’s dancing with Chase Phillips, and Jo’s playing video games at the table, of course.”

  “I was so surprised to see you here.”

  “When Ken asked me, he told me not to say anything. I’m not sure why.”

  “I’m not either.” He took a breath. “Except maybe he knew I’d enjoy it.”

  “He said you would. I hoped it was true.”

  Just say it! “I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore—socially, that is.”

  Braden smiled. “Whew. I do love that go-for-the-jugular tendency you have, Mr. Carney.”

  “No use shitting around. Life’s short.” He glanced into Braden’s eyes. “Especially for old guys like you.”

  Braden snorted a laugh. “Damn. That’s the truth.” The music changed to something up-tempo. “You want to take a walk?”

  “Sure. Better check on the kids first.”

  Braden looked at him sideways. “Isn’t that my line?”

  “I’ll meet you in the hall outside the ballroom.”

  “Be there in a minute.”

  Ian walked across the huge room, being greeted as he went, and finally burst out into the cool breeziness of the hall. A double doorway led to a small garden where one or two couples walked. He perched on a sofa beside the window. What am I doing? Why am I setting myself up for more grief?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Ian sucked in a breath as Braden walked out of the ballroom, looking flushed and gorgeous. “Warm in there.”

  “Three hundred people will do that.” Ian stood. “Want to go out in the garden?”

  Braden nodded, and Ian led the way. Day had melted into dusk as the wedding party celebrated. It was still earlyish, and the sky held its light, but shadows ruled on the ground. The garden had a Japanese feel—appropriate—with a koi pond and some lovely bonsai trees to complement the larger foliage.

  Braden pointed to a bench on the far end of the garden. “There?”

  Ian sat and Braden slid onto the bench beside him. They both stared straight ahead.

  Braden sighed. “I’m not very good at this gay thing yet. I want people to respect me, but I’ve been hiding so long, I don’t respect myself.”

  Ian turned sharply. “That’s a helluva revelation.”

  “When I came to your house that day, I realized all the shit Jim and Ken must have been thinking about me. That I’m a dirty old man who didn’t have the balls to come out of the closet and now wants to take advantage of a bright young guy and treat him like a boy toy.”

  Ian shrugged. “They said something about an imbalance of power.”

  “I think that’s a polite way of paraphrasing what I just said.” Braden smiled tightly. “Anyway, I freaked, and not in a good way. I know it came out sounding like I blamed you for liking me. I want you to know that’s not what I meant at all.”

  “Well, hell, that’s great to hear.” Ian blinked.

  “I fucked this up so royally.”

  Ian slid a hand over and took hold of Braden’s. “I think it may be that you didn’t fuck it up enough.”

  Braden chuckled, and Ian grinned.

  Braden’s hand tightened as he gazed at Ian. “Maybe that’s why Ken invited me? Maybe he changed his mind about me.”

  “Or he wanted us to have a chance to change our minds about each other.”

  The warmth of Braden’s hand seeped into his soul. Ian sucked in a breath. “I need to tell you something really important, and I’m so sorry I didn’t do it before now.”

  Braden turned to him. “Yes, tell me. What?”

  Ian pulled his phone from his pocket and found his photos. “The day Jo-Jo called saying they needed help, he asked me to take him to his mom’s house because he’d forgotten his game player. Obviously, a fate worse than death. He told me he had a key, that he knew the alarm code, and that his mom wasn’t home. When we got there, a few cars were parked at the curb, but he said it was a neighbor’s party. Anyway, we went in. No alarm, but again, Jo assured me that your ex always forgets to set it.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Yeah, well, Jo-Jo ran straight upstairs, and I waited in the entry where I could see Mireille in the car. I heard a noise like a moan and went to check.” He held out the photo on his phone.

  Braden stared. “Holy shit.”

  “Yeah. Two guys.”

  “One of them’s a lawyer I know. Jesus.”

  Ian blew out a column of air. “Worst of all, I think there might have been drugs there, Bray. But I was so freaked to get Jo-Jo out of there, I didn’t try to find out. I know I should have told you this before now, but I’ve been so sick I didn’t think of it. If she’s on drugs, it could be dangerous for the kids.”

  “Yeah. Still, both kids are fairly sensible, and my housekeeper watches them. If there’s something weird going on, sh
e’s got to know it.” He wiped a hand over his face. “Will you send me the photo?”

  “Of course.” He really wanted to kiss Braden, but any client could be walking by, and gay PDA might not be embraced in the Newport Beach circles. Plus, he still felt off-balance. Where were they? Back to fuck buddies? Something else? If so, what? “I guess I better go back in. The grooms may be leaving soon, and I need to coordinate the throwing of the birdseed.”

  “The kids are probably looking for me.”

  They rose, and Braden squeezed Ian’s hand one more time. Then they walked to the ballroom side by side like good guy pals. As they approached the table, Jo-Jo sailed past on the dance floor, twirling Mireille off her feet. He gave Ian a big grin and got one back.

  Ian plopped in a chair next to Shaz. Braden sat next to Billy, and the two struck up a conversation. Ian watched the kids dance, laughing.

  Shaz smiled. “They’re great kids and obviously love you.”

  “Mireille mostly loves my cat, and Jo loves that he can beat me at video games.”

  “No, actually the boy has quite a crush on you.”

  “What? No way. I don’t think he’s gay.”

  “No, he probably isn’t, but that doesn’t rule out a man crush. He’s fourteen. Hormones get a little mixed-up at that age, and you’re awfully cute.”

  “Gee, thanks.” Still, he looked at Jo-Jo with his bright eyes and big smiles for him in kind of a new light.

  Jim and Ken emerged from their room at the hotel wearing suits for their—sort of—good-bye. They were scheduled to leave in a limo with all appropriate fanfare, stay the night in a fancy hotel in Laguna compliments of Ken’s parents, and then go home. They said they didn’t need to go on a honeymoon. They lived their honeymoon.

  After all the birdseed had been thrown and the grooms drove off, Jo-Jo came bouncing over with Mireille, who was pulling her father behind her. “Hey, Ian, want to come over for some video games?”

  Ian hesitated. Last time this happened, Braden ran like a rabbit.

 

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