Faking It

by Christine d'Abo

  As long as his dad didn’t find out ahead of time and decided to put a stop to it, all would be good.

  Max had unbuttoned the dark-plum dress shirt and opened the front of the dress pants, when Grady stepped into the room with him. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Watching my fiancé get changed.” He leaned against the door and crossed his arms. “It’s not like you gave me any opportunity to see you this morning.”

  Max had gotten up and dressed long before Grady had woken from what looked to be a fitful sleep. It had been hard enough to sleep on the couch listening to him tossing and turning, occasionally moaning when sleep had claimed him. Letting Grady see him change, or worse, seeing Grady in any state of nakedness, would not have ended well for his promise to keep his hands to himself.

  “You won’t have that opportunity again either. Now go so I can change.”

  “No.”

  Max closed his eyes and mentally counted to three before trying again. “I want to get out of this so we can pay for it and leave.”

  “I’m not stopping you.”

  Click went the little control Max had. He turned and placed a hand beside Grady’s head on the door. The shirt fell open, leaving his chest exposed. “I asked nicely, now I’m telling you. Leave.”

  The air in the small changeroom had heated; the scent of their aftershaves and deodorants competed for room in Max’s nose. Grady’s face flushed, and his lids looked heavy. “You’re not playing fair.”

  “I’m not playing at all.”

  “One kiss and I’ll get out of here.”

  “No.”

  “Please.”

  “No.”

  Grady slid his hand across Max’s chest, his fingers teasing the coarse hair, tugging it as he went. “One little kiss to tide me over until the wedding party. Something to keep me grounded when the shit starts to hit the fan. Trust me, it will.”

  Max knew nothing good would come from kissing Grady. Especially after what had happened in the restaurant bathroom. “This is a bad idea.”

  “No, it’s not.” Grady slid his hand over to tease Max’s nipple. “It’s a very good idea.”

  “I’m not kissing you.”

  “Then let me kiss you. Consider it a thank-you for this morning. If you hadn’t been there, I might have punched Justin.”

  It didn’t take a genius to know that Justin had a talent for pushing Grady’s buttons. Stopping the inevitable fight from happening certainly didn’t warrant Max breaking his own rules.

  Except he wasn’t the one doing the kissing.

  Grady telegraphed what he was about to do, giving Max more than enough time to pull away if he really wanted. Every time they’d kissed, it had been Max in charge, controlling the pace, the intensity. Holding still, he let Grady take control.

  The press of his mouth against Max’s was far more gentle than he would have guessed possible. It was all lips at first, soft and smooth. Slowly Grady deepened the contact, using his teeth to nip at Max’s bottom lip, as he used his fingers to explore Max’s chest. Max had to fight hard to keep his hand flat on the door and his other hand at his side. He knew if he were to touch Grady, then they would most likely end up arrested for lewd behavior.

  Grady was clearly enjoying the kiss; he kept it light and teasing, much the way Max knew he liked to approach life. As slowly as it started, Grady ended it and pulled back.

  “That wasn’t so bad.” He looked up at Max, his eyes sparkling.

  “No.” God, was that his voice? Rough, low, sounding as though he’d spent the night making love rather than a few moments kissing in a dressing room. “It was good.”

  “I know this is a screwed-up situation. I know you’re stumbling half the time and don’t know how to react to people who you’ll probably never see again. Thank you for that, my friend.”

  The word friend came out more as a question than a statement. It wasn’t surprising that Grady didn’t have a lot of close people in his life. But he must have tons of friends. Right? “You’re a good man, Grady Barnes. Don’t let your father, Justin, or anyone else try to convince you otherwise.” Stepping back, he gave Grady some space. “Now, I need to get changed.”

  Grady cocked his head to the side, looking at him oddly. “Sure.”

  It wasn’t until Grady left and Max heard him start talking to the attendant that he sat down. Had he only been in Vancouver for two days? Maybe he was jet-lagged and that was what was throwing everything off in his brain. He certainly wasn’t developing feelings for Grady, not after knowing him for what? A week?

  Reaching into the pocket of his jeans crumpled on the floor, he pressed the speed dial for Zack. It took until the fourth ring before his gruff voice came through. “Hey. How’s Vancouver?”

  “Clusterfuck. How’s Ringside?”

  “Found a rat’s nest in the changeroom wall. Had to call the exterminator.”

  Max shivered. “Glad I’m in Vancouver.”

  “I thought Nolan was going to fly out to join you when we found it. It seems he’s as fond of real rats as he is spiders.”

  Max laughed. “I would have paid money to see that.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Why would you think I’m not?”

  “I’ve known you too long for your bullshit. What’s wrong?”

  I’m in lust with a man who I don’t know. I might be developing feelings for him, and there’s no chance it will ever work out. “I think it’s just jet-lag.”

  “God, you’re a terrible liar.” He could hear Zack doing something on the other end of the line. “Sorry, I was in the process of making supper.”

  “I still can’t believe you’re cooking. Nolan has no idea the monster he’s created.”

  “It’s nice to have someone to cook for. Someone who enjoys what I make and enjoys eating with me.”

  There was a wistfulness to his voice that squeezed Max’s heart. That was what he wanted: that closeness, a partnership between equals. Not something that he and Grady could ever have. Their backgrounds were too different, as were their futures. “I’m really happy for you, man.”

  “So what can I do to help? Or did you want to just shoot the shit?”

  “To be honest, I needed to hear a friendly voice. Man, I thought my family was tense. Dad isn’t in the same universe as Grady’s father.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t say something smart-assed to him.”

  “I only spent five minutes in his company. Any longer and I might have. Total asshole.”

  “You’ll survive. Is the sex at least good?”

  “Jesus, why does everyone assume we’re sleeping together?”

  “What, I saw the way the two of you looked at one another. If you did any more eye-fucking, the cops would have been called.”

  “Didn’t think we’d been that obvious.”

  Zack laughed hard. “Everyone could see it.”

  “Yeah, well, it only happened once, and that will be it.”

  “Damn. I didn’t peg him to be bad in bed. Hey, did you know he’s some sort of reality star? Nolan lost his shit when I mentioned Grady’s name.”

  “Yes, I knew, and no, he wasn’t bad.”

  “So why only once?”

  “Because it will complicate matters.” It had already complicated matters, not that he was going to tell Zack. “Plus I doubt I’ll see him again after the wedding. I’ll come back to Frantic, and he’ll go off doing whatever rich reality stars do on their downtime.”

  “It’s your call. But if he’s consenting and you’re interested, then I don’t see what the problem is.”

  No, Zack wouldn’t. Until Nolan had come along, he’d never had problems avoiding emotional entanglements with any of his lovers. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Of course I am. Go have crazy sex with your socialite, make some memories. When everything is over, you’ll have some great stories to tell.”

  A knock on the changeroom door pulled Max’s attention. “Are you almost chang
ed, sir? Mr. Barnes has already paid for your purchase.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Max sighed. “I have to go.”

  “Lighten up, buddy. It will all work out.”

  Max ended the call and quickly got changed. Maybe he really was overthinking things with Grady. The sex had been amazing, and he’d clearly been up for more. Max could keep his emotions in check and give himself permission to have fun.

  What harm could it do?

  They’d barely made it through the door when one of the staff stopped Grady and informed him that supper would be at six thirty. A family meal. God, that was going to be hell. At least he had the memory of kissing Max half-dressed and looking annoyed to get him through. Shit, if that was the only memory of the man Grady would be left with when this was all said and done, it would be worth it.

  Something had clearly changed Max while he’d taken an extra-long time at the store to get dressed and emerge. The distance that had grown between them since they’d had sex seemed to close slightly. Max stood nearer when he’d spoken to the clerk. Hadn’t flinched when Grady let his hand brush against Max’s leg. They were small changes, subtle, but welcome.

  Grady was going to need every bit of warmth he could manage if he was going to get through the next few days before the wedding.

  Max leaned in to speak, his hot breath tickling Grady’s neck. “Why do I get the impression that your idea of a family meal is a bit different from mine?”

  “Because you’re a smart man.” His father had always been one to stand on ceremony and insist things be done the proper way, even if that wasn’t the easy way. “Father likes us to dress up. Full courses being served. Lots of fun.”

  “So not pizza and beer while watching hockey. Gotcha.”

  Grady couldn’t even imagine doing something so normal with his father. “I like the idea of your family meal better.”

  “Mom is as big a hockey nut as my dad. We’d always watch the Flames play, even when we lived in Toronto. I think Mom liked ordering pizza just because it gave her an excuse not to cook.”

  Grady missed his mom. She’d been one of the only people who’d been able to soften his father at all. “My mom was the opposite. She had to convince my dad to let her cook rather than have someone else prepare the meal. She’d grown up not as well off and loved preparing meals for us, even if it drove Father nuts.”

  Max pressed his hand to the small of Grady’s back. “You miss her.”

  “Every fucking day.” He’d hated everyone and everything for years after she’d died. It only made matters worse when Justin showed up, taking over a role of responsibility for Grady that he never should have. Grady hadn’t been able to control his anger, and got into trouble on more than one occasion as a result. Too many of his supposed friends realized that when he got angry, he would do just about anything.

  To make matters worse, his family had noticed the same thing.

  “I’m here to listen if you need a friendly ear.” With a gentle nudge, Max guided him to the stairs. “But for now we don’t have a lot of time before supper. I have a feeling jeans won’t cut it for this either, so I better change.”

  He’d taken the liberty of picking out three more dress shirts and two more of the dress pants in different shades for Max, paying for them all before the stubborn man had a chance to argue. “Wear the jeans, but with the forest-green shirt. That will piss Father off to no end.”

  Max shook his head. “You love to provoke him.”

  “Every moment I get.”

  “Have you ever tried simply getting along?”

  “Hell no.” Grady had been in awe of his father as a little kid. He hadn’t needed to try hard to win his affection back then, receiving it whenever his father had been around. Everything had fallen apart the year before his mother had left . . . before she’d died. Grady cleared his throat. “He’d see that as a sign of weakness and swoop in for the kill. Better to keep him on his guard.”

  It was good to get back to the relaxed nature of their friendship—because no matter how things started, Grady couldn’t see Max as anything less than that now—and their banter. Not that he’d say no to the intensity he knew Max had simmering beneath his surface. Those few stolen moments in the changeroom had been legendary.

  He’d been about to suggest another round of kissing when Max’s cell rang. “I have to take this.”

  “Sure.”

  “Hey, Mom. How are you?”

  Grady had come to accept life without his mother a few years ago, but it still hurt when he was reminded of the simple things. Like talking to her on the phone.

  “How’s Dad’s arthritis doing?” They stepped into their bedroom, and Max wandered toward the bathroom. “What’s it called? Oh. What are the side effects?”

  Grady didn’t know the first thing about medicine, not beyond the scary-ass TV commercials warnings about possible dry mouth, constipation, and death. Trying not to be too obvious with his eavesdropping, he quietly got changed for supper.

  Max stopped moving. “Did you mention that to the doctor? Why not? Mom, yelling at you and slamming doors isn’t normal behavior for him. Look, I’m in Vancouver for a few weeks. Yes, I was. That’s why I called and left a message. A friend’s wedding. Yes, just a friend. Why? Fine. I’m going to come to Calgary once I’m done here. No. Yes. I’m still coming. Then he can yell at me in person.”

  Grady had been so wrapped up in his own problems, he hadn’t stopped to consider Max had a life, one that was clearly as messy and complicated as his own. Jesus, he really was as self-centered as Justin had always accused him of being.

  Looking over, he saw Max pinching the bridge of his nose, his head lowered and eyes closed. “Okay, Mom. Yup. I’ll call and let you know when I’m coming. Please let the doctor know. There might be other meds they can prescribe. No. Yes. I will. Love you.”

  He managed to keep his mouth shut for all of five seconds before going to Max. “Everything okay?”

  It was strange to see the not frustration so much as sadness on Max’s face. “I think so. My dad’s switching his medicine and it’s not reacting well.”

  “That sucks. But he’s got a doctor looking after him.”

  Max snorted. “As much as anyone can look after him. He likes to be in charge.”

  “Are you two close?” Now that he’d thought about it, Grady had a million questions he wanted to ask Max, wanted to know about his life. “It sounds like you are with your mom.”

  “Mom and I are good. Dad and I used to be, but things changed a while back and it’s been a bit hard for a while. I’ve done my best to move past things, but he still can be prickly about it.”

  He used the same tone that Serena did whenever someone asked her about her family. The one that screamed, I’ll tell you if you really want to know, but trust me it’s better if I don’t. Grady had learned the hard way not to ignore that.

  “If you need anything while you’re here, or time to go and call so you can check in, just let me know. There’s no point in being wealthy if you can’t spend some of that wealth on your friends.”

  Rather than brushing him aside the way Grady had expected him too, Max instead offered him a small smile. “Thanks.”

  Once again, Grady couldn’t help but feel this attraction to Max. Maybe because he was the first man in Grady’s life that didn’t want something, didn’t try to control him, or didn’t try to protect him. Max was just Max, there because Grady had asked him to be, doing what Grady wanted.

  Except for the sex thing. He wanted way more of that.

  “I better change my shirt and jeans if we’re going to make it down to supper on time.”

  Grady whimpered when Max stripped off his shirt, a complete change from a few hours earlier. “You’re trying to kill me.”

  “Not at all. I’m just playing my part.”

  Hateful man. “Father will think we had sex if I go down there looking flushed.”

  “No, he’ll think that you’re frustrated
because your fiancé left you wanting. He’ll probably get a kick out of it.”

  The striptease didn’t go as far as he wanted, nor lasted as long as he liked. Max walked over to the bag and pulled out one of the new dress shirts and put it on.

  “We should get that washed and ironed for you before you wear it.”

  “Are you even a real man?” Max shook his head. “Tell me you’ve worn a shirt out of the package before.”

  “Not once.”

  “You’re spoiled.”

  “A given.”

  “One of these days you’ll have to get a place of your own and try slumming it with the rest of us.”

  “What makes you think I haven’t had my own place?” He hadn’t, but there was no way for Max to know that.

  “A condo that your father pays for doesn’t count.”

  Grady waved him away. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”

  By the time they finally made it to the formal dining room, Grady realized two things. The first was that they were the last to arrive and all eyes turned to them when they entered the room. And second, for this being a family meal, there were three extra people in attendance—Les Bouchard, his wife, and his son Ryan.

  Shit.

  “Hello, everyone. Sorry we’re late.” Grady slipped his hand into Max’s, who gave a squeeze of solidarity.

  There were two spots available for them to take, but they weren’t side by side. From the look of satisfaction on his father’s face, it had been his doing. “You kept our guests waiting. Take your seat, son.”

  Ryan had been placed next to the chair that was normally reserved for Grady. Creatures of habit, he’d sat there since before his mother passed away. His father loved to make matters worse. Max led him by the hand to the other empty seat, which happened to be next to Justin, pulled out the chair, and waited for him to sit. “There you go.”

  “Thanks.” Grady was a firm believer in staying with the devil you know. While he and Justin barely got along on the best of days, he’d be far better than being forced to make small talk with a young man who was little more than a pawn in their fathers’ schemes.