by Hayes, Lane
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Pushing him was bad enough, but I probably shouldn’t have belly flopped on top of him. What a scene. Chad went into full diva-mode…gasping, crying, runny mascara. The works. Me? I got a police escort. Unfortunately, not a hot one either. I was led off the premises while my ex consoled his new lover. And another twenty or so people I hope I never see again just shook their heads in disbelief. Including Tom.” Miles raised the bottle in a mock toast and took another drink.
I rested my forearms on my knees and shot him a bemused look. “That sucks, but so will the headache you’re going to have in the morning if you don’t slow down.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” he said in a weak voice.
I jumped from my chair and plucked the bottle from his hand. “Quit punishing yourself. It happened, but it’s over. Besides, you just told Tom we’re together. You’re gonna make me look bad if you go back out there drunkenly pining over your ex.”
He looked away to compose himself, swiping at the corner of his eye. “Ha. Are you proposing we keep up the boyfriend act?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “Sure. Why not?”
Miles cocked his head. “Why are you being so nice to me?” he asked suspiciously.
“ ’Cause Eric told me to be nice,” I answered in a flat voice. Miles barked a quick laugh and gave me a radiant grin that made me feel tingly inside. “Tom isn’t my type anyway. If we stick together, maybe he’ll leave us both alone. What do you say? Want to dance?”
“People will talk, you know. They may get the wrong idea. Some might even spread rumors,” he singsonged.
I chuckled at his teasing tone and the spark of mischief in his gaze. This was the Miles I knew. Yeah, he scared me a little, but I preferred his unrelenting confident side to the maudlin one that threatened to dim his shine.
“I don’t mind if you don’t,” I countered, holding out my hand in invitation.
Miles laced his fingers through mine and tugged. “Then let’s give ’em something to talk about, honey.”
We spent the rest of the evening together, either on the dance floor or tucked in a corner chatting about whatever oddball subjects Miles introduced. Weird names celebrities give their kids, vegetables no one in their right mind should like, favorite phone apps…the more offbeat, the better. I knew he didn’t really expect me to stick by his side, but he seemed happy to have me around, and being with him kept me from worrying about my own problems. He was quick-witted and engaging and honestly, I enjoyed his company more than I thought possible.
We grooved to dance tunes from the ’80s, sipped wine, and let everyone think whatever the hell they wanted. Not that anyone paid much attention. This was a “work” event, not a pick-up scene. Tom was the only one who gave us a second glance when we reentered the party tent together. I didn’t notice him again until the evening was wrapping up and guests were hurrying to say good-byes and catch the hotel shuttle. Which roughly coincided with Miles’s disappearance.
One second Miles was next to me, and then he was gone. I didn’t think much of it. Miles had stepped aside to deal with work-related questions a couple of times, and it made sense that he’d have some logistics to handle as the festivities ended. I gave one last cursory look around the outdoor tent before heading toward the exit. And immediately bumped into Megan and Tom.
Megan set her hand on my elbow and gave me a wild-eyed, wine-infused stare.
“Where have you been all night? I didn’t get a chance to tell you at dinner that I’m a big fan of yours, Grant,” she gushed, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder.
“Fan?” I repeated with a tepid half laugh.
“Yes, I remember you well. I’m a bit of a fashion geek. I always had a thing for models. I loved your classic looks. Every single one of your photo shoots was stunning. Do you mind if I ask what you’re working on now?”
I was taken aback. Sure, I’d been on the receiving end of oddball stares, and I’d even had random strangers ask to take my photograph, but I hadn’t been involved with the fashion industry in a couple of years. And when I was in front of a camera, I’d mostly modeled underwear.
“I don’t model anymore. I dabbled in design and occasionally still make a few pieces for myself like this shirt”—I lamely pointed at the collar of my navy striped shirt before continuing—“but I switched over to the real estate biz a couple of years ago. My creative juices go toward writing sales contracts now.”
“Hmm. Did Tom tell you he’s a photographer?” she asked.
“Uh…no.”
“You should totally exchange numbers. If you ever decide to show your work, you should call him to do a design shoot for you. Tom, give him your card,” Megan suggested enthusiastically.
Tom gave me a sly grin as he dug in his suit jacket and then handed me a business card. “I was hoping to give you my number one way or another,” he said huskily.
I nodded half-heartedly and shoved his card into my back pocket. “Thanks.”
He inched closer, fixating on my mouth for a moment before staring into my eyes meaningfully. “Call me sometime.”
Megan glanced between us like a puppet then crooked her thumb meaningfully. “I’ll grab us a seat on the shuttle. Bye, Grant.”
I turned to face Tom, glancing over his shoulder in the hopes Miles would pop out of nowhere like he had earlier. “I should get going too. Miles is—”
“Not your boyfriend,” he finished with a knowing smirk. “Your friends told me you’re both single. If you’re interested, so am I. If you’re not, that’s okay too. But”—Tom glanced to his right and left as though making sure he wouldn’t be overheard before adding—“if you are thinking of hooking up with Miles, someone should warn you—he’s crazy.”
I huffed. “Miles isn’t crazy. He’s just high-strung.”
“Maybe, but everyone here knows him from work. People can be very different in their private lives. What I witnessed firsthand was nothing short of bonkers. Sane men don’t show up to a party draped in a hot pink boa, throw an unsuspecting guest into the pool, and then dive on top of them. I don’t know what he told you, but the police and fire department were called because Chad almost drowned. Miles may seem normal, but looks can be deceiving.”
“Thanks for the warning, but I’ve known Miles for a long time. He’s a good guy.”
Tom made a funny face. “I’m sure Miles is nice enough, but if it was me, I’d want to know what I was getting into. I’d hope someone warned me before I was forced to take out a restraining order. Which I’m pretty sure is exactly what Andy and Chad did after that episode with Miles.”
“Restraining order?” I repeated with a gulp.
“Yep. I don’t blame them. It was quite a scene. And I bet no one else here knows anything about it.” Tom grasped my fingers and squeezed. “Call me. I’d love to help you with a comeback fashion shoot if you’re interested. Or we can do other things.”
My forehead creased in bewilderment as I watched Tom walk under a crystal chandelier and into the night. What the hell was that all about?
I was a firm believer that there were always two sides to every story, but the one Tom told painted Miles as an unhinged fruit loop who almost killed a man in a jealous rage. Sure, Miles had basically recited the same tale, but his version had a karmic quality most people could appreciate. Tom’s allegation that Miles held his ex’s new lover under water long enough to incite panic and spur bystanders to call the authorities was…disturbing. And a restraining order? Holy crap.
I ran my hand over my stubbled jaw and looked around the tent. The crowd had thinned considerably, which meant it had to be close to midnight. I spotted my friends standing near the bar, engaged in an animated conversation and headed toward them. They stood in a circle of sorts, Eric and Zane, Wes and Nick on one side, and Finn and Josh and Wes’s best friend, Geordie, on the other. Ryan and his hunky boyfriend, Danny, chuckled at something Wes said, then Josh chimed in a moment later and they all
burst into laughter. I couldn’t hear the joke, but I didn’t feel left out. In fact, I had one of those out-of-body moments of profound gratitude that I’d found my tribe. Most of these people had known me for years and accepted me as I was. The newer friends were special because they represented facets of our growth. They were boyfriends, husbands, trusted friends, and coworkers. I belonged here. And funny enough, so did Miles. If these guys trusted him, he couldn’t be half as crazy as Tom indicated.
Either way, it wasn’t my business. The night was almost over, and it was almost time to return to real life, complete with a parental invasion. I nudged Nick’s shoulder and snatched the half-full wineglass from his hand, just because.
Nick scowled then rolled his eyes. “Are you actually going to drink that?”
“No. I wanted to bug you.”
“Well played. I’m bugged. Now hand it over,” Nick insisted.
“Okay.” I passed the wine to Josh instead, who lifted it in a toast then gulped the entire contents in one go before handing the empty glass back to Nick.
It was an old joke with the same punch line, but it never failed to entertain us. We snickered at Nick’s faux outrage and stepped aside when he lunged for Josh and then pulled him into a headlock. No one batted an eyelash. It was good ol’ collegiate fun that usually resulted in a wrestling match. I sidestepped them and bumped into Eric.
“It’s always the quiet ones who stir up the most trouble,” he huffed.
“Sorry, but it was too easy. I couldn’t resist.” I high-fived Zane and held my hand out for Eric who shook his head in mock dismay then stifled a yawn. “Tired?”
“Exhausted. It’s been a long day. Hey, I saw you with Miles earlier. I didn’t expect you to dance with him all night but…thank you. That was nice of you.”
“Don’t thank me. I had fun.” I glanced around the almost empty tent. “Any idea where he disappeared to?”
“He probably took the shuttle back to the hotel. He said something about leaving first thing in the morning for a family thing. I’ll see him Monday at the office.”
I shrugged nonchalantly and tried to think of a quick topic change before I was tempted to ask prying questions about Miles that would either come across as gossipy or worse, interested. “Uh, great party.”
“Thanks.” Eric gave me a shrewd look. The kind that usually had twenty questions attached but thankfully, he didn’t voice them. He leaned against Zane instead and glanced up at his husband. “I’m tired.”
Zane kissed Eric’s neck and reached for his hand before waggling his eyebrows lasciviously. “I think we’re in the room next to yours. We’ll try to keep it down—if you know what I mean. Right, babe?”
I chuckled appreciatively when Eric groaned in response as Zane pulled him away from the round of good-natured catcalls. I turned back to join the other happy couples with a sigh.
I wished Miles hadn’t disappeared. We’d had a good time hanging out tonight. Who cared about Tom or Andy and his new boy toy? I liked him. As a slightly crazy friend.
Chapter 3
An hour later, I followed Josh and Finn to the guest wing of Nick and Wes’s sprawling ranch house, said good night, and made my way to the room across the wide hallway from theirs. I closed the door behind me and made a beeline for the bathroom. This was the usual suite I was assigned. Like the rest of the house, the decor was simple but elegant. I leaned on the marble countertop as I brushed my teeth and unbuttoned my shirt. I studied my reflection through hooded eyes. My dark hair stood on end and though my olive-toned skin hid any major circles under my eyes, I still looked as tired as I felt. I spit and rinsed and finished undressing. Then I folded my discarded clothes and left them in a neat pile on the counter before turning off the light and moving back to the darkened bedroom.
I sat on the corner of the king-sized bed, setting the alarm on my cell before putting it on the nightstand and flopping backward on the pillow and burrowing under the duvet. The sheets were cool but cozy, I mused. I rolled sideways and gathered the blankets around myself, relishing the warmth. And then the heat. I froze. It was too hot. Like someone was here and—
“Don’t freak out, but you’re not alone.”
Holy fuck!
I jumped out of bed and scrambled to turn on the bedside lamp. Adrenaline shot through my bloodstream, sending my heart skittering and skipping over itself. My fingers were slick with sweat. Where was the fucking switch? I knocked over my phone, a water bottle, and a very heavy knickknack that of course, landed directly on my big toe.
“Fuck, that hurt!” I yelped.
“Shh! You’re going to wake everyone up!”
The light from the opposite side of the bed flickered on just then, casting long shadows across the room. I squinted as my unexpected company turned to face me, and I shook my head in absolute bewilderment when he let out a gasp. As though he was the one who’d just had the crap scared out of him.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I hissed.
Miles widened his eyes comically and pointed at my junk. “You’re naked.”
I lowered my hands to cover myself, but it immediately dawned on me that it hardly seemed fair for me to feel embarrassed when this was my room. Wasn’t it? I put my hands on my hips and spotted my overnight bag on the leather-upholstered bench under the generous window covered with roman blinds. The remote control for the flat-screen opposite the bed was on the dresser where I’d left it when I came to change my clothes earlier. Yep. I was in the right place. He was the intruder.
“Explain yourself. What’s going on?” I whispered in a no-nonsense tone.
“Uh…I can’t concentrate with you like that—could you…just boxers?” he pleaded, licking his bottom lip.
I let out an annoyed huff before slowly moving to my bag, which happened to be a few feet from where he sat on the other side of the bed. His breath hitched audibly as I came closer. I wanted to laugh because this was not me. I had no problem with nudity; I’d modeled men’s underwear for too many years to feel self-conscious completely naked or in my tighty-whities. And unfettered nudity was my favorite part of being with a lover.
But, Miles wasn’t my lover. He was my—fuck, I didn’t know who he was to me really. I only knew he didn’t belong here. I did. So if it took me a few extra seconds to find my black boxer briefs and a few more to pull them on and make sure my dick was tucked just the way I liked it, so be it.
“Eyes up here, Mi,” I instructed, snapping my fingers.
His Adam’s apple convulsed as he obeyed. He shifted restlessly and fiddled with a button on the edge of the blue and white striped duvet. To his credit, he kept his gaze locked on my eyes. Oh, wait…nope. They were all over the place. I crossed my arms and fixed him with a hard stare. The kind that would have made my dad proud. It was a quintessential Kostas “I’m done with the BS” look that made most people tremble in fear. My version was decidedly less threatening, but Miles had the good grace to at least seem agitated.
“Did you call me ‘Mi’?” he asked in a barely audible whisper.
“You don’t get to ask the questions here. I do. Why are you in my bed? And what the hell are you wearing?” I furrowed my brow, squinting to read the script on his extremely tight pink T-shirt.
“I have no idea,” he said in a worshipful tone before finally breaking his gaze from my chest to look down at his own. “Um…‘Keep it sassy.’ I found it in the drawer. It must be an old one of Geordie’s. I stayed in my regular clothes for as long as I could stand it, but it took you forever to get here so I showered, changed for bed and…here I am. Could you sit, maybe? Your package is directly in my line of vision, and it’s very distracting.”
I held his stare until he wriggled uncomfortably then sat as close to him as possible without actually touching. He smelled delicious, kind of like—“Did you use my shampoo?”
“A little,” he admitted, running his fingers through his hair. “I was hot and sweaty after dancing. I didn’t want to lie down o
n your bed if I—”
“Why are you in my bed at all?”
He bit his bottom lip so hard I was afraid his teeth would break the skin. “I’m seducing you?”
“You don’t sound so sure. What’s the real answer?” I set my finger under his chin until he looked me in the eye.
“I couldn’t go back to the hotel,” he blurted. “If I got on the last shuttle, Tom would see me again, and I’d blow my own ‘boyfriend’ cover. I thought about hiring a driver, but if he was in the lobby or in my elevator, I’d have a hard time explaining why I left you to stay at a hotel. So I decided to hang out here. Just give me an hour, and I’ll leave. You won’t have to see me again until EN Tech’s holiday party…if you go, that is.” He licked his lips and added, “I promise.”
I let my silence speak for me before curling my fingers around the edge of the duvet and slowly pulling it back.
“Let me get this straight. You snuck into my room, used my shampoo, and jumped into my bed like gay Goldilocks so you could fool someone you don’t know into thinking we’re boyfriends.”
He squinted thoughtfully then nodded. “Yep. That’s about right.”
It occurred to me that it might be a good time to let him know Tom knew the truth, but something held me back. I didn’t know if it was a chivalrous gesture of sorts to protect him from feeling foolish, or if I wanted to see where he was going with this. Normal people didn’t concoct situations like this to save face. He might have a wine buzz, but I doubted he was impaired. He struck me as a control freak, and there was no way he’d let himself get blasted at a work function. My best bet was to play along and see what happened.
“I have to ask…is it really that important?” I asked, cocking my head curiously.
“Yes! I hate lying!” He scowled. “But since I was stupid enough to do it, I don’t want to ruin the whole story by showing up without you.”
“It seems like it would’ve been an easier story to sell if you’d stayed with me in the first place.”