by Elle Kennedy
“Fine, let’s say you’re not seeing anyone,” Reed said as he strode inside and closed the door behind him. “Then why don’t you explain what’s going on with you? You haven’t been yourself lately.”
AJ was taken aback by the genuine concern in Reed’s blue eyes. He was about to reassure his friend, but found himself tamping the urge. He was always the one offering reassurances, the one who smoothed out whatever issues arose. Hell, it was because of him that Reed and Darcy were even together. If AJ hadn’t stepped in and smacked some sense into them last year, they’d still be wallowing in misery, too blind to see what a good thing they had.
Well, he wasn’t in the mood to take on the make-everyone-else-feel-better role tonight.
“I’m exactly who I’ve always been,” he replied with a shrug.
Reed stood in front of the desk, crossing his muscular arms. “No, you’re not. I barely see you anymore, and we work in the same damn place! You’re constantly ducking out to go see your mysterious non-girlfriend, you hardly talk to us anymore, you don’t hang out with us outside business hours…”
“Maybe I don’t like being a fifth wheel,” AJ pointed out.
His friend looked startled. “Wait, what? Is that really what you feel like?”
AJ didn’t answer for a moment. Truth was, he hadn’t given it much thought, but now that he reflected on this past year, he was shocked to realize he did feel that way. He adored Darcy and Skyler—he really, truly did—but any and all bro-time had ceased to exist once Reed and Gage had gotten into committed relationships.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” he admitted. “I mean, when was the last time you, me, and Gage grabbed drinks at Paddy’s?”
Reed voiced a protest. “Just a few weeks ago. Don’t you rem—”
“Without Darcy and Sky,” he cut in. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. You know I love them, and I’m not saying I don’t want them around, but…” He shrugged again. “You and Gage are in relationship mode now. And I’m not.”
Deep shame furrowed Reed’s rugged features. “Shit. You’re right. We’ve been living in our own little bubble, huh?”
“Sort of. But whatever. It’s cool.” AJ rose from his chair and tucked his cell phone in his pocket.
“No, it’s not.” Reed raked a hand over the stubble on his chin, visibly upset. “We’ve been acting like assholes.”
“Naah, no more than usual.”
The good-natured jab didn’t appease his friend. “We’re assholes,” Reed said firmly. “And screw that. I’m sorry. Starting now, there’ll be no more of this fifth-wheel bullshit. I promise to pull my head out of my ass and be a better friend.”
AJ softened his tone. “You’re a great friend, man. Really. I shouldn’t have implied otherwise.”
“What’s the rush?” Reed demanded as AJ reached for the doorknob. “We’re in the middle of something here.”
“I’ve got somewhere I need to be. We’ll talk later, okay?”
“No, not okay.” Reed made a frustrated noise. “You know, the friend thing goes both ways, bro. You never used to be this fucking secretive. And yeah, fine, I’ll own up to being a preoccupied ass. Gage, too. But we’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks, and you keep pushing us away.”
The familiar weight of guilt bore down on AJ’s shoulders. Damn it. He couldn’t deny the accusation, because it was 100 percent true. He had been pushing them away.
“You’re right.” He dropped his hand from the door and exhaled in a rush. “Look, I am seeing someone, all right?”
“Ha! I knew it!”
“But it’s not serious,” he added, “which is why I haven’t brought her around.”
“It’s not serious?” Reed shook his head skeptically. “Dude, you’re all about serious.”
AJ shook his head right back. “Not this time. Neither one of us wants a relationship.”
“But you’re, like, Mr. Relationship. I was the manwhore in the friendship, remember?” The lines in Reed’s forehead deepened. “Were we Freaky Friday’d and nobody told me?”
AJ had to grin. “Maybe.” He hurried on before Reed could hurl another question his way. “It’s no big deal, okay? I’m having a little fun, and that’s all there is to it.”
“If you say so.” Reed hesitated. “I still feel shitty about that fifth-wheel thing. How about you, me, and Gage grab some beers tomorrow? We can make it a dudes’ night.” He sighed. “God knows Darce and Skyler have enough girls’ nights. It can be our turn to gossip about them.”
“Sounds good.” AJ turned the knob and ducked out of the office. “But I really do have to run now. I’ll text you tomorrow, ’kay?”
Although talking to Reed had succeeded in alleviating the burden of unhappiness he hadn’t even realized he’d been carrying, all thoughts of his friends flew out of AJ’s mind as he left the club. The eagerness to see Brett had quickly taken over, bringing a spring of anticipation to his step.
A few minutes later, he was typing the bar address into the Jeep’s GPS and planning out the fastest route to get to Brett.
There was a bouncer manning the door at Donnelly’s.
That was the first indication that something might be amiss, because AJ hadn’t encountered many bouncers in Boston’s pub scene. Someone inside to check IDs, sure, but never posted at the door.
And when he noticed the clipboard in the bulky man’s hand, the situation looked even less promising.
Wary, AJ approached the door, only for a meaty hand to rise up and stop him. “Sorry,” the man barked. “Pub’s closed for a private party.”
Wonderful. Brett could’ve warned him that Jordan’s birthday shindig was a private affair. He peered at the main window, but it was fully tinted, making it impossible to see inside. Still, she had to be in there somewhere. And she definitely wouldn’t have left him in the lurch.
“I should be on the list,” he told the bouncer. “Name’s AJ Walsh.”
The man’s gaze lowered to his clipboard, and then he gave a brisk shake of the head, officially squashing all the faith AJ had placed in Brett.
“You’re not on the list, bro. Sorry.”
“Look, my—” The word girlfriend got stuck in his throat, so he rephrased himself. “My friend’s in there. Everyone’s expecting me.”
“What’s your friend’s name?” The bouncer’s dubious expression said he wasn’t buying what AJ was selling.
“Brett.”
A pair of bushy black eyebrows soared. “For real?”
“Yes. For real.” He couldn’t stop the edge in his tone. “Why?”
“You don’t seem like Brett’s type.”
Of course. Yet another person making a judgment call about the “type” of man he was.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” With a little smirk, the bouncer ducked into the bar and left AJ outside like a chump.
Less than a minute later, the enormous man returned and held open the door. “Go on in. Brett’s coming to meet you.”
Thank fuck. AJ had been worried he’d be forced to hang out with Mountain Man until someone from Jordan’s party wandered out and vouched for him. Brett’s cell had gone to voice mail when he’d called to let her know he was on his way, which wasn’t a surprise—these past couple weeks he’d discovered that the infuriating woman never remembered to charge her phone.
AJ stepped into the small, wood-paneled entryway, where he was instantly greeted by the sound of classic rock blasting out of the pub’s speakers. Loud voices and bursts of laughter drifted out of the main room, but he didn’t get a chance to go there, because another behemoth of a man obstructed his line of vision.
“Well, damn,” the guy drawled. “Dude, I don’t know who you are, but I sure as hell ain’t complaining.”
AJ faltered. The person in front of him was a complete stranger. A very big, very terrifying stranger. He was six five, if not taller, with tattoo-covered arms, silver piercings through his lip and both eyebrows, and a body-builder physique that AJ would
’ve been scared shitless of if the two men had been in an MMA cage.
“I…think there might be some kind of mistake…” Frowning, he took an uneasy step back, but a hand clapped over his arm to stop him.
“Fuck no,” the stranger exclaimed. “C’mon, join the party. The more the merrier, Blondie.”
AJ had no time to object. He was being dragged into the pub, and the hand on his arm might as well have been a steel vise.
Half a second later, there was no doubt in his mind that he was in the wrong frickin’ place.
Forty or so people crowded the dim-lit room—nearly all male. He spotted maybe four or five females in the mix. None of which were Brett. And of course, who could miss the huge green banner draped across the massive stone fireplace on the other side of the cozy room?
The one that read: Congratulations, Liam and Steve!
The two men’s names were written inside a big red heart.
AJ’s gaze darted from the crowd of men, to the streamers and balloons, to the makeshift dance floor, until finally it landed on the ten-tiered cake sitting on the sleek oak bar counter…which proudly featured two tuxedo-clad figurines on the top layer.
Two grooms.
“Yeah, I’m totally in the wrong place—” he started.
The grip on his arm tightened as the man it belonged to broke out in a smile. “C’mon, Blondie, let’s dance.”
The next thing he knew, the grinning behemoth pulled him onto the dance floor.
Chapter Thirteen
AJ was waiting outside Brett’s door when she reached the top of the staircase. With his back against the wall and his long legs stretched out before him, it appeared as if he’d been sitting there for quite some time.
“Hey,” she said as he hopped to his feet. “Where the hell were you tonight?”
She tried not to convey just how annoyed she was, but jeez, she did not like being stood up. She’d been ready to leave the party an hour after she’d gotten there, but she’d hung around at the pub for two extra hours waiting for AJ to arrive. Two hours of listening to Jessica babble on about makeup and shoes. Two hours of watching Jordan get drunker and drunker, a state that never failed to lead to an argument between him and Jessica. Which it had. A very loud one, too.
And she got home to find AJ hunkered down on her doorstep like a street urchin?
“I waited for hours,” she said accusingly, her annoyance spilling over before she could stop it.
“I’ve been calling for hours,” he shot back. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“Because it died right after we talked.” She scowled as she rummaged in her purse for her keys. “Seriously, dude, what the hell happened to you? Jordan was bummed that you didn’t show.”
“Oh, I showed,” he mumbled.
Brett yanked her key ring out of her bag. “You did not. Trust me, I’d know if you did. Unlike you, I was actually there.”
“You sent me to the wrong place,” he said darkly. “I’m still trying to figure out if it was an honest mistake or if you were pulling a prank on me.”
Her irritation dissolved.
Cue: confusion.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She strode inside and flicked the light switch, then kicked off her heels and spun around to face him. “I think you might be pranking me.”
“Ha. Says the prank master.” AJ glared at her. “I went to Donnelly’s, Brett. You weren’t there.”
“Of course I wasn’t.”
“Ha!” he said again. “See?”
“Because Jordan’s thing was at Donaghy’s.”
“You said Donnelly’s.”
“Nuh-uh, I said Donaghy’s. Do-na-ghy’s.” Her victorious smile faded when she noticed the miserable look on his face. “Why? What happened at Donnelly’s?”
“What didn’t happen at Donnelly’s?” was his muttered response.
Without another word, he stalked to the kitchen and rifled through her fridge like he owned it. He pulled out a bottle of Heineken, the last of the six-pack he’d brought over the other night, then twisted off the cap and took a hearty swig.
Brett watched his strong throat as he swallowed. She frowned when a flash of silver winked beneath the overhead light.
“AJ…” She spoke in a cautious tone. “Is that glitter in your hair?”
“Yeah.” He chugged some more beer. “The stripper was throwing it around during his set.”
Brett fell silent.
She had no clue which part of that sentence to deconstruct first.
“I’m sorry, but did you say stripper?” She paused. “His set?” Another pause. “What exactly did you do tonight?”
He set down the bottle, and his cheeks hollowed as if he were grinding his molars. “I went to an engagement party for Liam and Steve.”
Brett pressed her lips together. Fought hard not to laugh. “Ah. Okay. And who are Liam and Steve?”
The teeth grinding continued. “Just a couple of dudes.”
“Uh-huh. I figured as much. And how did you meet these ‘dudes’?”
“Well, I went to Donnelly’s”—he shot her a dirty look— “like you told me to—”
“I said Donaghy’s!”
“—but you weren’t there, and there was a mix-up at the door when I gave them your name. Turns out there was a Brett inside, except it was a man, and he was like seven feet tall and wicked-terrifying.” AJ’s breath spiraled out in a rush. “The next thing I know, I’m surrounded by a bunch of guys celebrating their friends’ engagement, and then Man Brett wouldn’t take no for an answer and pulls me onto the dance floor. But he ended up being a really nice guy, and—”
Brett lost it.
A howl of laughter ripped out of her throat as her body doubled over in hysterics. She couldn’t even focus on AJ’s face anymore, because tears were running down her cheeks.
“Oh my God. You danced with him?” Every word popped out in the form of a wheeze.
AJ’s tone took on a defensive edge. “He was a good dancer!”
“And then a stripper showed up?” she wailed between giggles.
“Quit laughing at me, woman. And no, the stripper was later.”
“Later?” She clutched her side, howling again. “How long were you there?”
“A few hours.” AJ shrugged. “After the dancing, Man Brett and Frankie talked me into a darts tournament, so we did that for a while—I won, by the way—and then it was time for the speeches. Son of a bitch, you would have bawled your eyes out during Liam’s speech. So fucking poignant.”
Brett’s legs buckled under her. She collapsed on the tiled floor in a heap of giggles, barely able to hear him over the sounds bursting out of her throat.
“The stripper showed up after that, and I guess he was pretty good? I’ve never seen a male stripper in action, so I don’t have anything to compare him to. The guy was all about the glitter, though.” AJ dragged his hand through his hair, and a few sprinkles of silver danced off and sparkled in the light.
Brett’s laughs turned to hiccups as she swiped at her watery cheeks. “Oh God. I’m going to pee my pants. I can’t believe you accidentally went to a gay engagement party—and liked it.”
AJ loomed over her, frowning at the sad mess she’d become. “They were good guys. Well, except for Tony—he was a total dick. Turns out he used to date Steve before Steve and Liam hooked up, and he’s clearly still carrying a torch for him. He was scowling in the corner like an asshole the entire time.”
Another high-pitched wail flew out.
“So yeah, I got a bunch of their numbers. We’re all going to hang out again, I think. And I’m—” He stopped abruptly.
“Please. Oh God, please finish that sentence.”
There was a resigned flicker in his eyes as she hiccupped loudly. “I’m now an official member of the Roxbury Lions.”
Her lips trembled. “The Roxbury Lions?”
“Yeah. It’s, uh, an all-gay amateur rugby league. Season starts in
July.”
Brett didn’t think she could laugh any harder, but oh Lord, she did. Her stomach hurt as she curled up on the kitchen floor, unable to stop picturing the images AJ had described. When she felt herself being hauled to her feet, she giggled even louder, burying her face against AJ’s chest as she shuddered uncontrollably.
Eventually she became aware that he was laughing too, the husky sounds warming the top of her head as he rested both hands on her lower back.
“Fine, I guess it is kinda funny.” He chuckled. “It definitely wasn’t what I expected to be doing tonight.”
“Oh my God. You’re one of a kind, AJ,” she mumbled into his chest. “One of a fucking kind.”
“I am?”
She rubbed her tear-soaked cheeks and tilted her head up to look at him. “I’m not sure other men would have handled that as well as you.”
He drew his brows together in a frown. “What, did you think I was a homophobe?”
“Of course not. But even the most tolerant hetero guys might get freaked out by something like that. People don’t like to step out of their comfort zones.” She leaned up and brushed her lips over his jaw. “I like that you were able to do that and have a good time.”
“Hmmm…well…” His voice became thoughtful. “I do feel a tad intimidated. Like maybe my masculinity has been threatened.”
She caught the wicked curve of his mouth. “Liar.”
“I’m serious.” He swept a possessive hand over her tailbone before dragging it down to pinch her ass. “I think you might need to help me out. You know, remind me how much I love women…”
“Oh really? How?”
In the blink of an eye, the air in the kitchen transformed from light with humor to thick with sex.
“I’m sure you can figure something out after you undo my pants.”
…
AJ had never seen a more beautiful view than Brett sinking to her knees in front of him. With her cheeks still flushed from her fit of laughter and her dark eyes burning with passion, she was temptation personified. A perfect, heart-stoppingly sexy picture he would happily take to his death.
“You poor thing,” she murmured, both hands poised on his belt buckle. “Not feeling so masculine, huh?”