“I’ll be here,” Daniel said. He wasn’t interested in returning right away and turned his attention back to the stars. After a few minutes, footsteps approached, and Daniel smiled. “What did Holly want?”
There was no immediate answer. “Was that little show for my benefit?” Weston asked. “I saw you looking at me, watching me.” He drew close enough that Daniel could feel the heat wash over him, but unlike when James stood close to him, all Weston did was make him sweaty. “I must say that was quite the performance. One I’m willing to bet you’ve done before.” His alcohol-soaked breath ghosted over Daniel’s neck, and he shuddered with revulsion.
“I don’t know what’s going on in that little pea brain of yours, but I’m starting to wonder if there’s room out here for the three of us.” He wished James would return. Daniel could take care of himself, but he didn’t want to make a scene at Holly and Howard’s party.
“Three?” Weston whispered.
“You, me, and your ego,” he retorted. “Few things are as unattractive and ugly as a man who can’t seem to see beyond the end of his dick. I suggest you stop thinking with yours and leave me alone.” Daniel kept his voice light, because when he got angry his tone lowered, and he didn’t want to give himself away. Daniel took a few steps, putting distance between them.
“I’m only an admirer. You have spunk and energy. I like that, and I’m used to getting what I want.”
Who the hell was this guy and where in the fuck did he come up with these bad movie lines? Daniel shook his head slowly.
“Then get used to disappointment, because it just showed up,” he said firmly. “Now, turn around and go back into the house. I’m saying no for the last time.”
“So, the next time I ask, the answer will be yes?” Weston pressed. Good god! Daniel had dealt with aggressive patrons at the theater, and there was always the drunk guy who couldn’t seem to take no for an answer, but this guy was delusional and really needed a well-placed high heel, probably in the center of his forehead.
Daniel whirled around. “The next time, it will be a strategically placed knee, and then you won’t want to ask anyone for anything other than an ice pack to soothe your aching little balls. Do I make myself clear? I am perfectly capable of seeing to it that your family line ends with you.” He started back toward the deck. Daniel had had more than enough of this conversation. Thankfully Weston didn’t seem to be following, and hopefully he had gotten the message this time.
“Who was out there with you?” James asked as he stepped out onto the deck.
“No one,” Daniel said.
“The two of you looked a little cozy.”
Daniel glared at James for a split second before backing away. “Are you jealous?” He couldn’t resist, and the way James shook his head rather violently told Daniel more than mere words. “You were.” He wasn’t quite sure what to make of that idea. The lines between them seemed to be blurring, but Daniel wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination or if it was real. Not that it mattered. Daniel reminded himself that he was here to help James out and that was it. This was a business arrangement, and part of Daniel’s job was to make James look good and to be convincing as his date for the wedding festivities. Nothing more.
It didn’t matter that when he’d kissed James, he nearly lost himself in his firm soft lips, and when James had enclosed him in his arms, Daniel was damned near transported to another place and time, far away from the room filled with people. He’d simply let himself get carried away, and it was time to come back down to earth and fucking reality. It had been way too long since Daniel had had someone to spend time with outside of work, if he was getting his head all twisted around with James. Daniel reran his encounter with the police a few years ago, for a quick reality check. That threw cold water on any flights of fancy that he might have had. On top of that, James was still in the damned closet as far as his family was concerned, and Daniel was not going to be anyone’s dirty little secret. Been there, got the T-shirt, and it wasn’t anything he intended to repeat. They had a few more days until the wedding, and then Daniel would return to his life at the theater and James could go back home to his job as a cop.
“Are you ready to go?” James asked, cutting through Daniel’s thoughts. He extended his elbow, and Daniel took it, letting James lead him back inside. The notion that just thinking about their kiss made Daniel’s lips tingle all over again didn’t matter in the least. Now who was delusional?
Chapter Seven
“Are you still awake?” Daniel asked from next to him.
“Yeah,” he answered without rolling over. He had spent the last hour with that kiss running through his head, trying to figure out if it was real or not. The fact that his body refused to calm down, and that he was too damned excited to roll over in case Daniel became aware of it, was another issue completely. Daniel had said that it was just for show, but it certainly hadn’t felt like it...in any way. He liked to think he could tell when someone was being fake, but this had him completely confused. “I can’t sleep while I’m here. Never can.”
“Why?” Daniel whispered into the darkness.
“Could you? I keep wondering what my mother is going to do next. It’s like walking through a minefield all the time.” At least he was grateful that his mother hadn’t brought up marriage yet during this visit. Usually it was first and foremost on her mind, like she was going to push and prod him down the aisle in order to complete commandment number nine.
Daniel rolled over. “I’m the last person on earth to tell anyone how to live their life, and I’m not going to do that to you. I have made my own way for years. Hell, my job and the way I dress and act are a big huge fuck-you to anything that most people consider ‘normal.’” He made air quotes above them, his pink sleeves blazing the way. “But I can tell you that there is something...liberating...about living the life you want and simply telling everyone else to go screw themselves if they don’t like it.”
James swallowed hard. “I know you’re right. That’s the shitty thing. If I had just been honest with them years ago, I wouldn’t have to put myself...or you...through all this.” But now he was stuck. “I have to make a clean break, but I can’t do that days before my sister’s wedding.” What a mess he’d made of everything.
Daniel took his hand. “I’m not going to leave you hanging in the wind. I promised you I would be your date and see you through this wedding, and I will.” Daniel squeezed his fingers, and James tried to let go of some of the tension. “Try to get some sleep. We have plenty to do tomorrow, and your sister is going to need your help.”
“Why do you think that?” James asked.