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They were both so similar. Tall and broad-shouldered, tanned,
and covered in tattoos. In contrast, Matt stood out like a beacon,
with his pale skin and his mop of blonde curls.
He felt even more self-conscious when the door swung open,
but that quickly vanished when he saw what Ben held in his arms.
My clothes. Relief swept through Matt. He stood and reached
for them before realizing he was still naked. He sat abruptly,
grimacing.
Ben s lips twitched for a fraction of a second. Was that&
amusement on his face?
I ve already seen it, pal. Joe gave you a hell of a blow job out
there.
A rush of heat flooded Matt s cheeks. He averted his gaze as
Ben slid his clothes, now neatly folded, across the desk.
I have to say, you handled yourself well out there. Real well.
Matt lifted his head. The amusement was gone, replaced by
something that looked an awful lot like grudging respect.
You surprised me tonight. Not many guys can put themselves
out there like that on a stage like ours.
I didn t have much of a choice, Matt mumbled, tugging his
jacket into his lap.
Of course you did. You could have walked away. You didn t
have to get on that stage in the first place. Ben thrust another
handful of clothes at Joe.
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Hey. How come mine aren t folded all nice like his?
Ben looked at him askance, as if the answer was painfully
obvious. Cause I didn t think you d give a fuck if your clothes
wrinkled.
And you thought I would? Matt traced a finger down the
seam of his pants.
Well, yeah. That suit probably cost more than we brought in
all night.
Then you undercharge.
For a moment, Ben and Matt just stared at each other. Then
Ben s mouth broke into a wide grin, and an unexpected laugh filled
the room.
Well, what do you know& Ben turned to Joe and clapped
him on the shoulder, his smile broad and genuine. You were right
about Ken. I do like him.
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CHAPTER 5
An outdoor wedding at three in the afternoon was a bad idea.
A really, really bad idea. Matt fidgeted as his father struggled to
get Matt s tie to look like a ten year old hadn t tied it. Why didn t
you talk me out of it?
A corner of his father s mouth twitched. In his mid-sixties and
still practicing law for one of the largest and most respected firms
in the state, Theodore Owens looked every inch the powerful,
authoritative attorney.
Talk you out of what? The wedding? I thought when two
people love each other
Not the wedding, Matt snapped, exasperated. Having it in
the middle of the afternoon. Maybe nine A.M. would have been
better. Or an evening wedding. Seven, followed by a light dinner.
That could have worked, right? Or maybe we shouldn t have had it
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outside at all. I should have booked the Fifth Avenue Plaza rather
than taking you up on your offer to use the house in The
Hamptons. I just think that
Shush. His father tugged on his now perfect tie. You think
too much. He picked a piece of lint off Matt s black jacket lapel.
And you re nervous. What s worse, the way you keep babbling is
making me nervous. And I hate being nervous.
Matt smiled despite the anxiety twisting his stomach in knots.
He looked past his father, glancing at the ethereal white curtains
that hung over the floor-to-ceiling windows. Beyond the balcony
was the garden where he and Joe would be exchanging vows in
less than an hour.
The apprehension bunching his muscles wouldn t ease, so he
focused on talking about something other than the wedding. You,
nervous? You didn t bat an eyelash when you went up before the
Supreme Court.
His father held up two fingers.
Yes, I know& Twice. And you were what? Maybe a little
tense?
What I was, was well prepared. That s the key, you know.
Still, it s not every day a man s only son gets married. He
squeezed Matt s hands once, then dropped them quickly with a
sigh. I never thought I d see the day two men could trade vows of
marriage, in front of God and everyone, and have it deemed legal.
He ducked his head, but not before Matt noticed the teary film
gathering over his eyes.
Times are changing, Dad.
His father gave him a shaky smile, then turned toward the door
as it opened. Dustin, Paul and Landon walked in, all beaming
identical smiles Matt s way.
Matt s stomach bottomed out, and panic set in. He hadn t seen
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them since the previous night. By the time he and Joe had returned
downstairs, the three men were gone. They hadn t called him, and
he hadn t been sure they d show up today.
Despite what he d told Joe about his apprehension being more
about his unease than his friends , he worried that what they d seen
him do on that stage had ruined their friendship beyond repair.
Dad& Can you give us a minute?
The man nodded. He greeted Matt s friends, then left, closing
the bedroom door behind him.
Matt took a deep breath, then plunged right in before any of
them could say something. Look, about last night. I want you to
know I hadn t planned any of that. And I wouldn t blame you if
were uncomfortable, or if you didn t want to
Don t be ridiculous, Paul said, cutting him off before he
could wander down into another babbling session. What you did
last night was damn brave.
And hot, Dustin put in.
Besides, it was between you and Joe.
Matt frowned. Sure, yeah. Except we did it in public.
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