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If anyone deserves extreme favoritism from your partner, it's me. I turned down a glamorous
bodyguard job for all this.
You get sex, and I get him at his grumpiest. How is that fair?
Matt shook his head. It sounds cheap when you put it that way.
Standing right here. Evan sighed. Maybe he needed to check out the stuffed mushroom situation on
his own and get away from the teasing.
I need a drink, Helena announced, apropos of nothing. Maybe two. My mother got married before I
did!
You know, it generally happens that way, Helena. Evan took her other arm, taking a swat in the face
with her bouquet as she gestured wildly.
I know but in my case which we're actually talking about here she got married first for the first
time. Helena shook her head. I'm a spinster!
Oh God, how drunk are you going to get? Matt asked.
Listen, I was thinking. If I'm not married by forty, I'm going to need sperm from one of you&
Evan managed to get Helena a drink and set her up to dance with one of Vic's nephews who was
twenty-something, single, and clearly eager to dance with his gorgeous partner. He made her swear
not to mention spinsterhood or donating sperm as the young man led her away.
She swore.
He checked on the kids more teens on cell phones, more tweens eating their weight in shrimp then
grabbed a bottled beer from the bartender. By the time Evan found Matt shooting the shit in the corner
with Lenny, he was working a full-on sweat.
Do I have to keep the jacket on for the toast? he asked, collapsing into a chair near where the men
were sitting.
Lenny snickered. Yeah, sorry, man. Jacket, tie, slightly crushed rose&
Evan looked down his boutonniere which seemed as worse for the wear as he felt.
Crap. I'm glad we took the pictures before. He opened his beer and took a long sip, stretching his
legs out. This best man thing is hard work.
Wait till you're father of the bride, Matt quipped.
At least I'll have help with that, Evan answered, giving him a pointed look.
Lenny laughed out loud. Matty'll probably buy 'em a ladder and give 'em enough for airfare to
Vegas.
Shhhhh. Matt elbowed him.
No, Evan said slyly. He's a closet romantic.
Shhhhh, Matt said again, glancing into his empty glass. Don't ruin my rep, guys, please. He
gestured with the glass and headed for the bar.
He looks good, Lenny said, as Matt wove his way through the dancing crowd. Happy.
Evan felt like blushing, but he nodded at his boyfriend's old partner. Yeah.
Lenny sipped his club soda as he looked through the crowd. Never saw him like that before.
Well. Evan coughed. He fussed with his jacket. We're, uh things are going well for us. It wasn't,
uh expected. But it's worked out.
Hmm, Lenny responded, still looking thoughtfully toward the bar where Matt was becoming fast
friends with the bartender.
Evan wanted to leave it alone, but the hmm was too cryptic not to respond to. Hmmm?
Lenny chuckled. Are you gonna interrogate me now?
Maybe. Evan leaned back in the chair and gave the retired detective his best level stare. I'm
curious about your take on all this. You were probably closest to Matt over pretty much anyone else.
Before you.
Before me.
Well& Lenny munched on a sliver of ice from his nearly empty glass. Matt was all about the job.
It was his wife, his mistress no one else got much of his time, you know.
So basically your average cop.
Lenny chuckled. Right. But without an outlet. Hell, not even a wife or an addiction to give him a
break. The words were lighthearted, but Evan got the underlying message.
He was a little lost when we met. Evan dropped his voice slightly, as the music and festivities
swelled up around them. So was I, for that matter.
He needed something to focus on, something healthier than being a cop. Lenny shifted in his seat.
He glanced over his shoulder as did Evan to make sure no one was close enough to be
eavesdropping. There were plenty of cops on the guest list and most of them knew Matt and Evan
both.
This is almost a Hallmark moment. Evan admired the shine on his shoes, then looked up to see the
kind expression on Lenny's face.
Eh, I'll deny every word of it.
This never even happened.
Evan looked to the dance floor to spot Matt dancing a mock tango with the jubilant bride. He wasn't
the least bit surprised.
I should feel guilty for being so fortunate, Evan said quietly. He knew Lenny was watching Matt
same as he was. I honestly don't know how I would have made it without him.
I think he likes that.
Evan smiled. Yeah, I think so. He loves being the glue. It's a crazy job to volunteer for.
I think it's the best job for him. Lenny shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Plus, not sure if you picked up on this, but Matty doesn't do anything half-way. It's one percent or a
thousand percent.
Yeah, Evan drawled thoughtfully. Yeah, I noticed that. What's the nice way you put it? He's, uh
focused.
Lenny snickered. You just give him the assignment, tell him he's good at it, and you'll get the best of
Matt Haight, and that's that's pretty damn good.
Evan smiled. He knew Lenny was right, and it felt nice to have his validation. Matt had no real family
beyond the guys on the force who stayed loyal, like Lenny and Vic, or Liz, another friend from his cop
days. Sometimes he forgot that when it came down to it, their little family (kids and friends) were all
either of them had.
Thanks, Lenny.
No problem, kid.
Evan laughed at the kid moniker. You should come over for dinner some time. Matt would love
it.
You just tell me, then. Old retired guys like me can't turn down a home-cooked meal.
Matt's been experimenting lately, Evan looked dubious.
I'll settle for home ordered.
Done. They shook hands, and Evan got up to join the rest of the party.
The clinking of spoons against glasses signaled another round of kisses; Vic and Serena puckered up
and smooched as applause rocked the restaurant. Evan watched from the back of the room, sipping a
bit of champagne and girding his nerves before entering the spotlight. He had a speech to deliver.
A whistling Matt swayed up to him, a tiny sheen on his face the only real clue he'd been dancing for
hours now.
I had no idea you were secretly Fred Astaire.
Me neither! It started with Serena and then bam I think I've danced with every female here. Except [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
