“Come on, babe. I’ll put you to bed.” Elliot slipped an arm around Win’s waist. “Night, everyone.” Heads together, they left the room.
Spencer poured himself another glass of champagne. “I think I’m gonna take a walk outside. Maybe to the beach.”
That sounded so out of character for Spencer, Chess raised his brows. “Are you okay?”
Already on his feet, Spencer finished half his glass and winked. “I’m the best. I need to walk off this dinner.” He gazed behind him. “Gotta make sure the goodies are in the best shape possible.”
With a wave of his hand, he walked away, and Chess decided he wasn’t about to sit by himself. He meandered into the kitchen to get a bottle of water. Dottie, Freddie, and Jasper were cleaning up.
“Don’t even think about it.” Hands on hips, Dottie pretend-glared at him. “I see that look in your eyes, Chester. You go outside and relax. It’s a beautiful evening, and Jasper will set up the firepit.” She nodded at Jasper. “We’re okay here now, honey. Can you get the pit started? And then you’re done for the evening.”
“Okay, Dottie, thanks.” He grabbed the igniter from the drawer and walked outside.
“I know you’re serious when you call me Chester.” He grinned and gave her a hug. “I’m just going to get some water, and I’ll take your advice. Sitting by the fire seems like a perfect way to end the evening.”
He took a bottle from the refrigerator, walked out to the deck, down the steps, and past the pool area, where Jasper already had the flames of the firepit dancing in the dark.
“Got it all ready for you. Nice outside to be by the beach. Nothing better in my eyes.”
“It is.” He noticed Jasper’s feet were bare. “Are you staying here for the summer?”
“Yeah. There’s a little guesthouse I get to use, which is really cool. I’m graduating next year, and then I hope to work in one of the restaurants in town. I’m at culinary school.”
“You can’t learn from anyone better than Dottie. Her cooking is the best.”
“Don’t I know it.” He grinned. “She’s my aunt. I’ll leave you to relax now. Good night.”
“Night.”
Jasper disappeared into the darkness, and with a tired sigh, Chess stretched out on the chair and drank his water. The night had exploded, but in the end, the thousand-pound weight he’d carried in his chest all these years had vanished. Still…he knew it would take more than a fifteen-minute conversation to explain to André why he’d kept such a terrible secret from him, and yet he’d gotten so up-in-arms over the kissing picture.
Restless, he left his chair and walked around the grass a little before taking the stairs down to the beach. The sound of the waves called to him, and he decided to take advantage of the solitude.
“Maybe I’ll go dip my feet in,” he said to no one in particular, bending to take off his shoes and socks, when he caught sight of two figures walking slowly in the sand, side by side. They were too far away to see their faces, but both were definitely male. He stayed frozen in place, watching. One man reached out to touch the other, but he immediately stepped away. After what looked like a conversation, they grabbed each other, and their bodies merged in the dark.
Who is that?
Feeling guilty for peeking in on an intimate moment, he turned away, ran up the stairs, and returned to his chair. Who would be out walking so late at night? Spencer? Had he planned to meet someone? Thoughts swirled around his head, and he gulped the rest of his water. The back door slammed, and he jumped.
“There you are.” André strolled across the deck and joined him. “I looked for you inside, but Dottie told me you’d come out here.”
“Oh, hi. Yeah. It’s such a beautiful night, and Jasper set up the firepit. Did you know he’s their nephew? He’s going to culinary school.” God, he was babbling.
André looked at him oddly. “Yes, of course. Jasper’s a great kid.”
“Yeah. Uh, does he have a girlfriend? Is he straight, do you know?”
“Chess, what’s going on? Why’re you asking me? I have no idea.” André sat next to him, the firelight reflecting burnished gold against his face.
He lowered his voice. “I was thinking of taking a walk on the beach, but when I went down the steps, I saw two men together. From this distance I couldn’t see their faces, but it looked like they were kissing.”
André’s brows rose. “And you think it was Jasper?”
He raised a shoulder. “Maybe? I can’t say. But I also know that Spencer went for a walk on the beach. I wondered if he and Jasper arranged to meet.”
André snorted. “Come on. Spencer’s got almost fifteen years on the kid—” André stopped short at Chess’s arched brow. “Okay, yeah, well. I’ll shut up. But I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. They’re consenting adults.”
“I know. It threw me for a second. That’s all.” He blew out a resigned breath. “It’s been a hell of a night, and I’m still a little frazzled.”
