Snazzy. Consider his interest piqued.
Ryden frowned as he followed Jay out of the elevator and the building toward the parking lot. “Since when is your Toyotasnazzy?” Jay’s little smirk should have told him something was up. It also drew Ryden’s attention to those full, pink lips. Lips that had tasted so fucking good. Ryden had seen a lot of pretty guys over the years, but there was something about Jay, a delicateness that was at odds with his fierce personality. Then, a flash of red caught his eye.
“Holy shit. This is your car?”
Whatever Ryden had expected, it wasn’t the sleek red sports car Jay approached. When Jay traded his Mini Cooper for a Toyota a few months ago, Ryden had pictured a Corolla or Camry in a cute, bright model and color. Not…this.
“Okay, I knew King paid you hella good. I didn’t think he paid you Audi RS3 good.” Then again, Jay was invaluable to King. He wasn’t just the man’s Executive Assistant. Jay did so much more at Four Kings Security than most people knew.
Jay tapped his smartwatch, and the car engine started.
“You can drive this?” Ryden asked, looking the car over. He winced at Jay’s unimpressed expression. Oops.
“No. I bought a car I couldn’t drive. It’s here so someone else can chauffeur me around.”
Ask a ridiculous question and get a snarky answer.
Ryden cleared his throat. “Right. Sorry.” One of these days, he’d stop sticking his foot in it. Today was not that day. He opened the passenger side door and slipped inside. Damn, this was nice. He inhaled deeply. Still had that new car smell.
Jay climbed in behind the wheel, and Ryden forced himself to look forward. It wasn’t the first time Jay wore a preppy matching vest and pants combo with one of his stupid little bow ties. And it wasn’t like his clothes had never hugged his body before, as if they’d been tailored for his petite frame. The white dress shirt had quarter-length sleeves, the cuffs stopping at his elbows. Actually, today’s outfit was a little dressier than usual.
“How come you’re all gussied up today?”
Jay glanced at him. “Seatbelt.”
Right. None of his business.
Ryden fastened his seatbelt, the engine purring like a kitten. Jay quickly got them moving after Ryden told him where they were going. Good thing it was a short drive because the silence in the car was killing him. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Okay, look. I know I really messed up that night at the tavern. I was an asshole. I tried apologizin’ and ended up makin’ things worse like I usually do, and then things got out of hand after that, so I thought the truce would make it better, and then, you know, in Red’s office, and I have no idea what to make of any of it.”
Jay glanced at him. “Why are you bringing the tavern up now? That was ages ago.”
“I don’t know. I’ve been kickin’ myself over it ever since. It was a shit thing to say. I’m not that guy.”
“Then why did you say it?”
Whyhadhe said it? That night flashed clear as day in his head. Jay sitting on one of the tables, dressed in one of his eye-catching outfits, surrounded by a bunch of beefy bears enthralled by him and practically salivating. The image of one of them taking Jay home invaded his thoughts, and something had snapped inside Ryden.
“I was off that night.” Ryden looked forward again, focusing on the traffic ahead. “It’s no excuse, I know. I shouldn’t’ve taken it out on you. But I did, and I’m sorry.” He wasn’t about to admit he’d been struggling to keep Jay out of his thoughts lately because then he’d have to think about why that might be, and he wasn’t going there. It might be a different story at night when he was in bed, but he sure as shit wasn’t about to dwell on that now.
“Okay,” Jay replied, entering the venue’s parking lot. He pulled into a parking spot, turned off the engine, and unfastenedhis seatbelt. “But don’t ever say anything like that to me again. Understood?”
Ryden nodded. “You have my word. Don’t s’pose you want to talk about the other thing?”
“Nope.” Jay stepped out of the car, and Ryden followed.
Guess they were never going to talk about that kiss. Ever. Probably for the best. He smoothed out his uniform and inhaled deeply through his nose. Jay stepped in front of him, their height difference forcing Jay to look up and Ryden to look down so their gazes could meet. It made Ryden smile.
“You look good,” Jay said. “You also have as much right to be here as any of those Marines.”
Ryden hadn’t expected that. “Thanks.”
“Let’s go, Marine.” Jay turned, and Ryden followed, amused. His heart pounded when they headed inside the luxury Art Deco venue. It had been a long time since he’d been this nervous, but he didn’t dare show it. Several guests came up to him and thanked him for his service.
Guests were taking their seats inside the Grand Ballroom, where the ceremony and the reception would be held. The decor was simple yet elegant, with many beautiful white flower bouquets and a row of chairs set among the white columns on each side of the room.
According to the invite, a cocktail hour would follow the ceremony, giving staff time to prepare the ballroom for the reception. The place was incredible. It had been a bank until about a decade ago when it was converted into a classy venue and an upscale bar. This wasn’t their first time here. The Kings often booked this venue for charity events.
