Ryden followed Ace’s gaze to Finch and Kazi, who were very obviously flirting with each other. “Oh no.”
“Nope. I know where this is going.” Saint jumped down from his stool. “I’m out of here. Plausible deniability.”
“New model,” Ryden called out, smirking when Saint flipped him off. He groaned when Ace rubbed his hands together with glee.
“Leave it to me, I’m an expert at this.”
“At meddlin’?” Ryden nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, you are.”
“No. At matchmaking. It worked for you, didn’t it?”
Ryden stared at him. No way. “What’re you talkin’ about? You had nothin’ to do with me and Jay gettin’ together.”
“Didn’t I?”
“No.” Ryden eyed him. His friend was full of it.
“If you say so. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go fan the flames of a budding romance.”
“You disturb me,” Ryden muttered, shaking his head as Ace walked off. The best part of Ace meddling was the fact that Colton had developed some killer instincts when it came to his husband’s shenanigans, and before Ace could reach Kazi andFinch, Colton swooped in. Ryden had to hand it to the guy; he was smooth. The way he distracted Ace with a kiss and a few whispered words in his ear? Ryden needed to take lessons.
“I have something for you,” Jay said, approaching him with a small pink box. He placed it on the counter next to Ryden. “Well, it’s not foryou, but it’s for you.”
“I’m very confused.”
Jay gave him a pointed look. “Just guard this with your life and don’t open it.” He walked off, and Ryden sat staring at the box. “Okay.” What was happening right now? “Meh.” Ryden shrugged. He knew better than to question Jay. A heartbeat later, Lucky walked up to him.
“Hey, bro. Jay said you had something for me.”
Ryden blinked at him. He moved his gaze to the box and then back to Lucky. He carefully slid the box over to Lucky. “This is for you.”
Lucky peered at him. “It’s not going to like explode glitter into my face or something, is it? Because Mason is not going to be happy if we end up with glitter in bed again.”
Ryden opened his mouth and closed it. “I don’t want to know.” He sure hoped there was no glitter. He shook his head. Lucky didn’t look convinced. “Just take the box and be careful.”
Lucky reluctantly took the box, though he was clearly questioning Ryden’s life choices. Opening the box, his eyes went huge. “¡Ay, madrecita mía!”
Was that a good exclamation about his mother, or should Ryden be running for his life? It was sometimes hard to tell with Lucky. Just in case, Ryden slipped off the barstool.
“How?” Lucky stared at Ryden.
“Um.”
“I can’t believe it.” Lucky’s bottom lip wobbled. He gently placed the box on the counter and threw his arms around Ryden, hugging him. “I love you, bro! You’re the best.” He pulled back.“How did you do this? You know what? It doesn’t matter. I won’t forget this. If Ace asks you where I went, you saw nothing.” He asked the bartender for a spoon, then vanished with the box.
Jay returned and leaned against the counter, a very self-satisfied smile on his face. “I’m guessing it went well?”
With a chuckle, Ryden pulled Jay into his arms. “That was his coconut flan, wasn’t it?”
Jay’s smile stole Ryden’s breath away. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt for you to be back in his good graces again.”
“How’d you do it?”
Jay shrugged. “Graciela’s grandmother loves me.”
“And why wouldn’t she?” Ryden leaned in to nuzzle Jay’s neck, loving the shiver it sent through Jay. “What I wouldn’t give to have you naked right now.”
Jay pulled back. He bit down on his bottom lip and grabbed Ryden’s hand. “Come with me.” He hurried around the bar to one of the sandy trails lined with palm trees and shrubbery.
