Lennox choked back whatever rebuttal he’d had on deck, his face dropping into a stony, neutral stare so intense that Evan took a step back. Whoever the guy was, he pitied him when Lennox got to him.
“Fine,honey.Let’s go.”
eight
. . .
“Sorry about that, Gracie. Just needed a moment to console my hubby here that his brother wouldn’t be joining us.”
Heath resisted the urge to cover his face, though he feared his eyeballs might roll right out at Gracie’s sympathy.
“Your own brother canceled on you?”
The guilt came fast and furious. The poor woman sounded so distraught on his behalf, he wanted to confess he was an only child and Westin was a lying liar. Then, flashes of drunk, half-naked coeds and sticky, screaming children filled his head, and he flushed that guilt right out to the sea.
“Yes, well. You know how family can be.”
Gracie shook her head. “Mm-hmm. There’s an uncle we don’t invite to holidays anymore.”
“He doesn’t approve of us,” Westin added, sliding up close and slinging an arm across Heath’s shoulders.
All Heath’s brain was immediately capable of was static. Good God, the man smelledincredible.How was it possible that the hours of travel hadn’t affected him? The sea spray from theirvoyage had actually heightened the clean undertones of his cologne. It was the darkest of magic.
“Oh, Heath. That’s awful!”
Itwasawful, and he was so glad she’d noticed. Of course, she meant his bigoted asshole brother who didn’t exist, but inside, Heath applied the sympathy to the slowly dawning realization he was now trapped with this man for fourteen straight days.
Straightbeing the operative word.
“Yep. Guy’s a total homophobe,” Evan continued, piling onto the story. “Between us, I’m not sorry. I mean, who wants family on their honeymoon? It’ll be a much better time with just the two of us. Right, pookie?”
Westin flexed the arm around his shoulders, and Heath gasped involuntarily. “Yes. So right.”
Oh, Andres and Manuel would never let this go. Which was exactly why he didn’t plan to tell them. Not a damn thing. Maybe once he was home safe, sound, and unscathed, he’d regale them with tales of his triumph. Inform them he’d spent weeks in the company of a gorgeous man without once succumbing to a ludicrous fantasy world.
There would be no imagining the wall of muscle pressed against his side being used for a sushi boat. Or fluffing the man’s impeccable ass like a pillow.
They needed to have a stern conversation about consent. This unexpected closeness and touching couldn’t continue. For the sake of his sanity.
Gracie gave them a very obviousoh, you guyslaugh. “Well, some families are fun to have around, such as ours. They’ll actually be in residence while you’re here.”
Heath was confused. “Your family?”
“Thefamily,” she clarified. “The island’s owners.”
“Oh,thatfamily.”
Fully returned to her original cheeriness, Gracie again clasped her hands beneath her chin. “Yes! They’ve asked that Iinvite you to join them this evening for the kickoff of the anniversary festivities. Nate and Olivia are celebrating their thirtiethwedding anniversary. It’s going to be quite a party.”
Westin beamed. “Excellent.”
Heath grunted as Westin jostled him one last time before setting him free. This was the furthest thing from excellent. It was a nightmare. They couldn’t very well turn down an invitation from the island’s owners. They also couldn’t parade around acting like strangers without garnering questions. Which meant the ruse he’d hoped would end the moment they left the lobby would have to continue for the duration of their stay.
Evan collected the key ring from the desk and dangled the key for the golf cart in front of his nose.
“Last one’s a rotten egg.”
Heath watcheda barefoot Westin bolt out the door, laughter hanging in his wake, and turned to Gracie with a sigh.
