“Uncle Aaron!!!” Lola squalls, hugging me with her long arms. I wrap mine around her and let out a contended sigh. There might be damn near thirty years between us, but I’ve tried to make a point to be in Lola’s life when I am around, so she knows who I am. I don’t have any siblings, like Ethan and Lola. I’m an only child. So I’ve always kind of felt like Ethan and Lola were my pseudo siblings, not my cousins.
And I’ve always sort of treated them that way, too.
I hold her out and take a look at her.
“Damn girl, you grew like a beanpole,” I say ,and she giggles. Ethan comes up, and I smile as he pulls me into a hug.
“So good to see you,” he says, and I ease a fraction.
“Same.”
He nods for me to follow him, and I do, Lola sticking to my side like glue as we saunter to the back room. The table is full of people. Aunt Shannon and Uncle Travis, my parents, and…
My blood chills at the sight of familiar dark eyes, chocolate brown hair, and a rough smattering of facial hair that could definitely use a shave. He sits there, bright and warm—which is a facade because there’s not a warm bone in Garrett’s body. But it’s not just him, I notice, but the man next to him. A very attractive, older man with salt and pepper hair and kind eyes, with a little bit of a belly. His silver ring glints in the light as Garrett picks up his glass of water, his gaze catching mine. Hismatchingsilver ring nearly blinds me.
When the fuck did that happen?
I try to recall the other night, when he came to my room. Was he wearing a ring? I don’t remember. My stomach flips, because Garrett knows how I feel about cheating. It’s one of my boundaries, and even though he’s a fucking asshole most of the time, he’s always beengoodabout at least respecting my rules when it comes to hooking up, but…
It wouldn’t be the first time he’s pulled a stunt like that. A few years ago, he told me about some escort he hired purely for the fact he wanted his fiance to catch him. He’d tried to get me to do it a few times over the years, but I never felt right about that sort of thing. I love exploring and trying new dynamics and scenes, but I won’t do something unless all parties are on board and consenting. But Garrett likes to push the boundaries, and he’s got a thing for CNC. Telling him no isn’t enough.
Hewantsyou to tell him no. Then he wants to shove your face in his defiance. He wants to hurt. That’s what he likes. That’s the difference between Garrett and I, and why we’d never work, even if I wanted us to.
Because I don’t want to hurt people. Not like he does.
“Aaron, so nice to see you,” Garrett says smoothly, as if he didn’t have his fucking mouth on my cock just mere days ago.
I shiver, but focus my gaze on him.
“Garrett.” I move my focus to his parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Tempest.”
Rob smiles at me. “Always a pleasure, Aaron.” His smile is genuine and his mother, Rebecca, grins.
“Have you met our newest member of the family yet?”
I hold Garrett’s steady gaze before glancing to the man beside him.
“No, can’t say I have.”
Garett smoothly sets his water down, his amber eyes burning with smugness.
“My apologies. I should have told you the other night, when we met up for… drinks.” He smiles surreptitiously.
Drinks my ass.
“This is George. My husband.”
Fuck.
It takes everything in me to walk over to the table and extend my hand to George.
“Nice to meet you, George. I’m Aaron.”
Run as far from this asshole as you can, George.
George smiles and the motion makes his dimples move. His hand is clammy and warm and he shakes mine softly.
“Pleasure to meet ya’ Aarron,” he says, his voice thick with southern drawl. I avoid Garrett’s gaze as I take my seat across from Robert, next to Chris.
