“Hi!” Emily said, waving from across the restaurant. She had her hair up in a messy bun, the Elvish tattoo visible from beneath a short-sleeved shirt.
Taylor gave a flat smile and waved back, his eyes drifting to the person sitting opposite her. He’d half expected to find Theo, which probably would have been awkward as shit given how things had played out, but was surprised to see an older man with a shock of white hair and bushy eyebrows.
“Is that… Wallace?” Johnny said, leaning across the table.
Wallace—who was not their biggest fan—clocked them and gave a withering look. He was wearing a chequered suit with a lime green bow tie, and honestly it was pretty sweet.
My dad, Emily mouthed, pointing enthusiastically at Wallace.He’s my dad.
Taylor raised his eyebrows. “Did you know he had a daughter?”
Johnny shook his head. But then something strange happened. Wallace was looking at Wendy and Wendy was looking at Wallace. Staring. They just wouldnotstop staring. Emily must have noticed it too, because she gave Wallace a slightly disgusted look before reaching for her drink.
“Aaanyway,” Taylor said, reaching across the table to click his fingers in Wendy’s face. “More champagne?”
“I… Yeah…” she replied with a far-off look in her eyes. “Who’s that man?”
They both smirked before Johnny placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “Wendy, I think you’re about to meet your Prince Charming.”
Taylor nodded rapidly. “Yeah, but make itabsolutelyclear that we aren’t related… like, at all.”
Blushing, Wendy tucked a stray strand of grey hair behind her ear. “You think so? I mean, wouldn’t it be rude of me to just interrupt his daddy-daughter dinner?”
Johnny scoffed. “And sincewhenhave you cared about being rude?”
Wendy looked thoughtful. “True, but who is he?”
“Forensic science guy over at West Newton. He worked on the alpha murders.”
“Uh-huh, and… single?” Wendy was already smoothing down her dress as she rose from her chair.
“Er… yep,” Taylor said, although he actually had no idea if Wallace had a wife or husband or anyone else for that matter.
Regardless, it didn’t seem to matter because Wendy was already halfway across the restaurant. “Bye, then,” Johnny said, taking another swig of champagne.
Just then, Taylor’s phone vibrated, and he yanked it out of his too-tight pocket. ‘THIS IS AN AUTOMATED SMS. YOUR RECENT TEST RESULTS CAME BACK ALL CLEAR. PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRACTISE SAFE SEX?—’
Blah, blah,blah. There were some other words, but Taylor stopped reading as he lowered his phone to the table. When he looked up, he saw that Johnny was running his eyes over his own phone.
“JP,” Taylor said, rocking his hips as heat pulsed through his dick. “Please don’t tell me you’ve got the clap or something.”
Johnny lowered his phone, eyes running over Taylor’s throat. “Get your coat.”
“I didn’t bring a coat.”
“Then get your keys, because we’re going home.”
CHAPTER 30
LOCK STEP
Taylor
“Pull over,”Taylor groaned, balling his hands on top of his thighs hard enough to crease his jeans. The countryside was hurtling past, and Johnny had overtaken enough cars to put F1 drivers to shame.
Johnny let out a breathy laugh and shook his head. “We’re only ten minutes out. I’m going as fast as I can.”
Taylor tipped his head back, letting out a sound that made his throat sting. He slouched, rocking his hips forwards so his trouser seam rubbed along the length of his dick. The jeans really did leave nothing to the imagination, and he could see Johnny looking at him from the corner of his eye.
