Page 76 of The Bartender Special

Jack’s hand didn’t linger.

Instead, he warmed Benny long before the sun had a chance to.

Sunshine, tan lines, and Jack quietly grumbling about the lack of bellinis started the group's, in total, four-hour tour.

It was nice in the beginning and the tension in Benny started to lessen the farther away from Live Oak Launch they got.

It turned out that the pontoon boat didn't belong to the Robertson family as a unit but was Marcus's alone. Jack had asked several questions about its make, model, and even the deals he’d gotten on the used parts to build it, and Marcus had been more than enthused to answer each. Benny glazed over the first details but found it heartening that Marcus had worked hard to purchase the boat two years ago and had rebuilt and repaired several parts on it.

Ruby had commented that the Robertson parents had higher-end boats that they probably would have given Marcus had he asked.

Carol agreed.

Marcus?

That hadn't been for him.

“There's a feeling of pride when you fix the thing you spent the day before cussing at,” he'd said. “I can't get that with the new, shiny things.”

Jack had agreed with that wholeheartedly. He didn't have a boat, but his uncle did. It was a junker, and that topic alone carried the two men for twenty minutes, talking like they weren't sitting in the middle of a boat filled with people who had more skin exposed than covered.

Benny had liked that time, pressed up against Jack on one of the cushioned benches and feeling the rumble of his words vibrate against his side. Jack had made the close proximity move first, for looks no doubt, but Benny hadn't bothered to shift an inch since. Instead he'd sipped on a Coke, listened to the guys, and soaked up the sun, letting the view of the water distract him from time to time.

Even Carol and Ruby stayed in their own bubble, while Felicity more or less did the same as Benny, listening to Jack and Marcus and daydreaming in the sun when her attention strayed.

It had been nice.

And, for a moment, Benny had forgotten the blog, the festival, and that Jack Knox was just putting on an act when he snaked his arm around him and let it relax across his waist.

But then the shark in high-end lip gloss had gone and opened her mouth.

Marcus cut the engine near what locals called Floater's Cove, a wide passage of water that ran parallel to a stretch of beach. There were already two boats in the distance with a few swimmers going between them and a set-up of beach umbrellas, towels, and coolers. Carol waved over to one group with a parade-worthy flick of the wrist and then forced them into the social side of business.

“So, now that we're here, why don't we shake some of the week's stress off by playing a game?” she asked. “A little fun under the sun.”

Marcus groaned but Felicity perked up with excitement.

“What kind of game?” she asked.

Carol was devious as heck as she leaned forward and made the announcement.

“Two Truths and a Lie! The perfect way to show everyone just how well they know their partner.”

It could have been his imagination, but Benny could have sworn the woman flashed fangs in his direction.

Wondering how much damage could be done with one little game was useless.

Benny was okay at skirting the truth, lying by omission, and redirection. But outright lying to a boat containing the queen of gossip, her most loyal lackey, his former soulmate, his current fiancée, and Benny’s fake boyfriend?

Well, if he’d also been naked, his teeth had started to fall out, and he realized he was late for a math class he hadn’t attended in years, then he’d be smack dab in the worst stress dream ever.

But he wasn’t dreaming.

Nope.

He was on a boat with short shorts and white-knuckling a drink.

Benny glanced at Jack.