Dragged to the Wedding(19)
“Now, that was a winner if I ever saw one,” Kiersten said.
“Ladies, that’s how you get a man’s attention...or standing at attention. Either one works.” Daniel climbed off James’s lap and demurely sat back down as the gathering roared with laughter. The other team didn’t answer their question either, and since he and James had been in the game from the beginning, they were declared the winners.
James accepted the basket, and his eyes widened in surprise at the contents. “We’re going to have to hide this from my mother.” He picked up a box of condoms and placed them back in the basket, grinning. Damn, he looked amazing when he smiled.
“I promise I won’t tell,” Holly quipped as another round of laughter went through the group. Daniel left James in charge of the basket and their loot, some of which was chocolate and a bottle of sparkling wine. The rest, well, yeah, they needed to hide all that from Grace.
“I wonder how many of your mother’s commandments we broke tonight?” Daniel couldn’t help whispering to James, who turned red and then rolled his eyes. “You really need to lighten up a bit and have some fun. Come on, I want a drink.” He tugged James to his feet, waiting while he set the basket aside before weaving through people to the bar.
James got Daniel a martini and ordered a Coke for himself. The air inside was stuffy, so they made their way outside onto the back patio, fairy lights illuminating the trees. The overlapping voices from the party dulled when they closed the door. “I wasn’t exactly expecting that,” James said before gulping his drink.
“You wanted a show and you got one.” He glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot. “Everyone thinks you have a wild girlfriend, and the guys all wish they were you. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
James set his soda on the table and plucked the glass from Daniel’s hand, setting it aside before leading him down the stairs and off the deck.
Out in the yard, the light fell away and darkness closed around them. “Look up. I used to come outside on nights like this when I was a kid. In the city you can’t really see anything, but out here, all the stars are visible.” He held Daniel’s hand as they stood still, glancing upward, the evening mountain breeze as clean and fresh as any air Daniel could ever remember.
“I lived in the city all my life,” Daniel whispered as the sky seemed to draw closer, the ebb and flow of the stars undulating around him as scale and points of reference faded into the background. It was almost like the two of them were floating through a sea of light on some journey that could take them to the ends of the universe. Daniel was tempted to try to reach up and touch them, but as soon as he did the illusion faded and the stars grew distant once again.
“And I grew up out here,” James said quietly. “But I couldn’t wait to get away.”
“I suppose that living the life you want is worth not being able to see a few stars,” Daniel whispered. “Though it would be nice to have both.”
“As much as I may want it, I can’t.” James shrugged. “There are plenty of things that I can’t have. You get used to it.” He sighed and drew out his breath. “We should get back.”
“There’s no rush.” Daniel slid a little closer. “The party is still going on, and I doubt anyone is going to miss us in the next ten minutes.”
“James,” Holly called from the balcony, as if to prove him wrong.
“I need to see what she wants. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here,” Daniel said. He wasn’t interested in returning right away and turned his attention back to the stars. After a few minutes, footsteps approached, and Daniel smiled. “What did Holly want?”
There was no immediate answer. “Was that little show for my benefit?” Weston asked. “I saw you looking at me, watching me.” He drew close enough that Daniel could feel the heat wash over him, but unlike when James stood close to him, all Weston did was make him sweaty. “I must say that was quite the performance. One I’m willing to bet you’ve done before.” His alcohol-soaked breath ghosted over Daniel’s neck, and he shuddered with revulsion.
“I don’t know what’s going on in that little pea brain of yours, but I’m starting to wonder if there’s room out here for the three of us.” He wished James would return. Daniel could take care of himself, but he didn’t want to make a scene at Holly and Howard’s party.
“Three?” Weston whispered.
“You, me, and your ego,” he retorted. “Few things are as unattractive and ugly as a man who can’t seem to see beyond the end of his dick. I suggest you stop thinking with yours and leave me alone.” Daniel kept his voice light, because when he got angry his tone lowered, and he didn’t want to give himself away. Daniel took a few steps, putting distance between them.
“I’m only an admirer. You have spunk and energy. I like that, and I’m used to getting what I want.”
Who the hell was this guy and where in the fuck did he come up with these bad movie lines? Daniel shook his head slowly.
“Then get used to disappointment, because it just showed up,” he said firmly. “Now, turn around and go back into the house. I’m saying no for the last time.”
“So, the next time I ask, the answer will be yes?” Weston pressed. Good god! Daniel had dealt with aggressive patrons at the theater, and there was always the drunk guy who couldn’t seem to take no for an answer, but this guy was delusional and really needed a well-placed high heel, probably in the center of his forehead.