Heat Stroke (Beach Kingdom, #2)(60)

Behind him stood a man that Jamie knew on sight was Marcus’s father. It was there in the hard line of his jaw, the way he led with his chest. The guy was probably wondering who the hell Jamie was—and no way in hell was Jamie going through another hostile introduction with one of Marcus’s family members. He had to get out of there before questions got asked, but he wasn’t sure he could walk that close to Marcus without his true feelings showing on his face.

“Jamie,” Marcus mouthed over the noise, his eyes closing briefly. “Babe, your face.”

Had he called him “babe” in front of his father? Oh God, was he too exhausted or delirious to know what he was saying? Doing? “It’s fine,” Jamie said gruffly, pointing at the line of order tickers. “Start on the left and—”

He cut himself off when Marcus came toward him. Closer. Closer. Until their chests were an inch apart. All the noise in the shop dwindled to almost nothing and Jamie could feel everyone watching. Everyone. “I told my father about you,” Marcus said, his eyes roaming over Jamie’s face and hair. “I wish I’d done it weeks ago, Jamie. Told him about us. Us. Not just you.” He let out a shaky exhale. “Even if there’s no us, there’ll always be a you. The man I’m in love with. The man I’ll love forever.”

Jamie’s lungs seized, his hand shooting out to grip the counter. It was hard to rip his attention away from Marcus, but he cast a look around the room, at all the stunned faces staring back at him from the other side of the glass. At his brothers, Joey, Marcus’s father. Protectiveness toward Marcus swelled up inside him like high tide, clashing with the happiness that rose, fighting to be acknowledged. No, though. No…it was too late for all this. Wasn’t it?

“Let them watch, Jamie. Let them listen. I want everyone to know I love you. That feeling exists whether or not its approved of. Or disapproved of. It’s real, it’s good and it’s the most important part of me,” Marcus said, his throat working. “I figure I’ve got maybe a sliver of a chance here, so I’m taking it. You said your arms are too tired to pick up the pieces of what I broke? That’s fine. Because I’m jacked as shit, Jamie. I’ll carry us until you’re ready.”

A genuine laugh sailed out of Jamie before he could stop it. Fucking Diesel.

Marcus’s breath released in a rush, a hand coming up to scrub at his chest. “Ah, babe. I didn’t think I’d ever get to see you laugh again. Not up close.” He quickly wet his lips. “Give me back the faith you lost in me. Please. I won’t take it for granted again.”

Jamie was on the verge of saying yes, of course I’ll give you another chance. Saying yes, even though he’d been dead set on staying away from Marcus forever. When the man you love walks in and puts himself on the line in front of everyone for you, though? You don’t keep your head up your ass. You pull it out and hold fast to the lifeline he’s offering. And Marcus…was life. He’d become Jamie’s life, despite how opposite they were. Despite the odds against them. He was so in love with the man standing in front of him. The man offering his heart and the life Jamie had promised himself. No way he wouldn’t take it.

Before he could say anything, however, Marcus got down on one knee.

And pulled out a ring box.

Everyone in the store had a reaction. Rory and Andrew flanked him, as if prepared to hustle him out of there like bodyguards if he said the word. Joey—and seemingly every CrossFit bro in the shop—either whistled or dropped their jaws. Marcus’s father’s lips twitched.

Jamie’s eyes burned, as did the center of his chest. Oh my God. Was this happening?

“I wasn’t sure what my father was going to say, but I didn’t expect him to offer me my grandfather’s ring. To give to you. And as soon as he said it, Jamie, I knew there was nothing I want more in this fucking world than to be your husband. I think I’ve been practicing for a long time without giving it a name, you know? But I want to practice in front of the world now.” He opened the box and revealed a plain gold band, just a touch tarnished, but Jamie had a physical reaction to those perfect imperfections. Warmth spread through every inch of him, his heart rapping like a fist on a door. “Don’t just give me another chance,” Marcus rasped. “Give me the first, last and only chance you ever give another person to be your everything. If you do, I won’t just do better, I’ll do the best by you. Will you? Will you marry me, Jamie Prince?”

“Yes, Marcus.” Jamie swiped his forearm across his eyes, failing to keep his voice steady. “I love you, too and I’ll marry you. Tomorrow if you want. I don’t care if it’s crazy, I’m not me without you anymore. So can you please stand up now? It’s been over a week—”

Marcus didn’t just stand, he lunged, wrapping Jamie in a bear hug and knocking him back a step. Their mouths met and locked, Marcus’s fingers sliding into Jamie’s hair to cradle the back of his head as hoots and applause went up around them. Yeah, a few people left as Jamie and Marcus lost themselves in the kiss of a lifetime. But a lot more people stayed. The ones who mattered most stayed. And what Jamie and Marcus gained that day could withstand anything. Especially the test of time.





EPILOGUE





A few days later…


It was quiz night at the Castle Gate.