Heat Stroke (Beach Kingdom, #2)(61)

Jamie was working behind the bar, but Andrew had just shown up to relieve him for a couple of hours. So he could have dinner with his future father-in-law.

Even saying that in his head sounded weird.

But looking out over the crowded bar and catching Marcus staring at him like a lovesick fool made it a lot less weird. Made it kind of fucking unbelievably fantastic, actually. Damn right he was marrying that man. If he’d let himself be more objective during their week apart, he would have come to the conclusion that being without Marcus just wasn’t possible. It was hard to believe, but he’d fallen in deep, abiding love with the guy he’d once eye rolled and refused to take seriously. The guy had gotten under his skin. And that’s exactly where Jamie needed him to be. Forever.

Jamie winked at Marcus and went back to serving customers. A few more minutes and he could join Marcus at the table he was saving. Something pretty damn close to excitement tugged at his gut. Since the morning Marcus had proposed, Jamie had been staying at Marcus’s place. Joey and his father had stopped by a few times to have a beer, but most of the time, Jamie was on his way out to work, so they hadn’t had time to get to know each other. But Joey and Mr. O’Shaughnessy couldn’t have been more welcoming to Jamie. Joey even gave him an awkward, back slapping hug from time to time, which was hilarious, considering Jamie’s eye still needed healing.

Was he dreaming? Sometimes Jamie wondered. A few weeks ago, he’d been trying to avoid his unlikely, closeted friend. Now they were engaged. And their families were not only accepting, they were supportive as hell, Andrew and Rory included. One look at Jamie’s face after Marcus proposed and they’d taken turns shaking Marcus’s hand, then went back to making juice. Juice that had earned them five stars on Yelp and an insatiable customer base.

Yeah, business at the Main Squeeze was booming.

Jamie was so proud of Marcus, he was bursting at the seams.

He was so in love, he could barely see straight.

Life was…incredible.

Unable to help himself, Jamie cast another glance in his fiancé’s direction, but Marcus was no longer alone. His father and Joey had just joined him, both of them raising a hand in greeting to Jamie. He waved back, contentedness settling on his shoulders like a wool blanket.

Andrew nudged him in the side. “Go.”

Jamie surveyed the busy bar. “You sure?”

“Yeah, Rory is stopping by soon to give you a breather. I can cover until he gets here.”

“Thanks.”

Andrew clapped Jamie on the back. “Happy for you, man.”

Jamie’s throat pulled too tight for him to answer. He nodded and turned to leave, but he stopped short when he saw a familiar face passing through the crowded bar. It was the same cop that had watched them at the boardwalk a couple weeks ago. The same cop that Andrew had seen outside their house. Jamie and Andrew watched the man circle the bar, his eyes on the brothers all the while, before throwing them a salute and leaving the same way he came.

“Whatever it is, Andrew, we’ll handle it. Okay?” Jamie said. “Together.”

His older brother shoved a pen behind his ear and got to work pulling a pint. His smile was warm, but his eyes were distant. “Go enjoy yourself, Jamie. You deserve it.”

Jamie meant what he’d said. They would handle whatever came their way.

As brothers.

But if the cop had walked out the door, nothing was coming their way tonight.

Jamie latched on to the reprieve and went to go join Marcus, Mr. O’Shaughnessy and Joey at the table, vowing silently to work on the problem tomorrow. Tonight, however, was about the man who shot to his feet as Jamie approached with his heart in his eyes.

*

I, Marcus O’Shaughnessy, am marrying Jamie motherfucking Prince.

Life was sweet.

Better than sweet. For the last few days, he’d had to restrain himself from hugging random strangers everywhere he went. When he’d taken up residence underneath his bed, he’d thought life would never be worth living again—and now he was determined to live as long as possible so he could wring every drop of time with Jamie out of it.

Swear to God, Marcus had to concentrate on not flipping tables over, he was so alive and happy and invigorated. What man alive wouldn’t be, knowing they got to wake up next to Jamie for the rest of their lives?

Marcus frowned.

No man alive, that’s who. Except for him.

While weaving his way through the maze of tables and chairs, Jamie gave Marcus a secret half smile and Marcus’s jealousy melted like candle wax. He didn’t have to worry about things like Jamie finding someone else. Or not being good enough for Jamie. His fiancé loved him more than anything in the world—he’d told Marcus so, in those exact words. He’d been all mussed up at the time, too. Mussed up and naked and playing with Marcus’s hair—

Marcus’s cock started to swell and he let out a choked noise as the metal cage around his johnson prevented his erection from growing too large. Oh. Oh Jesus Christ. That felt terrible, painful and amazing all at once. Lust rippled through his abdomen and the blood in his head rushed south. No, no. Don’t go down there. There’s no room at the inn.

Jamie raised an eyebrow as he reached Marcus, his step slowing ever so slightly. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” Marcus managed, a trickle of sweat rolling down his spine. “All good.”