Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
So maybe he liked Gabriel’s dry sense of humor. Maybe he liked that he wasn’t always sure what was going to come out of the man’s mouth. And maybe he liked making Gabriel flush and his mouth fall in surprise.
All that didn’t mean he should care what he’d suffered through in his past, right?
The important thing was that they needed to get through the present.
So, he stood there with a fake-ass smile while holding a drink in one hand and Gabriel’s hand in the other because there was no way in hell he was letting go just yet. And he wasn’t sure which of them needed the contact more at that moment.
The only reassuring thing was that some of the tension humming through Gabriel’s frame had eased after a few minutes when they weren’t attacked or even sneered at. His hand had relaxed in Justin’s and wasn’t feeling cool to the touch. While his expression was more grimace than smile, it was easily masked by the glass of wine that regularly lifted to his lips.
“Justin?” a feminine voice called.
Tightening his hand on Gabriel’s, Justin turned in the direction of the voice. He forced himself to relax his body and open up his smile when he caught sight of the young woman in the breezy white dress and wide-brimmed straw hat.
Lucy Kennedy was an absolute sweetheart. Since they’d first met, she’d made it her mission in life to take him under her wing and introduce him to all the illustrious monied of Cincinnati, as well as keep her eye out for a perfect match for him. She hadn’t even blinked when he’d made it clear that the match would need to be a man rather than a woman.
She engulfed him in a tight hug, forcing him to release Gabriel. A delicate cloud of perfume wrapped around him. Lucy reminded him of sunshine and kittens, but he had a feeling she had a hidden side that was much sterner. The woman had four sons, and they were all attending prestigious schools. There was no wrangling four boys like that if you weren’t made of stronger stuff than cotton and rose petals.
“I just knew you’d be here,” she announced with her soft southern drawl, which only endeared her to him more. She smiled up at Gabriel.
“Lucy, I’d like to introduce you to my boyfriend, Gabriel Prescott.” Justin motioned toward his companion.
Gabriel extended his hand to her, but she just batted it away.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sugar, but that’s just not going to work with me.” She stepped right into Gabriel and hugged him tightly, her head barely reaching his shoulder even in her tall heels. Gabriel sent a questioning look over her head to Justin, and he suppressed a laugh. Lucy was also a bit forward, but it was all in kindness, so it was hard to fault her for it.
When she stepped back, she looked from Gabriel to Justin, her smile even bigger. “You don’t understand, but Justin is so precious to me. Like my own brother. And I know that anyone Justin would dare to date must be as sweet as he is.”
“I don’t know if I’m as sweet as he is, but I try,” Gabriel said.
“Oh, trust me, Luce, he’s just as sweet. He cooked me dinner last night, and he is such a fantastic cook,” Justin gushed, bringing an answering blush to Gabriel’s cheeks, though Justin wasn’t quite sure if it was embarrassment or anger. Probably a little of both.
Lucy clucked her tongue at him. “You didn’t even tell me you were seeing anyone.”
Justin gave a coy little shrug. “We haven’t been seeing each other long. We met months ago while I was traveling, and we’ve talked here and there. Gabriel is based out of London, so we don’t see each other often.”
“Oh no,” Lucy said on a little gasp.
To Justin’s shock, Gabriel’s hand smoothed along his shoulders, pulling him closer. A wave of warmth spread through his body as he leaned ever so slightly against Gabriel’s narrow frame. “But we’re working on it. I’m staying in town for the next few weeks so we can spend time together. Get to know each other better.”
“That’s wonderful. We’ll have to do dinner while you’re in town. My husband, Patrick, couldn’t make it to the party today, but we’ll schedule something when he’s free. I’ll text Justin so we can arrange it.”
“Sounds fabulous.”
Lucy placed a kiss on Justin’s cheek, and Gabriel leaned down so she could do the same to him before she moved on to mingle with the rest of the attendees. She strolled through the garden with a breezy light and warm personality. Justin couldn’t help but marvel at her. He was sure there were dark and disappointing things in her life, but whatever they were, she never let them show. She appeared to be happy with life and to spend time with the people around her.