Not that Fitz wouldn’t kick everyone’s ass for messing with his little brother. That hadn’t been the point. Bobby didn’t want Fitz to have to punch every idiot who took issue with someone who was different. Besides, if anyone in the family struggled with Bobby being gay, it had been Fitz.
“I know how you get when you are on a deadline, and you said this new book was making you nuts.” Ethel draped her hand on his elbow.
“It is. But I have to take breaks.”
“Are you staying home to finish it?”
“For now,” he said. “Hey, Casper. Good to see you again.” Bobby stretched out his arm. “I hope my family is treating you well.”
Casper chuckled. “They are, but your father acts like I’m the worst thing that could have happened to Ethel.”
“Our grandfather did the same thing to him.” Bobby took a slow sip of his wine, doing his best not to stare too intently at the sexy pilot who had removed his shades, showing off his baby blues.
Damn. Bobby would have to find the right words to describe those orbs and put them on the right character because they were about the most intoxicating set of eyes he’d ever seen.
“So I’ve heard and I’m told he’ll warm up, but it’s not helping me feel any better.” Casper took Ethel’s hand. “Have you met my buddy, Navy?”
“I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.” Bobby’s heartbeat went from zero to a hundred in a second. He never considered himself to be shy and for a writer, he certainly wasn’t an introvert. As a matter of fact, he broke all stereotypes for the profession.
But for a reason he couldn’t fathom, being in the presence of a man like Navy not only made Bobby go weak in the knees, but left him parched.
“The pleasure is all mine.” Navy took his massive hand and curled his thick fingers around Bobby’s in a firm shake.
That particular gesture sent Bobby’s mind into places it shouldn’t go under the current circumstance. And in front of his entire family and Casper, of all people.
“Navy here is a fan,” Casper said.
“Oh, really. You’ve read my books?” Bobby asked, trying to be coy, but it didn’t come off too well, and it just made him look like an ass.
“I can’t lie. I love your books,” Navy said.
Okay, maybe Bobby hadn’t come off as bad as he thought. “The ones under my pen name? Or the latest one under my real name?” Fuck. What a stupid thing to ask a gay man. Of course, Navy didn’t present like a queer. And the only way Bobby would know was if someone had told him because he wasn’t picking up on any vibe.
“Your real name, but I have a confession to make.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” Bobby played it as cool as he could without acting like an arrogant prick. It shouldn’t be all that difficult. He was used to fans. He’d done a good twenty or so book signings with this last novel and he’d seen it all. Navy was just another person who had enjoyed his work.
Wasn’t that what it was all about?
“I’ve read all the ones you wrote as Roberta Monroe.”
Bobby’s heart dropped to his stomach. His breath caught in his throat. Perspiration beaded at his hairline. He felt like he was twelve again and was being forced to stand in the front of his science class to read from the textbook and all he could think about was hoping he didn’t say orgasm when he read the word organism.
“I take that as a major compliment,” Bobby said.
“I enjoyed the novels. You’re an excellent storyteller,” Navy said. “I hope you don’t mind, but I brought your latest release with me, hoping you might sign it.”
“I don’t mind at all.” Bobby lifted his wine glass to his lips and took a long sip of the rich red liquid, enjoying the full body flavor while staring into the blue eyes of one of the most intriguing men he’d ever met.
Yet he’d only been in his presence for about five minutes.
He hated it when his sister was spot-on.
“Honey, maybe I should go try again with your dad while he’s alone with your mom,” Casper said, taking Ethel by the arm. “Hey, Bobby. Mind keeping my friend entertained for a bit?”
“I think I can manage.” Butterflies filled Bobby’s stomach as if he were a teenager going on his first date.
“Thanks,” Casper said with a bright smile as he and Bobby’s sister made their way toward the table where Bobby’s parents had perched themselves.
“I apologize if I’m being inappropriate at a family gathering. Ethel said it would be okay, but if—”
Bobby held up his hand, cutting Navy off. “Really. It’s fine. It’s always nice to know that people out there are really reading my stuff and enjoying it. That novel was a big risk for my career. I wasn’t sure it would pay off.”
Navy let out a short laugh. “It hit the New York Times and has been sitting at number twelve now for four weeks. I’d say that’s a huge success, especially when the protagonist is gay. That doesn’t happen too often.”
“You’re telling me. And while it’s still categorized as a romance, it’s more a mystery, but since I wrote contemporary under my pen name, the publisher really wanted me to push that envelope. I seriously thought it was going to tank.”
“I read your book, honestly, in an afternoon, waiting to fly her and Casper back to the States. You sister tells me you’re writing another one. She wouldn’t give me the details, which bummed me out.”
“I didn’t tell her anything because I honestly have no idea what I’m doing. The publisher wants me to make this a big series, using all the same characters. I never intended it to be that, so I’m really banging my head against the wall.” Bobby took a gulp of his wine and leaned against the railing. Talking to Navy was like talking with an old friend. It was rare Bobby ever got that vibe from talking with a fan. Not that he could truly categorize Navy in that way, but still, Ethel made it very clear that Navy had read all his books and had loved each and every one.
Navy had gone as far as to quote from one or two.
Bobby should have learned his lesson from Alan. Talk about getting too close to crazy.
But Navy seemed so different.
“It’s funny. I never had the patience to read until my accident. My ex used to love it and I never understood. He sent me a shit ton of books when I was in the hospital, and out of boredom, I read them. It stuck.”
“I guess I’ll have to thank your ex for turning you onto books.”
Navy shook his head. “Wow. I don’t ever admit that out loud.”
“What? That you like to read?”
“No. That my ex was a male.”
“I see,” Bobby said. “Well, you certainly don’t have to worry about judgments in this crowd, and I’m going to make a wild assumption that Casper knows.”
Navy nodded. “He was the first person I came out to, actually. Or should I say, he point-blank told me I was gay. I was a freshman on the football team at prep school and he was a junior. I knew I was gay, but I didn’t want to be, and Casper decided I needed to accept myself for who I was. It was the most awkward moment in my life.”
Bobby chuckled. “Better than having your mom inform you by giving you a box full of male magazines and books about growing up homosexual.” He raised his empty glass. “I see you’re out of whatever it is your drinking. Can I get you another one?”