“At least your mother was willing to have the conversation.” Navy nodded. “I’d love one. Crown Royal, on the rocks.”
“Do you want to grab a table over there?” Bobby pointed to the far corner of the patio, away from the majority of his siblings, parents, cousins, and close family friends milling about. He told himself he was just getting to know someone who shared two common bonds.
Books and sexuality.
That it had nothing to do with the fact he was beyond attracted to Navy. That it was all he could do from asking him if he wanted to go find a private room and get to know each other on an intimate level.
But that would be a really bad idea and not just because Navy was a fan.
He was Casper’s pilot, and Casper was his sister’s boyfriend.
Too many degrees of separation and that could get ugly, no matter what Ethel wanted.
“Sounds good to me.”
Without glancing over his shoulder, though he really wanted to check out Navy’s swagger, Bobby made his way to the bar where his older brother Fitz was in a deep conversation with a lady wearing nothing but cleavage and long blond curls.
Figures.
Fitz was into two things.
Girls and hockey.
But not necessarily in that order. It just depended on if it was off-season or not.
“Hey, little brother,” Fitz said. “How they hanging?”
“Just fine. You?” Bobby let out a long breath. Why his brother had to be so crude in front of a lady, he had no idea.
“Doing great.”
Growing up with a jock like Fitz had made being gay all the more challenging. Everyone expected Bobby to follow in his big brother’s footsteps. For a while, Bobby tried and he wasn’t the worst at sports, he just didn’t love it, and at the end of the day, he much preferred debate club. Or other stimulated activities that required brain power, not brawn.
“I see you met Casper’s personal pilot,” Fitz said.
“Your sister’s boyfriend has his own jet?” the hot babe asked as she twirled her hair and batted her eyelashes while her pink tongue darted out of her mouth and made a broad stroke across her lips as if she were about to drop to her knees and pull out Fitz’s dick and start lapping at it. Fitz always found the ones who would do anything for him sexually.
And then, he’d dump them.
They’d act is they were heartbroken before moving on to the next up-and-coming athlete until they landed them one that would put a ring on it.
That would never be Fitz.
Not even if he knocked one of them up. So far, that hadn’t happened. That anyone knew of.
“Casper has a lot of things,” Fitz said. “But he spends most of his money trying to save the world.”
Bobby ordered a couple of drinks, while Fitz’s date excused herself to the ladies’ room. “She’s…interesting.”
“I wasn’t coming here alone and being forced to listen to Mom talk about how I needed to settle down.”
“So, what did you do? Rent her?” Bobby asked with an arched brow.
“At least I put myself out there. When was the last time you went on a date?”
“Fitz. You don’t date. You fuck.”
“I do both. You should try it sometime instead of just writing about it.”
“Have you read my last book yet?” He could count on his family to read every book before it released, including Fitz.
Though, he almost never commented other than to say he was insanely proud, which was always nice to hear. But this last novel was different. Besides the main couple being gay, it wasn’t a straight-up romance, and Bobby was genuinely curious what his brother thought.
But he usually never outright asked.
“I did. And man, it was awesome. I can’t believe my little brother is so talented with words.”
Bobby tried to bite back a smile, but it proved to be impossible. “I feel the same way when I come watch you play hockey.”
Fitz slapped him on the back. “That Navy guy isn’t bad-looking.”
“No. He’s pretty easy on the eyes; that’s for damn sure.”
“Are you going to go for it?”
“Absolutely fucking not,” Bobby said. And he repeated the words about five times in his head to hopefully drive the point home. “I’m just enjoying talking to someone new. That’s all.”
“If you say so.”
Bobby took the drinks the bartender slid across the counter. “Where are you staying tonight? Because you’re welcome to stay at my place if you want to bring the lady home.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“What are little gay brothers for.” He clanked his wine glass to his brother’s long neck. “But I’m not cooking breakfast. That’s your department.”
“Deal.”
Bobby took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he carried the two drinks across the patio to where Navy had secured a table for two overlooking the eighteenth green.
The sun had begun its descent, turning the evening sky a blueish-pink color, making the most romantic setting Bobby had ever seen.
One that would land in one of his books and not in his real life.
Navy took the book in his hands and held it to his side, forcing himself not to look at whatever Bobby had signed. He’d read it in private later. Whatever it was, he’d appreciate the gesture.
And he’d remember this evening for the rest of his life.
It had been a perfect combination of lighthearted conversation with a deep connection that he wondered if Bobby shared as well.
As much as he’d like to pursue even a short-lived romance with Bobby, it wouldn’t be in the cards, for a variety of reasons.
“It was a pleasure meeting you and thank you for signing my book.” Navy leaned against Bobby’s Range Rover in the far parking lot of the country club. The second his hip hit the metal, he realized his mistake, but it was too late to backtrack.
The damage was done, and the message was sent.
Navy found it interesting that Bobby had tipped the valet even though he hadn’t used them. He was a sucker for kind and generous souls. One of the reasons he ended up working for Casper.
“I take it you’re flying Casper and Ethel to Turks and Caicos on Sunday?” Bobby asked.
“I am.” Navy should really learn to come up with more than a grunt for an answer sometimes, especially when having a conversation with a writer. Being a man of few words probably didn’t appeal to an intellect.
Not that Navy was trying to impress Bobby or anything.
He was his boss’ girlfriend’s brother and there was a fifteen-year age difference.
And that wasn’t even the biggest problem.
“Do you get to stay for the week and hang out, or do you fly back and forth?”
“Technically, I work for his father and Walgreen Industries, and his dad needs me to fly a bunch of executives back and forth to New York next week before retrieving your sister.”
“How often do you fly?”
“Almost every day. And if I’m not flying for work, I have a few of my own flying apparatus toys I like to take up in the sky.” Apparatus toys? Jesus. What the fuck did that mean? Just shut the fuck up and use normal words.
Bobby smiled with an arched brow. “I’d really like to know what kind of toys you have.”