Exposed (Atlantic City’s Most Wanted #7)

Chapter One

“Did you know my nephew gets paid to cuddle people for a living?”

Everyone has a God-given talent, whether or not they realize it.

Jamison just happened to be born cuddly, compassionate, and completely shameless.

It was the perfect combination in his profession.

Still, he had to admit it was a tad uncomfortable to have his aunt do her best to set him up at a wedding with one of his clients.

Not that she knew that part. Jamison did his best to be polite and kind while not losing a customer or insulting his favorite aunt.

She was his only aunt, but still his favorite.

Unfortunately, Dr. Kace Brightly looked downright horrified, and Jamison had no clue how to salvage the situation.

Sadly, his aunt Haven thrived on scandalizing people and today, the poor doctor looked to be her next victim. “Isn’t that something? Who knew?”

Jamison jumped in. “There are several scientific studies that show cuddling lowers stress, which in turn helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and helps with depression. A multitude of things, actually.”

“That’s what they say.”

Yeah. He would never hear from Kace again. Kace sounded like he wanted to die.

Jamison set his champagne aside. “Would you like to dance?”

Kace’s eerily light green eyes slid toward the dance floor, as if calculating which was worse—this conversation or a private one.

“Sure.” He did not sound enthused.

Still, Jamison tried to keep up the smiles.

He had to smooth things over. While he had other clients, and he made a great living, he couldn’t start losing them over unexpected encounters.

Jamison flashed his aunt a smile. She beamed back at him, certain she had found a love match.

He met Kace’s stare and motioned toward the dance floor.

Kace moved that way, looking like he walked on wooden legs. This wasn’t going well. Then he had Kace’s in his arms and Jamison recalled exactly why he was so determined not to lose Kace. The guy fit. It was like he was meant to be right where he was.

“So, James. How have you been?”

The way Kace emphasized the name Jamison used with clients spoke volumes.

This was likely beyond repair. “I hope you understand why I have to keep my real name a secret. You’re a good person and seem sane, but that’s not true of everyone.

There are people who think once they’ve paid me, they own me. It’s not safe.”

“Great. It sounds like I’ve been hiring a prostitute.”

Damn. This had never happened to him. “Did you just call me a whore?”

Kace looked horrified. “No. I meant the way you said that. That’s the exact reason prostitutes and strippers use fake names. I just never realized how creepy it is for me to hire you. Now, pathetic. I knew that much.”

Jamison hated everything about this. “It’s not creepy or pathetic.

You have an important, stressful, and extremely busy job.

I doubt you’ve had time to look elsewhere, and I meant what I said to Haven.

” The more he thought about it, the more Kace’s reaction pissed him off.

“You know what? Don’t hire me again. If you want to think what I do is dumb or embarrassing or whatever, I’m not about to beg you to see me as a real person working like everyone else.

Just because you’re a doctor, that doesn’t give you any right to look down on people.

So, go fuck yourself.” Jamison walked away, leaving Kace on the dance floor alone.

He made a beeline for his aunt. He didn’t let her worried expression slow him.

Jamison bent and hugged her. “It was good to see you. I have an appointment.”

“You have always given the best hugs.”

The pressure in Jamison’s chest eased. Haven was a good person. “I love you. Be careful going home.”

“I love you too and you too.”

Jamison quickly headed for the door. He wasn’t one to lose his temper, but damn.

Jamison had been nothing but nice to Kace.

He didn’t deserve to be made to feel less than just because Kace was embarrassed.

Kace could find someone else. Jamison was hardly the only one in the field.

Once someone knew where to look, it wasn’t hard to find just about any service.

Jamison climbed into his truck and pulled out his phone.

It took him a second to log in to his web account so he could get to his client list. He blocked Kace and then moved to wipe his information.

Jamison’s finger hovered over the delete option.

His shoulders fell. He unblocked the contact.

While he was insulted and upset, Jamison wasn’t an asshole.

He doubted Kace would ever reach out again anyhow.

Jamison’s eyes fell closed. He was always the weak one.

As much as Kace wanted to rush after Jamison, Haven already looked way too curious. There was no avoiding her. She would likely run after him if he tried to make a break for it. That would be one hell of a scene at her son’s wedding. Instead, he motioned for her to join him on the floor.

A huge grin lit her face as she took Jamison’s place.

It hurt his chest how much she looked like her son, Joesph.

That was the gist of things. This was Joesph’s wedding.

The one who got away. Kace had already felt like he was dying before Haven dragged him to meet her nephew, then his humiliation had been complete.

Nothing had shone a light on how pathetic and empty his life was the way this entire wedding had.

He wanted to go home. There was nothing for him here.

Unfortunately, nothing waited at home for him either.

At this point, it was whatever, so he danced.

“Okay. Spill.”

He wouldn’t play dumb. Haven was too relentless. “I think I insulted his job.”

“Why would you do that? Just a few minutes ago, you agreed science backed his profession.”

Kace felt worse by the second. It hurt his chest, thinking about losing the service Jamison provided.

He didn’t want to go through those beginning stages again, where he felt humiliated by his needs with someone new.

Jamison had always made him feel like it wasn’t a job for him—like he wanted to snuggle with Kace too. “I’ll reach out and apologize.”

Her gaze sharpened. “I didn’t see him give you his number.”

Damn. He had to be fast on his feet with Haven. Kace pulled his most pathetic face. “I hoped you’d give it to me.”

She studied him for a second before brightening.

“Sure. I know you’re a good one. You won’t use it to stalk him or anything.

Isn’t he gorgeous, though? He’s my brother-in-law’s son.

The Drake gene pool is strong as hell. Every one of them ended up with those light blue eyes.

Of course, Jamison took after his mom’s dad with that cuddly build. ”

“I always thought Joesph looks a lot like you.”

Haven beamed. “That’s sweet since I raised a gorgeous son. You never met his father, though. He’d already passed before you dated Joesph.”

“That was a long time ago. You’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure you have tons of men beating down your door.”

Haven’s smile turned sad. “Some people can’t be replaced. I’ll never let some mediocre man destroy my image of a good marriage. I got lucky the first time around. The odds of lightning striking twice are pretty damn slim.”

Somehow, Kace kept nodding and listening while his entire brain screamed. What were the odds lightning would strike twice? He was at the wedding of the man who Kace had been certain was the one for him. Now what? He was doomed to die alone.

Songs changed.

“Oh, do you mind if I steal a dance with my new son-in-law?”

Kace pasted on the same smile he used when dealing with patients. “Sure.” This actually gave him the perfect opportunity to sneak out without being noticed.

“Great. We’ll talk again later.”

Kace kept smiling and nodding. Relief poured through him as he walked away. He didn’t make it far before a strong arm encircled his waist.

“Dr. Brightley.”

He blinked as he found himself pulled into a slow dance. “Lucas. Hey.” Kace was more than a little surprised to see the red-haired eyeful. It had been months. “What an odd place to run into you.”

A bright smile lit his sexy face. His amber eyes sparkled with mischief. “It’s a small world.”

It seemed so. Lucas was the first and last one-night stand Kace had ever had. He didn’t know what to talk about. They hadn’t talked much the last time they saw each other. A smile exploded across Kace’s face. He fought a laugh. “This is uncomfortable.”

“What? You haven’t seen everyone here naked?”

Kace’s shoulders relaxed. “At least two.”

Lucas shook his head. His smile didn’t dim. “I’m relieved to see someone I half-ass know.”

The comment caught him off guard. “Why are you at the wedding reception of someone you don’t know?”

“I know the grooms.” He glanced around. “Actually, I know quite a few people, but they’re all from work.”

Kace nodded. “Have you had dinner? I mean, other than the typical reception food?”

“No. We should definitely remedy that, though.”

“Agreed.”

Maybe he wouldn’t drown tonight after all. He had gone into that one night with Lucas fully understanding it was no more than sex. They had simply been two people looking for the same thing. He didn’t need Jamison. Kace had options. He would explore them.