Returning Your Love (Pippen Creek #1)

Epilogue

Jamie

“ Welcome to Frenchie’s!” Frenchie and her wife called out their usual as the bar’s door closed behind us.

“The man of the hour!” Someone else hollered from the packed crowd, and a grin split my face even as heat filled it.

Once again, I felt like a sideshow freak at a party held in honor of my accomplishments, the uniform I’d kept on after graduation causing me to stand out. Chaz’s pinkie was laced with mine, making me feel less alone than the last time I’d been the center of attention. It’d been over a year since my return to Pippen Creek, and so much had changed, heartache and happiness in a vicious tug-of-war that had finally relented in allowing us the joy we both deserved.

People flocked forward, offering hugs, and although I hated letting go of my man, I gave the townsfolk a few moments to congratulate me and welcome the newest member of the police force dedicated to keeping them safe.

I could feel Dad’s proud gaze on me from somewhere in the vicinity, assuring me the life ahead of me was finally on course. Sure, there would be bumps and potholes in our way, same as the dirt road that led to Chaz’s and my home on the lake, but the destination remained fixed in my mind at all times.

Babs threw her arms around me, Coach Bernard grinning from behind her. As promised, the man had given her a ring, they took a short jaunt to Berlin to exchange vows, and they moved in together immediately afterward. Townsfolk had been surprised, the gossip mill going, but no one judged the two got together a mere week after his return from Arizona.

Nor did they care about Chaz’s and my timing.

“Proud of you, Jamie Forester,” Babs murmured, squeezing me tight. “Happiness looks good on you.”

“On you too,” I said, unable to wipe the grin off my face.

She stepped back, still holding onto my forearms. “I knew you’d be irresistible in a uniform. All the ladies are swooning.”

“Couldn’t care less.”

Babs laughed, her cheeks pink and eyes bright. “That young man of yours can’t tear his eyes off you either.”

Heat slithered through my veins as I remembered his promise to sit on my dick in celebration later tonight. Nothing more beautiful than Chaz uninhibited and riding on my cock. He fit me in every single way.

Speaking of my man, he moved in to touch my lower back, his palm warm and possessive. “Want a drink?”

“Water. Please.”

Chaz kissed my temple and moved off again.

Babs sighed, hands over her heart. “You two are the sweetest. Makes my heart happy to finally see you together.”

“Same.”

“Congrats, Jamie.” Dexter squeezed me from the side.

“Hey, Dex.” I hugged him back. “Thanks.” I glanced around him, expecting Christian Cole to be lingering nearby. The two were always at each other’s throats, a rivalry I didn’t understand the roots of. Neither did Dad. But the eventual outcome was as clear as Dex’s flashing pearly whites. If they weren’t already fucking, they would be. Christian couldn’t keep his eyes off my dad’s best friend and vice versa. It was like a magnetic force flipped its switch constantly, pulling then pushing them away from each other.

Other people stepped in to offer their congratulations, and once Chaz finally returned with my lemon water, I was parched, my facial muscles hurting from smiling. But I wasn’t nearly done.

Something rested in my pocket, a titanium band, simplistic yet perfect.

Just like my man.

I glanced over at where he chatted with Kel and a guy I didn’t recognize. Old Man Ron and Addy stood with them, the first time I’d seen the two socializing outside Dig-In.

Chaz glanced my way as though feeling my stare. He looked me over from head to toes and back up again, tongue flicking over his lower lip. Blood seeped into my groin, thickening my cock.

Fucking tease was lucky I had to wear briefs beneath my uniform or the entire town would see how my man affected me.

I raised an eyebrow.

He did the same.

“You’re making me jealous.”

I turned to find Dad at my elbow, beer in hand. “Sorry?”

“Don’t be. I love seeing you happy.”

“Your man will show up one of these days,” I promised, envisioning a guy Dad’s age, maybe heartbroken and needing someone to hold him together. A kind soul, needy as fuck like Dad hoped for. I envisioned a peaceful, fulfilling existence for my father who deserved it more than anyone.

“Starting to think it’s not going to happen,” Dad muttered.

“Welcome to Frenchie’s!”

I glanced toward the door to see who the latecomer was, Dad turning along with me.

“Motherfucking…” Dad’s curse faded, and I blinked, taking in the sight of Elite Escort’s blond twink with the big blue eyes.

“Jimmy Riley,” I muttered, glancing over at Chaz to find him headed my way.

One—no, two —secrets I’d forgotten about. Sure, Chaz knew I wasn’t a virgin when we’d gotten together but having started an OnlyFans to pay for a sex worker?

“Shit,” Dad and I both whispered at the same time, my palms suddenly sweating.

I glanced at Dad, and he caught my eye before quickly turning his focus away.

“You okay?” Chaz grasped my elbow, pulling my full focus.

“Yeah, baby. Yeah.” But shit wasn’t. Those plans with that ring in my pocket just kicked the bucket. Yet another conversation lay ahead that had the potential to be more a crater than pothole. Definitely not something I could drop in Chaz’s lap considering where we stood and all the people around us.

Smirking like a cat in a bowl of cream, Dexter sauntered over, elbowing Dad with a knowing look in his eyes.

“Fucking hell,” Dad muttered and tipped back his beer, draining the rest. “Shut up and get me another,” he ordered, and Dex moved off, chuckling something about not saying a word.

“Dad, what’s?—”

“Why, Chief Sutton.” Jimmy sauntered over, attention latched on my father with a predatory gaze if ever I’d seen one.

Oh…oh shit.

My head jerked toward Dad.

He was closed down like a sealed drum, but tension strung his shoulders tight as the skin around his eyes. “Jimmy.”

“Miss me?” Jimmy winked and popped a hip out.

“Nope.” Dad lied—no fucking question.

Jimmy’s gaze slid to me. “I hear congratulations are in order.” He stuck out his hand, and I shook it, the guy’s palms and fingertips smooth as butter. And why wouldn’t they be? The only hard labor he faced was a client’s dick.

“Chaz.” Jimmy greeted my man next, doing a double take, his groomed eyebrows arching then pulling inward. “You’re a dead ringer for an old co-worker of mine. How did I not realize that before?”

“Yeah?” Chaz’s voice stated he couldn’t care less.

“Any chance you’re related to a guy named Zack Briggs?” Jimmy asked.

My breath stalled out, and I went still as fuck.

“Don’t recognize the name,” Chaz said, sliding his pinkie along mine until latching.

I clung to that tiny piece of him, waiting for a bombshell to drop right there in front of the entire town. At least Chaz’s parents weren’t in attendance. Not that Mr. Henderson would be super judgmental. He’d chilled out quite a bit since Christmas when Chaz had finally stood up to him.

Jimmy glanced down over Chaz again. “Hmm. Could have fooled me. You two could be twins.”

I waited for Jimmy to turn my way, question me, or maybe just wink.

He did none of those things, and I slowly released the pent-up air in my lungs.

Thank fuck those NDAs are effective at keeping Jimmy’s loose lips shut .

Or maybe he didn’t have access to Elite’s clientele list. I could only hope.

My body language must have clued Chaz in on something being wrong because he bumped his shoulder against mine. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I rasped before swallowing. “Just, uh…”

Jimmy eyed the two of us, his focus settling on my face. We stared at each other.

Did he know? Was he chewing on his tongue in order to keep his big mouth shut?

Fuck.

I scratched the back of my neck, restless as fuck and ready to bolt out the door.

“I feel like I’m missing what’s going on,” Chaz stated, his voice low.

“I, uh…” I had to clear my throat and forced my eyes off the escort for my lover.

Chaz peered at me with a quizzical look, but zero hint of concern rested in his hazel eyes.

“Um…another secret? I mean, two?” I huffed an unsteady laugh, attempting to make light of the situation.

Chaz smirked, seemingly unfazed by possible danger ahead. “Are either damaging or life-changing?”

“No—at least, I don’t think so?”

“You’re cute when you worry,” Chaz said, leaning in with a smile before pressing his mouth to mine. “Honesty will never make me love you less.”

I squeezed his pinkie before sliding my fingers entirely through his and clasping his palm tight. Choosing to believe him, I put the unrest in the back of my mind for later.

Jimmy leaned into Dad’s forearm, but whatever he intended to say got cut short by Dexter’s arrival.

He offered Dad a cold beer, and Dad took the opportunity to sidestep the handsy escort. “Thanks,” Dad said to Dex, ignoring Jimmy attempting to get all in his space.

What the fuck was up with that kid? Well, not a kid. Jimmy was a couple of years older than me but hadn’t ever acted like it.

“So, Jimmy,” Dex said, throwing his arm around Dad’s shoulders. “What brings you back to Pippen Creek?”

“Personal shit.” Jimmy eyed Dexter’s hold on Dad, lips thinning like someone had stolen his lollipop.

Fuck .

I did not need that image in my head.

Dad avoided eye contact with Jimmy, taking great interest in scanning the room, but he seemed preoccupied rather than his usual observant self.

What the fuck was going on, and how long before I ended up flattening Jimmy’s nose as a warning to steer clear of a man who didn’t need any more drama in his life?

“Anything Chief, here, needs to worry about?”

“Oh no,” Jimmy purred, his gaze heating with blatant lust.

“When are you going back to Boston?” I blurted the question, needing him to be gone already.

Jimmy tipped his head to the side, once more eyeing me. “How’d you know I’ve been in Boston?”

“Uh…Dex! Dexter told me.”

A coy smile lifted Jimmy’s lips as he glanced between Dex and Dad. “Someone’s keeping tabs on me. I like it.” He sauntered away, swaying that bubble butt of his as though aware we all watched him go.

Four fucking throats cleared, and we glanced around Frenchie’s, an unspoken agreement not to discuss what each and every one of us had been doing.

Couldn’t have been helped though. Any gay man who loved ass wouldn’t be able to miss the backside Jimmy had been blessed with.

“So!” Chaz was the first to speak up. “I have a thing to take care of.”

“Yeah,” I agreed quickly. “That.”

Dex barked out a laugh. “Have fun, boys.” He grasped Dad’s elbow and steered him in the opposite way of where Jimmy had gone.

Fucking hell.

It was my turn to laugh, but there wasn’t anything funny about Jimmy Riley’s return to Pippen Creek. I feared Dad’s life was about to get a lot more interesting.

“They sell shotguns over at The Outdoor Store?” I asked, tucking Chaz against my side while heading toward the exit.

Chaz chuckled. “Yeah.”

“Good. Cuz I’m gonna need to get one and sit on Dad’s porch until that man gets his ass back to Boston,” I muttered.

A few minutes later, we climbed into my SUV at the back of Frenchie’s lot. The key rested in the ignition, but I didn’t turn it to start the engine.

“Get it off your chest,” Chaz said with a smile in his voice.

I clutched the steering wheel, my focus on bar’s door.

“Hey.” Chaz ran his hand up my thigh. “You’re tense as fuck.” He grabbed my junk, and I grunted, swelling automatically from his touch. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Jimmy’s an escort,” I stated bluntly. Might as well get this shit over with.

“And?”

I glanced over at Chaz to find his gaze as open and accepting as always. “I, uh…didn’t sleep with him.”

Chaz laughed. “He’s more your dad’s type than yours.”

“Shit.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “Can we please not talk about that?”

“So, I’m guessing you know this because you hooked up while in college with that co-worker Jimmy claims I’m a dead ringer for.”

My eyelids slid shut, and even though his didn’t sound like he cared all that much, I braced myself. “Yeah, but that’s not all.” I inhaled, holding it until my lungs burned. “I started up an OnlyFans to be able to afford the escort because there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to live out the fantasy of being with you.”

“Was this Zack guy a good replacement?” Chaz’s voice hinted at teasing.

I snorted. “Before having a taste of the real you, yeah. Now?” I shook my head, finally meeting my man’s gaze.

He still smirked, completely unaffected by what I’d told him.

The tension left my shoulders, and I slumped into the driver’s seat. “Nothing could compare to the man I love,” I promised him.

Overwhelming love poured from Chaz’s eyes as they stayed latched on mine. “Take me home, Jamie. In case you’ve forgotten, we’ve got some celebrating to do.”

Never had I ever started up a vehicle and pulled out of a parking lot so fast.

That ring burned a hole in my pocket, but first things first.

I had a man to love on and show yet again he was worth all the stars in my night sky.

THE END

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