Chapter 24
Jamie
I woke with the heavy weight of Hank’s arm over my waist. My heart jolted.
So that wasn’t a dream.
My hunky, off-limits, straight match had decided he was into men. Or at least, one man.
I turned my face into my pillow to muffle my squeal.
“Jamie?”
His voice rasped over my skin, making it pebble with anticipation. He rocked forward, his dick prodding my ass. Damn, he was really into me even though I was a guy, apparently.
Hank’s large hand slid down my front and wrapped around my morning wood. “Morning, beautiful.”
My face heated. No one had ever called me that before.
“Hi,” I said, voice breathy.
I was too turned on to be embarrassed, though. I pressed my ass back against him, making him groan.
“Lube?” he asked.
I scrambled to get it and squirted some into his hand. He reached down and grasped my cock, stroking firmly.
I came in an embarrassingly short time, but Hank didn’t seem to mind. He rolled me onto my back and kissed me thoroughly.
“Use my mouth,” I invited.
I’d given Hank a little taste of what I could do last night in the shower, and he eagerly swung a leg over my shoulders to push his cock between my lips.
He was thick and heavy on my tongue as he carefully rocked his hips, never going deep enough to gag me. I grabbed his ass and pulled him deeper, encouraging him, until he was pumping a release down my throat with a harsh cry.
The dogs started howling in response. We’d left the door open for them to come and go, and they weren’t sure what to make of this spectacle.
I nearly choked as I laughed, and Hank hastily withdrew.
“Ah god, sorry. I didn’t mean to set off the dogs by being so loud.”
I grinned and swiped my hand over my wet lips. “I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“You should,” Hank said fervently. “You’re very good at that.” He frowned, forehead creasing. “I don’t want to think about how you got so good.”
“Aw, is someone jealous?” I teased.
He pouted. “Don’t make fun of me.”
I sat up and slung my arms around his shoulders, ridiculously happy. “Never. You’re my Prince Charming, Hank. I even put you in my phone that way. From the very start.”
He turned his head, looking at me over his shoulder. “Really?”
“My perfect match. Even if I wasn’t yours.”
“But you were, Jamie. It just took me longer to figure it out.”
I kissed him. “You got there in the end. That’s what matters.” I paused. “You don’t have any regrets about any of this, do you?”
“Never,” he said, repeating my words back to me. “You’re my Prince Charming.”
Tramp chose that moment to jump on the bed and inspect us both for serious injuries. Laughing, we gave him some love, then Lady, too.
“I’ve got to get to work,” Hank said apologetically. “Want me to take these guys off your hands?”
“What about Bruno?”
“My brother was home with him, so he should be fine. I’ll swing by and get him on the way to work. Along with some new clothes, or Sammi will never let me live it down.”
“Does she, uh, know…about me?”
“Not yet.”
I nodded, suddenly feeling naked. I grabbed the sheet and dragged it over my lap. “Right. You could have hooked up with anyone.”
“But I didn’t.” He put a finger under my chin, lifting my eyes to meet his. “I went out with my boyfriend and stayed over, and that’s exactly what I’ll tell Sammi when we have a chance to catch up.”
“Really? You don’t feel weird about it?”
He stood up, totally nude and not the least bit bashful. But then why would he be, with a large, muscular, delicious body like his?
“It might be a little strange, the whole coming out thing, I guess. I don’t really know why I wasn’t into guys before, and I’m not sure how to explain it to myself, much less anyone else.”
“You don’t have to explain anything,” I said. “But if you ask me, you’re a touch demi.”
“Demi?”
“Demi-romantic,” I said. “It means you need a real connection to feel romantic attraction. That might be why your high school girlfriend and me are a little different from the other people you’ve been with.”
“Huh. I’ve never heard of that. I guess I’ve got some research to do.”
“You don’t have to know everything right now,” I said gently. “Just do what makes you comfortable. If you want to keep this a secret for a while—”
“No,” he said quickly. “I don’t feel weird about you. Or us. Or telling people we’re dating. I wouldn’t have taken you to the Dinner Bell if I wanted it to be a secret.”
Good point. That place was gossip central.
“Talking about that part is easy,” he said.
“Yeah? What will you say?”
He shrugged. “Easy. I’ll say I fell for my best friend.”
I threw off the sheet and moved into his arms, giving him a nice, long kiss. “You better go before I drag you back into bed.”
“Hmm. That’s not really encouraging me to go.”
We laughed quietly and kissed again, and then I forced myself to pull back.
“Get dressed before you’re late. I’ll pick the dogs up when I get off work.”
“Dinner tonight?” Hank asked as he grabbed his pants and pulled them on. “I can cook for you.”
“Okay, yeah. That sounds great.”
Once Hank and the dogs were out the door, I fell back into bed and slept another couple of hours before waking to the blaring of my alarm.
I showered and dressed, then swung by Rainbow Garden, unable to contain the happiness fizzing in my veins. I had to share with someone or I’d burst.
I pushed open the door, the bells chiming as I stepped inside.
“Be right there!” Maverick called from the back of the shop.
He emerged, carrying a beautifully arranged bouquet in his hands that reminded me of the flowers he’d helped Hank pick out for me last night.
“Hey!” His eyes lit up. “How’d the big date go?”
“Really good.”
I grinned, probably looking like a love-struck fool. Maverick laughed. “Wow, looks like it.”
“I just stopped by to thank you.”
“Thank me?”
“For helping Hank with the flowers. It was a really sweet touch.”
“Ah, that was all him.” Maverick opened a cooler door and placed the bouquet inside before coming over to me. “You got a good one, Jamie. I can see how much he cares.”
“Yeah. I still can’t believe it. I was all set to pine quietly forever.”
Maverick chuckled. “Well, thank goodness that didn’t happen. You deserve someone who loves you.”
“Yeah.” I sucked in a breath. “It’s just all happening so fast. I get nervous that it’ll disappear the second my back is turned.”
Maverick’s eyes softened. “I was worried when Damon and I first hooked up, too.”
“Yeah.”
“But you and Hank have such a great foundation of friendship. I really don’t think you have anything to worry about. As long as you’re talking about everything and making sure you’re on the same page?”
I nodded. “We are. I don’t want to ask too much and frustrate him. He says he’s into me.”
Maverick grasped my arms and gave me a little shake. “Then he’s into you! Be happy!”
I laughed. “I am. It’s just a little surreal.”
He suddenly pinched my arm, making me yelp. “Ow! What the—”
“It’s not a dream,” he said with a big smile. “You got your man. Stop wasting time worrying and enjoy it.”
“Okay, I will.”
He nodded. “Good. And if it doesn’t work out, Silas and I will kick his ass for you.”
“Aw, you say the sweetest things.”
“I know. I’m the best.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll update Silas. You know he’ll want to pick out an ass-kicking outfit, just in case.”
I rolled my eyes. “No one’s going to kick Hank’s ass. He’s huge.”
“Oh, is he?” Maverick said, eyes sparkling. “Just how huge are we talking?”
“Maverick!” I exclaimed with a laugh. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Aw, too bad.”
“I didn’t say he was small either,” I said. “He’s…proportional.”
He grinned. “Then I am very happy for you, friend.”
“You sound like Silas.”
“He’s not here, so I had to play all the friend parts.”
I laughed. “You should have gone into theater.”
“My mother tells me that all the time.”
“I bet she does.” I checked the time on my phone. “I’ve got to get to work. Catch you later?”
“Drinks tonight to celebrate?”
“I’ve already got plans with Hank.”
“Oh, I see how it is,” he said as I pushed the door open. “Keep Friday open for Happy Hour, at least. We need details!”
“I will. Promise!”
Granville was a small town, and the flower shop wasn’t far from Darling Dish Catering, so I made it over there in less than five minutes.
“Jamie, I was just about to call you,” Marissa said when she saw me.
Her tone sounded like anything but good news.
“What is it?”
She threw up her hands. “Theo quit! We’ve got a wedding consult tomorrow, an engagement party this weekend, and that bridezilla wedding the month after next. I don’t know what to do!”
Well, shit. I knew my fantastic day couldn’t keep going so well, but did it have to turn upside down so quickly?
The last thing I wanted was to deal with a Marissa meltdown while covering for our missing staff. I wanted out of this job, not even more pressure to fill all the gaps.