Epilogue
Two Months Later
D ANIEL STOOD OUT on the balcony overlooking the afternoon joggers running along the beach, took a deep breath of the salty fresh air, and thought, Best decision ever.
It’d been two months since he’d walked into his office at Leighton & Associates and handed them his official resignation. Which also meant it had been two months since they’d set him up in their brand-new office in Florida: Leighton, Finley & Associates.
He still couldn’t believe that instead of chewing him out that day, Todd had asked Daniel how he would feel about coming on board and helping them expand their business down south.
Ahh, pretty fucking happy, thank you very much.
Now, there he was, first day on the job in his office overlooking one of the most beautiful views in Florida.
The most beautiful being the view out of Brantley’s— Brantley’s and my —beach house. He still couldn’t believe he was back there permanently—and that Moira had up and moved right along with him. It seemed she had been serious about visiting the beach.
“You know, I knew your fancy ass would wind up back here. Couldn’t resist the sun, the waves, and the hot bodies parading up and down the beach all day.”
Daniel turned and saw Derek strolling toward him before standing at the railing.
“About time you dropped by,” he said, looking out at the view in front of them.
“I told you I wouldn’t show my face until you apologized to me.”
Daniel rolled his eyes and turned toward his friend, whom he’d left a groveling voicemail message for. “I did, two months ago.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what? Avoiding me?”
Derek shrugged. “Family stuff… You know how it is at the Pearsons’. And I wasn’t avoiding you so to say…”
“Anything you need to talk about?”
“Nah. I got it all under control.”
“Okay, but if you need to?—”
“It’s cool, Finn. Don’t worry ’bout it.”
“Okay, okay. But as for the avoiding routine…you’re referring to the company I keep, right? So, are you avoiding Brantley, or?—”
“Let’s just say I think it would be wise if I visit with you here, just in case there are any?—”
“Unfortunate run-ins? You really can’t be in the same room as him? It’s that bad?”
“What can I say? Some men can’t keep their hands off me.”
Daniel scoffed and was about to answer when another voice chimed in with a similar opinion to his own.
“Or some men want to kill you with them.”
Brantley, looking preppy and polished in his pressed pants and his polo shirt, must’ve come directly from the school as he stepped through the French doors and walked directly over.
“Afternoon, professor,” Daniel said as Brantley wrapped an arm around him and kissed his cheek in a familiar greeting that made Daniel’s heart thump and his cock twitch. The guy had complete control over both.
“Afternoon,” Brantley said with a smile. Then he turned toward Derek. “Mr. Pearson.”
“Hey, professor.”
“You can call me Brantley, you know.”
“ Yeah … That’d be weird,” Derek said with a laugh. “Especially considering you were my professor and all. I’m still adjusting.”
“Don’t be offended,” Daniel assured Brantley. Then he whispered in his ear, “Some students are slower learners than others.”
“Fuck off,” Derek grumbled as he made his way back toward the doors. “I’ll leave you two to, you know…christen the office or something. Don’t be a stranger, Danny boy. You could do with a little bench-pressing in your life.”
Taking immediate offense, Daniel looked down at his arms. “The fuck I could.”
“Nah… But it would be nice to see your face regularly.”
“Then you should stop by the house,” Brantley suggested with a smile.
But Derek grimaced and shook his head.
“Why not? It’s Daniel’s house too?—”
They answered in unison.
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s Jordan.”
Brantley looked back and forth between them. “Will one of you please tell me what is going on there? Jordan won’t say a word. Which is totally unlike him.”
Derek pointed a finger at him and said, “You promised.”
“I know. I know.”
His friend glared at him so hard that Daniel couldn’t help making a dramatic show of zipping his lips closed.
“Do not say a word.”
Brantley shook his head. “It really can’t be that bad.”
“I’m leaving now,” Derek announced. “Keep your mouth shut, Finn.”
“But what use will I be to him then?” Daniel joked.
Derek flipped him off and stormed out of the office.
Daniel drew Brantley back between his legs and kissed him, as he leaned against the railing. With the sun starting to set and the waves crashing behind them, he closed his eyes and thought that life had a funny way of giving you exactly what you needed. Exactly when you needed it.
“Brantley?”
“Hmm.”
Daniel lowered his mouth to his ear, kissed it gently, and then smiled. “I love my teacher.”
Brantley turned to look at him and took his mouth in a sweet, sweet kiss. When he released him, he winked and patted him on the chest. “I know. And he loves you,” he said.
And those six words forever changed the course of his life.