Epilogue
JULIAN
ONE MONTH LATER
Isighed, standing at the sliding glass doors of my home, the one I now shared with the love of my life, scanning the sparkling lights below.
Christmas lights adorned some of the houses and buildings, making the view more festive than usual.
I sipped the last of my red wine, thinking about the crazy month we’d shared.
Alex had moved out of his house but had left most of his furniture there.
After doing the research, it made sense for him to use it as a VRBO rental for extra income.
When major events were in town, like the Phoenix Open or the Barrett Jackson car show, he could get top dollar for it.
We could also stay there ourselves when it wasn’t rented if we wanted a quiet and peaceful getaway. We had the best of both worlds.
I glanced toward the hallway to the bedroom.
He was taking forever to dress for our night out.
Our dinner reservations at Olive and Ivy were in fifteen minutes.
As my gaze returned to the view and the waterfront below, my mind replayed meeting Alex’s mother and sister via FaceTime on Thanksgiving.
I’d never been more nervous in my life, but Tanya made me feel at home.
His mother was very polite, but very reserved.
Alex had assured me it was the Russian way.
But the best part? I’d learned his Russian nickname was Lyosha.
“I’m ready.” Alex strolled in from the hallway, a thin gray turtleneck showing off his amazing muscles under a black sports jacket that was paired with designer jeans.
“Lyosha, you look amazing.” I strode to him, threw my arms around his shoulders and planted a hard kiss on his lips.
“You’re going to keep doing that, aren’t you?” He swayed me in his arms, smiling from ear to ear.
“Only when it’s just you and me.” I stepped back and set my empty wineglass on the kitchen island. “Come on, we need to hurry.” Grasping his hand, I led him to the front door. We had two full days together, and we’d make the most of them.
After strolling down the sidewalk, past the strings of lights on the sides of buildings and even in the palm trees, we stepped inside Olive and Ivy. I’d reserved a table by the windows overlooking the patio and waterfront walkway. It would be too cold to eat outside.
The hostess seated us, and I dropped into a round-backed wicker chair. “So, we need to be at Mom and Dad’s by six on Christmas Eve.” I picked up my menu and examined the holiday specials.
“Do you want to stay at my place since it’s so close to their house? I don’t think it’s rented yet.” He sipped from his water glass.
“If it’s not rented by now, it probably won’t be.” I set my menu down. I would get my favorite ravioli dish. Why mess with a good thing? “So, yeah, then we’ll be closer.”
The server stopped by the table, and we ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir to share.
“Have you heard from Ian lately?” Alex unrolled his silverware from his linen napkin.
“Not for at least two weeks.” I smirked. “Funny how he’s staying away now that we’re living together.” Though with my travel schedule I had little time for him. “We may see Chad at the Velvet Spur later, though.” Alex had yet to meet Chad.
“Oh? That’s the guy you were with when I first met you, right?” He leaned in and looked both ways. “You know, I’m a little nervous to go to this gay bar.”
It would be his first time. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” I patted his hand, resting on the table.
The server dropped off our wine and, after letting me taste it, poured our glasses, and then we ordered our meals.
I glanced out the window at the people strolling along the canal. “But first, we’ll walk the waterfront.” Not so long ago, I’d wished for someone to walk hand in hand with me there. Now that person sat in front of me, and nothing could stop us.
“Sure, whatever you want, babe.” With a sip of his wine, he waggled his brows.
While eating our delicious meal, I admired him. How had I gotten so lucky to call this handsome man my boyfriend? When dinner was over, we left through the restaurant’s back doors, meandered through the mostly empty patio tables and onto the waterfront walkway.
I clasped Alex’s hand, and we strolled side by side, enjoying the view. “What are you getting me for Christmas?”
“You’ll find out at Christmas when you’re supposed to.” With a sly grin, he kissed my knuckles. “This is beautiful, Julian. I love it here.”
I still didn’t know what I’d get him. Probably some expensive jewelry, something for him to wear so everyone would know he was taken. As we stepped toward the overlook, I pulled him toward it. “Come on, it’s really pretty here.”
Clomping behind me, he followed onto the curved structure.
My gaze ran along the colored lotus flowers in the water, glowing red, green, and blue for the holidays, their spouts of water making splashing noises.
He placed his hands on the railing on either side of me and nuzzled my ear. “You’re pretty. Hell, you’re the most attractive man I’ve ever met, Julian.”
Twisting in his arms, my gaze met his. “Yeah? So, you only want me for my looks?” I raised the edge of my mouth.
“No, I want you for your feisty personality, your amazing cock and your gorgeous face.” He shrugged. “One out of three—”
Covering his mouth with mine, I cupped his cheeks while I stood on my tiptoes and claimed him in a kiss full of all the love my heart could muster. This man was my entire world, and I knew I’d spend the rest of my life with him.
As the kiss broke, his pupils flared. “Damn, do we have to go to the gay bar? How about we just go home and—”
“No, you’re not getting out of it.” If I didn’t take him now, we might never go. “Come on.” After smacking his hard ass, I snatched his hand and led him toward Old Town and the Velvet Spur.
I led him to a nondescript, single-story building in white with a set of double black doors. Painted on the wall was the bar’s logo, a blend of rustic cowboy with mid-century modern in gold, holding a bull’s skull above and a saguaro cactus next to an agave in the corner.
It was still early, so there wasn’t a wait. “The place doesn’t get busy until ten.” I hauled him across a red carpet sprawled along the sidewalk and opened a door.
“Good, like I said, I’m a little nervous. Maybe next time we can bring the guys, huh?” He followed me inside.
The pounding beat thumped into my chest, and lights swirled overhead. They had the place jumping as if the sweaty, half-naked bodies to come already filled it. “Let’s grab a drink.” As I wound my gaze to his, I stopped.
With his mouth dropped open, his stare panned the room. “Wow, look at this place.” He peeked at me. “If anyone looks at you, I’ll deck them.”
“No, Lyosha, everyone looks at everyone here.” I chuckled. “Just relax and enjoy it.” Grabbing his chin, I planted a long kiss on his mouth. “You’re the only one I’ll be looking at. I’m all yours.”
“That’s right, you are.” He dragged me to the bar, spread along one black wall with cowhide stools and a black granite bar top that glowed purple underneath. “What do you want to drink?”
“Margarita. It’s their specialty.” Hell, it was a specialty in all the local bars. I scanned the room and spied a modern leather couch in a dark corner with a turn of the century triangular table in front of it. We’d sit there, and I’d let him scope the place out.
He ordered the drinks and handed me mine.
“Come on. Over here.” I led him to the couch, and we dropped onto it. “Well?” I held up my drink.
“To my first time in a gay bar?” As his lips quirked on one side, he tapped his glass on mine.
“I’m sure it won’t be the last.” We’d talked about inviting his friends, but tonight was supposed to be just for us. I sipped my drink, the sweet and sour mixing with the earthy taste of the tequila.
After drinking his margarita, he said, “Okay, this place is kind of cool. I like the décor, sort of an Urban Cowboy vibe.” He chuckled. “It’s nicer than I thought it would be.” He leaned in close to me, setting a hand on my thigh. “Sort of like you.”
I arched a brow. “Oh, really?” He had better be careful…
“Yeah. You know when you propositioned me in the washroom at Ocean Club and called me Daddy?” He took another sip of his drink.
My cheeks flamed. He had to bring this up now? “Yeah?” I’d been so stupid back then.
“Well, it sort of turned me on, and if my friends hadn’t been there, I probably would have accepted.” He waggled his brows.
“Really?” Scraping my teeth across my lower lip, I inched closer to his side. “I totally would have sucked you off.” My gaze fell to his mouth. “But we have all night to flirt, grind on the dancefloor and fuck when we get home.”
“Julian, we don’t fuck anymore.” He dropped his arm around my shoulders. “I mean, sure, we fuck. But…it’s love. We make love to each other. It’s special, it’s emotional, it’s—”
“Everything I’ve been looking for my entire life.” My heart flooded with emotion. He was right. We still lusted after each other, but our connection ran so much deeper.
“Yeah, that.” He gave me a warm grin and brushed his fingers across my shoulder. “I guess there never was a right girl for me, only the right guy.” He pressed a drawn-out kiss on my lips, bursting with the love we shared.
Philipe Gagnon has trained all summer to prove he belongs in the NHL, but he isn’t ready for Jacob Buchey—the defenseman who once kissed him, left him, and now stands between him and every puck flying toward his net.
Their second chance is messy, secret, and impossible to ignore, because saving the play is easy compared to saving the hearts they never stopped wanting.