Krewe Daddy (7 page)

"Another minute and he'd have done the job, too." Sniffling, Sapphire flicked away a tear with his thumb. "I think you should move to Redding and work with Kevin and Teak."

"And do what? Learn how to make picture frames?" Drew had become so relaxed, his voice sounded more like a yawn. "Anyway, back to the horses—I'm an accomplished rider. I won't do anything strenuous, like a full gallop, but I'll be fine for a few action shots. Stop your worrying, Sapphire, I know how to get off a horse if I need to. I can come back here to work out any kinks, if I get them. I'll be fine."

"This guy really messed you up, huh?"

"He was a big man, whacked out on drugs. Going to jail wasn't in his plans, but they are now."

Sapphire looked at his watch. "We're due in the salon for a haircut."

Drew propped up on his elbows. "Trim, you mean."

Sapphire wiggled his eyebrows. "That, too. A bit of manscaping is included this afternoon."

"No wax. I hate that. Hurts like a son of a bitch, and a couple days later, it itches like one, too."

Drew rolled to his side and swung his legs off the table. The greedy look in Sapphire's eyes and the flick of his tongue across his lower lip didn't escape Drew. He covered his hips with a towel as he got to his feet.

The masseur held a plush robe for him to wear.

The towel fell to Drew's ankles as he slid into the warmed robe. And that hungry look was still in Sapphire's eyes when Drew turned to face him again.

Flip-flops on Drew's feet made soft, snapping sounds as he walked to the adjoining salon. Sapphire was behind him, and Drew could feel the heat of his gaze.

This wasn't the first time Sapphire had molested him with his eyes, and Drew knew it wouldn't be the last. As long as he didn't do more than ogle, Drew kept his mouth shut.

After all, he'd done the same thing many times, too.

A slender woman with jet-black hair greeted them at the salon door. "You must be Drew. I'm Cassie. Welcome." She extended her hand and a warm smile. "Are you ready for some personal attention?"

"Do your best, hun, this one's special."

Cassie smiled at Sapphire. "We're happy to take care of all the gentlemen in Mr.

Marks' group." She held open the door to a private room. "Right in here."

"Mind if I join you?" Hope filled Sapphire's eyes.

"How about after all the razoring is done? You can come in for the haircut, or trim, whatever you want to call it," Drew said.

Sapphire's mouth turned down in a frown.

"Come on, don't be hurt. I'd like a little privacy, that's all. If I'm going to shed tears of pain, I don't need witnesses."

"I can hold your hand."

If it was possible to have eyes scream
you gotta be kidding me
, Cassie's were.

"Please, Sapphire, go read a magazine or stretch out somewhere for a half hour.

Cassie will come and get you the minute she's done."

He hung his head and left.

Cassie shut the door. "Okay, Drew, what are we doing for you this afternoon?"

"Just clean me up a little bit. No wax. I hate that shit, and I would be crying if you used it. I had my junk waxed once, and I nearly popped a vein trying not to scream."

Cassie chuckled. "Got ya. Seems none of the guys here like waxing. Except for eyebrows. Sapphire loved having that done."

Now it was Drew's turn to laugh.

"Take off your robe, and let's get you stretched out here to see what needs doing."

Always self-conscious in front of women, Drew felt his face turn fifty shades of red hot as he disrobed. He settled himself onto the padded table, and put the small towel over his groin. Every time he had this work done, he pretended he was at the dentist getting his teeth cleaned. Until the stylist touched his dick. Then all bets were off.

"Tell me how you like being trimmed." Cassie's tone was completely professional, which put Drew a bit more at ease.

By my own hand, in the can, at my place, with nobody looking at or touching me unless I
ask
.
"
Trim my underarm hair to an inch and a half. Shorter than that and it looks stupid.

And it prickles." Drew used the same tone he used for giving the barista his coffee order.

She nodded.

"If you think my chest needs trimming, okay, but I don't want to be shaved bare.

There, or anywhere else, for that matter. Give me a little definition by shortening things up. Same with this." Drew ran his finger from his navel to the blond thatch of pubic hair. "I like this treasure trail, and so does my boyfriend."
Oh fuck, did I just say that?

Her cheeks reddened.

"Sorry."

Cassie cleared her throat. "It's okay. We usually don't have a lot of men in here so

. . . please go on."

"I know Kevin isn't planning full frontal shots, so I don't need my junk trimmed at all. Sapphire would disagree, but he's not in charge of that part. Just the rest of me."

Drew finished with a grin.

She smiled back at him. "If you don't mind my saying, I think you'll look great, and it sucks that the hunks are always gay." Grinning, Cassie wiggled her eyebrows.

"Would you like to go to your happy place while I work?"

Drew accepted a pair of ear buds. "I was hoping you'd say that."

"Relax, and I'll be done in no time."

Fifteen minutes later, Cassie held an eight-by-ten-inch mirror for Drew to inspect her handiwork.

"Looks good."

"No offense, but I think you'd be happier with a little trimming down there, too."

She pointed to his crotch.

Drew rolled his eyes. "Why?"

"If you wear a low-cut pair of pants or underwear, there's going to be a noticeable difference between your stomach and groin. Your call, but that's my opinion."

Drew really wished he could have avoided a full trim. He puffed out his cheeks, then let out a pent-up breath. "Okay, Luis will probably love it."

"Luis is your boyfriend?"

Drew tensed. "Did I say Luis?"

She nodded.

His mind played hide-and-seek with plausible explanations for his Freudian slip.

Drew lay back on the table. When she removed the thin towel separating Drew from complete nakedness, his body wasn't the only part of him experiencing a new vulnerability. He hadn't even been thinking about Luis. Much.

Cassie put on a pair of latex gloves and picked up the shaver again.

"Ready?"

Drew nodded. He tried ignoring the warm hand on his dick, the latex feeling a lot like a condom, and images of what Luis' expression might be when he saw him naked again. The moment was rife with embarrassment.

Cassie, her face a beautiful shade of pink, worked in silence.

He concentrated on taking out the trash, polishing his dress shoes, ironing his clothes. Scrubbing the goddamn toilet. Anything to keep his dick soft and his mind a hundred thousand miles away from Luis.

I have to get this situation cleared up once and for all. I'm so sick of it I could puke.

* * * * *

That evening, Drew arrived for dinner promptly at 7:00 p.m. A hostess led him to the private dining room Kevin reserved for their group. Familiar voices and laughter made Drew smile, and distanced him from all the awkward crap that had happened at the salon.

Teak stood and smiled the second Drew walked in.
Damn, that man gets more
beautiful every time I see him.

They joined in a bear hug at the end of table.

Teak clapped Drew on the back. "It's good to see you. Kevin and I were really worried about you."

Before Drew could say anything, Kevin was behind Teak, smiling just as broadly.

Drew traded one man for the other. "I'm glad to be here. Kevin, how are you?"

"Better, now that I see you." Kevin pulled back from the embrace. "Come and sit down. We were just about to have another round of oh-be-joyful."

Drew screwed up his face. "Oh, be what?"

Teak flashed one of his million-dollar smiles at Drew. "Drinks. We're celebrating tonight."

The glimmer in Teak's eyes made Drew wonder what the occasion was.

Kevin pointed to the vacant chair next to Teak. "Have a seat. I believe you know everyone else."

Drew nodded and took a moment to shake hands with the other four guys at the table and give Sapphire his requisite hug.

Blair winked at him, a lazy grin playing on his lips. "Good to see you again, man.

I've been looking forward to it."

Drew and Blair had worked together a few times before and had become lovers.

Drew had even flown to Northern California to spend the weekend with him. The memories were good ones, but the timing couldn't be worse, if Blair had ideas about a sexy reunion. Drew sat down, wondering how his life had gotten so messy, so fast.

The wait staff arrived with bottles of champagne.

When the glasses were filled, Kevin stood and raised his.

"Tonight we're celebrating the fourth anniversary of the
Woodlands Collection
.

What began as a few casual shots of Teak and Drew has grown into a fantastic business.

We've made friends, had fun, and sold a hell of a lot of photos. Last year was extremely profitable."

Drew and the other guests joined in Kevin's laughter.

"Raise your glass and say
cheers
with me."

The sound of clinking glasses and murmurs of the word of echoed around the table.

Drew took a sip of his bubbly, not really caring for the taste of the dry champagne.

Kevin remained standing, glass poised in the air for another toast.

"We're celebrating another important event tonight, too." He nodded at Teak.

"Would you please stand?" Kevin grasped his hand.

Sensing what would come next, Drew sucked in his breath.
It's actually gonna
happen.

"This man changed my life. He gave me purpose and direction, when I wondered which way to turn." Kevin looked into Teak's eyes and a silent conversation happened in a place where only soul mates meet. "You supported my decisions about business, and made me fall so head over heels in love that I can't imagine waking up without you next to me. You've become my partner in every sense of the word."

Teak looked a bit embarrassed about Kevin's public declarations.

Kevin seemed to understand Teak's anxiety. "Bear with me one minute longer, will you?"

Teak shrugged. "Do I have a choice? You've got the floor and my hand."

Drew and the rest of his tablemates laughed.

"Teak and I are thrilled to announce we're getting married."

Warmth flooded Drew's face. He couldn't have been happier. He applauded their decision without reservation or jealousy.

Kevin looked at Drew. "Since you're the guy who brought us both together, we'd like you to be our best man when we have our commitment ceremony in Wescott.

You're going to have to brave a Minnesota winter one more time, because Maddy has agreed to host us the second weekend in December. What do you say, Drew?"

The request flabbergasted Drew.

Teak urged a reply. "Is that a yes or a no?"

Drew pushed to his feet.

"It's a hell yeah!" He put his arms around them and spoke from his heart.

"Congratulations. I'm so happy for you. I'm honored, and wouldn't miss the wedding for anything."

Across the table, Sapphire dabbed his eyes with a lace handkerchief while looking in a compact mirror.

"I've been feeling guilty about all the great winter clothing you always give us, Kevin. Now I have an excuse to wear it. All of it. At once."

Blair gave Drew a verbal nudge. "Ah, come on, Wescott can't be that bad."

Teak's laugh was humorless. "You can drive across Burnwall Lake to get to the ceremony, it's so cold, Blair. If Maddy wasn't my best friend—besides Kevin, of course—there'd be no chance I'd ever go back there in the winter. The place has a climate like Siberia, and that's no shit."

Blair raised his eyebrows. "Move the ceremony someplace warmer, and fly Maddy down."

Kevin answered without hesitation. "We met in Wescott, and our best memories are there. We want to start the most important chapter, our future, there, too."

Sapphire uttered a loud sob.

Drew and the rest of the group turned their heads toward him.

Sapphire held up his hand, signaling he was okay.

"Sorry. You two are just so cute. I love you both so much." He dissolved in another round of noisy tears.

Teak brought the conversation back on point. He put his hand on Drew's shoulder. "I'm sending you a wardrobe of designer silk underwear to help keep you warm under your tuxedo."

Enjoying the chance to give Teak and Kevin a hard time, Drew painted on an expression of uncertainty.

Kevin offered another bribe. "Maddy is making pasties."

"Sold!" Drew broke into hearty laughter. "I expect to get a cooler full of them shipped home, too. I bet Maddy appreciates the business since her two best customers moved out of Dodge."

Teak nodded. "She still works like a fiend, but the pasties were her idea. We're not having a huge guest list, and we're keeping it out the media as much as possible, so I didn't feel too bad about putting her through all that trouble."

"I thought you might have the party at your cabin, Kevin."

A lazy smile spread on Kevin's lips. "That's where the honeymoon is going to be."

Laughing, Drew picked up his glass. "I'd like to offer a toast." He waited until everyone was ready. "To Teak and Kevin, my best friends. I wish you all the happiness in the world." He raised his glass higher. "Hear, hear!"

* * * * *

After dinner, Drew went outside to get some fresh air. Moths swirled around the lights on the wooden, wrap-around porch. He avoided the pesky insects by walking to the far corner, out of their flight path.

He propped a booted foot on the porch railing and inhaled autumn's crisp air.

The look in Teak's eyes when Kevin announced their marriage was one Drew would never forget. He'd never seen so much love, and he sent up a silent prayer that nothing and no one ever steal what they'd found together.