Put a Ring on It (20 page)

Of course, Theo had been a big help with that. He’d asked Bubbe to be the first to look at the ketubah, and she’d had to wipe her teary eyes before she put on her glasses. “This one”—she’d grabbed Theo’s face in both hands—“will never go hungry. He could charm the fish from the sea onto his plate.”

“We’re still going with cream and silver, right?” Theo called over from where he stood in conference with the wedding coordinator.

“Yes.” Kieran didn’t really care what color anything was, but Theo had kept his promise and been scrupulous about including Kieran in every decision.

Kieran stared out from the terrace at the dark ocean full of safe-for-the-moment fish and sucked in another deep breath. The rich scent of growing things, sweet flowers, and fresh seawater sent messages to Kieran’s brain that it was okay to relax and slow down. Instead of watery eyes and sneezes, the flowers here only provoked a vague tickle. He wasn’t taking his chances with a lei, though. He had plans for Theo that wouldn’t be much fun with sinuses full of snot.

Assuming Kieran ever got Theo alone. They’d met with the wedding coordinator and TV producer for a couple of hours after they got here, then broke for dinner with his family, Brett, and Vanessa. Now they were getting part two of the tour, with just Nalani, the wedding coordinator.

At least the McMann guy wasn’t here to set Theo’s teeth on edge.

Theo left Nalani and walked the length of the Sunset Terrace back to Kieran. “It’s not in the package, but I’d like to have a kind of rehearsal cocktail reception here tomorrow night. Give people a chance to relax and get to know each other.”

The green smell of the air hadn’t slowed Theo’s energy at all, but it had replaced the tension Kieran had seen in him the last week with the usual Theo smiles.

Kieran eyed the long formal dining table, envisioning himself trapped between Theo’s antitradition friend, Dane, and Kieran’s reformed hippy grandmother.

Theo followed his gaze and said, “No, smaller tables. A bar over there. Waiters, so no line at the buffet.”

Waiters, and no doubt an open bar. Kieran had seen the prices for add-ons. It was one thing sticking it to the guy who’d almost broken them up, but Theo spending his own money made Kieran sweat despite the cool breezes coming off the ocean. He knew it had been hard for Theo to settle on a ring Kieran could afford.

“That seems like a lot of extra,” Kieran said.

“Me paying for it means that the camera people can’t be there.” Theo slung an arm around Kieran’s shoulders.

“Should have led with that. Okay, then. Maybe Finn will make it in time.”

“I’m sorry they couldn’t leave today. I’m looking forward to meeting your brother.” Theo threaded his fingers through Kieran’s hair.

The touch worked better than the smell, sending waves of calm to the nerves that had started to prickle along his neck and shoulders, the dread bringing sweat to his palms. Nothing could really be this perfect; even in fairy tales there was always a price.

Nalani looked up from her tablet and came to meet them with an expectant look.

“We’re going to do the rehearsal reception,” Theo confirmed.

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It will make everyone feel like old friends by the time of the ceremony.”

The wedding.
I’m going to be married in less than forty-eight hours.
Barbed wire wrapped around his shoulders until Theo’s fingers drifted through his hair again. Kieran took another deep breath of Maui. This was just the wrapping paper. The real stuff was inside. How they felt and the proof they’d have that it mattered in a way no one could deny.

“I think that’s it unless you have any questions?” Nalani looked just as fresh as she had when she’d greeted them six hours ago, introducing herself with, “My name means calm and tranquil, and that’s what I am here to make sure you feel on your special day.” From someone else, that would have earned an eye roll, but her smile and confidence made it impossible not to believe her.

“No.” Kieran just managed to smother the yawn that tried to escape with the word. It was after 1:00 a.m. New York time.

Theo squeezed him in a one-armed hug.

“If anything comes up, you have my number.” Nalani began tapping on her tablet as soon as she stepped away.

Theo wrapped himself around Kieran from behind. “You ready for bed, baby?”

The words tickled Kieran’s ear and brain and balls. He wasn’t that tired. Especially since they hadn’t had sex for six days.

Kieran turned inside Theo’s arms. “Ready is definitely on the table. And bed.”

Theo laughed and shifted to grab Kieran’s hand, then led him back toward the resort’s lobby.

“Found him,” a voice called from behind them.

Then they were surrounded.

Well, Theo was. Kieran found himself pushed to the outside of the circle of guys hugging his boyfriend.

“Ice on the wings. Missed the connection.”

“Told you we should have flown nonstop.”

“The hell I’m staying on a plane for eleven fucking hours.” Gideon looked over Theo’s shoulder at Kieran, an unmistakable warning in the stare.

Right. Now he had to pretend he hadn’t met Gideon, had never heard them talk about Theo and his exes.

“I’m just glad you made it. Wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“Well, we’re already behind, so let’s get this bachelor thing rolling.” That was the actor, Jax. Close up, he was gorgeous, the kind of insanely good-looking human thing that got noticed anywhere. Tall and lean muscled, shown off in jeans and a tight-fitting shirt, gleaming white teeth and twinkly blue eyes under brown hair. Christ. He even had deep masculine dimples when he smiled.

“I told you guys, no strippers.” Theo slipped free of the arm Jax had around his neck.

“Hey, now, if you’re going to try to blend in with all the trappings of heteronormalcy, you’ve got to get in one last debauchery.” That was from the blond, Dane. Kieran hadn’t gotten much of a look at him in the cafe, beyond noting the dirty blond curls that gave him a surfer look. His face was tan, and the creases at his eyes made him look like he laughed a lot.

“Why? Is your fiancé the jealous type?” Gideon, of all of them, knew Kieran was standing right-the-fuck there. Though he could have been a cardboard cutout for all the attention Theo had paid Kieran since these three showed up.

Kieran decided he hated them all.

“Jeez, were they serving bitter instead of whiskey on the plane, G? I think he wanted a head start.” Jax directed the last at Theo.

“He does hate to lose,” Theo agreed. “Oh shit. Guys, this is Kieran.”

At least he rated an
oh shit
as an afterthought.

“Kieran, these are my friends, Jax, Dane, and Gideon.”

Jax offered a hand and that I’m-a-star grin. “I’m sure Theo’s told you all about us.”

“Actually, no.” Kieran shook Jax’s hand while Jax’s mouth hung open.

“Kieran. At last.” Dane didn’t bother with a handshake. He gave Kieran a full body hug. Dane’s dark earth aftershave and something about the feel of his body went straight to the limbic part of Kieran’s brain to remind him of what he’d wanted to do to Theo when they were finally alone. Kieran returned the embrace, half-embarrassed, half-amused, like he’d tripped in front of other people but managed to avoid going flat on his face.

Dane sighed in Kieran’s ear, a long
mmmm
sound, and then stepped back. “Yeah, Theo. I like him.”

Kieran clenched his jaw. Despite Dane’s friendliness, he felt like a dog being examined by the judges at Westminster to see if he met the standards of the breed. Any moment Theo would offer Kieran a treat and parade him on the leash.

“Gideon.” Dane elbowed the third man.

“Kieran.” Gideon nodded.

“Don’t mind him,” Jax said. “Since Theo didn’t tell you much about us, I’ll let you know that G’s about as friendly as a rattlesnake. And about as deadly if you’re not on his side. It’s kind of why we love him.”

“Because every story needs a snake in the garden?” Dane murmured.

“I think that’s your role.” Jax bumped Dane’s shoulder. “Your snake has been in everyone’s garden.”

“Not mine,” Theo put in firmly.

“So, Kieran, hope you don’t mind if we borrow your fiancé for a few hours.” Jax draped his arm around Theo’s shoulders. “You’re going to have him for the next fifty years or so.”

“Be my guest.” There wasn’t much else Kieran could say.

FIFTY YEARS?
Kieran would be lucky if he made it fifty hours without losing his shit. This was why a wedding was such a bad idea. The people. People not Theo and Kieran.

He went in from the terrace, and Brett waved at him from the Mapuna Bar. A decorative waterfall ran down the side of some lava rocks at one end, cutting down on the sound of voices until he got closer.

“Where’s Theo?” Brett made a face as Kieran pushed in closer to the waterfall in the corner, forcing Brett and Vanessa each down a seat.

Kieran tried to avoid making the same face as he considered the answer. “His friends showed up and are doing some kind of bachelor party thing.”

“Should I have done that? Since Finn isn’t here yet?”

“Nope. I’m good without a hangover.” Besides, Kieran figured one of them ought to be functioning tomorrow.

“You just missed your wedding planner.” Brett nodded at the lobby doors.

“Lucky me.”

“She hit on Vanessa.”

Kieran was glad Brett had brought his roommate, Vanessa, along as his plus one. She had the kind of dry humor Kieran appreciated without being dramatic like Brett.

Kieran leaned forward around Brett.

“Lucky you.”

Vanessa sighed. “She’s gorgeous. Just my luck I’m not bi.”

“Well, I’m glad you aren’t. Because someone besides me has to be all single and sad at the wedding.” Brett swiveled on his barstool.

The bartender decided Kieran’s leaning in meant he was desperate for a drink. “What can I get you?”

Kieran opened his mouth to say
nothing
, but Brett jumped in. “He’ll have one of these.”

Kieran looked from the unnaturally bright blue drinks in front of Vanessa and Brett to Brett’s face.

“C’mon. You have to have one. It’s a Blue Hawai-i-i.” Brett drew it out in his Elvis voice.

If Kieran had grown up knowing he would never match the impossibly high expectations of his parents, Brett had grown up knowing his mom would always love Elvis more than anything else in life. Not for Brett’s lack of trying. He had a killer Elvis impersonation.

“I promise to drink it if you promise to stop singing immediately.”

Brett had turned to Vanessa to continue his croon. The bartender stepped away to the blender, and Brett spun back to Kieran, altering the lyrics. “Lovely you, will have to drink two Blue Hawai-i-is.”

“Deal.”

“But if they play it I have to sing along.”

“If you understand that will put you on the list of people I’m planning to kill later.”

“Who’s at the top?” Vanessa licked off her pineapple spear.

“Theo?” Brett suggested.

He had been, for a brief moment after he’d left Kieran standing alone while he went off with the guys. But no. Theo wasn’t at the top. Not Gideon with his snide looks. Or even Casey McMann and his TV crew.

“Martin. Theo’s business manager.”

Brett rocked his chair in time with the slow ukulele chords from a hidden speaker. “He’s been on the list before,” he explained to Vanessa. “Martin makes Theo’s workaholic tendencies look like a kid playing office.”

“He’s the one who set Theo up on
The Casey McMann Show
in the first place. So this is all on his head.”

“So he’s who I should blow to thank for my trip from the slushy streets of New York to beautiful Maui?”

“Ooo. Does he like boys or girls?” Vanessa wanted to know.

“He’s never stopped trying to make lots of money long enough for me to notice.”

“But he has money, right?”

“I think he owns thirty percent of Theo’s production company.” Kieran shrugged and took the umbrella out of the drink the bartender put in front of him. “But if you guys want to keep me out of prison by trying to seduce him, I would so owe you.”

“I’m on it.” Brett lifted his glass, and Kieran and Vanessa tapped it. “I’ll follow your example and marry for money.”

Maybe Brett was kidding, but Kieran was past sick of that joke. “I am not marrying him for his fucking money.
I
asked for a prenup.”

Prenup, marriage, wedding. Words that three weeks ago only happened to other people. But that had been Kieran in the lawyer’s office signing and initialing at every bright little flag, despite the drafting lawyer encouraging him to have his own
legal counsel
take a look at the contract first.

“Tell me you got your own lawyer.”

Kieran choked on the sweet, rummy drink. “That’s exactly what Finn said.”

“’Cause your brother is actually smart.”

“You’re encouraging me to be cynical now? To take what I can get?”

Brett paused to slurp up the last of his Blue Hawaii. “I’m just trying to figure out why I’m in friggin’ Maui to celebrate a happy-ever-after for the biggest pessimist I have ever met.”

“I’m not a pessimist. The world just sucks.”

“Amen.” Vanessa lifted her glass.

Kieran clinked it, surprised to see he’d drunk almost all of it.

“Don’t let him out of the answer.” Brett separated their glasses. “If you didn’t want to do this, think it’s all going to shit, what are we doing here?”

“Not that we’re complaining about the trip,” Vanessa put in.

Kieran spun his umbrella on its top, trying to trap it upright with a finger on the toothpick point. The bartender wasn’t holding back on the rum, and the task was harder than it should have been. Kind of like everything in life.

Getting stupidly philosophical about shit was why he didn’t like to drink much. Did straight people get asked endlessly about why they wanted to get married, or did everyone take it for granted?

“Because of you,” he said at last.

“Me?” Brett spread his fingers like a spider on his chest. “Like because of how you guys met?”