The Christmas Deal

Her eyes went wide for a moment as she and Seth stared at each other, and then she slapped on a fake-looking smile and called, “Oh my God, is that you, Seth?”

Seth dropped Logan’s arm like it was burning and laughed shakily, calling back, “Hi, Bethany. Joe.” He paused as the other people looked over. “Brandon.”

Oh fuck. Logan wasn’t sure which of the three men was Brandon, but he assumed it was one of the guys who immediately linked hands and put on bullshit smiles. The two couples approached, Seth still frozen beside Logan, his breath clouding the frosty air in shallow bursts.

He looked scared shitless, and Logan wondered if he’d looked like that himself in the garage when he couldn’t breathe. Fuck, he hated when he was like that—so helpless and…bare. Seth had been good to him, and seeing his fear now, Logan wanted to protect him.

Hell, they were supposed to be pretending to be engaged—that was the deal, wasn’t it? Might as well get in some practice.

He slung his arm around Seth’s shoulders, squeezing when he felt how Seth was trembling. This breakup had kicked Seth in the nuts, and Logan wasn’t going to let any shit-brick ex make him feel worse. In a world full of assholes, Seth was good.

Putting on his own bullshit smile, Logan said, “Hey there!” He stuck out his free right hand to the closest guy. “Logan Derwood. Seth’s boyfriend.”

The man’s eyebrows shot up so far they might never come back down. He looked between Logan and Seth, his smile faltering. “Oh! Wow! Uh, hi.” He had to let go of his boyfriend’s hand to shake Logan’s. “Brandon Templeton.”

Logan squeezed. Hard. “Great to meet you.” He let his eyes drop down over Brandon—short, teeth too big for his mouth, and one of those bushy beards that must be making up for a small dick.

Then he looked away dismissively, moving on to shake the hand of Brandon’s boyfriend, Peter—thick neck, probably took steroids but could kick Logan’s ass—and the male/female couple whose names Logan forgot as soon as he heard them.

Brandon gave Seth an uneasy smile. “Babe, I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone.”

What an asshole. He had no right to call Seth any names like that—and right in front of Logan! The fucking nerve. Sure, they were fake boyfriends, but Brandon didn’t know that. Seth was rigid against Logan’s side, and Logan willed him to unclench.

“Uh-huh,” Seth managed, his voice higher than Logan had heard it.

“That’s great, babe.” Brandon tilted his head and touched his hand to his chest. “I’m so happy for you.”

Would Seth be mad if Logan punched the condescending prick? Logan wished he was a better actor. He couldn’t think of anything to say that wasn’t telling Brandon, his hipster beard, and tiny dick where they could go.

But it got easier when Seth exhaled and slipped his arm around Logan’s waist. Maybe it should have felt weird, but it was reassuring. They were faking this together.

Seth said, “I’m happy for us too,” his voice calmer.

Act like Seth’s your boyfriend!

Logan tried to think of something cheesy and in-love sounding. He went with “Me, three,” and leaned close and pressed a slow kiss to Seth’s smooth cheek, just the hint of five o’clock shadow under his lips.

He made it a lingering kiss—a kiss promising more once they were alone. A tremor vibrated through Seth, and he turned his head to meet Logan’s gaze.

His blue eyes were dark, and he licked his lips. Logan looked down at the movement and then back into Seth’s eyes, a bolt of lust shooting to his balls and waking up his dick.

Whoa.

The woman laughed awkwardly. “Well, I guess we should leave you lovebirds to it!”

Tearing his eyes away from Seth’s, Logan looked at her like she was incredibly boring, which she probably was. “I guess you should.” He didn’t even glance at the others as he strode forward with Seth at his side, forcing them to move out of the way or be stomped on by his combat boots.

He could feel them watching—the back of his neck practically sizzled with it—and he knew they were whispering even though he and Seth were too far away now to hear. It was in the air, swirling with the snow.

Seth matched his strides, arm snug around Logan’s waist. “Wow.”

“Oh, look, pookie—that kind of chair would be perfect for our new table,” Logan said, stopping in front of a furniture shop’s window. He added under his breath, “Smile and play along, but don’t look back, whatever you do.”

“That is a great chair!” Seth exclaimed, pointing at it. He whispered, “You think they’re still watching?”

“You bet your ass they’re watching.” He needed to do something else a boyfriend would do, so he brushed some fresh snow from Seth’s dark hair. He leaned in and murmured, “Think I should grab your ass?”