Perfect Alignment (Thorne and Dash 3)

Marc whistled. “Wow. You’re both stunning.”

Darius smirked. “Of course they are.”

He walked around them, checking various things. Then he had both of them remove their jackets. “A few tweaks, and they’ll be ready. You can pick them up tomorrow in the late afternoon.”

“No problem,” Riley said. “I’ll be at the bakery, so I’ll come by when I’m done.”

“Great. See you then.” Darius busied himself zipping the garment bags with none of his usual banter. Marc wouldn’t meet Riley’s eyes.

Riley glanced at Thorne, and he just shrugged. Riley was going to have to make Marc talk to him.

When they reached the bottom of the steps, Riley said, “What the fuck was that?”

Thorne gave him a pointed look. “I think you know what it was.”

“Yes, but I mean the reaction. Why not own it? It’s not like we didn’t know they were hot for each other.”

“They’re embarrassed.”

“In front of us?” Riley had a hard time believing that.

“In front of a happy couple. Wait… Am I actually the one who’s decoding a personal situation? Can we register this record-breaking moment?”

Riley slapped his arm. “Asshole.”

Thorne just laughed.

“Marc never hides anything like that from me, not even the worst of the worst men he’s dated.”

“So ask him about it.”

Riley sighed. “I have.”

“Try again?”

“Okay, I guess I need to.”

They reached the bakery door, and Thorne opened it for Riley. “Maybe let him know you’re okay with it.”

“Of course I’m okay with it.”

“With Marc fucking him and not dating him?”

“Yes. Thorne, I… Oh! You think he doesn’t want to talk about it because it’s not like us?”

Thorne shrugged. “Possibly.”

Riley kissed him. “Thanks. You’re fucking perceptive today. Did you have some feelings training at work?”

Thorne snorted. “Hardly, I just know you. You want Marc to find what we have. I’m not sure Darius can give that, but I imagine being in his bed has plenty of benefits.”

Riley grinned. “Yeah, he’s fucking hot.”

“Yes, he is.”

“But Marc falls in love easily.” And that’s why he was worried.

“Does he really, or does he get infatuated?”

Riley frowned as he considered that. “Either way it hurts.”

“So talk to him; tell him you’re worried.”

“I will.”

“I’ve got to go, but I’ll be home as early as I can. I’m looking forward to tonight.” Thorne gave him a meaningful look.

“Me too.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Riley got a text from Marc an hour or so later. Is it still okay if I bring Darius to the wedding?

Sure. But I want more info. No way was Marc going to throw that out without talking to him.

Where are you?

Bakery.

Meet me at Ben’s in fifteen minutes.

K.

Ben’s was a bar just down the street from the bakery and tailor shop. Marc was already there sitting at a table when Riley entered. He ordered a beer from the bar and then joined him.

“So are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?”

Marc closed his eyes, and Riley watched his chest rise and fall. “I don’t fucking know.”

“Well, fucking is going on, even I know that.”

“I…”

“Marc, we caught you two. Please don’t tell me you were back there trying something on for him. His shirt was on backward. You had that man so flustered he dressed himself improperly. That might be the first time that ever happened.”

Marc grinned, his cheeks going pink which was both ridiculous and adorable, considering the conversations they’d had about partners in the past. “Yeah. I make him fucking crazy.”

Riley smiled. “Good.”

“No. It’s not good.”

“This isn’t the first time, is it? I mean the first time since the day you were hired?”

Marc shook his head. “No.”

“And you’ve been keeping that from me. Why?”

“Because you’re going to insist I ask for more, and I…can’t.”

Had Riley been that shitty a friend? “I’m sorry. I’ll stop pushing. You can tell me anything you want, and I’ll just listen, okay?”

Marc sighed. “I probably should insist on an actual relationship with him, but—”

“No, you should do what you’re comfortable with.”

Marc took a sip of his beer and then another before responding. “I’m not comfortable. I mean, wow, Darius is amazing, but I don’t want to feel fucked over in the end.”

“I don’t want you to either.”

“And yet…”

Riley waited a few seconds and then prompted him. “What?”

“I can’t stay away.”

Riley raised his glass in salute. “I can’t say I blame you.”

“Thanks, but seriously, Darius is gorgeous and funny, and who wouldn’t want him?”

Riley nodded. “His sarcasm is awesome. Of course just now he was too flustered from fucking you to use it.”

Marc laughed. “He’s fun when he’s flustered and his accent gets stronger and, well…you see my problem.”

“I do.”

Marc took a sip of beer. He seemed to be considering what to say next. “The thing is…I feel like there’s a reason why he’s so adamant we shouldn’t date, a reason why he doesn’t date anyone or share much of himself, despite getting story after story out of me.”