Perfect Alignment (Thorne and Dash 3)

Marc tended to be so open, so giving. That was part of why Riley worried about him getting hurt. “But despite all this, you’re going to ask him to the wedding?”

Marc nodded. “I am. He’ll probably say no, but I know he loves New York. He thinks a Central Park wedding is cheesy as fuck, but—”

Riley rolled his eyes. “Of course he does.”

“I think he’s fascinated by the kind of relationship you and Thorne have, and maybe a little jealous.”

“Really?”

Marc frowned. “I could be reading it all wrong, but he talks like he picks up ‘boys for tricks.’” Marc did a perfect impersonation of Darius’s accent. “But as far as I can tell, he spends all his time working. I’m not sure he’s doing as much fucking around as I thought.”

“Mmmm.” That was certainly promising. “Ask him, and tell me what he says. I promise not to push, okay?”

“Okay.” They rose and hugged each other. “You better not turn into one of those married assholes who talks endlessly about his husband and starts dressing his tiny dog and pushing the beast in a stroller.”

“Ha! Can you imagine Thorne owning a closet of dog clothes?”

“If you asked for a prissy dog, then yeah, I could.”

Riley shook his head. “No way.”

“A year ago, I could never have imagined Thorne married.”

Riley had to admit Marc was right about that. “Okay, maybe he’d go for the dog if I asked in the ‘right’ way.”

Marc grinned. “Exactly. You lead that man around by his dick. Don’t act like you don’t.”

“Get back to work, asshole.”

Marc hugged him. “Thanks for listening.”

“Anytime.”

***

When Riley entered the bakery again, Susan was talking to a delivery man. She looked perplexed.

“What’s up?”

Susan frowned. “This man has a delivery for us: white marble countertops. I thought we were going with a cheaper option.”

“I think I know what happened. Sir, can you tell me who placed the order?”

“Sure can.” He flipped a few pages on his clipboard. “A Mr. B.T. Shipton.”

Susan’s brows rose.

“Thorne told me my Christmas and/or wedding present was being delivered today. I guess this is it.”

“I’ll have to thank him too, then,” Susan said. “These are going to be fantastic. Just look.”

Riley could see the marble peeking out from its protective packaging. Susan was right. It was beautiful. He showed the man where he could leave the counters so they could be installed the next day.

After the man was gone, Susan examined the counters more closely. “So Thorne got the specs for what we needed and everything?”

Riley nodded. “Apparently. He probably called the designer. You know how Thorne is. When he wants to do something, he doesn’t let anything stop him.”

“That’s too true.”

Riley pulled out his phone and called his soon-to-be husband.

“The counters just arrived. They’re amazing.”

“Yes, they are, and they’re what you really wanted.”

Riley had to protest at least a little. “True, but—”

“No buts. I want you to have the best.”

Riley smiled even though Thorne couldn’t see him. “Let’s see how merry we can be once we’re both home tonight.”

Susan glanced his way, and Riley realized he’d better get off the phone before she got any more interested in his conversation.

“I’ve got to go. I love you.”

“Love you too. I’ll pick you up after I’m done here. I want to see in person how the marble looks.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Thorne, look!” Riley pointed out the plane window at the lights of Manhattan.

Thorne smiled. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m… This whole day, this week… I think I’m going to be walking around stunned.”

“Good. I want to stun you, wow you, sweep you off your feet.”

“Thorne, I—”

“No. No arguing. That’s what this trip and our small, personal wedding is about. We’re not doing this to please anyone else with some god-awful marzipan swan or a fuchsia brocade tablecloth. I intend to please you, and that includes making sure you’re just a little in awe of everything.”

Riley scowled at him. “I’m not a princess.”

“Maybe not, but I can pretend.”

Riley looked out the window again and sighed.

Thorne took his hand. “You’re going to love the city.”

“I think you’re right. I can’t believe I haven’t been before.”

“I’m glad I’m the first to take you.”

Riley turned and looked at Thorne. His satisfied smile made him even hotter than usual. Riley couldn’t help but lean in and give him a brief kiss, to hell with anyone on the plane who didn’t like it.

***

Landing and retrieving their luggage was a whirlwind for Riley. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Thorne move so quickly.

“Hold up,” he called as they approached the taxi line.

“I’m anxious to get out of here and see what you think of the suite I chose.”

Thorne gave his name to the attendant at a car service stand. A few moments later, a limo pulled up.

Riley shouldn’t have been shocked, but he was. “Thorne?”