The Silver Fox (Red's Tavern 3)

“I didn’t,” she said. “His father was gone in a snap. It’s why Perry is so protective over all of us.”

“He’s amazing,” I said.

Her gaze brightened a little. “He really is. It seems like you really see him for who he is. I’m so glad he found you.”

I tentatively reached out, putting my arm around her. I wasn’t sure if she would mind, but the moment I did it, she let out a small sigh, leaning into me completely.

My heart ached for her. I gave her a tight hug then.

“Thank you,” she said softly, breathing deep. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” I said. “It’s the least I can do.”

“Not the least,” she said. “You and Per… you give me hope. You know that, right?”

A stab of guilt hit me. We gave her hope, and yet our entire relationship was a ruse. I couldn’t think too hard about it—about the eventual endpoint of all this, when we’d have to pretend to break up.

“You’re a good man. I needed that hug,” she told me, and I was glad to see when she pulled away, she was smiling again. “And now what I need is to go check my makeup. And one of those.”

Perry had appeared again, three mimosas in hand.

“I’ll catch up with you boys later,” Merrilyn said, grabbing her drink before heading off toward the inn.

“Cheers,” Perry told me, clinking his glass to mine.

“Cheers to terrible aunts,” I said, and he grinned as we both took a sip.

“I would apologize, but I told you what you were getting into before you agreed to this reunion,” Perry said, surveying the garden. Things had only gotten busier as more and more people filled the courtyard.

“Oh, please,” I said. “This is a cinch.”

“Really?”

“Really,” I reassured him. “I feel bad for your mom, but… I’m having a good time being here. A really good time.”

The hint of a smile appeared on his lips. “Because you get off on teasing me.”

“Is it that obvious?” I said, reaching over and running my palm along the small of his back.

“Pretty fucking obvious,” he said, leaning into my touch. “I’m probably going to pass out by the end of the night, whether it’s from alcohol or because of you.”

My cock throbbed a little under my pants.

“I would apologize, but you knew what you were getting into,” I said, echoing what he’d just told me.

He smiled. “I think I did.”

“You know that I’m a flirt. A playboy. And I like to have fun,” I said. “That doesn’t change, whether I’m faking it or not.”

“And that’s why you make such a good fake boyfriend,” he said.

“Why?”

He looked from my eyes, down to my lips, then back again. “Because you act like I’m already completely yours.”

Something kicked loose deep inside my chest as Perry told me that.

He had no idea that I was getting just as much out of this little game of pretend as he was.

No matter how many people I’d had sex with, it was rare for me to feel like I’d ever belonged in any relationship. But everything with Perry had felt easy. Scarily easy. As if playing the role of a boyfriend was easier when it wasn’t something real. I could finally stop worrying, stop thinking about the big, bad commitment word, and just relax into being with someone.

Maybe that was the reason I kept getting so fucking turned on when I looked at Perry. Or maybe it was just because he made me feel like I belonged.

Either way, twenty minutes later when he turned and went to go get us another round of drinks, I couldn’t take my eyes off of his ass.

And that’s when I realized I wanted more. That smoldering desire in the pit of my stomach couldn’t just be explained by “morning wood” anymore. In fact, it was the same deep desire I felt every night I went out on the prowl for sex.

I wanted him tonight. And I didn’t know what the hell that meant.

10

Perry

I took a swig of gin and tonic, the refreshing lime and bubbles hitting my tongue. Rock was chatting with Cameron across the courtyard, and I was watching, lying in a hammock strung between two trees. I rocked gently back and forth, string lights hung high above me.

A steady warmth had grown inside me over the course of the evening. After so much tension this morning, I finally felt free. It was well past sunset now, and we’d switched from mimosas to stronger cocktails a while ago.

When night came, the courtyard and garden transformed into a different place. Lanterns and string lights were hung between every tree, and it seemed like the minute the sun set, people went from reunion mode to full-blown party mode.

I liked where I was now. The hammock felt good. It felt safe.

And it also provided a much-needed break from being close to Rock.