Once and Floral

by Kris T. Bethke

  I didn’t hear what he said from where I was, but Lincoln was nodding, and he gave a loud sniff before he pulled back. Then Monroe showed him the box of corsages and boutonnieres, and Lincoln lost it all over again.

  “You’re not supposed to make me cry before the ceremony,” Lincoln protested, but it was half-hearted at best. “I’ll be all puffy before it even begins.”

  Monroe waved a hand as though that was inconsequential. “Wil’s got it covered. Eye drops and a little de-puffing cream, and you’re all set. He planned ahead, to make sure you look happy in the pictures afterward.”

  Lincoln nodded solemnly. “He is a planner. I just…Monroe!” Lincoln gestured wildly, encompassing the whole hall, and I knew it was time to make my exit.

  Supremely glad I was able to witness Lincoln’s joy, but not wanting to intrude, I stealthily backed away. Monroe raised a brow in question, but I just smiled and mouthed, “I’ll see you later.” Monroe nodded, and I went to find something to keep me occupied for the next hour until the ceremony started.

  * * * *

  It was a lot warmer with fifty people packed in on the terrace for the ceremony. There weren’t many people I knew, but Landry’s Fall wasn’t that big and I recognized a few faces at least. I was sitting near the back, my preferred spot when attending a wedding. It was easier to take in the full picture that way.

  And Lincoln and James, along with their wedding party, made quite a picture. Lincoln was small and lean, and the cut of his tuxedo fit him perfectly. He was positively glowing as he looked at the big man he was marrying. James was a few years older, and his tuxedo was a different style, but the double breasted cut of the jacket did something to make his shoulders look even wider. He held Lincoln’s hands in his, and even though the officiant was speaking, they couldn’t take their eyes off each other.

  Even if I hadn’t known that Lincoln’s side of the party were his brothers, there’d have been no doubt once I saw them all together. Monroe stood right beside Lincoln—and good Lord he was even more beautiful with the jacket on—and then Hayes and Wilson. All four had dark, wavy hair, and seeing them together, it was impossible to miss the similarities in the lines and angles of their faces. I hadn’t seen it when I’d first met Monroe and Lincoln, but adding in Hayes and Wilson—though I wasn’t sure who was who—made it startlingly clear.

  James’s Matron of Honor was wearing a dark pink dress, and the bouquet looked absolutely stunning in her hands. I couldn’t have planned it better, and a sense of pride washed through me as I saw it. Of his other two groomsmen, one was a stranger, but the other man I knew. Tru Rackley was kind of a local sensation, since he used to wear a red knitted hat over his cap of curls even in the dead of summer. He was also a dog whisperer extraordinaire and it wasn’t uncommon to see him being pulled around town by a pack of dogs.

  My attention shifted back to the happy couple as the officiant invited them to say their vows. My heart squeezed in happiness when it was announced they’d written their own. Christ, that was my favorite thing and I made sure to pay attention.

  James went first.

  “I wasn’t looking for love,” he said in a strong, clear voice. “But Lincoln, you walked into my life anyway. You were all nerves and awkwardness, but so brave that I knew I had to find out more about you. I thank my lucky stars every day that I said ‘yes’ to the drink, and to dinner the next day. To every dinner after that. You’ve made my life richer. More complete. You make me a better version of myself. I didn’t know I was missing you until you were mine.

  “I love you more than I ever thought humanly possible. And I will love you to the end of my days. With every breath I have, I will honor and cherish you, protect and love you, come home to you every night, and wake up with you every morning. I promise you this.”

  Lincoln had to gather himself before he was able to speak, and the terrace was filled with anticipation until he got his words together. When he spoke, his voice shook with tears, but the smile on his face was practically blinding.

  “Until you, I was scared to put myself out there. But the moment I saw you, I knew you were meant to be mine. And I knew that if I didn’t try, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. I know you don’t believe in love at first sight, and neither did I. But there you were, across the bar, and I knew with every fiber of my being that you were mine to love.

  “That love has grown only deeper over the past two years.” Lincoln had to stop and gather himself again, and James pulled him a bit closer. He lifted one of Lincoln’s hands and kissed his fingers, and as my heart melted into a pile of goo, I saw Lincoln’s confidence surge forward. “I had more planned to say, but James, you said it all. You make me a better version of myself, too. I’m stronger because you support me and hold me up. I’m better because you love me. I’ll never take you or your love for granted. I will honor and cherish you, love and protect you, come home to you every night and wake up with you every morning. This I promise you.”

  There was nary a dry eye in the house, mine included. And when the men exchanged rings and shared their first kiss as a married couple, the crowd erupted into ear-splitting shrieks of joy and applause. When the sound wound down, the men turned to face us, and the officiant crowed, “I present to you James and Lincoln Washington!”

  The crowd went wild again. Lincoln pushed up on his toes to kiss James again, then they proceeded down the aisle. The party followed, two by two, and there was so much love and happiness in the small area that my soul felt full of it.

  The officiant cleared his throat for attention.

  “James and Lincoln request that you enjoy yourself with drinks and appetizers in the ballroom while they do, and I quote, ‘the picture thing’.” He paused for laughter and his grin was wide. “The grooms will join you shortly. Please celebrate.”

  Then came the shuffling of feet as people began to move, but I hung back, waiting for everyone else to go out first, since I was in the back. A hand on my arm startled me, and I turned to find Monroe smiling down at me.

  “It won’t take long,” he said, his voice low. “I’ll come find you as soon as we’re done, all right?”

  “No worries,” I assured him. I placed my hand over his and gave a gentle squeeze. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You better not.” His glare was mock serious, ruined completely by the twinkle in those dark brown eyes. He was gone before I could offer up a witty retort, but that was fine. I chuckled and stood, then made my way to the ballroom. A glass of champagne sounded like a wonderful way to pass the time.

  * * * *

  True to his word, Monroe was back within forty-five minutes. The DJ was playing mellow instrumentals and the chatter was loud, but even though I’d found a few people to talk to in the intervening time, I was standing in a quiet corner when Monroe found me.

  “Everything okay?” His voice held a note of anxiousness I didn’t understand, but I was quick to smile.

  “Yes, of course. It was a beautiful wedding, wasn’t it?” I sighed happily.

  Monroe chuckled. “It was. So very them.” He crowded into my space a bit. Not enough to be overbearing, but enough to assure me he wanted to be close. Since I was fine with that, I allowed it. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  I touched the lapel of his jacket. “Thank you for inviting me. I love weddings.”

  “I guessed that.” Monroe covered my hand with his, and I thought he was going to hold it in his own, but he just moved it up a bit and pressed my palm against his heart. It was pounding a steady rhythm. “I’ll have to do some Best Man things throughout the reception, but I’ll always come find you, okay?”

  It was my turn to step closer. Another inch or two and we’d be touching, but I kept that scant distance. “Don’t worry about it. Do what you need to do, when you need to do it.”

  Heat flared in his gaze. I unconsciously licked my lips. Monroe started to bend down, but at the last minute, he caught himself and straightened. He cleared his
throat, stepped back, let go of my hand, and offered me his arm.

  “Let me escort you to your table, good sir.” A roguish wink and a waggle of eyebrows had me laughing. “I have to sit with the wedding party for dinner, but you’re close by. I’ll totally be able to turn around and talk to you.”

  * * * *

  The next few hours passed in a blur of good food, conversation, and laughter, and a few speeches. Mr. Peters gave a speech that made Lincoln cry and get up and hug his father. Monroe’s was, predictably, full of laughter and charm. The Matron of Honor, whom I learned was James’s sister Michelle, was eloquent and thoughtful, and it was clear she loved her brother very much.

  All in all, it was perfect. Exactly what a wedding should be. The love was clear and permeated the room, everyone was happy, and the tension that had stiffened Lincoln’s shoulders this afternoon was gone. James and Lincoln took to the floor for their first dance, and I was entranced by the way they literally could not look away from each other. The wedding party joined in for the next song, and laughter sounded as the groomsmen all danced with each other.

  With dinner and the first dances finished, James and Lincoln cut the cake and fed each other their first bite. Thankfully there was no face-smashing. I always thought that was a mean thing to do, and I would have been disappointed to see these men do it to each other. But there was nothing but love pouring off them.

  Honestly, the whole evening felt like magic.

  Monroe appeared beside me again. Damn, he was stealthy. But I grinned when he took my hand and gestured with his head to the side door that led to the terrace. I happily followed along, glad to get a break from all the noise for a minute. I was surprised when he kept walking, down onto the grounds and onto the path that led to the pond.

  Elise had hired a groundskeeper once she’d taken over her family’s estate. It had been nothing more than an occasional vacation home for decades until Elise decided to turn it into a resort catering to LGBTQ couples. Dylan Locklear had done wonders over the past two years, turning the once dilapidated and overgrown grounds into breathtaking vistas.

  I’d been here a lot over the past couple of years. Elise was one of my biggest customers, both for her own floral arrangements and steering brides and grooms my way. I’d gotten to see the transformation firsthand. But my favorite place on the whole property was the pond, with the benches on the shore and the strategically placed wisteria trees that were finally growing in to provide cover. Dylan had planted allium, hyacinths, and peonies for splashes of color. It was so beautiful that sometimes I snuck over here when I needed down-time.

  I could still faintly hear the music from the reception—the pond was only maybe fifty yards from the house—but the trees gave it a private, closed-off feeling, as if we were the only two people in the world. Dusk had given way to night, and a bright moon and stars shone in the sky.

  I couldn’t have created a more romantic moment if I’d tried.

  But Monroe took it up a notch. With a sweeping bow and a wicked grin, he asked, “Dance with me?”

  I nodded and he pulled me into his arms. We swayed to the barely audible music, our bodies pressed together from chest to knees. Monroe was only a couple of inches taller than my five-foot-eight, and we fit together perfectly. I pressed my forehead to the side of his neck, tried to ignore my dick as it got hard in my pants, and just enjoyed slow-dancing with Monroe.

  “Damn, West.” Monroe’s voice sounded like tires on gravel, and it sent a shiver through my body. “You’re gorgeous out here, in my arms, in the moonlight.”

  “You’re very charming,” I whispered.

  Monroe chuckled. “I can be. But I’m also serious. The day we met, I was ready to kiss you senseless. Now I want to do so much more.”

  The promise in his tone was enough to be my undoing. I lifted my head and looked straight into his eyes. “Oh, yeah? Then why don’t you?”

  He growled out a groan that went straight to my cock, then he shifted his grip, tugging me even tighter against him, and lowered his lips to mine. The instant our mouths touched, fire exploded in my veins. The simmering attraction between us overflowed, and it took everything in me to keep from climbing him.

  He commanded the kiss without being overbearing, made me want to give him everything instead of just taking it, and before I realized it, I was grinding on his leg that had somehow pushed its way between my thighs while he devoured my mouth. Lips, teeth, tongue, heat and power, and I was lost to it all.

  “Monroe!”

  The voice made Monroe jerk, but even when he pulled his mouth from mine, he stayed right there, panting wetly against my lips as I tried to remember how to breathe.

  “Roe? You out here?”

  “Damn cockblocking Hayes,” Monroe muttered, easing me back without completely letting go. He angled our bodies deeper into the shade of one of the wisterias, then shouted, “Over here.”

  A moment later, Hayes appeared in the small clearing. He peered around until his eyes adjusted and he was able to make us out in the shadows. “Should have known. Hi, West. We weren’t properly introduced.” He gave a jaunty sort of wave and I was treated to a glimpse that perhaps charm ran in the Peters’ family.

  “Hello,” I croaked, not quite able to return the gesture.

  He chuckled, but then turned a serious expression on his brother. “Sorry to interrupt, but Amanda’s looking for you.”

  Monroe’s shoulders went stiff under my hands and his fingers clenched my ass before he relaxed them. “What’s she doing here?”

  Hayes looked a little guilty. “You know she and Lincoln are close. Of course he invited her.”

  Monroe sighed, then finally, and with apparent reluctance, let go of me. He gave me a sad sort of smile, then turned to face his brother to block me completely from view. I would have been upset about that, but I was still sporting a pretty obvious hard-on, and even if Hayes most likely couldn’t see it in the dark, I didn’t want to take any chance.

  “All right,” Monroe said, sounding resigned. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Hayes gave a salute, wiggled his fingers at me, then left. After a long moment, Monroe turned around. I could see the apology already written on his face.

  I smiled, trying to put him at ease. “Who’s Amanda?”

  “My ex.” He grimaced, but then his expression relaxed. “It’s been over for a while, but it didn’t end great, so I should probably go talk to her.”

  I smoothed his hair back into place, then straightened the lapel of his jacket. “Is she going to cause a scene?” I asked sympathetically.

  Monroe quickly shook his head. “No, no. She’s not that kind of person. But we were together for a couple of years before we called it quits nine months ago, and I owe her at least a conversation and a dance.” He sighed, then smiled. “She’s a good person. And like Hayes said, she and Lincoln are good friends. I’m glad she came, for him.”

  “Well, then. Go talk to her. I should be leaving soon anyway.”

  Monroe froze, then grabbed my hand. “You don’t have to leave.”

  I shushed that edge of panic. “It’s not because of that, I promise.” I smoothed the worry wrinkle between his brows, and he closed his eyes on a sigh. I laughed. “I just have a lot of paperwork to do before I can call the end to my day. I hadn’t intended on attending a wonderful wedding. Or being kissed senseless in the moonlight.”

  I gave him a cheeky wink and he visibly relaxed. “All right. I guess this is goodbye for now, then?”

  “For now,” I whispered, and this time, I was the one to kiss him. I kept it soft, full of hope, and Monroe didn’t try to push for more. Though he was definitely reluctant to let it end. I eventually pulled back and gave him a push. He touched my cheek, with just the tips of his fingers, then walked away.

  He got to the edge of the clearing before he turned back. “It doesn’t bother you, right? That I’m bi?”

  I frowned, confused. “No. Why would it?”

 
“You’d be surprised,” he muttered. Then he waved. “I’ll see you soon, West.”

  This time, he actually left.

  I sighed, but it was happy one. Today had been a whole lot of magic. First a perfect wedding, and then a perfect kiss—or several. I couldn’t have asked for more.

  But I wasn’t lying when I’d said I had a lot to do at the shop, and I knew if I didn’t get it done, I’d be angry with myself. I was not a procrastinator by nature, and every time I let my judgement lapse and put things off, I regretted it soundly.

  So I made my way back to the reception, found the grooms and gave them congratulations, then made my way to my van and headed out. Paperwork was calling my name. But I knew when I eventually made it home and into bed, my dreams would be the sweet kind.

  Chapter 5

  I was still floating a bit two days later. I hadn’t heard from Monroe, but since we hadn’t exchanged numbers, I wasn’t surprised. Though I was definitely kicking myself for that now. I’d have loved to reach out, to talk to him, to find out if the magic between us had been a fluke. A byproduct of the outpouring of love from Lincoln and James. I didn’t think so. The chemistry between us had sure felt real enough. But sometimes things looked different in the light of day.

  I even considered calling Lincoln—I had his number on his order form—and asking for Monroe’s. But that felt like a breach of professionalism I couldn’t bring myself to cross. So instead, I just daydreamed, remembering our time together, and hoped I’d find a reasonable excuse to reach out.

  Zoe and Lenore were just about to leave for lunch, and I had decided I was going to close the shop for the lunch hour, when Zoe stuck her head through the door to the back room and cleared her throat for my attention. When I turned, her expression was worried.

  “What’s the matter?” I asked, standing and crossing to her.

  “There’s a customer here, a little frantic, and asking to see you.” She bit her lip. Zoe wasn’t one for confrontation, and something about this customer had set her on edge.