“Imagine how good it would taste with bacon,” I pointed out.
“Will you take my food away if I suggest it would taste good with turkey bacon?” he asked with a teasing twinkle in his eyes.
“I might stab you for that blasphemy,” I gasped.
“I’ll have bacon in my house by next weekend,” he assured me.
“What makes you think I’ll be here next weekend?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “I may decide I don’t want to come over here.” Who was I kidding? There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d give up a weekend of indulging in phenomenal sex with Gage.
He grinned at my question. “Go right ahead and refuse to come over here.”
“Why do you look so happy about that prospect?” I asked warily.
“I like the idea of going over to your place and carrying you out to my car,” he explained, still grinning. “Even if you decide to come over here willingly, let’s do it that way.”
“You’re crazy,” I accused with a shake of my head.
“But you like me this way,” he insisted.
“Yes, I do,” I agreed with a sigh. “So, what should we do today?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go see my mom,” he began. “She really has been asking about you.”
“Okay,” I agreed, not giving myself time to worry about all the implications of him taking me to meet his mom. This was important to Gage, and he was important to me.
Chapter 52
Gage
Bentley’s agreement to visit my mom had come as a surprise. It was a big step, especially when I’d just convinced her to give me a chance. I needed to check on my mom. That meant either taking Bentley with me or leaving her at home. Having her by my side was always my first choice.
“This is a nice place,” Bentley remarked as we walked through the gardens of the assisted living facility my mom was staying at.
“I owe Colin for making this possible,” I told her. “He’s paying a big chunk of the bill.”
“He considers her his mom, too,” she reminded me. “It’s crazy how much I’ve learned about Colin recently.”
“My brother’s not much for sharing,” I told her.
“No kidding,” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t know about him and James until Colin’s accident. I’m surprised James kept it from me. You’d think I would have figured this out with the amount of time I spend around James at work. Granted, he tries to keep things professional.”
“How did you and James meet?” I asked. “I know you dated, but not how you met.”
“A friend of mine set us up on a blind date,” she replied. “I got along fine with James, but there was no chemistry. We ended things on good terms. I was looking for a job at the time, and he suggested I apply at your brother’s company. To be honest, I don’t think he expected me to actually apply. I didn’t start out working with James, but that’s where I was by the end of my first year working there.”
After checking in at the main office, we made our way to my mom’s apartment. She knew we were coming. I’d told her two days ago and then called again today to remind her. My mom didn’t like surprise visits.
“Thank you for being here with me,” I told Bentley when we reached the door to my mom’s apartment. “This means a lot to me.”
“Gage!” my mom called out. “Stop harassing Bentley and let her come in here to talk to me!”
I grinned at my mom’s command. I’d rather have her bossy than confused. Her desire to see Bentley also pleased me. I’d told my mom a lot about my feelings for Bentley, but she didn’t always remember our conversations. As soon as we walked into my mom’s little apartment, she hugged Bentley.
“I am so sorry I thought the worst of you,” she told Bentley. “I was worried about Colin.”
This appeared to be one of my mom’s more lucid days.
“I understand,” Bentley assured her, stepping back when my mom released her. “You didn’t know me.”
“Now, I know you’re not Colin’s type,” she continued as she took a seat in the living room. “Come and sit with me.”
Since my mom hadn’t hugged me yet, I moved beside her chair and kissed her cheek before taking my seat beside Bentley.
“How are you doing today, Mom?” I asked.
“I’ve been bored,” she replied. “I miss having my car. It would be nice to drive out to do some shopping.”
“I can take you out,” I offered.
“It’s not the same as going out on my own,” my mom grumbled. “The doctor says I shouldn’t drive anymore, just because I got lost a few times.”
The loss of her car was something I was grateful for. My mom shouldn’t have been driving for the last year. It was an understatement to say she’d gotten lost. She’d admitted to driving places and not being certain how she’d ended up in her car.
“I know it’s not the same,” I agreed. “Why don’t you decide where you’d like to go, and we can plan a day out Wednesday? This gives me an excuse to spend more time with you.”
“That would be nice,” my mom said with a smile.
“We could also go out to lunch today,” Bentley suggested.
My mom shook her head. “My hair is a mess. They made an appointment for me to get it done Tuesday. We should march in that Pride parade.”
I hadn’t expected that suggestion.
“We’re too late this year,” Bentley told her.
“Have you done it before?” my mom asked.
Bentley shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”
“I want to show my support for Colin,” my mom explained.
“I’m sure he’ll appreciate that,” I told her.
My mom turned to Bentley. “When Colin came by to visit me, he mentioned you were dating Gage. He said Gage wasn’t going to let you get away. When do you plan to start having children?”
Bentley’s eyes darted in my direction as if hoping I’d help her respond to that question. I decided to let her handle it, partly because I was curious about her answer.
“I’m not planning to have children any time in the near future,” Bentley replied.
“Because Gage is a musician?” my mom asked. “I can see why you’d worry he won’t be around to help you raise them. Or is it all the women who throw themselves at him?”
“Mom,” I interrupted. “We’ve only been dating a short time. Could you wait a few months before you to try to scare Bentley off?”
“She’s obviously not going to be scared off by any of this,” my mom argued. “She survived that horrid tabloid article. Someone should sue them.”
“In the end, it wasn’t too bad,” Bentley insisted. “It was just a small magazine, and Colin’s not that interesting to the media.”
“I suppose it will be worse when the media realizes you’re dating Gage,” my mom mused.
Bentley nodded. Her hands were clenched tightly in her lap, and her smile now seemed forced.
I had to bite back a curse. While I knew our relationship was likely to attract media attention at some point, I tried to avoid talking about it with Bentley. She had to know it was possible, but I suspected she was avoiding thinking about it.
I waited for her response, and much to my relief, her features relaxed, and she shrugged. “I suppose there are worse things than having people know I’m dating Gage.”
Bentley didn’t look completely convinced, but I took comfort in the fact that she hadn’t made a run for the door. Thankfully, the rest of the visit went smoother. There was no more talk of me getting Bentley pregnant or her ending up in a tabloid article.
I was also more confident in my mom’s mental health by the end of the visit—that is, until she said, “It’s so nice that Bentley moved up here to Portland to be with you.”
Chapter 53
Bentley
“What do you have planned for the second Saturday of November?” James asked as he emerged from his office for the first time that day. At least, it was the first time he’d emerged
while I was at my desk. I was still handling issues regarding the recruiting process.
“We’re throwing an anniversary party for my parents that weekend,” I replied. “You already approved my time off for that Friday.”
“Damn,” he muttered. “We’re hoping to have the wedding that day.”
I’d expected an invitation to the event, but I was surprised my inability to attend was an issue. We had a very good business relationship, and I knew Colin appreciated my help at events, but we weren’t that close. “Did you need my help that day?” I asked.
“Colin figured Gage would want to bring you as his date,” James explained. “I’ll talk to Colin about the date. We haven’t made any arrangements yet.”
“You shouldn’t change it because of my plans,” I insisted. “Gage is a big boy. He can attend a wedding without me.”
I’d only been seeing Gage for a couple of weeks, but it already seemed everyone thought we were inseparable.
“Things are going well?” he asked, studying me.
“They’re going fine so far,” I replied.
James nodded. “I need to get on a conference call. Shouldn’t you be on your lunch break?”
“I’m glad you mentioned that. I completely lost track of time, and I’m meeting my brother. Should I pick up anything for you while I’m out?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I’ll order in. When you get back, I need to have a word with you.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“It’s nothing bad,” he assured me. “I’d like to talk to you about taking on a new position. We’ve been taking advantage of you far too long.”
“You pay me well,” I reminded him. It was true. I was paid more than any other assistant in the company.
“I think it’s time we give you a title to match all you’re doing,” he began. “We’ll talk more after you get back from lunch. Don’t come back for an hour this time.”
He told me that often, but I rarely stayed out for an entire hour, having too much to get done.
I hurried across the street to the deli where Lex was meeting me and was shocked to find him already there. “I must have hit my head. Am I lying unconscious somewhere in my home?”
“Very funny,” Lex said in a dry tone.
“You have a history of getting caught up on a project and forgetting you have plans with me,” I pointed out. Admittedly, he’d been better lately.
“I was practicing with Reckless Release, and they all knew I had a lunch date with you,” he explained. “They said to tell you hi.”
“How is practice going?” I asked. While I’d worried about how this would affect Lex, I was thrilled with the change in him over the last couple of weeks. My brother was actually leaving his apartment on a regular basis.
“Good,” he replied. “Everyone is awesome. Harley threatened to kick my ass if I play better than her.”
“She’ll do it,” I told him. After knowing Harley only a short time, I understood why so many men thought she was a dominatrix. “I’m going out with her tonight.”
“Yeah, she mentioned that,” Lex replied. “Gage complained about you abandoning him on a Friday night. I told him to grow some balls and have a guys’ night.”
I laughed. “He told me he’s glad I’m going out tonight.”
“He is,” Lex added. “At the time, he was joking about Harley trying to steal you from him.” My brother fell silent, his expression thoughtful.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he replied. “I just didn’t realize how much I miss the dynamic of being part of a band until I started hanging out with Reckless Release.”
“You don’t have to be in a band to have that kind of dynamic,” I pointed out before quickly adding, “This isn’t me insulting bands. I know why you’d expect that from me. I’m just saying you can have close friends without being in a band.”
“Sorry I’ve been worrying you so much,” he said quietly.
“You’re forgiven as long as you promise not to lock yourself in your apartment again.” I told him.
“I’ll do my best,” he agreed. “Xander suggested I see a therapist to talk about the stuff that’s been bothering me.”
“Xander suggested that?” I asked.
“He’s more insightful than he lets on,” Lex told me. “I’m always surprised by him.”
“Are you going to take his advice?” I asked.
“Yeah, I am,” he replied. “Are you still going to come see me play?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I assured him.
We ordered our sandwiches and made small talk until we were seated at the table with our food.
“I’m glad you decided to give Gage a chance,” Lex told me. “He’s a great guy. I was worried you’d shoot him down because of me.”
“It wouldn’t have been because of you,” I assured him. One thing I’d spent a lot of time thinking about over the last couple weeks was my own prejudices. “I’m not saying what happened with you wasn’t on my mind, but I need to move past my own issues.”
“You seem to be doing a good job of that,” he remarked.
“Most days,” I added. “I’m still working on it.”
“Don’t mess this up, Bennie,” he told me, his eyes locked with mine. “Gage cares about you.”
“I know,” I agreed with a smile. “I care about him, too.”
“So, where are you heading for your girls’ night?” he asked. “Harley said you were making the plans.”
“The Frisky Beaver,” I told him with a grin.
Lex chuckled. “It must be ladies’ night.”
“It is,” I replied.
“Is Mercy working tonight?” he asked.
“Yes, but I’m hoping to get her to hang out with us,” I replied.
“Good luck with that,” he said with a snort. “Mercy is even more of a workaholic than you are.”
That was the sad truth, but at least Mercy had more fun at her job than I did.
Chapter 54
Bentley
After meeting briefly with James earlier that day, I had no idea what I was going to do about my career. Being offered a promotion should make me happy, but I was beginning to think it was time for a career change. This certainly hadn’t been my dream job. Tonight, I wasn’t going to think about my job. I was just going to enjoy myself, at The Frisky Beaver.
After my sister and her coworker bought the club, they decided one Friday a month should be devoted to the ladies. They had a group of male strippers perform for two hours before it turned into a dance club with single guys hoping to get lucky with the female patrons.
I’d gone once but discovered strippers weren’t for me. My sister was to blame for my aversion to strippers. She’d mentioned to all of them I was her sister, and each one had wanted to show me special attention. Who doesn’t like a little attention from a hot guy who can dance? Things had been going great until three particularly sweaty strippers performed. I get that they’re dancing under hot lights. I’d be sweating, too. Still, I didn’t enjoy having a strange man’s sweat all over my clothes as much as many women in the crowd did. For that reason, I’d suggested we meet after the show. Cami agreed with me, while Harley and Delaney both thought I was crazy.
As soon as I walked in the door with Cami by my side, I spotted Delaney, Harley, and Mercy sitting at a table. The herd of single guys had already been allowed into the club. A guy in black leather looked like he was about to drop to his knees in front of Harley as he tried to work up the nerve to say something.
Harley put him out of his misery by speaking first. “You look like a man on a mission.”
It was too dark to see, but I was certain his cheeks were flushed. “First, I want to tell you that you are my favorite member of Reckless Release,” he said nervously.
“Thank you,” she told him. “That’s really sweet of you.”
“I would love to serve you,” he blurted out.
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“Oh!” Delaney interrupted. “The baby kicked. That was a big one. Do you feel that?” She grabbed Harley’s hand and put it on her belly. It seemed they were getting along well.
The young man grinned and shook his head. His gaze moved to Delaney. “Sorry, I didn’t know she was with you. I just assumed since you were here that you were looking for someone. Can I get your autograph?” he asked Harley.
“Absolutely,” she told him, grabbing a napkin and signing it with a pen Delaney produced from her bag.
“Does he think we’re a couple?” Delaney asked after he walked away, having caught up with the conversation. She’d been too engrossed with what was going on in her womb.
“He definitely thinks you and Harley are having a baby,” Cami replied as she took a seat beside Mercy.
I sat beside Harley.
“This has the potential to end up all over social media,” Harley muttered before looking over at Delaney. “Sorry.”
Delaney grinned. “It’s not a problem for me. Sebastian will think it’s hot, and this will be great publicity for me. I’ll bet people will buy my books because they think we’re sleeping together. Not to mention, you’re gorgeous.”
“You are a mess, Laney,” Mercy accused with a laugh.
“She sounds like a woman who knows how to utilize social media,” Harley added. “If you’re trying to get attention, this sort of thing is a great way to do it. It’s easily disproved, so it will only last a short time, but she’s right about it helping her sell books.”
“Why did you decide to have your ladies’ night here?” Mercy asked me. “I heard this was your idea.”
“I figured it was the only way to get you to hang out with us,” I replied. “You’re almost as bad as Lex.”
“Lies!” Mercy insisted.
“It’s true,” Delaney agreed. “You spend way too much time in a strip club.”
“You’ve said that twice already,” Mercy told her.
“It’s not the sort of thing one gets to say often,” Harley pointed out.
“Exactly!” Delaney agreed. “Not only is my girlfriend pretty, she’s also smart. Would it be weird if I asked you to take a picture of me kissing Harley so I can send it to Sebastian?”
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