The Captain and the Best Man

by Catherine Curzon

  “Or even fly back on your plane!” Josh bit into one of the buns. It was still warm. “Bloody hell, this is better than the one in the airport!”

  “Una’s magic like that. One day, if I dare, I’d like to wake up to this view every morning.” Guy squeezed Josh’s knee. “I’ve defended the realm and ticked off every plane I ever dreamed about—I’ve earned a bit of sunshine. Wouldn’t it be something?”

  “To live out here?” Josh gazed dreamily out at the view, then gazed dreamily at Guy. “Can you take early retirement or would you work out here?”

  “There used to be a marvelous little island-hopping bird out here, one chap and a couple of planes,” Guy recalled. “He just retired and nobody’s taken it over so there’s a gap in the market…” He laughed. “The problem is, I have zero business nous and no interest in admin. A sure-fire recipe for financial disaster!”

  “Oh yeah, you want to be careful!” Josh nodded. “You wouldn’t want to invest all your assets and overlook something crucial but not all that obvious, and…you’d be left with nothing but sand in your shoes and a winning smile.”

  “It is a very winning smile though.” He grinned. “But you’re right, I’d end up sleeping on the beach!”

  “You’d need to find a good business partner, definitely.” Josh sipped his drink. “Can Una and Noah recommend someone local?”

  “I’m in no hurry to hang up my wings,” Guy decided. “But this is paradise, isn’t it? I get here whenever I can. I’ve been coming to St Seb’s for nearly thirty years!”

  Josh was relieved that Guy wasn’t going to retire just yet, but a seed had settled in his mind. Guy was older than him, and if he retired to the Caribbean, Josh would still be Basingstoke, holding teamwork seminars with bored executives.

  But he wouldn’t think about that just now.

  “So when did you first come here, then?” Josh asked. “Was it when you first started to fly with BA?”

  “Long before that,” he admitted. “Pa was with the RAF too and he used to talk about this paradise he’d once seen from the air, like it was a dream he’d had. I was a bit of an adventurer back in those days so I made it my business to find it, and when I did, I fell for the place! I think I was maybe twenty, just about.”

  Josh tried to imagine what twenty-year-old Guy Collingwood had looked like. No silver in his hair, his skin smooth, but his eyes would still have twinkled, Josh was sure of it. “Quite a place to come when you’re twenty! And to be honest, when you’re twenty-nine too.” Josh lowered his voice, in case Guy’s answer to his next question was a sad one. “Did your dad get the chance to come here too?”

  “Once.” He smiled and shook his head. “He hated it, not enough to do for a busy fellow like him. He always had to be achieving. To him, sitting here like this would be time wasted, time when he could be doing something useful. He couldn’t see the value in just…this. Being still.”

  Had twenty-year-old Guy got on with his father? “Bet he was proud when you joined the RAF too.”

  “The first and last time.” Guy shrugged. “I did a lot of things to make Pa proud—I even got married to make Pa proud—none of it worked, the marriage certainly didn’t. Being gay though, that was the last straw. We were always very civilized, of course, but never exactly close. What about your folks?”

  Josh smoothed the back of Guy’s hand. Married? “Sorry you went through that. I can’t imagine you being with a woman… What a tough situation.” He scanned Guy’s expression for a moment, before going on. “Me? Well, my parents are cool with it. My dad’s sister married her girlfriend not long ago, and it was so nice seeing all the family there. Funny thing is, my mum said she’s proud of me, but couldn’t I do something a bit more interesting than HR! She reckons I should retrain as a teacher, but I dunno.”

  “I’m glad your parents are happy for you.” Guy lifted Josh’s hand and kissed it. “Because I don’t want there to be any surprises when we’re back in gray old England… I have a son and the divorce was a mess and—we haven’t seen each other in a decade.”

  Josh felt a pang for Guy, for the confident man who, he now realized, wasn’t as carefree as he first appeared. “Fuck—sorry. But, Guy…what a situation to end up in. You’ve got a son? I’m so sorry. Really. That must be so difficult for you.”

  “I did the typical absent dad thing,” he admitted. “When work took me off, I threw money at him as if that was a substitute for asking my boy how school was going. And I realized that way, way too late.”

  “You’re still his dad, though.” Josh cupped Guy’s face in his hand. The happy twinkle in his eyes was muted now. “You’ll always be a part of him. Even if you haven’t seen him.”

  “My dad wasn’t there for me and I did the same thing to my own son.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “I should’ve known better. I hope one day… Well, the phone might still ring.”

  Josh went back to his bun for a moment. He’d never had a boyfriend who was a dad before, and he wasn’t quite sure what to say. But he’d done enough coaching in his time to suggest, “Or his phone might ring?”

  “I wouldn’t dare, because he might not answer.” Guy took a sip from his glass. “If that changes anything for you, I really wouldn’t blame you, darling.”

  “It doesn’t change a thing.” Josh smiled. “Okay, I’ll admit I’ve never dated someone’s dad before, but…that’s cool. And if you want me to help you get back in touch with your son, somehow…if I can mediate or whatever, just say.”

  “That’s all the skeletons in my particular cupboard.” He smiled gently in reply. “Pretty standard middle-aged-ex-military-now-out stuff. I just wanted you to know who you’re with.”

  “Thanks. For being honest. I really appreciate it, Guy.” Josh brushed his fringe back from his face. “And I have to tell you that I don’t have any children, and I’m not a poet or a pearl diver, but I was on my school’s country dancing team and we did dance at the Hampshire County Fair. We came second—my mum’s still got my medal and the photo from the newspaper. That’s my skeleton!”

  “You scandalous thing!” He laughed, his gaze lighting up again. “And I told you last night that I’m single, but honestly, I’d be very happy if that’s no longer true. What do you say?”

  Josh smiled awkwardly at Guy. “Boyfriends? Yeah, okay, why not?”

  “God, I’m clumsy!” Guy pulled a comical grimace. “Out of practice and hopelessly dazzled by this gorgeous bloke I know!”

  “Sorry—I’m just…I’m just amazed you like me so much!” Josh laughed. “Honestly. You’re amazing, and I’m…well, I never thought I’d be the sort of person a handsome, dashing pilot would want to go out with. But I’m really glad I am!”

  “You bowled me over,” Guy admitted. “I blame that fringe, it’s deadly!”

  Josh let it fall over one eye and gave Guy a comical pout. “And for taking your bun! Admit it—you couldn’t resist a man who has the same taste in pastries as you.”

  “But if you hadn’t taken my bun, what would I’ve used as an excuse to talk to you?”

  “Seriously?” Josh took Guy’s hand again. “When did my fringe ensnare you, Captain Guy? I didn’t see you until you spoke, and I turned, and…there was this insanely attractive pilot stood there behind me in the queue.”

  A faint flush colored Guy’s cheeks as he admitted, “You were battling with your luggage tags just outside the duty free and you sort of…glanced up? And I thought, bloody hell, he’s gorgeous!”

  Josh blushed in sympathy with him. “I remember now… I was trying to put my shopping away. And realized I couldn’t cram anything more into my bag! I saw someone in blue just out of the corner of my eye, and thought, must be a pilot, which isn’t an unreasonable guess in an airport, but I couldn’t see you properly—because of my fringe!”

  “And then there you were, on my plane! So I sent Teri in to bat for me.” Guy grinned.

  “She must’ve worn a line in the carpet going backward and forwar
d with our messages!”

  “And when I managed a moment to see you, you were dead to the world!” He leaned forward and kissed Josh gently. “And still gorgeous.”

  “Shows what a smooth flight you’re capable of.” Josh tangled his fingers with Guy’s and raised an eyebrow. “You have such clever hands.”

  “Smooth.” Guy nodded. “I’ll take that.”

  “You’re pretty smooth all round, I’d say!” Josh beamed. As if to prove the point, Captain Collingwood settled his hands on Josh’s waist and scooped him out of his chair and into his own lap. The kiss that followed was just as smooth as Josh had said, but filled with heat too.

  Josh caressed the triangle of Guy’s chest that showed through the vee of his robe, then slipped his hand inside to Guy’s nipples. He tweaked them softly and was fairly sure he could feel something start to press against him through Guy’s robe. How he was going to be able to drag himself away later to meet Rey and all the others, he wasn’t sure. But at least he’d be able to slip from the gathering for a rendezvous with Guy.

  Guy’s moan of pleasure sent a thrill through him and he felt his lover’s hand in his hair, tangling softly. Concentrating on wedding rehearsals and polite conversation with the families was not going to be easy.

  “Back to bed?” Josh loosened the belt on his robe. He wasn’t going to risk full nudity on the balcony in daylight, but surely no one would mind an unfastened robe.

  “Another moment?” Guy took the champagne from the ice bucket. “I’m all yours.”

  Chapter Five

  Josh wasn’t paying much attention as he stood on the jetty, waiting for the hotel’s launch to arrive from the mainland.

  He was still picturing Guy, wearing only his shorts, casually splashing his way down the steps from Josh’s balcony and swimming back to his palace. His strong, tan back had looked so perfect against the blue sea and he had swum with his customary insouciant charm. Each stroke as he’d pulled himself through the water had seemed so easy, and Josh had watched him go, holding Guy’s shirt against his cheek, left for him as a souvenir. The shirt Josh was wearing now as he waited on the jetty.

  The roar of a speedboat interrupted Josh’s thoughts, and he waved as the wedding party arrived.

  There were the bride and groom, beaming and happy, four proud parents and a gaggle of assorted bridesmaids and relatives from both sides. Each looked as delighted as the next but Josh thought he saw just a hint of tightness in the face of Priscilla, the groom’s mother, but maybe that was to be expected. Weddings seemed inordinately stressful at the best of times, without flying across the globe to tie the knot.

  “Joshy!” Rey called, waving his hand. “Looking the part already! How’s island life?”

  “I am the most relaxed dude in the universe right now, Mr. Freddie Rey Reynolds!” Josh stood beside the hotel’s bellboy, the waves lapping the pillars of the jetty below, and helped to lift the suitcases and bags from the boat. “Did you guys have a good flight?”

  “Soon-to-be Mrs. Reynolds slept all the way here.” Rey laughed, earning a nudge from Stella. “So I had a great time!”

  “Oh, Rey!” Stella giggled. “Well, I don’t want big circles under my eyes in the wedding photos!” She was a lovely woman, Josh had to admit. They would be very happy together, he was sure.

  Josh leaned toward the boat, offering his hand to his friends as they climbed ashore. Martin, Rey’s father, greeted him with a firm clap on the shoulder and beamed. “Hello, best man! How’s that speech looking?”

  “It was pretty short once I made it suitable for Pris’ ears!” Josh grinned at Rey’s mum. She’d always liked Josh’s cheekiness, but not today apparently. Today she raised her sunglasses and narrowed her eyes at him. Sounding more serious now, Josh said, “Don’t worry, I won’t ruin the wedding, I promise.”

  Priscilla unpursed her lips for long enough to say, “You better not, Josh. There’s sharks out to sea, and I’ll be feeding you to them for their dinner if you’re not careful.”

  Josh watched her as she climbed out onto the jetty in her impractical kitten-heeled shoes. Someone clearly wasn’t coping with their jetlag.

  Not like Guy.

  “Didn’t I tell you, Stella?” Rey snuggled his fiancée close. “It’s paradise.”

  “It’s so gorgeous! This sunshine is so lovely, and I’m so warm already, and I can’t wait to get into the sea!” Stella twirled a length of her golden hair around her finger as she turned to Josh. “Although that’ll have to wait until after the wedding, because I don’t want to wreck my hair.”

  Josh wasn’t sure how to tell her that not all gay men were obsessed with hairdressing, but he let it slide.

  “Welcome to St Sebastian, everyone!” Josh said excitedly. “Do you want to get unpacked, then I can show you an amazing beach bar I found last night? It’s brilliant!”

  “Sounds like a plan!” Rey laughed, looking around. “What a place!”

  “I’m not sure I’ll be going to the beach bar,” Priscilla decided. “I’ll have a cocktail in the hotel bar, just us ladies! Mums, bride and bridesmaids.”

  “Behave,” Martin teased. “I’m not paying to bail you lot out!”

  Josh was two seconds away from asking Pris if she was going to join in with the limbo dancing advertised as that night’s hotel entertainment, but he decided it was best avoided. “Rey, do you want me to come and help you unpack your groom uniform?”

  “Yeah, with a few beers?” Rey patted Martin’s arm and grinned at Stella’s father. “See you in an hour, Dad? You two get a nap in pre-pub like proper old fellas?”

  “Very subtle, Freddie.” Martin shook his head. “We’ll see you later.”

  The party broke up and Josh wheeled Rey’s suitcase along behind him as they headed to the hotel.

  “You’ll love the beach bar,” Josh told him. “And the view from the cabins is amazing—just beautiful ocean, as far as you can see. The sound of the waves is so relaxing! I love it here.”

  “Mum’s not happy,” Rey told him. “Let’s hope paradise wins her over!”

  “I thought it was jet lag.” Josh winced. “Hope nothing goes wrong at the wedding, or maybe she really will feed me to the sharks!”

  “It’s the venue,” he sighed. “It’s way too depressing to go into. Let’s get unpacked and get the beers in, yeah? Have a good time?”

  On the way into the hotel, a beach vendor wandered up to them with a tray of jewelry. Josh would’ve walked past, but he stopped now to look at their wares. “Rey, why don’t you get Stella a little present? I’m going to get something…”

  Josh smiled at the vendor as he looked through the jewelry. He decided on two necklaces made from shells—not identical, as he chose one with blue and white shells for himself, and another with brown and cream for Guy. Complementary, rather than the same.

  “Go on, Rey…choose something for the woman of your dreams!”

  Rey paused, then selected a pretty shell bracelet in a rainbow of dazzling blues. As they walked on, he told Josh, “Did you see the dads? They’ve both been up since the crack—they’re ready to drop where they stand!”

  “No partying down the beach bar for them tonight!” Josh said.

  He led Rey to the reception desk to check in. It was all admirably quick and staff were dispatched to show the members of the party to their rooms. Josh, feeling like an old hand by now, led Rey toward the little hut on stilts that was his for the night. And tomorrow, he’d be a married man.

  “This is almost the same as my room!” Josh grinned. When his glance fell on the bed, he smiled to himself, remembering his night and morning with Guy. “There should be a couple of beers in your fridge…”

  “I might need more than a couple.” Rey opened the fridge and took out the beers. He tossed one over to Josh, who caught it. “I’m not going to lie, mate, I’m terrified! Groom’s nerves, Dad reckons.”

  Josh popped open the tab on the can. “It’s a big thing, isn’t it? Marriage…
committing to someone. And everyone wants it to be the perfect day, with nothing going wrong… It’s a hell of a lot of pressure. But don’t worry—I’m your best man and I will do everything I can to make your wedding run smoothly.”

  “And as we’re getting on the plane this morning—that bloody weather report hasn’t helped!”

  Josh nearly choked on his beer. He wiped the foam away from his mouth. “Weather report? Sorry, I haven’t heard anything about the weather—my phone’s conked out. And I’ve been…busy.”

  “There’s a tropical storm that might miss us. Or might hit us.” He opened his can. “Depending on which weather forecast you read!”

  “Oh, balls…” Josh tapped his finger against his can. “I noticed the wind picked up a bit last night, but it seemed really calm this morning. Let’s hope it doesn’t come anywhere near us!”

  “Right, let’s drink serious amounts of beer.” He took a long, deep swig. “And celebrate my last night as a single Freddie!”

  Josh put his arm around his friend’s shoulder and clinked his beer against Rey’s. “And no more wedding fears for Freddie Reynolds! You and Stella are great together, you make a lovely couple and I know you’ll be happy forever and ever. Even when you’re sitting side by side in front of the telly in your orthopedic reclining armchairs!”

  “Where’s this bar then?” Rey grinned. “We can drink this one as we walk.”

  “Follow me!” As they headed out of the hotel’s grounds and onto the beach, Josh could see the bar up ahead. Maybe Guy would be there, and he could introduce Rey to him, but he didn’t want to leap in and tell Rey, I’ve met the most amazing bloke and with a fair wind I’ll fall in love with him, because now was time for Rey and Stella’s romance.

  He’d have to ask the plus-one question at some point. Maybe another beer down the line.

  “I haven’t been to St Sebastian since I was about ten,” Rey confessed as they strolled. “And I’d remembered it as being perfect. And it is!”

  Josh hadn’t realized that Rey had been here before. He jabbed his thumb behind them, gesturing to their hotel. “Were you staying in the huts-on-stilts then too, or hadn’t they been built then?”