by C J Baty
Justin said and hung up. Marcus could hear him yelling to someone else at the hotel as the phone went silent.
Right on time, Marcus pulled his Sonata up in front of the Warfield Hotel. As he stepped from his car, his eyes drifted across the front of the building, and he smiled. It looked exactly as it had looked the very first time Marcus had seen it all those summers ago. The restoration team had done an amazing job rebuilding the section of the hotel that had been completely destroyed in the explosion. His vision was flooded with memories of all the times he’d stood in this exact spot and the many ways his life had changed since first coming here.
A familiar body stepped through the front doors and walked down the steps to meet him. Robert Wyler was not at all what his appearance said he should be. A large man, made of mostly muscle, he was fierce looking with the long hair, bulging biceps roped with tattoos, and a hardened face. But when he smiled and those gray eyes danced with mirth, he looked like a huge teddy bear. He gathered Marcus into his arms and gave him a hard squeeze. Not quite enough to cut off the air from his lungs but enough to cause him to grunt loudly at the impact.
“He’s been walking the floor since eight o’clock this morning. I’m glad you’re finally here. Maybe he won’t wear a huge hole in the new carpet now,” Robert said, and a loud roar of a laugh bellowed from his body.
Marcus laughed as well, and the two of them walked up the front steps and through the door to the hotel.
Marcus’s eyes observed the lobby, and he could see the many additions that had been finished since the last time he was there. As his gaze traveled around the room, his eyes finally took in the sight he’d been looking for.
Justin Warfield stood across the room staring at him, a mischievous grin lighting up has handsome face. The air froze in Marcus’s lungs as he stared back at Justin. His body, still lean and so fucking sexy, stood relaxed with his arms folded across his chest. Marcus knew that under that amazingly tailored suit and shirt there lay a firm chest dusted with light golden hair.
His fingers itched to touch, and he licked his lips at the thought. One light-brown brow arched over Justin’s right eye with a “I know what you’re thinking” look on his face; he chuckled.
A commotion at the lobby drew them away from staring at each other.
Marcus watched as Justin joined a group of employees all gathered around a computer at the checkin desk. Everyone was pointing at the screen and trying to talk over each other. Robert looked up as Justin approached.
“Let’s just be sure every reservation has a room.” Justin smiled warmly at the staff. “We’ll figure the rest of the program out as we go. It’s going to be fine, everyone.”
Justin left the now quieter group of people and crossed the lobby to stand before Marcus.
“Marcus,” Justin barely breathed his name.
It was always the same. That instant rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. The way his body reacted to the nearness of Justin never ceased to amaze him. It made him ache in the most delicious way. He wondered would this feeling of desire ever change? Settle into something softer, ordinary?
Marcus grinned. No, he didn’t think it would.
The first kiss was a soft brush of lips to lips. Tasting sweet and tender and feeling like: “God, I missed you.” They didn’t have to say the words out loud.
They were spoken in the silent language only the two of them shared.
But it always became more. Heat and need mingled together with love and passion to form the joining that only their two spirits together could be.
Before they knew it, hands were exploring and grasping and breathing was becoming shallow and the world had faded away. So when a voice yelling startled them from their bubble, it jolted them apart momentarily.
Peter clapped a hand on each of their shoulders and squeezed. He laughed then spoke quietly so Marcus had to listen carefully to hear him.
“I suggest you take this somewhere a little more private before the staff gets a show they weren’t prepared to see.” Peter dropped his hands then added,
“But first I need a hug.” Grabbing Marcus, Peter wrapped his arms around him and slapped his back with his big hands. Laughing the whole time.
Robert joined the group of friends and Marcus marveled at how much these men had come to mean to him. Each of them held a special place in his heart.
“I say we all go down to the new bar and drink a toast to the Warfield Hotel and its grand re-opening.” Peter pushed Justin and Marcus down the hall toward the bar and motioned for Robert to follow.
Once Robert had shown Marcus around the new venue, the four friends stood around the bar and waited for Robert to fill their glasses. Marcus raised his glass first.
“Here’s to the Warfield,” Marcus stated.
“Here, here!” the others joined in.
ALSO FROM C.J. BATY
The Warfield Hotel Mysteries
Drifting Sands
Roaring Waters (Release Date July 2017)
Pinkerton Man Series
The Pinkerton Man, #1 & #2
Whispers, Rumors & Lies
Island Paradise
A Buggy Ride for Christmas
DRIFTING SANDS
Book 1 – The Warfield Hotel Mysteries
––––––––
As he approaches his fortieth birthday, Justin Warfield feels alone, drifting like the sand that blows along, the beach near his family’s hotel. He has done exactly as his father wanted. Married the right girl and carried on the family tradition of running the Warfield Hotel. On paper things seem perfect, but happiness hasn’t been a part of his life for a very long time.
Marcus Drummond once spent a summer with his best friend, Peter, at the Warfield Hotel and fell hard for Peter’s much older brother. Five years later he’s back, and this time hopes that Justin will see him as more than his kid brother’s friend.
Sparks fly when the two meet again, but there are a few things standing in their way. The closet that Justin has himself buried in and someone on a killing spree, dumping bodies on the Warfield beach . . . victims that indicate Justin may be involved in some way.
