Cherish & Blessed (19 page)

And the trial. And whatever came next for Griffin’s career. The norm for them now was other people’s space and ever-changing schedules, and Jim saw the flash of concern in Griffin’s expression, the little wrinkles between his eyebrows he’d swear didn’t exist yet. So he smiled.

He didn’t bring up the obstacles or anything else.

“Yeah, definitely” was all he said.

T
HE
LIMO
pulled in behind an SUV and a flashy blue Fiat.

“Shane and Helena must be here,” Griffin said, stretching as he stepped out of the car. The sun beat down, sending little chills down his arms and legs after the freezing interior of the car. He smelled like cologne (Jim’s) and sex (also Jim), and when it mixed with the surf, he felt his spine unhitch for the first time in forever. They should bottle this scent and call it “Hells Yeah.”

“And Matt and Evan.” Jim got out and stood behind him, wrapping one arm around Griffin’s waist. “That everybody?”

“Yeah. Bennett’s mom wasn’t feeling up to the drive. His brother’s at some heart surgeon conference in Bora Bora or something.”

“Of course he is.” His voice held a thinly veiled nuance of “seriously” that made Griffin snicker.

Jim kissed Griffin’s ear, sliding his hand down to rest against the curve of his ass as Griffin purred with happiness. He hated when they fought, hated when he felt unsure about what was next. And yeah, maybe they used sex to reconnect, but whatever. Everything felt perfect when they were so close like this—heart, mind, and body aligned so precisely Griffin felt like he could feel Jim’s pulse in his own veins.

“Good group,” Jim said conversationally, wickedly exhaling against the sensitive skin under Griffin’s ear.

Griffin was going to melt in a puddle if he kept that up.

“Yeah.” Griffin’s voice shuddered a bit. Thankfully the door opened and Daisy appeared, or else Griffin was going to tell Vince to take them on another lap of Long Island so he could get Jim back on that leather seat.

“Griff!” Daisy squealed, running down the stairs. Her little white cotton dress barely contained what she’d taken to referring to as “watermelon boobs.” Her bare feet smacked against the wood.

At that second, only a hug from Daisy could pull him away from Jim.

Repairing their wounded relationship after the debacle with her ex-husband and the Ed Kelly script turned out to be both complicated and vital to both their happiness. In many ways, they were no longer Griffin-and-Daisy as they’d been for so many years—a duo locked in a platonic marriage of mutual dependency. No, they’d both grown up, found other passions and other directions, found truth and love. And for all the joy Griffin felt now, being with Jim and the direction of his career, it didn’t feel right without his best friend.

They hugged, Daisy’s arms tight around his neck as they exchanged a flurry of kisses.

“Hi, Jim!” Daisy called, leaning around Griffin’s torso to smile in his direction. “Thanks for coming!”

Jim and Daisy’s relationship—if it could even be called that—was another matter entirely. Daisy remained wary around Jim (despite the fact that he’d once saved her life), very aware of how her past behavior angered him. And she wasn’t wrong. Jim held a grudge because she’d hurt Griffin, which on the one hand made Griffin’s heart sing.

No, on both hands it made his heart sing. Jim couldn’t forgive people who hurt Griffin, even if Griffin had.

But now that they’d fully reconciled, Jim had agreed to be civil, especially when Bennett and Daisy made Griffin Sadie’s godfather. They were family, maybe even more than Griffin’s dad and sisters and their extended families. And Jim was part of their circle whether he liked it or not.

“A weekend at the beach—always up for that.” Jim looked up at the house, then back to Daisy. “So this is like you guys slumming, right?”

Daisy tittered, a little overenthusiastic at Jim’s lame joke. “Yes. Welcome to our little beach shack!”

Daisy led them into the house, her arm around Griffin’s waist, Jim following with the bags. They each made the appropriate noises about how beautiful the place was thanks to Daisy’s fantastic decorating job. Griffin admired the art and the fireplace. Jim seemed more inclined to appreciate the expansive kitchen and fully stocked bar. Daisy promised the grand tour later but first wanted to get them settled into their rooms.

Their guest suite was shades of cream and brown, with a soft tan rug and enormous king-size bed. Griffin made happy noises over the two-person tub—Daisy knew him too well.

“Bennett and everyone else are on the deck. Dinner’s almost ready. We’re grilling!” Daisy said excitedly. Griffin knew her exuberance was because they were handling their own cooking for the weekend, which made Daisy think she was Martha Stewart.

He stuck his tongue out when Jim rolled his eyes.

“Jim, there’s steak and lobster.” Daisy stood by the door, bouncing on her toes. “And cobbler. And um—we got chips! The spicy kind you like?” She wanted to please him so badly that Griffin used all his boyfriend telepathy to get Jim to respond.

“Wow, that sounds great,” Jim said politely.

Daisy beamed. “Oh, and beer! We have beer.”

“Even better.” Jim looked around and spotted the bag with the desserts sitting on the bed. “Oh right—during our little misadventure with the car, I picked up some pies from this farmers’ market.”

Daisy cooed over the sweets like Jim had instead brought spun gold and new shoes for her. She promised to bring them downstairs and refrigerate them. (“That’s what you do, right?” she whispered to Griffin, who googled it on his phone. Apparently yes, you put them in the fridge.) Then she took her leave, telling them to join everyone in the back when they were ready.

Griffin interrupted Jim’s nosy cabinet snooping to give him a tight hug.

“Thank you.”

“I’m trying.”

“I know.” Griffin kissed Jim long and slow, loving the feeling of those muscled arms around his body, the way Jim rubbed his back gently.

He felt words bubble up inside him, things that had been filling his thoughts for months now, but he was still a little afraid of saying them out loud. He held on to Jim tighter instead.

E
VAN
WAS
not a man who yearned for a life of wealth and leisure, but sitting on a lounger with a view of the Atlantic Ocean, a cold beer in hand and a brisk breeze ushering in the sunset on the deck of a mansion? Well, he was considering playing the lottery when he got home.

Because this was freaking fabulous.

Bennett manned the grill, chatting with Shane and Helena, who were cuddled close together, each holding a glass of champagne and raspberries. Evan tried to remember ever seeing his former partner and close friend look so… chic. Since falling in love with Shane, Helena had changed her style and her life—suddenly her clothes were designer, her life was filled with things Evan thought only happened in movies, and the matrimonial rock on her finger made Evan’s eyes water.

He didn’t say it out loud, but he was in wait mode for her to hand in her resignation. At some point being a cop wasn’t going to be the life Helena wanted.

Evan also knew that even if he did win the lottery, he would
never leave his job. Hell, when retirement eventually came, he was pretty sure they’d have to change the locks to get him to settle down and not come to work.

Maybe he’d just join Matt’s little security firm at that point. Couples worked together without mishap, right?

Across the way, Jim and Matt were deep in conversation, feet in the pool, drinks in hand. It looked serious, though with the occasional gesture from Matt toward the house, Evan figured it had to do with the security system.

Under the awning, Daisy and Griffin were tucked onto the wicker sofa with little Sadie in her godfather’s arms. Over time, Evan and Griffin had slowly worked their way into a friendship; Griffin had a sassy mouth and loved nothing better than to make Evan blush, but Evan was aware that underneath it all lay Griffin’s good heart and sincere intentions.

Evan was also very aware of and familiar with the expression on Griffin’s face as he cuddled the baby in his arms.

Baby fever.

Evan remembered it well. Even after Miranda and Katie were born, when they were young and struggling and exhausted, he and Sherri would see a newborn and look at each other, not having to say a word, thoughts communicated through a mutual connection of want. The twins were anything but an accident—Evan and Sherri wanted more kids, and only money stopped them from going for number five.

Everyone else greeted the baby with coos and smiles when she’d made her first appearance to the group. Matt had even stooped to baby talk, much to everyone’s delight and amusement. But the only one with that longing stare? That projection of a heart’s desire beamed out from his gaze?

Griffin.

Jim looked at Sadie like a tiny nuclear bomb with a tricky off switch, and Griffin clearly saw a dream come true.

Evan took a sip of his beer and resolved to have a chat with his young friend before the weekend was over.

M
ATT
KICKED
back in the dining room chair, patting his stomach with a happy sigh. Amazing what a five-thousand-dollar grill could do to a choice piece of New York filet mignon.

Lobster, champagne, potatoes the size of footballs. God, he ate well with this crowd. And he was going for a run in the morning—a decision that seemed well made and quite necessary when Daisy started talking about a recipe she’d found for stuffed french toast.

Movie star turned Holly Homemaker—at least for the weekend.

Everyone at the table was full and buzzed except for Daisy (breastfeeding) and Griffin (“I’m holding the baby! Are you insane?”), the atmosphere relaxed and heavenly. Matt wanted to lie on the floor under the ceiling fan and take a nice nap.

“We’re going to start a fire down on the beach,” Bennett said, holding Daisy’s hand on the tabletop. “For anyone who feels like joining us.”

“I’m going to give Sadie a bath—” Daisy started, but Griffin, who hadn’t relinquished the baby in a good three hours, not even during leaking diaper mishaps or squirmy unhappiness or feeding time (breast milk in a bottle), quickly cut in.

“I’ll do it. You go down and spend some time with your husband.”

Daisy and Bennett shared a little smile. “You sure you can handle it? She’s pretty wiggly,” Bennett said, more teasing than an actual warning.

Griffin looked indignant. “I have like a hundred nieces and nephews! None of them has ever suffered a mishap in my care.”

“Can’t keep a fern alive, but good with babies,” Jim deadpanned on the other side of Griffin. He got a glare in return.

“Ferns don’t have an early warning system like vocal chords,” Helena said, clearly chiming in as a person who’d killed many a houseplant. “Entirely different care routines.”

“Is this supposed to be convincing me to go to the beach?” Daisy laughed as she stood up. “Come on, Griffin, we’ll give Sadie a bath, the boys can do the dishes, and then we’ll all head out.”

“Fine,” Griffin said, standing up gingerly as Sadie gazed up at him with big sleepy eyes. Evan watched Griffin leave the room, his expression one that Matt associated with his boyfriend being concerned. When Evan noticed Matt’s gaze on him, he shook his head.

“Tell you later,” he murmured as he gathered the plates closest to him.

Matt was good at dishes, good at setting a kitchen to rights efficiently, even managing less than skilled helpers. He quickly became the dude in charge, directing Shane and Helena to clean the table and Jim to scrape the grill. In less than a half hour, everything was finished to Matt’s satisfaction.

“A man of hidden talents,” Bennett proclaimed, clapping him on the back. He’d earned a thumbs-up for knowing where everything went once it was clean. “Evan, you are a lucky man.”

Evan, leaning against the counter with a smile across his lips, nodded slowly. “Agreed,” he said, a flash of something sexy wicked in his blue eyes. Matt gave him an incredibly obvious waggle of his eyebrows in return.