Somebody to Hold (Tyler Jamison #2) - April Wilson Page 0,11
and I admit to getting jealous when I see guys fawning over Ian. “I fine with it as long as they’re not grabbing his ass.”
At that moment, a bare-chested, inebriated blond joins their little group, sliding up behind Ian. The guy puts his hands on Ian’s shoulders and tries to draw him back against him. That’s certainly crossing a line. I start to get up from my seat, intending to intervene, but Sam skillfully steps between them and sends the guy on his way.
“Relax,” Cooper says with a laugh. “Sam will look out for Ian.”
Cooper’s another late bloomer. He resisted coming out publicly until recently, after Sam left him because of it. Cooper had a choice to make—either come out and claim Sam or lose him for good. Obviously, love won, because he chose Sam. And now they’re engaged to be married.
I finish off my beer. “Have you two set a wedding date?”
Cooper grins at me. “Stop changing the subject, Jamison.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I resume watching Ian on the dance floor. As Ian laughs at something Sam said, his smile tugs at me.
I’m getting accustomed to the fact that Ian attracts a lot of attention wherever he goes. It’s not just because of his looks, although he has that in spades—six feet tall, lean muscles, bright green eyes lit with mischief. His looks draw people to him, yes, but it’s his personality that holds them captivated. He’s brazen and charismatic. He’s the belle of the ball.
And he’s mine.
To the outside world, Ian comes across as fearless, but I know better. I know him as the young man who, on the inside, is riddled with deep insecurities.
I’m glad Sam and Ian have hit it off well. Ian doesn’t have a lot of close friends, but since he met me, he can now add Miguel Rodriquez and Sam Harrison to the list. And my sister, Beth, and her husband, Shane. I want him to have a strong support network in case something happens to me.
In case I get locked up.
I force the thought from my head. There’s no use borrowing trouble ahead of time. I’ll face that issue if and when the time comes.
Tonight’s outing was Ian’s and Sam’s idea. Ever since they met, they’ve been nagging me and Cooper to go out. We finally agreed, mostly to shut them up.
Sapphires is Ian’s club of choice now, since Diablo’s closed after the owner, Roy Valdez, was shot dead on the deck of Ian’s yacht. Valdez, who turned out to be the serial killer I was hunting, attempted to add Ian to his list of murder victims. He failed. Miguel and I made sure of it. We both shot him—only forensics determined it was my bullet that ended Valdez’s life.
As far as I’m concerned, Roy Valdez got off easy. He brutally murdered—decapitated—three innocent men out of jealousy because they had the audacity to fuck Roy’s ex, Brad Turner. Valdez’s death was instantaneous. My bullet struck him in the heart, and he was likely dead before he hit the deck. But the men he murdered? Valdez made sure they suffered before they died.
The good-looking kid who’s been waiting on us all evening returns to our table. He’s dressed in a pair of tight, black leather shorts that barely cover his ass cheeks—and nothing else. He’s wearing blue eyeshadow and heavy eyeliner, and his cheeks are dusted with glitter. He looks barely old enough to work here.
The kid smiles, showing a set of matching dimples as he winks at Cooper. “Can I get either of you two daddies a refill?”
Apparently, our server is into silver foxes. Cooper’s in his mid-fifties—trim gray hair and beard. He’s a former Marine Corps sniper and now a shooting instructor at my brother-in-law’s company, McIntyre Security. When I consider the age difference between Cooper and Sam, I don’t feel quite so bad for robbing the cradle myself—I’m a good decade younger than Cooper. When it comes to an age gap, Cooper and Sam have us beat by a long shot.
“I’ll take a Coke this time,” Cooper tells the kid.
“Bottle of spring water for me,” I say.
Cooper and I are designated drivers tonight, and we’ve both met our limit of one beer.
After our server gives Cooper a come-hither smile, he heads back to the bar to fill our drink orders.
I shake my head at Cooper. “Did he just wink at you?”