to go.”
“Who knew you could fit all that stuff in your apartment, anyway?”
“It’s truly a talent.” Patrick lightly chuckled before he leaned toward me, close enough to lean in for a kiss.
But he stopped himself as he took a step away from me instead. “Sorry. I forgot about the cameras—”
I cut him off with a kiss of my own, casually pressing my lips against him before I proceeded to gently kiss him on the cheek, even leaving a kiss on his forehead, too.
“You know I don’t care about the cameras,” I murmured.
Patrick smiled. “I know that you don’t care about the cameras. And really, I don’t care about the cameras, either. I just thought that maybe Nike had some guidelines or something—”
“If any company ever has any guidelines about whether or not I can kiss you on film, that’s not a company I’m ever going to work with.”
“Oh, we don’t have anything like that as part of our guidelines,” a camerawoman said, with her gear now very close to Patrick and me. “Actually, we’d love it if we could find out more about you two and your relationship. You’re the owner of the dance studio, right?”
“Yes?” Patrick eyed her with suspicion. “I’m the owner. Patrick—”
“McEntire,” she finished his name for him. “You used to be with that ballet company, the one that just won an award for their last ballet season.”
“Yep. That’s me.”
“You were the principal dancer there, weren’t you?” She went on. “And you identify as gay?”
“I was and I do.”
“Great! That’s perfect,” she replied. “If you don’t mind, would it be okay if we sat in on one of your classes, too? It’d really be a great addition to our Pride month coverage of queer athletes—”
“No, thank you.”
“But it’d be a great opportunity—”
“I think covering Hunter and the studio is going to be enough coverage for the both of us,” Patrick explained. “Besides, I don’t want people thinking that we’re in one of those weird relationships where we’re both vying for camera time.”
“You don’t have to bow out of being in the ad just because of me,” I murmured.
“It’s not just because of you,” he murmured right back. “I think I’m done with being the center of attention. The less I have to think about what other people think of me or what I look like on camera, the better.”
“Okay. As long as you’re sure.” I smiled down at him before I pressed another kiss against his lips.
And just then, I heard a small gasp escape from the camerawoman’s chest. “Is that a… I’m sorry for asking, but is that an engagement ring on your finger, Mr. McEntire? Are you two engaged?”
“You know what? No more questions.” Patrick smiled over at the camerawoman before he turned to leave the room.
“You heard the man,” I reiterated his point, brining my focus back to my class of students, even as I felt the camerawoman’s stare lingering on my ring finger.
I smiled to myself, for what felt like the millionth time today, as I thought about how happy I was with my current life. I couldn’t have asked for a better fiancé, or a better sister, or a better dance studio or a better job, one where I always had the opportunity to be honest about my past and my experiences, one where I always felt like I was able to help and inspire members of the next generation.
I then bent down to press the play button on a boombox I’d borrowed from one of Patrick’s other classes before I looked back over at my students.
“That was good! That was really good.” I beamed at the students. “Okay, now this time with music.”
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From the moment Damien walked into my gym, I knew he was trouble. But I couldn’t resist when he gestured for me to follow him to the locker room. I watched as his workout clothes dropped from his perfectly-toned body, but I couldn’t keep my distance for long. Little did I know, we’d met before, but this time he made it clear he wanted to show me something I’d never forget.
Also by Jason Collins
Mountain Men Series:
Rugged Guard (Mountain Men Book 1)
Jagged Edge (Mountain Men Book 2)
Savage Daddy (Mountain Men Book 3)
Close Quarters Series:
Suddenly Daddy (Close Quarters Book 1)
Suddenly Royal (Close Quarters Book 2)
Suddenly Stranger (Close Quarters Book 3)
Femme Fox Series:
Pretty (Femme Fox Book 1)
Beautiful (Femme Fox Book 2)
Gorgeous (Femme Fox Book 3)
Fairview Single Dads Series:
Dads with Benefits (Fairview Single Dads Book 1)
Fixer Upper (Fairview Single Dads Book 2)
The Millionaire’s Nanny (Fairview Single Dads Book 3)
Worth the Weight Series:
Weight for Love (Worth the Weight Book 1)
Hard Tackle (Worth the Weight Book 2)
The Bodyguard (Worth the Weight Book 3)
Submission Series:
Obedience (Submission Book 1)
Once Burned (Submission Book 2)
Defiance (Submission Book 3)
Standalone Novels:
My Sister’s Boyfriend
Beast
Destination Wedding
Pink
Protecting the Billionaire
The Weight is Over
Three
His Submissive
The Boyfriend Contract
Chasing Heat
Hard to Know
Hightower Heat Series:
Private Eye (Hightower Heat Book 1)
My Bounty (Hightower Heat Book 2)
Guarded (Hightower Heat Book 3)
Island Resort Series:
Perfect Fit (Island Resort Book 1)
The Deep End (Island Resort Book 2)
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