picturing all kinds of weird things. Ace popping the question to me, even though we’d talked and both agreed we didn’t need the formality of marriage to be committed to one another.
Besides, we had a house deed. Way more binding than a marriage certificate.
Or maybe Jeremy had some sort of intervention in mind? Maybe he’d cooked something up with Tracy, who’d changed majors and had gone into a graduate research program much more suited to her color-coded notes, to get us to move back home or … spend more time with family … or I don’t know what else. It didn’t make any sense.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Hey, guys,” Tracy piped up. She hugged me, smacked a kiss to Ace’s cheek, and then stepped up beside Jeremy. “We have some news.”
I looked between them, then noticed their laced hands.
“You’re kidding me.”
“What?” Jeremy said with a grin. “You think you’re the only brother who can fall in love with someone’s best friend?”
Ace laughed. “Wow, I’m happy for you guys.”
“Jeremy was always so competitive,” I joked. “Of course he had to get me back for taking his friend.”
“Hey, at least I didn’t hide it.”
“Psh. If you’re already in love, you definitely did hide it. How long has this been going on?!”
“A while,” Jeremy said vaguely.
Shaking my head, still trying to picture Jeremy and Tracy together, I had to admit it felt strange to be in his shoes. But it was so great seeing Jeremy happy again.
“But, seriously,” I repeated. “When? How? What? Where?”
Jeremy smirked. “Try not to have an aneurism.”
Oh, yeah, he was enjoying turning the tables on me. Tracy smiled faintly at him as if he was the cutest thing in the room. Gag.
“He picked me up that time my car broke down while you were out of town, remember?” she prompted. “You gave me his number, and we started texting.” She shrugged. “You know how it goes.”
“That was six months ago!” I turned to swat Jeremy’s arm. “You hypocrite. You were all worked up about me and Ace—”
“Not that worked up,” he muttered. “Besides, this just makes us even.”
“Oh my fucking God. I can’t even!”
Tracy and Ace looked at each other, and at the same time as if they’d rehearsed it, they said, “Brothers.”
Ace slung an arm around me, tucking me into his side as we followed Jeremy and Tracy to place an order. “Look at it this way. It’s not all bad. Maybe we can have couples vacations together. Maybe even a joint honeymoon.”
“I thought you said…”
He kissed my lips, cutting me short. “Never say never. We’re together for life, and it’s just getting started.”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I am still waiting on my tropical future.”
“You deserve sunny skies and pristine beaches.”
I sighed. “Piña coladas from sexy pool boys.”
He nudged me. “Coconuts falling on your disloyal ass.”
Jeremy and Tracy turned back to look at us giggling together. “What are you two going on about?”
We glanced at each other. “Nothing.”
“Just thinking about sandwiches.”
Sandwiches and happily-ever-afters. I might not have ridden off into the sunset like in fairy tales, but I still got swept off my feet by my secret admirer every single day.
It didn’t get much better than that.
THE END
Thank you for reading!
Thank you so much for reading Secret Admirer. If you have time to write a review, I’d greatly appreciate it. Even a few words can help an indie author like me!
If you want a little more of Benji and Ace, I have a bonus scene for you! Claim your copy of Tropical Heat.
If you’re new to reading my books, I recommend Five Fake Dates as a cute, lighthearted read similar to Secret Admirer. I have a lengthy backlist, including: the Hearts and Health series about medical professionals in a small town; and Marital Bliss, which explores fun wedding tropes. All of my books are listed on my Amazon page.
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About the Author
DJ Jamison is the author of more than a dozen m/m romances, including the Ashe Sentinel series and the Hearts and Health series. She writes a variety of queer characters, from gay to bisexual to asexual, with a focus on telling love stories that are more about common ground than lust at first sight. DJ grew up in the Midwest in a working-class family, and those influences can be found in her writing through characters coping with real-life problems: money troubles, workplace drama, family conflicts and, of course, falling in love. DJ spent more than a decade in the newspaper industry before chasing her first dream to write fiction. She spent a lifetime reading before that and continues to avidly devour her fellow authors’ books each night. She lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, two fish, one snake, and a sadistic cat named Birdie.
Books by DJ Jamison
Ashe Sentinel Connections
Changing Focus
Source of Protection
Rewriting His Love Life
Winter Blom
Hard Press
Chance for Christmas
Hearts and Health
Heart Trouble
Bedside Manner
Urgent Care
Room for Recovery
Surprise Delivery
Orderly Affair
Operation Makeover
Rapid Response
Marital Bliss
Surprise Groom
Wrangling a Groom
Nobody’s Groom
Real Estate Relations
Full Disclosure
Buyer’s Remorse
My Anti-Series
My Anti-Valentine
My Anti-Boyfriend
My Anti-Marriage
The Espinoza Boys
Earning Edie (m/f)
Catching Jaime (m/m)
Standalones
Love by Number
Yours for the Holiday
All I Want is You