comfort in my words, but at least I tried being there for him.
My relationship with my son was tumultuous at best, but it was in the best place it had ever been since his mother, my dear Miranda, passed on.
I fell quiet and glanced away as the familiar ache in my heart swelled at the thought of Miranda. She would’ve been so proud of the man Declan had become. A powerful businessman at only twenty-five. He could hold his own in any boardroom, and for years, that was the only way I could connect with him.
It was the only thing we had in common when I was a selfish, unreliable prick.
She should’ve been here to witness this moment with our son.
Declan’s butler/wedding planner/friend, David, hurried along the aisle and pulled my thoughts away from my first wife. He explained that Owen had had a mishap but was on his way.
“I need my phone,” Declan growled, and I knew that sound. It was his no-bullshitting tone. If we didn’t do what he said, he’d likely storm out of his own wedding to find his groom and bring the man back with him to the altar.
“No, you don’t.” David didn’t budge and refused to hand over his phone. “Just a few more minutes.”
“Dammit. He’s already half an hour late. Charles, give me your phone.” He held out his hand and curled his fingers in a demanding gesture. I glanced between both men, not sure what to do.
“Uh, David said they’ll be here soon.” I made a feeble attempt to pacify my son. Only his intended was able to rattle him like this. Unfortunately, only his intended’s appearance would calm him down too.
“Give me the damn phone, Charles.”
Without a word, I gave him my phone, although David glared at me. He was quite facetious for the help, but I knew how close Declan was to his employees, so I refrained from saying anything.
If my son wanted to talk to his fiancé, damn it, he was allowed. It was obvious he was worried. I might not know Owen well enough, but the man would never deliberately let Declan wait at the altar.
When the call he placed was unsuccessful, Declan glowered at me like it was my fault his fiancé wasn’t picking up.
“Did you try calling one of his sons?” I offered.
“I don’t know their numbers off the top of my head.”
I tugged at my bow tie, breaking eye contact with him, and cleared my throat.
“Um, well, I think I have August’s number somewhere in my phone. Let me search for it.”
I took the phone from Declan and ignored the frown he gave me as I scrolled through my contact list. M.A. The night of the cancer benefit was never far from my mind, but I still had no idea why he’d saved his number under those initials in my phone.
I dialed the number, thrust the phone at Declan, and stepped back a little. I partly blocked out his conversation as I tried to even out my breathing. Whenever I thought about the night of the benefit, confusion washed over me.
It had been so bad that I’d even asked Declan about his sexuality, hoping his explanation would give me answers to all the questions swirling in my mind.
The night had been an emotional one, and my initial pleased reaction at having Declan agree to show up changed after I’d turned into a leaking faucet. Declan’s speech had left me with a lump in my throat, and August had spent the rest of the night patting my back.
And whispering words of comfort to me.
And holding my hand.
He’d only released it when I excused myself to use the bathroom.
I’d thought me leaving and returning would’ve broken the spell, but as soon as I sat down, he’d taken back my hand in his. Our hands had rested beneath the table on his thigh, and the entire evening, I’d sat dazed, confused at the nervous fluttering in my belly his touch caused.
The unexpected desire I felt for August was unwelcome. Not because I was straight. At least, I always thought of myself that way. If my eyes had lingered on men over the years, I’d dismissed it as simply good taste in appreciating how men carried themselves.
What I felt around August, however, could not be mistaken. Full-blown lust. Except this time, I didn’t know what to do about it.
August Long was off-limits. Not only was he way too young, but he was also about to be family. I’d been