to be done but you knew there was no way in hell you could make it happen, you brought out the big guns, the secret weapon, Leopold de Loughrey. Leo was awkward, sweet, and a genius. His smarts also made him vulnerable, bringing out a protective streak in the Kings, Jack, and Joker like no one had. The most recent exception was Bibi’s daughter, Lily. It also meant they were suckers when it came to Leo. No way Joker wasn’t going to wear the suit and top hat, not with Leo telling him he looked amazing and how proud he was of Joker for doing this for charity.
They used the front entrance of Sapphire Sands, the security team recognizing them immediately and allowing them inside. The event wasn’t due to start for another hour, but Ace wanted to go through the setup once more with all the bachelors up for auction. The place looked stunning, the decor in black and white to match the theme of the night. The usual heavy bass of club music had been replaced by big band music, and the raised plinths with dancing go-go boys in sparkly Sapphire Sands’ signature cyan shorts were absent. Black and white fabric covered the walls and draped from the ceiling, while elegant white glass palm trees with black and white feathered palm leaves had been positioned ever so meticulously around the club. It was classy yet fun.
“Do you have a will?” Jack asked as he approached Ace, who looked smooth in his black tuxedo, a tablet in one hand, pencil in the other.
Ace’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “That good, huh?”
“Only you would see your impending demise as good.”
“I haven’t been this excited since King admitted he’d fallen in love.”
Jack hummed. “Pretty sure that never happened.”
“It did. You weren’t there.”
“I was, and even after you guys left to have your heart-to-heart, I can say with absolute certainty that never happened. He never admitted to you that he’d fallen in love.”
“He said, ‘Ace, I’m in love.’”
“What’s it like living in that delusional little bubble of yours?”
“Magical.”
Jack laughed. Ace was such a nut. He followed Ace backstage, where Joker took one look at Ace and narrowed his eyes with murderous intent. Ace took several photos with his tablet. He might as well make his demise worth it. They walked through the whole auction part of the evening once again, and by the time they were done, the party had started. The place was packed with men in tuxedos, some of whom Jack recognized as clients. Although Sapphire Sands regularly hosted charity events that were open to the public, several were exclusive to members only, since Frank’s client list included powerful and wealthy men whose sexual identities or proclivities weren’t public knowledge.
Ace appeared beside Jack, his eyes gleaming with mischief. What had his friend done now? “Ooh, I spy with my little eye…”
“My fist about to punch you in the face?” Jack replied sweetly.
“A very glamorous-looking hairstylist.”
“What?” Jack scanned the crowd, his heart ready to beat out of him when he spotted Fitz. It was ridiculous the way his body reacted at the mere sight of the beautiful man. His pulse sped up, his stomach doing flips as everything around them seemed to fade away, even Ace. Sensing he was being watched, Fitz turned, his lips parting when he saw Jack. The music disappeared into the background, and somehow Jack managed to get his legs moving. They maneuvered through the crowd, then both stopped mere inches apart from the other. This had never happened to Jack before. He’d never been so captivated by a man that everything around them ceased to exist.
“Fitz.”
Jack hadn’t intended the name to sound like a breathless whisper, but breathless was a pretty apt description of himself right now. Beautiful didn’t seem an adequate word to describe the stunning, sinewy man, yet Fitz embodied it. The eyeshadow was subtle until it reached the smoky color that made his hooded green eyes pop, along with his long lashes. His chestnut-colored hair was softly curled and impeccably styled, his long bangs swept elegantly to one side, the rest curled away from his face and resting against his slender nape.
Fitz was the kind of man who stole your breath away. He was the same height as Jack, but the thick heels of his boots, peeking out from beneath the black wide-legged pants, made him taller than Jack by a couple of inches. The solid black button-down shirt turned sheer when it reached