Page 85 of Men in Shorts

They all made their way up the grand staircase, passing a twenty-foot-high stained-glass window. This wasn’t Ben’s first time staying in a castle—he and his mum had coordinated weddings at several across Scotland—but between the snow, the holiday, and the company, this one seemed downright magical.

Evan stood at the top of the stairs and helped Lord Andrew direct the guests to their rooms while Clive handed out towels, dressing gowns, and other necessities.

Ben held back, letting the others go first—partly out of wedding-planner courtesy but mostly so he could speak to Evan alone.

When it was Ben’s turn, Evan came to him and said, “You’re in the Stag suite, just over here.” Apparently each of the rooms was named after an animal, due to Lord and Lady Kirkross’s impassioned zoophilia.

“Stag sounds fun.” Ben followed him to a door not far from the stairway, noticing Evan hadn’t mentioned which room he himself was staying in.

Evan opened the door for him.

“Whaaaaaaat?” Ben exclaimed as he moved into the room, spinning round to take it all in. A king-size four-poster bed sat before a massive marble fireplace. Every fabric in sight held a sumptuous burgundy-and-gold pattern. Even the bed stairs were elegantly carved mahogany. “And there’s a sitting room, too. This is all for me?”

“You deserve it.”

“No doubt, but I ask again, is this all for me?” Ben slid his fingertips over the silky bedspread. “Seems a pity not to share.”

“Aye,” Evan said softly. He swept his gaze over the bed, then met Ben’s eyes. “Have you got a business card?”

That wasn’t the request Ben had expected, but he recovered quickly. “Why? You thinking of marrying soon?”

“Hmm.” Evan slipped his hands into his pockets and cocked his head. “I might do. One of Fergus’s cousins just came into a bit of money, and I rather fancy being a kept man.”

“Yes, you seem the sort who needs catered to. As am I.”

“Obviously.” Evan’s smirk morphed into a grin that weakened Ben’s knees.

In a move he hoped looked slick, Ben reached into his inside suit pocket and whipped out his sterling-silver business-card holder, a Christmas gift to himself.

Evan gave a low whistle. “Fancy.”

“Isn’t it just?” Ben slipped a card out and snapped the holder shut, then stepped close to Evan, who still smelled like snow. “Don’t lose it.” He reached out and gently took Evan’s right hand from his pocket, placed the card in his palm, then folded Evan’s fingers over it. “Okay?”

“Aye.” Evan’s thumb closed on the back of Ben’s fingers. It gave a single stroke, enough to send shock waves of desire down Ben’s spine.

This time, he couldn’t hide his shiver.

They shared an awkward laugh and let go. “Goodnight, then,” Ben said.

“Goodnight.” Evan crossed the threshold into the hallway, but when he reached back for the door, he hesitated. “Thanks, Ben.”

“For what?”

“For not believing the stories about me.”

“I don’tdisbelieve them, but I know they don’t tell the whole truth.” Ben went to the door and placed his hand just above Evan’s. “I believe there’s a whole other story. A story no one knows.” As he closed the door, he added, “Yet.”

Chapter3

Evan barely dozed,as always unable to sleep in a strange place. The castle was drafty, and the wind created a thousand noises that startled him awake again and again, heart pounding.

There’s no one there, he kept reminding himself.You’re safe and alone.

The breathing and self-grounding exercises his therapist had taught him helped to fend off full-blown panic attacks, but they were no match for tonight’s insomnia. It had been months since he’d needed a sedative to sleep, but even if he’d brought one, he wouldn’t take it now for fear of sleeping past breakfast—what could be his last chance to see Ben.

No, it wasn’t his last chance. Evan reached out to the bedside table and picked up Ben’s business card. He held it between his fingertips, caressing the corners and engraving on the elegant linen texture.

“I also believe there’s a whole other story.”

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