Epilogue

FOUR WEEKS LATER

Cillian lifted the champagne glass. While Anthony had invited him out to the rather fancy restaurant, Cillian had ordered the bubbles to celebrate. “To surviving your first week.”

Anthony tapped his glass against Cillian’s. “Thank you. It definitely felt like survival for the first two days.”

They both took a sip. From the way Anthony watched him, he wanted to say something. So Cillian took his time drinking and placing his glass on the table, wanting to leave the space open for him.

“You helped me… but I didn’t help you.” He actually seemed concerned, which was cute.

Cillian spun the glass, staring at it and giving himself a moment to breathe and find the words. “You did, because for the first time, I was able to talk about all of it. Which meant I was able to tell Dahlia and my therapist… and that’s been…” He wouldn’t say good, but it was better than carrying the shame and guilt.

“A process?” Anthony offered.

He glanced up. “Yeah, a process. I’m glad that I was at the party and came up with the genius plan of asking you for help.”

He never could have predicted that they’d end up dating, but somehow, in talking to Anthony and getting to know him, he’d started to like him. To enjoy being around him. He wasn’t another artist, nor did he sneer at his cobbled-together work.

“It was a brilliant plan,” Anthony said.

Tomorrow, Anthony was moving in to pet sit while he was away for a couple of weeks, which gave them the weekend together. After lying low for a couple of weeks and then the fallout from Hayden’s troubles… things had been tumultuous at best.

The divorce hearing had been pushed back. Hayden was in all kinds of hot water, and while Cillian had been holding his breath, expecting retaliation, so far there had been none. Dahlia has assured him that if Hayden did anything, things would become much worse for him.

“No trouble at work?”

Anthony took a drink and set his glass down. “None. Margot spoke to him after one of the neighbors called the cops, but I don’t know what was said, only that she handed over the recordings to the cops when asked. I think it’s the first time she’d ever seen that side of him. She apologized for not believing me when I complained about how bad he was growing up.”

“What I don’t understand is why he went to all that trouble instead of paying Bianca out. It wasn’t even that much.”

“I guess it felt like he was losing.”

“But he has so much.”

“She left him, for reasons only she knows?—”

Cillian lifted his eyebrows, having heard stories about his own grandfather before he became too ill to do anything but shout at people from his seat, and his uncle’s rage at his wife leaving, he could imagine the things Hayden was capable of. “If he had a temper tantrum at your sister’s front door…”

Anthony inclined his head in agreement. “I want to put all of that aside until I have to testify at his trial.”

Cillian glanced up from the menu. “Trial?”

“He’s a lawyer who was caught blackmailing multiple people to avoid paying his ex-wife. He’s going to have his ass hauled over the coals.”

Cillian grimaced. While he hoped karma chewed Hayden up and spat him out, he didn’t want to be a part of it. “Let’s not talk about him until we have to.”

“Agreed.”

“Did you used to come here?” Was this where Anthony took his boyfriends before?

“No. Never been here. I wanted to try something new with you.” Anthony brushed his fingers over the back of Cillian’s hand. “Make new memories. A new life.”

A smile curved his lips. “In my old apartment.”

“It’s an easy train ride for me, and I work normal hours. You aren’t worried that I’ll sell all your furniture while you’re away?”

Cillian finished the glass of bubbly. “Spoken like someone who hasn’t peeked beneath the sofa covering.”

“What do you mean?”

He topped up his glass. “That sofa was there when my friend got the apartment. It has been around the block more than once and has some stories to tell.”

“Don’t we all.”

“True. I put the white cover on it, hoping to make the place appear bigger and less like a university dive, but it shows every ginger hair.”

Anthony laughed. “Maybe it’s time for a new cover.”

“Have you got secret interior design skills?”

“Not really. I used to pay someone to do that.”

“Welcome to living like the rest of us.”

Something flickered in Anthony’s eyes. “Can I ask what you did with your competition wins?”

Cillian paused, even though it was a valid question. “Why?”

“You don’t have a flashy car or lifestyle, but you seem very comfortable.”

“I am. Because I don’t live a flashy life. With the first small one, I bought the piano, With the bigger one, I bought the car and invested the rest. I don’t want to retire a penniless artist on my brother’s farm in the middle of nowhere, so I am fairly careful how I spend my income.” Money wasn’t something they’d talked about aside from the fact that he earned it in a variety of ways and Anthony had lost all of his.

Anthony nodded. “I won’t be retiring penniless either.”

“Why’s that? I thought it was gone?”

“Everything except my superannuation. With compound interest over the next thirty years…” Anthony picked up his glass and smiled. “I had a good lawyer.”

“This is not a prelude to you…?” He didn’t want to say “return to a life of crime,” even though that’s what he meant.

“No. I’m not going back. It was hollow and lonely, and I’d much rather curl up on your dodgy sofa with you and Snap than be making deals of any kind. I mean that. I love you, and I don’t want to fuck this up.”

Cillian drew in a sharp breath. “I love you, too.”

That had become clear while they were staying apart. He’d missed Anthony far too much for it to be anything but love.

Anthony reached into his pocket, and Cillian nearly died.

“This is for you. While you’re away.” Anthony held out a slip of paper.

Cillian accepted the paper and scanned it. A smile curved his lips as he realized what it was from. “We should make sure the app works before I leave.”

Anthony nodded; lips pressed together.

“Are you…?” He lifted his brows and looked at Anthony and then the paper, which held the details to connect the app and the plug.

“God, no, I am not that bold, but I considered it about for a nano-second. I just thought… if you want… while you’re away…”

“I do want.” He wanted Anthony on his knees while he controlled the plug. “I wondered how long it would take you to ask.”

“How did you know?”

He shrugged. “I saw it on the box when you sent me a pic.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I figured you’d say something when you were ready, or if you hated it, you’d never mention it again.”

“Thank you for the space to experiment.”

Cillian topped up Anthony’s glass and his own. “A new toast. To us and the future.”

Anthony lifted his glass. “To us.”

Cillian noticed their waitress approaching. “We’d better ask for a couple more minutes. I haven’t looked past the entrees.” He held up his hand, indicating that they needed another five minutes but knowing that even five years wouldn’t be enough.

He wanted forever.

Find more men who are good with their hands in Provoking the Punter

For these polar opposites, the most interesting plays happen off the field

Garrett Stevens is done with scandal. The drinking, the hookups…he’s over it all. It’s time to grow up and focus on his pro football career. The last thing he needs is a new romance. So why can’t he keep his mind (or hands) off the sexy bar owner who makes him question everything he thought he ever wanted in life?

Chester Monroe is too busy working day and night, making his business a success, to worry about finding love . Even if he was looking for a relationship, it wouldn’t be with someone famous. Which meant getting involved with Garrett was definitely a mistake. The easiest one Chester ever made…

When all is said and done, will the memories of the past—and the secrets of the present—destroy Garrett and Chester’s shot at happily ever after?

There’s only one way to find out…