Chapter Six

Will Has A Heart Attack. Well—Almost.

Will paused at the door to the ballroom. Music came from inside, and the murmur of voices.

"They won't eat you, y'know," Aiden assured him. Then he grinned. "Okay, they might nibble you a little, but only where the teeth marks won't be visible."

Will glanced at him. "You're not helping." It felt as though every single muscle in his body was twitching, and it was touch and go whether he'd throw up or not. He wiped his hands on his pants.

"What's to be nervous about? You're only marrying their only daughter, you're the first boyfriend she's ever brought to meet them… They've been waiting years for this."

He glared at Aiden. "I bet your students really hate you, don't they? They hang photos of you on the wall and throw darts at it. I'm right, aren't I?"

You've seen me naked. Not many guys had gotten to do that, and certainly none who ticked all Will's boxes.

To his surprise, Aiden placed his hand on Will's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It'll be fine, I promise. They can't wait to meet you. How could they not like you? You're in love with their baby girl."

Yeah, that really set his stomach clenching.

This needs to be the performance of a lifetime.

Will squared his shoulders, and Aiden removed his hand. Will took a deep breath.

"Okay, let's do this."

He pushed the door open and walked into the ballroom.

Oh wow.

The square room was done in white and gold, with a blue carpet decorated with an elaborate paler blue pattern. Sepia prints beneath wall lights provided accents for the white walls and pilasters. Chandeliers sparkled, and recessed lights added to the effect, so that every corner of the room was illuminated. Round tables draped in white cloths, surrounded by brown chairs took up most of the floor space, with one end of the room obviously for dancing. There were already guests seated at the tables and standing around, chatting, and a table decorated with a huge floral display dominated the center of the room.

Becca stood there, talking with an older couple who had to be her parents. When she saw Will, she let out a squeal and hurtled across the room toward him. She planted an exuberant kiss on his cheek, then leaned in close.

"Where have you been?" she whispered.

"You wanted me to make a good impression, didn't you?" Will said while smiling and nodding at all the guests who'd turned to look.

Becca glared at Aiden. "You took your time. What did you do, walk up the stairs?"

Aiden held up his hands. "Hey, I got him here in one piece, didn't I?" He rolled his eyes. "I believe the next words from your mouth are ‘Thank you, Aide'?"

That earned him another glare. "After that stunt you pulled in the lobby? You have got some serious ass-kissing to do before I utter those words."

Will cleared his throat.

The parents were advancing on them.

Becca turned and beamed at them. "Mom, Dad, this is Will."

Her dad shook his hand. "Good to meet you, Will."

It was easy to see Aiden took after his dad. They both had the same jawline, their eyes were the same shade of blue… Only difference was his dad's lack of hair.

Her mom gave him a polite smile. "Hello, Will. I'd like to say I've heard so much about you." She flashed Becca a glance. "Except that would be a lie. We're both really happy you could make it to the party." She gave him a brief hug. "So, have you two talked about a date yet?"

"Mom!" Becca gaped at her. "You've literally just met him, and already you're planning? And the answer is no, we haven't. We only got engaged a week ago."

"Nine days to be exact, but who's counting?" Her mom gestured to the center table. "Come and sit down, and we can talk."

Will felt like the proverbial rabbit caught in a car's headlights.

"Mom, you can interrogate—I mean, talk to him later," Aiden interjected. "Right now you're the hostess. So go mingle. We've got all night, remember?"

Will aimed a grateful glance in Aiden's direction.

"I guess." She grabbed her husband's arm. "Oh look, Carl, Harriet and Walt are here." She tugged him toward the door.

Becca stared at them. "Sometimes I have to wonder if we're really related."

Aiden snorted. "I hate to burst your bubble, kid, but you are gonna be exactly like Mom when you get older. The signs are already there."

The look of pure horror Becca gave him was almost comical. "Don't even think stuff like that."

"I need a drink." Will hadn't meant for the words to come out so bluntly, but it had been a long day, and the evening promised to be even longer.

"How about a glass of champagne?" Aiden suggested. "I saw someone walking around with a tray. I'll go grab us a couple." And with that he hurried off.

"Yeah, I'd love some too," Becca hollered after him. She shook her head. "Jerk."

"I don't think he's that bad," Will murmured.

Becca narrowed her gaze. "He's a jerk, because I say he is, okay? It's all right for you— you don't have to share living space with him. Why do you think I don't come home all that often?"

Will coughed. "Because you're too busy in bed with Kristen?"

Her eyes blazed. "Okay, that's the last time you get to mention her all night." She pasted on a bright smile. "Aunt Deborah. I haven't seen you since last Christmas. How's Kelly doing? Mom said she's going to be a chef."

Aunt Deborah turned out to be another redhead, not that there was any shortage of them in the ballroom. She beamed. "Yes, she's in her first year of culinary arts. So far, she's loving it." Deborah glanced at Will. "And you must be the fiancé." Another smile. "Welcome to the family."

"He isn't part of it yet," Becca said quickly.

"But look at the two of you. I was watching from across the room. I don't think I've ever seen a couple who were so smitten with each other." She walked away, and Will chuckled.

"Wow, my acting must be better than I thought." He buffed his nails on his jacket.

"And you've only got another…." Becca glanced at her watch. "Five hours to go."

That was a dose of reality Will didn't need right then.

Aiden was a man on a mission.

After almost disabling Will, he was going to make sure the rest of the evening went as smoothly as possible, and with Aiden's family, that meant only one thing—rescuing Will when he was floundering. Aiden recognized his glassy-eyed stare at once. It was the same one Becca sported when she was trapped in a room full of relatives every holiday. The least Aiden could do would be to dive in and drag Will away from whoever was grilling him.

Of course, saving Will from the Taylor clan was just an excuse. Aiden wanted to stick close to him because… because….

Yeah, he didn't need an excuse. Will drew him like a moth to a flame.

He's marrying Becca. Don't forget that part.

As if he could.

And right then, Will was drowning.

Aiden walked over to the table where Will gave perfunctory nods as Grandma Devlin rattled on at him in what was probably a torrent of questions. It was a torture Aiden had endured on many occasions, and Will didn't deserve such a grisly assault.

"Your champagne." Aiden handed Will a glass, trying not to smirk when Will gulped it down and promptly erupted into a coughing fit. "Yeah, you might wanna take it a bit slower than that."

Will wiped his lips, and Aiden did his best not to stare.

Aiden pointed to the far end of the room. "Hey, Grandma, isn't that Uncle Tim and his new girlfriend?" Not that he had a clue as to the identity of the woman clinging to his uncle's arm, but it was just the distraction he needed.

Grandma widened her eyes. "Who is that?" And before Aiden could get another word out, she was off.

"You keep that up, and I might have to pay you to be my bodyguard all night," Will muttered.

"Deal."

Will peered into his empty glass. "Oh, that is not good."

"It's fine. I'll just get you another one."

He jerked his head in Aiden's direction. "That isn't what I meant. I'm not a big drinker, and that went down way too fast. I'm going to have to watch myself tonight."

"What kind of drunk are you?" Aiden couldn't help asking. "Do you get the giggles? Do you dance on tabletops? Strip?"

Will let out a wry chuckle. "Nothing that interesting. I talk really fast, and then I pass out, usually in a quiet corner someplace."

"We could always find that quiet corner right now and talk D & D," Aiden suggested, knowing full well it wasn't going to happen.

Becca would see to that.

For a second, Will's face brightened, then fell just as fast. "I can't. Not that it doesn't sound like a really good idea, but…." He gazed at his surroundings.

Aiden got it. Will was a good guy.

"Let me find you another glass, and that'll be it for tonight. But I will stick close by, and if you need rescuing, you just give me a nod and I'll dive in and pull you out."

Will's dark brown eyes were warm. "Thank you."

A voice came from the middle of the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, the buffet is open, so please, help yourselves."

Aiden grinned. "Finger food. The perfect base for alcohol."

Will's eyes sparkled. "Now there's an idea."

As they headed for the long table groaning beneath the weight of a mountain of nibbles, salads, bread rolls, and hot dishes, Aiden scanned the room. Becca was with three of their numerous cousins, laughing and chatting.

Some fiancée. She's deserted him.

Well, Aiden wasn't about to leave Will to the mercy of the wolves.

You know this is so wrong, don't you?

He ignored the voice in his head.

You were flirting with him just now.

Aiden told himself it wasn't flirting, it was merely being friendly.

Oh yeah? So you want to be friends with Will? As in really close friends? How close, exactly?

Maybe more alcohol would silence Aiden's fucking annoying conscience.

Will should have known the reprieve wouldn't last long. No sooner had he piled his plate with a heap of deliciousness, than Becca appeared to tug him toward her parents' table. Will peered over his shoulder at Aiden, giving him a beseeching help-me glance.

His single nod gave Will a sliver of hope.

It was difficult trying to eat and drink while under a constant barrage of questions, but he did his best. Now and then Aiden diverted their parents' attention, and Will took the opportunity to cram a little more food into him. Then it was back to the interrogation.

I'm not surprised Becca has never brought anyone home to meet them.

He'd totally forgiven Aiden for almost cutting him in half with a luggage cart: since then, Aiden had been a godsend, nothing like the aggravating brother Becca had made him out to be.

And once this weekend was over, the possibility of seeing him again was remote, but nowhere near as remote as the possibility of confessing to Aiden that one, Will was gay, two, he was attracted to Aiden, and three, even if Aiden wasn't into guys, Will would still like them to be friends.

Yeah. Snow in hell was a more likely prospect.

"So what about the wedding?"

Becca's mom was like a dog with a bone.

"Mom, give it a break? We're still in school, remember? Then we'll have to find jobs. It could be years before we ever get around to a wedding."

And a matter of days before Becca and I go through an irrevocable break-up that will probably put me on her dad's shit list for the rest of my life.

Will could deal with that. After all, he was never going to see any of the Taylors ever again, with the exception of Becca, and he had to be honest, he'd seen less of her this past year. He'd been replaced by Kristen, not that he minded all that much. That left more time for other pursuits.

Such as finding someone to burn up the sheets with.

What followed that thought was an image of Aiden under him, that red hair spread out over Will's pillow, those long legs wrapped around him…

You don't want to see the back of all the Taylors, do you?

Oh God. Now there was an image. Aiden's back, an expanse of creamy skin, narrowed at the waist, Will's fingers gripping his shoulders as he—

Yeah, it had been far too long since he'd gotten laid.

Then he realized eyes were boring into him.

Becca gave him a hard stare that plainly said Say something, you doof.

Her mom blinked. "What's wrong with being married students? Your dad and I married before we finished our studies." She gave Becca a pointed glance. " Remember ?"

"But I'm not you, Mom."

Will didn't miss the desperation and frustration creeping into Becca's voice.

"Besides, Mrs. Taylor, we—"

"Louise. Call me Louise. And this is Carl."

"Okay—Louise. We'll need a couple of years to plan for a wedding. When my sister got married, it took them ages to find a venue, and then there was a waiting list…"

"See, Mom? These things take time." Becca flashed him a smile that told him he was back in her good graces once more.

With everything he was doing for her, Will deserved a lifetime membership for Becca's good graces.

"Louise? You're pushing," Carl said in a low voice.

Louise stood. "Would you all excuse me?" She walked away from the table.

Aiden stared after her in obvious surprise. "What was that all about?"

Carl chuckled. "You're asking me ? I've only been married to her for twenty-five years. I don't have all the answers yet." His eyes twinkled. "And it might take me another twenty-five to find them."

Will liked that. He was used to being around his parents whose constant displays of affection had been part of Will's childhood and teenage years, to the point that he believed all parents were that loving. Listening to some of his friends had been an eyeopener. And here was another loved-up couple, still going strong.

I want to be as happy as they are when I reach their age.

"Quick, she's gone. Eat something," Aiden muttered. "We don't know how long it'll be until she comes back."

Will laughed and ate some of his pasta salad.

Becca leaned in. "You took your time," she said from the corner of her mouth. "I thought for a minute there that you were gonna leave me to deal with my mom on my own."

"You were doing fine," he assured her.

Becca snorted. "You don't know my mom. She isn't done yet. I know the signs."

"Do you come from a big family, Will?" Carl asked.

"I have a brother and two sisters, sir. I'm kind of in the middle."

Carl gave an approving nod. "Can't tell you the last time someone your age called me sir. Not that I don't like it, but lord, it makes me feel old. Please, call me Carl. And what do your parents do?"

"Mom is a teacher and Dad is a professor of mathematics."

Aiden smiled. "That explains why you're studying astrophysics. It's in the genes, obviously."

"I hear you're no slouch in the brains department," he remarked.

Brains, good looks, and a Dungeon Master to boot. Plus, he was a nice guy.

Aiden had everything Will could ever want, except for one tiny but significant detail.

He's Becca's brother. And after this, my name will be poison around here.

Carl raised his head. "Will, I hope you've gotten enough food into you. My wife is heading this way." The twitch of his lips told Will what else was in the Taylor family genes—a sense of humor.

Louise came to a halt behind her chair. "I have some really exciting news." Her eyes sparkled, and her face was flushed.

"Who for?" Aiden asked.

"Becca and Will." She beamed. "You are going to be so happy."

The roiling in the pit of Will's belly was the exact sensation he'd encountered the night Becca had announced their engagement .

"Mom?" The tinge of alarm in Becca's voice told him he wasn't the only one who was getting a very bad feeling about this.

She saw this coming, remember?

How could Becca have ever thought such a hare-brained scheme would work?

"I popped down to the front desk to check on something." Louise pulled out her chair and sat. "And wouldn't you know it? There was a call from the catering manager. The hotel has just had a cancellation." She gave a triumphant smile. "Literally two minutes after I walked through the door. It's like an answer to a prayer."

Oh God. Will was praying too. Don't let her say what I think she's about to say.

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Becca's eyes were huge.

"I've penciled you in already. I wasn't going to pass up such a wonderful opportunity."

" What ‘wonderful opportunity'?" Carl demanded. "Louise, will you just spit it out, please?"

Louise smiled. "Becca and Will can have their wedding here. In this room, actually. And who would pass up the chance to have their wedding in the Imperial Ballroom?"

I would. In a heartbeat. Will wasn't sure whether he wanted to run out or throw up.

Throwing up was more likely.

"When, Mom? When exactly did you pencil in this wedding?" Becca's face was white.

"December twenty-second."

"You managed to get them the hotel for next year? That's awesome," Carl declared.

Louise chuckled. "Not next year, silly— this year. They can have their wedding in just under six weeks' time. A Christmas wedding. Isn't that fantastic?"

Holy fuck.

Will was going to kill Becca. Slowly.