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At least he’d been able to help her get ready this morning. Her haircare for the beach had taken a good half an hour, even with his help, and then she’d covered it all up with a special cap that she had. He’d always been far more concerned about sunscreen, and she’d obediently let him slather it all over her before they’d left the villa, an expression of amusement on her face the whole time. Especially when he'd put some on the tops of her ears.
He’d enjoyed dipping his fingers under the fabric of her tiny bikini. Sure, it was just good skincare, but it was also enjoyable, knowing he could touch the parts of her no one else was going to get to see. Granted, on this beach, no one would bat an eye if she took it off, but it was the principle of the thing.
The resort had brought out picnic baskets and coolers of food for everyone, so they were all able to eat as they pleased as they arrived, under a tent with a table to sit at. There were also umbrellas and lounging chairs for anyone who wanted to sit back and relax without being in the full sun.
He and Rae sat down with food, making sure to sit well apart at the table, and it wasn’t too long before they were joined by Domi and Mitch. If anyone had thought it odd that they’d made it to the beach before anyone else, no one said anything. Maybe no one thought it was weird. Or maybe they were all distracted by Kincaid and Zach, who were the last to show up.
“Did Rae do something?” Law asked, making Brian jump as the other man came up beside him.
“Um, what?”
“Did Rae do something?” Law nodded in her direction where she was laid out with Iris. Both of them were out in the sun, next to Avery, who was comfortably settled in a chair under one of the umbrellas. “You keep staring at her.”
Brian barely managed to bite his tongue against protesting that he wasn’t. Talk about a dead giveaway. Instead, he shrugged as noncommittally as he could, turning away from watching the ladies so he could focus on Law. That’s what he would do if there was nothing going on. At least, he was pretty sure that’s what he would do.
Maybe he could distract Law from thinking too hard about him and Rae.
“Just wondering if everyone’s put on enough sunscreen,” he teased, eyeing Law’s hat. Law scowled at him.
“I didn’t burn.”
“I didn’t say you did.” Brian bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
“Hey! Who wants to play chicken?” Mitch yelled, gathering everyone’s attention as he ran up to Domi and picked her up off her towel. She shrieked, kicking her legs and laughing. “Domi and I will kick your asses!”
Unfortunately, Brian didn’t even get to try to figure out a way to have Rae on his shoulders without looking suspicious. Zach claimed Rae as his partner, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the water as she laughed, leaving Kincaid and Brian on the beach staring at the others in the ocean. Brian wasn’t jealous. Nope, not at all.
“Want to get on my shoulders?” Kincaid offered, making Brian snort.
“No, thanks.” He shook his head in amusement. This seemed like as good a time as any to check in with the other man. It would also help him stop picturing what it would be like to be out there with Rae, her legs dangling down on his chest. “How’s your week going so far?”
“Pretty good.” The overly casual way he said it made it sound like he wasn’t entirely sincere, and Brian didn’t miss the way he kept his gaze focused on Zach. Shit, did he sound like that when he was trying to be casual about Rae? That was something to watch out for. Kincaid rocked slightly, shifting his weight uncomfortably. “It’s been nice to get away from home and spend some time with Zach. Things have been hectic.”
“Anything in particular? You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” Brian hoped he would. The man had been keeping too much bottled up inside. Normally, he was a person who talked through things, but lately, he’d been keeping as quiet as Zach normally did. It was worrisome.
Kincaid shrugged his shoulder.
“The job changeover hasn’t been easy. Especially having to testify…” Kincaid’s voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat as Brian grimaced and clapped him on the shoulder. He’d had to testify against his own partner after the man put his wife in the hospital. Kincaid still felt guilty for believing the man’s tales about his cheating wife rather than realizing she was an abused wife. Some of his co-workers started shunning him after that, feeling he should have held to the blue line. Kincaid disagreed and eventually ended up accepting a job offer to be part of a private security and investigations firm. “Anyway. That’s been stressful. And, well… Zach and I started talking about the holidays recently.”
“Oh? What about them?”
“Where we’re going to spend them.” For the first time, Kincaid sent Brian a sidelong look, as if he was trying to figure out Brian’s confusion.
“Right, I guess it’s time to do that.” Did people try to figure that out in the fall? Apparently. Some people. Maybe Kincaid and Zach had started early because of their relationship… as far as Brian knew, Zach still wasn’t out to his family. Oh. Oh. “Are you meeting Zach’s family this year?”
“No.” Kincaid turned his attention back to the play in the ocean, his tone abrupt.
Ah. Well, fuck. Yeah, that could put some strain on a relationship. Both the not-meeting and the meeting. Kincaid had been out as bisexual when they’d all met, but even after they’d gotten together, Zach had not ‘come out’ anywhere but inside the club. Kincaid had seemed like he was happy to patiently wait, but maybe he was starting to get impatient.
They stared out at the others. Laughter drifted up to them over the crash of the waves.
“Want to get up on my shoulders?” Brian counter-offered Kincaid’s earlier proposition, startling a laugh out of Kincaid, just as he’d intended.
“No, thanks.” He shook his head as Rae managed to push Domi off of Mitch’s shoulders, leaving her and Zach as the victors. “Let them have their moment.” He chuckled, seeming a little lighter as he watched Zach whooping and thrusting his fists in the air. Turning, Zach looked for Kincaid’s approval, grinning when Kincaid began clapping his hands in applause, indicating he’d seen them win.
The two of them loved each other, it was clear. Brian had to believe that would be what mattered in the end.
Feeling Rae’s gaze on him, he lifted one of his hands in the air, giving them a thumbs up. Everyone would think it was for Zach or maybe just for the winning team, but Rae would know… it was for her.
