Page 45 of The Christmas Accomplice

Trying to look innocent but failing at it, Dean said, “What what?”

“Why are you smiling and staring?”

“I can’t look at you?”

“This isn’t looking. It’s staring. And there’s also smiling.”

“It’s nice to finally see you happy.”

Welton dropped his gaze and shuffled his bare feet across the soft carpet. “I’ve been happy.”

“Not like this. In the years we were together, I don’t think I ever saw you happy like this. It’s nice to finally see it, that’s all.”

“Well… thanks.” He turned away and started down the stairs.

“Are you going to the karaoke tonight?” Dean followed him into the kitchen.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to sing?”

Welton gave him a look. “That would be no.”

“I think you should.”

“You can think all you want, it won’t make it happen.”

“Look, we agreed I could help you win this guy’s heart, right?”

“The guy has a name, and it’s Reece. And winning his heart seems pretty extreme due to the fact that I’ll be leaving him here and flying back home.”

“But you can always come back.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Dean shrugged. “It’s also not that hard.”

Welton kept quiet as he went about making a pot of coffee. He’d slept almost two hours afterward—is that what good sex did to a person?—and the karaoke would start in a little while.

He really liked Reece. A lot. And he thought he trusted Dean.

If they were on this crazy adventure together, maybe it would be smart for him to listen to the other half of the party.

Welton leaned back against the counter and, as the coffee dripped behind him, arched an eyebrow and said, “All right. Talk.”