“No you didn’t.” Evan hit his fist against the wall beside Brent’s head. “No you fucking didn’t. Go to her. Tell her the truth. Tell her you like men, that you jerk off to gay porn on the internet, that fantasies get you off, but that she turns you on, too. Tell her that you thought you were gay, but maybe you’re bi, and you want to go to couples counselling to sort that out.” He gripped Brent’s jaw in his other hand, sending sparks skittering under his skin. “Tell her the truth, and I think your wife will surprise you.”
Bisexual.
Brent’s mouth opened and shut without any sound coming out.
Against him, Evan’s whole body pushed at him, big and hard. It was hot and scary, and then it was over.
He stepped back, and this time, Brent was glad he had.
Bisexual.I’m bi. He rolled it around in his head. “Is that…” He licked his lips. “Are you bi?”
“I’ve used that label most of my adult life, yeah. Kids these days sometimes call it pansexual, which I like, too. Honestly, I’ve been attracted to a lot of people in my life, and there’s no rhyme or reason to why.” He did a once-over on Brent and shrugged. “No reason at all, sometimes. Just chemistry.”
“And you’ve got chemistry in spades with Jessica.”
Evan’s mouth pulled tight. “Sorry about that.”
“No.” Brent nodded. “You’re right. She’s not my wife anymore. If you make her happy right now, that’s good. That’s fine. Not for me to say, either. I shouldn’t have come charging in here like a possessive monster.”
“That was just the cover story,” Evan said. He threw himself into the chair behind his desk. “You really came here to see how I knew you were queer, and I think we’ve explored that enough. I’ve got a conference call in five minutes, so unless you want to be introduced on that call, you can go now.”
“I’ll talk to Jess.”
“You do that.”
“I will.”
He just needed to find her first.
8
Jess hadn’t told anyone she was in Wardham. This wasn’t a work trip, this was a hide from the world trip.
But when she walked Evie’s boys to school in the morning, she bumped into Carrie, who dashed over from her bakery to drop off a lunch her daughter had forgotten.
“Jess!” Carrie said like they were old friends. “What are you doing here?”
“Hiding in plain sight.”
“Come hide at the bakery. I’ll make you a latte.”
She’d been perched on a barstool at the counter in Bun in the Oven when Lola Rodriguez had hustled in ten minutes before she was going to open her boutique.
So now she found herself, an hour later, dumping an armful of dresses on the counter in front of her new friend.
“Are you sure you want all of these?” Lola asked.
“That’s an interesting sales tactic.”
“Just checking.” She scanned the first one, then hit a button on the register.
“Do not give me a discount on them!”
“My sign must have fallen down,” Lola said innocently. “I have a sale on right now. Buy three or more dresses, get thirty percent off.”
“You are too kind to me.” Jess frowned. “Why?”
“Because you look like you need a bit of kindness.” Lola smiled sweetly.
