Page 80 of Men in Shorts

He saw Ben’s approach as soon as it began, halfway across the room, which gave Evan several seconds to calm his racing heart and prepare a look of pleasant surprise.

“Hiya.” Ben leaned into his field of view. “Am I interrupting?”

Evan opted for honesty. “As a matter of fact, I’m busy fake-reading my phone to avoid looking a complete saddo.”

“Oh, well, it’s totally working.”

“Because I’ve spent weeks practicing my pasted-on smile.” He demonstrated, curving his lips up while keeping his eyes empty.

Ben laughed, his chin tilting up at a charming angle as the faerie lights glinted off his glasses. Then he extended his hand. “I’m Ben Reid, the wedding planner.”

I know.Evan introduced himself and added, “I heard you were rather a miracle worker with this wedding. You pulled all this together last minute, aye?”

“I’d loads of help. Fergus and John’s friends are amazing.” Ben winced and pressed his lips together. “I mean, your friends. All of your—plural you—your friends. Sorry.”

“It won’t kill me to hear the grooms’ names, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Evan realized what was happening. “Did you come over here because I looked pathetic? I don’t need your pity.”

“Good, because you’ve not got it. I don’t pity you—I’m in awe of you.” Ben gave Evan’s elbow a fleeting touch. “You must have known you’d be miserable, yet you came anyway. To me that’s incredibly courageous.”

“Oh.” Evan rubbed at the ache behind his breastbone, thinking of his MI5 Commendation for Bravery, the one he’d held but a few minutes at the awarding ceremony before it had been whisked away to be kept in eternal secrecy.

“I had to come. Iwantedto come.” Evan struggled to express his sorrow without sounding like he was searching for sympathy. “I still regret what happened between me and Fergus, but seeing him and John so happy together…it feels as though things worked out the way they were meant.”

Ben’s ink-dark eyes were soft and kind. “So this gave you closure.”

“You could say that.”

“Interesting. Usually people find closure atfunerals, not weddings.”

“True.” Perhaps this wedding was a funeral of sorts. Perhaps that was why Evan was here—to face the fact his old life was well and truly dead. “How much do you know about me?”

“Literally only what your teammate Robert told me a minute ago: that you’re Fergus’s ex and no one thought you’d show up—I mean, not that you were invited because they thought you’d say no. I’m sure they wanted you here.” Ben winced again. “I’ve already said too much. Curse this babbling mouth of mine.”

At the sound of the wordmouth, Evan focused on Ben’s lips. They were as full and red as the Christmas ribbons on the tree beside them. Evan wanted to do something,anythingto that mouth besides curse it.

He offered another smile. “What else would you like to know?”

* * *

Everything,Ben thought.I want to know everything.

This Norse-god gorgeous blond was well out of his league, but that had never stopped Ben before. Thus far their flirtation seemed on track, and Ben’s habit of speaking before thinking seemed to charm Evan rather than turn him off.

Normally Ben didn’t try to hook up while he was working, but that moment of connection upstairs, when Evan had flashed him that crooked smile—the same one he’d released just now—made for an irresistible exception.

Now the trick was to hold Evan’s attention. Small talk wouldn’t do, and obviously the usualHow do you know the couple?wedding chatter was right out.

“Tell me your favorite moment from Christmas last week.”

Evan’s eyes lit up, and his smile accentuated the dimple in his chin. “Don’t laugh, but my favorite Christmas moment every year is that last trip oot to the byre to see to the kye.”

Ben felt his own gaze go blank as he mentally rewound the final few words. Evan’s Orkney accent was deliciously distinctive, with its lilting cadence and heavily rolledRs.

“I grew up on a farm, see,” Evan added.

Ben gasped. “Oh, thekye, as in cows. Why’s that your favorite?”

“My family’s big and loud, and there’s neighbors coming in and oot the hoose all day Christmas Eve. So those few minutes in the barn at the end of the day, the way the kye are all just standing aboot swishing their tails, or lying in the straw with their legs tucked under, so peaceful and quiet-like…” He passed a self-conscious hand through his golden hair. “I’m not religious, but it almost feels holy.”

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