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stared at Hayden for a long, intense moment, then in an
extremely quiet voice said, "Simple, Hayden. Because more
than you'd probably believe right now, I do care."
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309
Taking You Home
by Cooper Davis
The end of the year is the start of a whole new beginning...
With This Ring
(C) 2009 T.A. Chase
A Tabloid Star Story
Josh Bauer and Ryan Kellar sweated through a turbulent
start to their relationship. Now that they've embarked on a
life together, filled with family friends and each other
Ryan's suffering sweaty palms again. For an entirely different
reason.
It's not the heat they generate every time they're alone
together. It's not even the crush of people at Josh's jam-
packed birthday party. It's the birthday present Ryan's
carrying in his jeans pocket. The one that could make him the
happiest man in the world, come New Year's Eve.
If Josh says "yes"...
Warning: Hot guy on guy sex. A happily married couple
and a rocking New Year's Eve party guaranteed to keep you
up all night.
Enjoy the following excerpt for With This Ring:
Snow drifted across the bright blue sky, transforming the
Vermont hills into a picture perfect winter wonderland
postcard. Skiers dotted the slopes, racing down or riding up.
Even with all the movement, there seemed a hushed
expectancy to the air, like everyone was waiting for
something special to happen.
310
Taking You Home
by Cooper Davis
Ryan Kellar snorted silently. The only one waiting was him
as the hours crawled closer to midnight and one of the
biggest moments in his life. New Year's Eve and his wedding.
"Ry, are you all right?"
He turned away from the windows in the dining room to
find his parents eyeing him with mild concern. He smiled and
nodded. "I'm fine, Mom."
"Not having second thoughts, are you?"
"If I didn't have second thoughts while planning the
wedding, Dad, what makes you think I'd have them now?"
His dad shrugged. "Well, your marriage won't be legal in
most of the country and the tabloids will go crazy once word
gets out about this."
He and Josh had talked about the whole tabloid angle.
After everything that had happened to them when they first
met, avoiding any publicity should have been foremost in
their minds. Yet neither Ryan nor Josh were willing to hide in
a closet or act ashamed of loving each other.
"We're hoping no one will spill the beans about what's
happening tonight. We only invited friends and family, plus
Morgan is providing security. No one without an invitation
gets in."
"Good thing we remembered to bring ours."
Ryan laughed as his mom's mouth dropped open. He
recognized the voice. Garrett Johnson and CJ Lamont strolled
into the room, hand-in-hand. Ryan tapped his mother's
shoulder.
"It's not polite to stare." He nudged his dad. "Do you have
a napkin for Mom to wipe the drool off her chin?"
311
Taking You Home
by Cooper Davis
She blushed and Garrett winked at her before kissing her
cheek.
"Mrs. Kellar, I see where Ryan gets his good looks from."
The pleasure in his mother's eyes made Ryan swallow his
snicker. CJ's fond expression told him that the man was used
to Garrett's subtle flirting.
"All you actors can't stay away from the beautiful ones,
can you?" Ryan's dad joked.
"No, sir. We can't." Garrett focused his gaze on CJ.
CJ blushed as well and Ryan's gut tensed. God, he hoped
Josh would look at him forever like Garrett looked at CJ with
such longing, love and desire in his eyes.
"Mom, Dad, this is Garrett Johnson and his partner, CJ
Lamont." Ryan remembered his manners long enough to
introduce his parents to his friends.
"Soon-to-be husband, actually." CJ held up his left hand,
showing off a brushed yellow gold band.
"Awesome news!"
Ryan whooped when the pair nodded and Garrett revealed
his matching band. He hugged them both tight and waved
down a waiter.
"We need a bottle of champagne."
The waiter nodded before heading toward the bar.
"Celebrating already?"
Whirling, he spied Josh leaning in the doorway between
the lobby and the dining room. He kept his gaze on his fiance
as Josh strolled through the room toward him. Josh slipped
his arm around Ryan's waist and Ryan relaxed against him.
312
Taking You Home
by Cooper Davis
"Garrett. CJ. Glad you could make it," Josh greeted the
men.
"Congratulations. We wouldn't have missed it for the
world." CJ slapped Josh's back. "Maybe we'll pick up a few
pointers for our wedding."
"Seriously?" Josh grinned. "That's great news. So you're
going the wedding route as well, huh?"
Garrett laughed. "Yes, we are. Kasey and Gram are having
a commitment ceremony, but we decided we wanted the
whole shebang."
"Your brother and his partner are engaged too? It's an
epidemic." Josh took the bottle from the waiter while Ryan
passed out the glasses.
Josh extracted the cork with a soft pop and managed not
to spill a drop of the bubbly liquid. Ryan admired the
confident way his lover poured the champagne.
As the others laughed and toasted, Ryan thought back to
the night he asked Josh to marry him.
313
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