He sensed Max’s annoyance and wished he’d brought this up as soon as he received the message. He and Max tried their best to keep work and disagreements out of bed. That policy shouldn’t have changed just because they were out of town.
Ethan quickly texted to Theo. If you have an emergency, contact Veronica immediately. It’s her job to take care of issues.
He added her number, though Theo would already have it, and set his phone aside on vibrate.
“Okay, done. I doubt I’ll hear from him tonight, and probably not even tomorrow. You’re right that he’s likely looking for attention. He’s done nothing but try to get it since he arrived in Vegas.”
“He’s still getting it,” Max murmured. “At any rate, we’ll be home by the afternoon to deal with whatever is necessary.”
Ethan draped himself against him once more. “Will you be relieved?” he asked and pinched his lips because he couldn’t laugh for fear of waking up his parents in the next room.
Max turned his head to look down at him. “Relieved to deal with him?”
“Relieved to be back in Las Vegas. You’ve been an amazing sport, Max, but this place isn’t for you. I’ll be the first to say it.”
Max shifted so he could curl his arm behind Ethan’s shoulders. “Home is wherever you are, you should know this by now.”
“Yes, that’s sweet and all but let’s be real. You’re a cosmopolitan man.”
Max’s smirk was visible in the dark, or else Ethan was so used to seeing it that he could picture it in his mind. “Am I.”
“Yes, that means you belong in big cities. It’s your natural habitat, Max. I’ve seen this for myself. You’re a high-class animal that belongs in a high-class environment.”
“While that’s flattering, it’s hardly true. You’re projecting your fantasies on me yet again.”
A laugh burst from between Ethan’s lips before he could stop himself. “’Yet again’? What does that mean?”
Max dragged his fingertips up Ethan’s back. “Surely you’re not about to deny that your initial attraction to me was fueled by the fantasy of a man who overwhelms you in power, position, and wealth?”
“My ‘initial attraction’?” Ethan teased. “That’s how I felt this afternoon.”
“My point, proven.”
Grinning, Ethan kissed Max’s chest again. “I know you know the truth so I’m not going to waste my breath defending myself or explaining that I fell in love with so much more than that. But my point still stands. You’re not meant to be in Indiana. Or Wisconsin. Or even Poland or Greenland. You are what you are and I enjoy seeing you there. I enjoy seeing you in Las Vegas. I enjoy seeing me there, actually. It’s home.”
“Is it?”
Something in Max’s tone, hushed even as it was, told Ethan they’d touched on something important.
“It’s the place where I feel safe,” Ethan said softly. He rose up to gently touch his lips to Max’s. “It’s the place where my dreams are based. It’s the place I associate with you.” He kissed him again. “So yes, Maxmillian Poole, Las Vegas is my home. Our home.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Ethan kissed him again and when he made to pull away Max caught him behind the head to deepen it. Ethan kissed back with feeling, but all too soon, he was forced to murmur in protest.
“No more,” he whispered against Max’s lips, “otherwise I’ll be too turned-on to stop.”
“Normally that’s exactly what I want.” Max dragged his thumb along the side of Ethan’s throat, tracing his racing pulse. “But I’ll take mercy on you and your parents.”
Ethan grinned. “They’d thank you if they knew.”
~~~~~
The goodbyes with his parents on the front lawn took too long. It made Ethan feel guilty even though both his parents seemed to sense this and were as cheerful as they could be. He appreciated their sensitivity and managed to put on a happy face for them, but it was difficult to leave them when he was aware of their age and his father’s less than stellar health. It wasn’t like he was going to another city within the state. He’d be a four-hour flight away if something happened.
But his parents made it clear to Ethan and Max that their life in Las Vegas and their marriage were worth the sacrifice of distance. Ethan would have experienced second-hand embarrassment for Max as his parents thanked him repeatedly for being so good for Ethan. Would have, if he didn’t find the sight of an uncomfortable but shyly pleased Max so damn endearing.
They finally managed to get on the road after Max extracted a promise from Ethan’s mother to continue expressing her desires when it came to the wedding.
“Everything I’ve seen fills me with confidence,” he’d told her. “Continue with your plans. Ethan and I are nothing but pleased by what you’ve organized so far.”
Ethan thought about Max’s words on the drive to the airport.
“You’re setting up a head-on collision, I hope you know that.”
“I’m driving in my lane.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “Your mom and my mom and us. Marcela is going to need time to accept that venue under those conditions.”
“Possibly.”
“There’s no ‘possibly’ about it. I’d bet a stack on it.”
“Knowing your history with gambling, I should probably take that bet.” Max ran a hand casually through his hair, seemingly unaware of how sexy he looked while doing it. “The wedding will work itself out. I don’t want you worrying over it.”
“It’s difficult not to. I feel like there are a lot of obstacles.”
“Please trust that they will be resolved in time.”
“I will, but only because it’s you saying this. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you.”
“It will be our mothers, actually.”
Ethan shook his head, still unconvinced, though he remained hopeful. “We’ll see.”
He startled at the vibration coming from his pants pocket. “Uh oh.”
Max glanced over at him as Ethan pulled out his phone.
She won’t believe me. No one believes me anymore.
“It’s Theo,” Ethan said after reading the text. “He says Veronica won’t believe him. Sounds like he hasn’t tried, though.”
“Ask him for details. If he provides none, you’ll know the motive behind this.”
Ethan typed back.
What is the issue? What makes you think I’ll believe you after what you pulled?
He probably shouldn’t have added the last bit, but he was still a little ticked off with Theo’s stunt.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Ethan. I shouldn’t have done that. I know I betrayed your trust. I was a major asshole to you.
“He finally admitted he tricked me,” Ethan murmured. “Progress.”
Max glanced over again but remained silent.
But you have to believe me. I’m telling the truth now. Someone is after me. They’re going to attack me here in Vegas.
Ethan frowned. How do you know that? he typed back.
This person has been following me from event to event. He doesn’t want an autograph. He wants to hurt me.