Symphony in Blue (7 page)

“I might have,” Jason conceded. He couldn’t deny any of what Jules said, but he’d only come to terms with
not
being a musician a few years ago. To consider shifting gears now….

“So?” Jules prodded.

Jason sighed. “And I don’t know.” When Jules looked disappointed, Jason added, “Come on, Jules. You know what it was like for me before I met you. You’re asking a lot.”

“I know I am.”

“He’s not joking,” Henri put in. “You really are the best choice.”

“I need time to think about it.”

Jules released a long breath and shook his head. “Have you ever just gone with your instinct and said yes without thinking?”

Jason smiled. “Yeah. One time. I invited this guy I met at a bar back to my sister’s apartment.” He got up and hugged Jules tight against his chest. “Best damn decision I ever made.”

“You need to think less. What do they say in English? ‘Go with your belly’?”

“Go with your gut.” Jason laughed and kissed Jules.

In the end, Jules gave Jason time, although he asked once again the night before they flew to Milan. Jason just hedged, saying, “I really am thinking about it. But I need time.”

Present

J
ULES
DIDN
’
T
speak, but he looked up at Jason with bright anticipation in his eyes.

“Well?” Aiden finally asked the question on everyone’s minds. “Are you going to play?”

Jason smiled and tried to ignore the way his stomach did somersaults. Or were those backflips? He said it softly, in part because it scared the shit out of him, but also because he was embarrassed they were all making such a big thing out of it.

“Yes.”

Jules hopped out of his seat and launched himself at Jason. “I knew it!” he shouted happily. “I knew you’d do it!” He wrapped his arms around Jason and kissed him long and hard.

A few of them clapped. Alex whistled, and Massi, who’d been watching all of them with wide-eyed wonder—how often did you get to see adults make complete fools of themselves?—asked Alex to show him how to whistle like that. David met Jason’s eyes and nodded.

“So what are you thankful for?” Jules asked after they’d all settled down again.

“Hear, hear,” Sam said as the corner of his mouth turned upward in a smirk. “You don’t think we’re going to let you off the hook, do you?”

A few of the others chimed in their agreement. Jason shook his head and sighed. “Fine. Of course, you know as I was telling that story, I was doing my damnedest to think of something clever. I couldn’t think of a thing, but I can at least sum it up for you. That’s what lawyers get paid for, right?”

Nobody spoke this time. Jason took a deep breath and said, “I’m thankful for second chances.” He blinked back tears.
They say you get more sentimental as you get older.
He guessed it was true. “My life’s been full of them. This—the music—it’s just one more.”

He felt Jules’s fingers on his forearm and he knew Jules was thinking the same thing.
Je t’aime, Jules Bardon.

“O
UR
TURN
.”
Aiden took Sam’s hand and pulled him up from his seat. “We can do this one together.”

“As long as you don’t make me sing,” Sam quipped.

“No risk of that. Too painful.” Aiden laughed, then picked up his glass and raised it. “To good friends.”

“To good friends,” the rest of the guests repeated.

“And in case you didn’t know,” Aiden continued as he looked at Cary, “Cary wanted us to have the party without him. I told him he was an idiot.” Aiden grinned and said, “I think he pretty much called me the same. And while we were both being idiots, David took charge.” Aiden bowed with a flourish. “Leave it to the maestro to make things happen.”

David’s cheeks colored. Aiden wondered if his hero worship had kept him from seeing how genuinely fragile David could be at times. Human.

“We’ve got a little story too.” Aiden slipped an arm around Sam’s waist.

“It all started with a phone call from Cary and his wonderful news,” Sam added. “And a little change in plans….”

Two weeks before

“Y
OU
REALLY
didn’t need to make the reservations,” Aiden said into the phone as he glanced over at Sam. “But we appreciate it. We’re looking forward to meeting Graziella and seeing all of you for Thanksgiving. Thanks again, David.”

Aiden disconnected the call and set the phone down, then walked over to Sam. Sam, who’d been reading through some papers, dropped them unceremoniously on the floor and stood up. “David booked us a flight to Milan?”

“He did. I know he felt really bad about us canceling the reception.” Aiden slipped his arms around Sam and sighed. “He understood, though. He knew I wouldn’t want to celebrate without Cary there.”

Sam could see the disappointment in Aiden’s eyes. They’d started planning the reception at David’s estate nearly three years before. It had been David’s idea. In fact, when Sam had whisked Aiden away from the opening-night party in honor of his Metropolitan Opera debut to propose, David had made Sam promise that David would host the celebration when they finally tied the knot. Wedding in Manhattan at City Hall, then a long weekend in Connecticut with friends and family.

“We’ll get there.” Sam leaned in to steal a kiss. “And you know I don’t need the celebration as long as I have you.”

“Yeah, I know.” Aiden slipped a hand under Sam’s shirt, and Sam inhaled sharply at the touch.

Sam had what he wanted. The rings and the paper? Sure, he wanted those too, but he didn’t need them. He’d finally figured things out, and he’d been damn lucky not to have lost Aiden when he’d floundered.

That was when it came to him: a goofy, romantic idea. “Let’s go away for a few days. See a show in Manhattan? Something fun.” Sam bit his lower lip and waited for Aiden’s response.

“I thought you had depositions this week.” Aiden frowned, and Sam knew he was worried Sam was changing his work schedule on his account.

“I did.” Before Aiden could protest, Sam added, “But Stace can handle them on her own.”

“Sam, I—”

“You said you’d trust me,” Sam reminded Aiden with a shake of his head. “Remember? Balancing work and our relationship?”

“Yes, but—”

“I want this. I know we’re flying to Italy next week, but we won’t have any real time alone.” He leaned in and kissed Aiden again. “This would be just us. Having fun.” He winked at Aiden. “Playing hooky.”

“Hooky? I didn’t think the boss could play hooky.”

“My point exactly.” Sam knew he was beaming. “So I’ll stop by the office in the morning, touch base, then pick you up around eleven. Sound okay?”

Aiden chuckled and shook his head. “Sounds great, Sammy. Do you want me to call Cam and ask if we can stay at his place?”

Sam tried not to wince at Cam’s name. Not that the guy had been anything but cordial to him when they’d seen each other after he and Aiden had become engaged, but old habits died hard. Sam only trusted Cam so far. “Nah. I’m on it. I’m thinking someplace a little more romantic than your ex’s place.”

“Oh?” Aiden began to unbutton Sam’s shirt. “I thought every day with me was romantic.”

“It is,” Sam agreed. “But I’d rather leave his lordness—” Aiden laughed and shook his head again. “—out of our romantic getaway.”

“Got it.” Aiden pushed Sam’s shirt off his shoulders. “No Lord Cameron this time. So what do I get instead?” he asked as he brushed a thumb over one of Sam’s nipples to Sam’s stuttered gasp.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Sam said as he pressed his body against Aiden’s. “You usually do.”

Two days later

“S
O
WHERE
are we going?” Aiden asked as they rode the cab down Broadway. They’d gotten into the city around dinnertime the day before, checked in to the Plaza Hotel, then headed for an Indonesian restaurant in Chinatown one of Aiden’s friends had recommended.

“I thought we could stop by my old firm, then maybe a picnic in Battery Park.” Sam turned and looked out the window.

Sam was up to something. Aiden was sure of it. He’d been acting strangely since breakfast, glancing at his watch when he thought Aiden wasn’t looking, checking his jacket pocket to make sure something was there. Aiden had asked him what he’d been looking for, but Sam had mumbled something about the theater tickets he’d picked up at the front desk. Plausible, but Aiden had never known Sam to worry about something like tickets before. And now this?

“What are you up to, Sammy?”

Sam turned back to him and smiled. “Jack Wellons called me a few months ago. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen him, and I just thought we could stop on the way. If you don’t mind.”

Of course Aiden didn’t mind, but he was still suspicious. “No problem.” The idea of a picnic in Battery Park sounded nice, though. It was pretty warm for mid-November and the skies were clear and sunny.

Sam just smiled.

Totally up to something.

T
HEY
RODE
the elevator to the seventeenth floor of the office building near the corner of Broadway and Rector Street. Aiden had come here only once before, when he and Sam had first dated after meeting in a Manhattan bar. The building was old and the tiny elevators creaked, but the offices had recently been updated, and the view from Jack Wellons’s office was spectacular.

The windows behind Jack’s desk looked out onto New York Harbor. A ferry made its way from Battery Park to Liberty Island. The redbrick buildings of Ellis Island rose from the water much like the Statue of Liberty beyond. Aiden imagined what the sunset might look like from this vantage point. He could almost smell the slight tang of salt from the water on the air, almost hear the sound of steel drums from Battery Park.

“Good to see you, Sam.” Jack, his hair far grayer than Aiden remembered, embraced Sam warmly, then turned to Aiden. “I hear congratulations are in order. Sam mentioned you two were getting married next week.”

Aiden shook Jack’s hand and said, “Change of plans. But thanks.”

“Aiden’s best man just became a father again. We’re headed to Milan next week to meet his new addition and spend Thanksgiving with friends.” Sam smiled as Jack motioned them to sit on the couch near the entrance. “And by the way,” Sam added, “I hear congratulations are also in order for you,
Judge
Wellons.”

“Judge? That’s wonderful news. Congratulations,” Aiden put in, a bit surprised that Sam hadn’t mentioned this before.

“New York Supreme Court,” Sam said with obvious pride.

“Supreme Court?”

“It’s not the highest court in New York,” Jack said with a chuckle. “We do things a bit differently here. But I’m thrilled.”

There was a knock on the office door.

“Excuse me a moment,” Jack said as he walked over to the door and opened it.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the judgeship?” Aiden asked Sam under his breath.

Sam just shrugged. “Must have slipped my mind. Great news, though, isn’t it?”

Before Aiden could say anything, Jack was back. “Care to see our new conference room?” he asked. “It has an even better view than my office.”

“We’d love to,” Sam said with a smile for Aiden.

Not that he minded, but Aiden thought the offer was a little strange. They’d barely sat down and now Jack was giving them a tour? He glanced over at Sam, but Sam had already headed out the door after Jack.

They followed Jack down a hallway and past a maze of cubicles before arriving at a closed door at the corner of the building. “Right this way,” Jack said as he opened the door.

“You first,” Sam said with a grin nearly as wide as his face.

In retrospect, Aiden should have known he’d been had even before he saw the photographer and the huge spray of flowers on the conference room table. Cary loved to joke about how dense he was sometimes. This one took the cake, quite literally—a two-tiered white wedding cake with two grooms at the top, decorated with black musical notes on staff lines that ribboned the cake.

“Sam,” Aiden said when his mouth reconnected with his brain, “what are you doing?”

By now, Jack had closed the door behind them and was donning his suit jacket.

“Marry me, Aiden,” Sam said as he got on one knee. “Right here. Right now.” He appeared more than a little nervous as he looked up at Aiden.

What do you say to something like that? “Hell yes!”

Sam stood up and hugged him tight. “Damn, I’m glad you said that,” he whispered in Aiden’s ear.

“Worried you might have to eat all the cake yourself?”

“Do you know how much I love you?” Sam asked.

“As much as I love you?” Aiden drew a long, contented breath.

Sam released Aiden, then pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket. The marriage license. Of course! They’d gotten it three weeks ago. “Your Honor,” he said as he handed it to Jack.

Jack beamed.

T
HE
CEREMONY
nearly over, Jack’s assistant handed Sam a ring and Sam took Aiden’s left hand in his own. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” Sam said as he looked directly into Aiden’s eyes. “Funny thing is, I realize now that the only difference between marrying you and the past four years is that everyone else will know that you’re stuck with me.”

Aiden laughed and bit his lower lip. Sam’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and Aiden saw him swallow hard. Aiden knew the humor was Sam’s way of diffusing the same powerful emotions Aiden felt. Sam had been brought up as a Southern gentleman, as Aiden had been. Sam’s passion was powerful but silent—simmering beneath the cool exterior.

Sam inhaled a long, slow breath and blew air between his lips in an obvious effort not to lose control. “Aiden,” Sam said, his voice wavering just enough that Aiden noticed it, “by marrying you, I’m saying that I’m not going anywhere. Ever. I’ll be here for you. I love you.”