Owen raised his eyebrows. “That was a good way to get her here without her suspecting anything.”
Austin didn’t preen at the compliment. “I know my woman.” He walked back to the staging area toward Grant.
Owen could imagine as stoic as Austin was in person, he was probably dynamite in the sack. And why was Owen thinking about that? God, Chad had turned him into a hornball.
A steady rumble in the distance drew closer, and Owen froze at the sound. It got louder and louder until a black motorcycle roared into the parking lot.
Owen shaded his eyes with his hands—sunglasses weren’t allowed because it wasn’t “historically accurate,” according to Austin—and frowned when he noticed the rider wore a helmet. That couldn’t be Chad.
But as the bike parked, and a man stepped off, something about the way he moved prevented Owen from looking away. The man wore a pair of leather breeches and boots, and as he took off his leather jacket, a harness similar to Owen’s.
Owen couldn’t see the jacket from this distance but it looked a lot like…
And then the man raised his hands to the helmet, shoved it off, and set it on the back of his bike. He lifted his head and met Owen’s gaze.
It was Chad.
Even from this distance, that face and the way the man walked as he made his way toward the stage was unmistakably Chad.
He looked amazing—tight pants, broad chest. Owen swallowed, but all he could picture was Chad in those damn briefs, saying ugly words to him in the bathroom of that stupid strip club.
So Owen did the mature thing. He slipped his phone in his pocket—Austin would yell at him later if he saw it—and walked back to disappear in the crowd of family and friends gathered by the stage. Yes, he wanted to talk to Chad, but not now. He didn’t want to make a scene before the whole proposal even got started.
He watched, though, as Chad walked up to Austin and they shook hands, talking quietly. Chad smiled, and looked as gorgeous as always with his dark hair and hazel eyes.
He didn’t look at Owen. Not even a glance. And Owen’s heart ached.
But this day wasn’t about him.
It was about Marley. And Austin. And Owen needed to suck it up.
Marley wore a skirt with a slit up the thigh, leather boots, and a corset. Her hair was a mass of waves over her shoulders and down her back. She looked magnificent. Regal. Perfect for the part. She was smiling at the crowd, and then her eyes were huge as Austin emerged from the crowd and walked toward her.
She blinked, hands flying up to cover her mouth as she seemed to sense that what was happening wasn’t as she’d originally thought. Austin took her hand and tugged, but she didn’t move. He smiled, a smile Owen had never seen, a smile he hadn’t realized Austin was capable of, then Austin whispered some words in Marley’s ear.
She nodded and took his hand, following him slowly, her gaze taking in everyone in front of the stage, and then the stage itself, complete with moving dragons and two large thrones.
She spotted Chad and gave him a wave, along with a couple of other people. Her gaze fell on Owen, and she blew him a kiss. He blew one back.
When Owen looked away, he met Chad’s eyes. They stared at each other for a moment. Owen couldn’t read Chad’s face, and seconds later, Chad looked away.
Owen wished he was there, right beside Chad, his arms around him, Chad’s ass snugged right into Owen’s crotch. He’d whisper dirty things in Chad’s ear, and Chad would answer back with a smirk. And then when this was all over, they’d shower together and spend the rest of the day in bed, eating pizza naked.
What a fantasy.
Owen shook his head and watched as Austin directed Marley to sit on one of the thrones. He knelt in front of her. Marley made a small, choked, sobbing sound and cell phone cameras began to click from everyone watching.
“Marley,” Austin began, his deep voice reverberating around the clearing in the park without the aid of a microphone. “Despite the mistakes I made when we first met, I knew from the beginning that you were who I wanted by my side. You are my better half, my best friend, my love, and my queen. And I’d be honored if you’d accept this ring and give me the honor of bowing at your feet for the rest of my life.”
Owen raised his hand to his chest, placing it over his heart.
“Will you marry me?” Austin asked, and Marley threw herself into his arms, kneeling in front of him as they kissed and everyone cheered, and did a dragon just breathe fire?
Marley was nodding and shouting yes, yes! And Owen stuck his fingers in his mouth to whistle. Marley was happy and beautiful. Austin was grinning like he won the lottery.
And Owen was happy for them, truly happy, but that didn’t stop the ache in his heart, the knowledge that he wanted a king by his side.