Just before they left for the airport, his husband stepped into the closet and came out wearing the hat he’d gifted Beck a hundred years ago. It still looked great, and it wasn’t any more dated than they were. Beck adjusted it and squinted at the tram. “This is us?”
“Yeah. To baggage. There should be a guy with your name waiting at the end.” He went with Beck’s, because he didn’t want to deal with lookie-loos yet.
“Right on! I get to be famous for a minute.” Beck got on the tram and kept a hand on the door to keep it from closing while everyone else got on. A young woman with a suitcase and a baby in a carrier gave Beck a bright smile as she got on, and Beck smiled right back at her. The flirt. He’d forgotten that about Beck. Everyone looked. Everyone.
He heard his name whispered, but he didn’t look. It was none of his. He wasn’t at work. Not yet. Hell, he wasn’t even at the host hotel.
Beck stepped in beside him and must have heard something too, because his husband slipped right into bodyguard mode, a ruse they’d used more than once to get into places together without people asking questions.
The temptation to look up, to kiss Beck right here and now was huge, and it broke his heart when he couldn’t. Beck seemed to be handling it fine, well even, which seemed incredibly unfair.
The tram doors opened and they went to get their bags, and Beck had no trouble finding their ride.
He was building up a head of steam by the time they got into the car. He wanted a six-pack of beer and about ten dozen wings and a piece of chocolate cake.
“You need to breathe, cowboy.” Beck inched a hand over and touched his knee for the barest second.
“I’m trying.” He reached out and grabbed Beck’s hand, holding on tight.
Beck followed his lead and squeezed his hand. “We haven’t been in town an hour yet. What’s up?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m not ready to get back to work.” Maybe not capable? He refused to go there. He was just spoiled.
“I’ll get you ready.”
He knew the driver hadn’t heard that because he’d barely heard Beck growl the words over the road noise.
“Promise.” He met Beck’s eyes, let himself relax and see the need in his husband’s gaze.
Beck didn’t hide a thing. “You know it. I’ve got what you need, cowboy.”
“Thank God for that, love. I’ve enjoyed being Beckett’s husband.” It had been a surprising, wonderful thing—that anonymity, that simplicity. Who are you? Beck’s man. No one else.
“Yeah? It’s not a big old bore after being The Champ everywhere you went?” Beck winked. The little shit knew damn well how he felt about that. “I’m glad because I’m not done with you.”
“You think? That’s handy.” Because he intended to stay put, and Beck didn’t have enough dynamite to get him loose.
“When was the last time we were in Vegas? It had to be forever. It looks even crazier than before.”
“Together? Five years ago? Six? A long damn time. What all do you want to do while we’re here?”
Beck laughed. “You’re joking, right? With what time? You’re going to be shaking hands from dawn to midnight.”
“No. I’ve agreed to a meet and greet for two hours tomorrow, an hour Sunday, and an hour Thursday, besides the party Saturday. That’s it.” He’d have a few meetings, a couple lunches, but he wasn’t going to be driving himself to insanity.
“Let’s take it a day at a time. I’m here for you. To support you. Okay?” Beck’s thumb was rubbing circles on the back of his hand.
“I hear you. I want to have some fun, though. Together. We’ve got a suite at the Mandalay Bay. We could indulge in room service tonight.”
“Twist my arm, man. Then we can put on their fancy robes and stay naked all night. A suite? Is there a jacuzzi?” Beck waggled his eyebrows.
“We have a huge TV in there, so there’s got to be a bath big enough to share.” They’d given him somewhere he could have a closed bedroom door. Smart.
“It’s good to be married to The Champ.” The car came to a stop and the both craned their necks to see. “Is this it?”
“This is it. You ready?” He looked out, and he could see a couple of die-hard fans, plus a gaggle of buckle bunnies waiting to see who came in.
“Yep. I’ve got this.” Beck squeezed his hand one more time and then let go, getting out first and going around to Sky’s door as the driver got their bags.