Onstage, AJ Mobley is smart, clever, and commands attention. Offstage, he's shy and lost to everything but his music. The reason for the difference? Tyrone Dahl. For the past two years, AJ and Tyrone have been the star attraction at the Reno bar, Heat Wave. Their dueling pianos act is fast and funny, but their camaraderie isn't just under the spotlight. They're best friends away from the show, too. An opportunity to take their act to Las Vegas seems like the perfect next step in their careers. There's only one problem -- AJ's been in love with Tyrone almost from the moment they met. He's hidden it well; after all, Tyrone might be bisexual, but he's also never lacked for company. AJ would rather be his friend than another notch on his bedpost. But Vegas beckons. And Tyrone wants to take the leap. The last thing AJ can ever do is deny his best friend ...

Interlude

“All right.” He held up a warning finger before Tyrone could leap from the couch in excitement. “But only if Freeman’s good with it, and we can find guys to replace us. Otherwise, no dice.”


When Tyrone pulled him into a sharp hug, AJ stiffened, hesitating to return it. He was too aware of just how hard his friend’s body was, the press of a sharp hip into his, the musky scent of Ty’s cologne filling his nose. It wasn’t that they never touched. Tyrone was a very touchy-feely kind of guy. But that was when AJ was better prepared for it, when he had time to brace himself, to put up the walls that he needed to remember this was his friend not his lover.


If Tyrone noticed, he didn’t say anything. He was too busy getting up and heading to the kitchen, complaining about how hungry he was, to pay AJ’s pause much mind.


Chapter 6