The thought had crossed his mind, but it hadn’t scared him. The fact that it hadn’t was the problem.
Seamus forced himself to glare into intensely green eyes. “I’m not in the closet and I’m not avoiding you because you’re gay. Maybe I don’t really like you. Maybe we don’t have anything in common.”
“What’s not to like? And we both enjoy spending our evenings at Murphy’s, we both know Tanaka… We’ve both wondered what would happen if you let me kiss you tonight.”
“No one’s wondering that but you,” Seamus muttered, knowing it was a lie.
“Too pushy again? I apologize. I know I come on strong. I’ve never believed in wasting time, but with you I might need to take a different approach. Talk to me, Seamus Finn. Tell me about yourself.”
When he hesitated, Bellamy’s lips tilted. “That’s fine, I’ll start. Kenneth sent you here on a vacation to a brewery. This brewery. And you’ve been emailing with Gillian since last year, is that right?”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t seem like the kind of guy who would accept such a generous gift. You like to work with your hands and earn things on your own. Am I right?”
Seamus nodded, in spite of himself. “I think it was more an intervention than a Christmas present. The whole family knew about it before I did.”
“A workaholic. Why am I not surprised? Still, a trip to Ireland is no small thing. Did he owe you? What exactly did you do for him?”
“If anything, I owe him.” Seamus opened and closed his fist on the table. A nervous habit. “He’s even looking after the bar right now. He’s a good friend.”
“Yes, he’s always generous with his friends. Very involved.”
Trying to unclench his jaw, Seamus took a drink before giving in to his curiosity. “So you did date?”
Bellamy found that funny. “Tanaka? Never. But we’re good enough friends that I thought I knew his MO. I have a hard time imagining him playing house with one man, even if your cousin is as big as they say.”
Then you don’t know him as well as you think. “He’s not playing at anything. They’re in love.” Seamus felt his lips curving upward. “My kids call him Uncle Necky.”
That made Bellamy laugh. “I love it. And good for Tanaka. If anyone deserves it, he does. Speaking of love and family, is she still in the picture?”
“Who?”
“The mother of the children you don’t want to talk to me about.”
“No.”
“No? That’s all you’re giving me?”
“Yes.”
Bellamy sighed, but his expression was almost playful. “Heads up, gorgeous. Pampered bullies used to getting their way don’t like monosyllabic answers to leading questions. If you’re not going to talk, I’ll have to be forward again and explain exactly what I’ve imagined doing to your body before, during and after I get inside you. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
“You can’t stop pushing, can you?” Seamus fought a shiver at the images Bellamy’s words brought to mind. He wanted to know.
He didn’t want to know.
“They’re out of the picture,” he said swiftly, desperately trying to change the subject.
“They? So more than one woman and they’re both out of the picture? Now you have to tell me more. Do you snore? Leave the toilet seat up? What is it?”
He didn’t have to tell him anything. He never had this conversation because no one understood. Not really. His family loved and accepted all the kids, but none of them could resist the good-natured ribbing at his expense. They called him Father Goose or Mr. Mom. Any time he left to run an errand, they’d tell him to be sure he didn’t come back with another baby. People who weren’t related to him usually thought he was a fucking doormat or a fool.
Or worse.
Who cares what he thinks about you? Tell him. You’ll never see him after this trip, and maybe he’ll lose interest and run screaming in the opposite direction. Or do you want to hear about what he wants to do to you?
Yes.
“Fine,” he said again, reaching for his beer. “You asked for it. I have four kids and they had three mothers.”
“Had? What happened?” Bellamy asked, his husky voice low and soothing. “Marriage not a good fit for you?”
He should let him think that, but Seamus found himself shaking his head. He wasn’t anything like his uncle.
“I’ve never been married. I was only with one of them.” He swore then, because it sounded strange to say and it was none of this man’s business. “This isn’t a bar conversation you have with a stranger.”
“I know.” Bellamy covered his hand and Seamus bit back a moan at the heat that instantly flowed into his body from that small contact. “But I’m a pushy stranger who’s friends with your friend Tanaka, a man you know has great taste in people, so tell me anyway.”