“Totally worth it,” Lie says, grabbing his father’s beer on the way by.
All three men watch him with a similar expression. Yeah, boys. I know. He’s fucking gorgeous, isn’t he? I’d play up my possessive act—not an act at all, by the way—but not with his parents here. I don’t want questions. Especially not here.
I tend to a few newcomers to the bar, filling their orders and wiping any spots from my shiny counter before makingmy way back down to Nason and Miranda. Lie has disappeared somewhere. I don’t see Cash in his corner, but he could have found someone else he knew.
“Eight items on the menu,” Nason says.
“Still bar food, low cost, high flavor. However, I think Chef might need some help before long. Two bars on Anapos have already reported they can’t keep up with the increased volume. They had to borrow food stock from the nearby restaurants and called in off-duty bartenders to help in the kitchen.” I shrug. “I knew the expanded menus would be welcome; admittedly, I thought it would take a bit longer for them to catch on.”
“You’re bringing in more live bands too, yeah?” Nason asks, taking a sip of his drink.
I glance at Whiskey Horizons and nod. Benson thinks he’s the shit because he’s the only resident band. He thinks that gives him special treatment. What he fails to understand is that more than half the bars on Kala have refused the band because Benson is a dick.
His constant need to remind patrons they’re not gay, so they back off, is a put-off for everyone. It’s like Ben is oblivious to the fact that he’s at a gay resort.
The only reason I put up with him is because I’m more than happy to throw my weight around when needed to keep him in line. Something he knows well, having had his ass thrown out before. I’ll very readily do it again, too. My bar patrons and staff come first. Benson comes last.
“You flying some in?” Miranda asks as Lie appears at my side.
I slide down so he can set a plate of skewers between them. Lie flashes me a smile and heads for the other end of the bar. I watch him flirt with a man down there. Watch the way the patron leans across the bar with a flirty smile, and Lie plays up being shy.
My hackles rise when I see him push Lie a square napkin. Lie picks it up, turning his attention to me and flashing it my way with a smug smile.
Everything inside me burns as I meet his eyes. He stuffs it into his pocket and turns his attention back to the man.
“Laiken?”
“Yeah?” I say, turning back to Nason.
He watches me with amusement. “He’s not a child anymore. He might meet his forever man here, you know.”
It takes a great deal of effort not to snap that he already has that. I smile, though it feels forced. I’m guessing it must look more angry than amused.
“Where are you getting more bands?” Miranda asks, and I remember that she’d just asked me that question.
I shrug. “Details ofhowhaven’t been decided yet. We have it in the newsletter next week, calling for talent. We’ll see who responds. If no one, then we’ll revisit with other ideas.”
Lie pops back to my side. I know his wide smile is for me, though he doesn’t look at me. “How’re the skewers?” he asks his parents.
“Wonderful,” Miranda says.
Lie nods. “They’re my favorite.”
“Ah. That’s why you brought us something we didn’t order,” Nason says.
Lie grins. He sticks his fingers into his tight-ass pockets and offers me the napkin with the room number on it. “For you. He likes older men with hairy chests.”
His eyes sparkle with mischief. I grab it from his fingers and ball it up, tossing it into the bin, a silent reminder of who he belongs to. Who he’s going home with. The only cock he’ll be taking.
“Look at you two,” Nason says, and I know I’m not the only one who turns to stone. “You’re both hiding someone, aren’t you? Is this a conspiracy to keep me in the dark?”
I stare at Nason for a long time, debating on whether he’s hinting that he already knows. He knows, and he… approves? No. That makes no sense at all. I know Nason and I’m positive, no matter how much I hope it would be different, that he willnotreadily accept me with his son.
“Yes,” Lie says, and my heart stops entirely. “I’m seeing someone. It’s… yeah.”
“It’s serious,” Nason says. “That’s what you were going to say.” He’s still smiling. So proud. Excited.
Lie sighs. “It is.”
