Christian assumed she was attempting to look seductive when she pursed her lips at Ace, but it only served to make her look more drunk.
“Hi, Jenny.” Ace shook her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Ace. I’m gay. And we’re all on the clock, so another round is out of the question.”
Well,that’scutting to the chase, Christian thought with surprise. Ace was usually the epitome of politeness. But apparently he had known women like Jenny too, and wanted to nip the situation in the bud before it had a chance to bloom into a toxic flower.
A rather ugly expression contorted Jenny’s face. She hooked a chip-nailed thumb toward Christian. “I thoughthewas gay, but not you,” she told Ace. Then she added, “Damned poofs,” before spitting on the ground and pushing from the table. She wobbled back to the bar.
Just like that, all the happy was sucked out of the evening. Their brief reprieve was over, and it was back to the grind.
Emily’s mouth was set in a moue of disgust as she watched Jenny retreat. But her brown eyes were liquid soft and full of concern when she turned to Ace, laying a gentle hand on his arm. “I’m sorry she called you that. I’ll go drag her out back and kick her ass. Just say the word.”
Ace shrugged. “Sticks and stones, luv. Sticks and stones.”
“Well, you might be able to brush it off, but I can’t,” Christian snarled. A vague film of red covered his vision. “I’m going to march up to that bar and tell Drunk Jenny a thing or two.”
“And what would that accomplish?” Ace’s smile was grim. He shrugged his shoulders, and there was such resignation there that Christian felt a pang in his chest. He’d survived some pretty bad shit. But he hadn’t the first clue what it was to be judged on the color of his skin, or the god he’d been raised to worship, or the gender of the people he chose to love. He couldn’t fathom it. “It won’t change her ways,” Ace added. “Besides, she’s just a sad alcoholic lashing out at people to try to make them as sad as she is. Misery loves company and all that. I feel sorry for her.”
“That makes one of us,” Emily grumbled. And for the first time, Christian found himself agreeing with her.
There was no way to rekindle the happy atmosphere, but he hoped at least to end the evening on a lighter note. Self-immolation usually worked for that, so he sighed and donned a hurt expression. “But let’s get back to therealissue here.” Ace glanced at him curiously. “Why did she thinkIwas gay?”
Missionaccomplished, he thought when Ace and Emily burst into laughter.
“What?” he demanded, feigning a deep scowl.
“Please,” Emily scoffed. “The clothes? The hair?” She waved a hand in his direction.
“What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Nothing. That’s precisely the point. It’s all thick and wavy and styled so perfectly. There’s even a well-placed whorl over your left eyebrow. Tell the truth… You do that intentionally, don’t you?”
“That’s a load of tosh.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“It means bullshit, darling.”
“Why do you always gotta use fancy English terms on me? Speak American, why doncha?”
She could really pull off the tough South Side ’hood girl thing when she wanted to. Why that should intrigue him, Christian had no idea.
Wait a tick-tock.Yes, he bloody well did! It was because every time she got tough, his instinct was to tame. More than once, he had fantasized about dominating Emily until she turned pliant and submissive in his arms.
You can thank my childhood for that one too!he thought with a scowl.
He might as well have been raised by wolves. He’d had no structure. But worse than that, he’d had no power over what happened to him. Helpless, that’s what he’d been. Bloody, buggering helpless. Andthathad informed his adulthood. It was why he was fastidious about everything. His clothes, his hair, his car, hisworld. Control… It was the only way he felt safe. Feltsane.
“Before you two start trying to tear each other’s throats out again, how about we head back to Rusty’s?” Ace looked at his watch and added, “He should be home soon.”
“Anxious to see him?” Emily waggled her eyebrows. The beauty mark high on her cheek caught the light and taunted Christian.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ace feigned boredom.
“Oh, sure you do. I saw the looks passing between you two. And just for the record, Rusty’s a really good guy. I say, get your groove on, my man. We’re all down with the rainbow.”
Hold the phone.Looks? Rainbow? “Wait.” Christian blinked. “Rusty’s gay?”
Emily frowned. “How the hell did you miss that? Aren’t you supposed to have eyes in the back of your head and a sixth sense about people?”
