Bethany came into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “Tommy, if you really want this guy, then you need to make up your mind to go get him.” She smiled. “Women have to do this all the time.” Those brown eyes, so like her brother’s, sparkled. “If you intend going fishing, then you need the right bait.”
But what exactly am I fishingfor?
The memory of that warm mouth, that firm chest, was enough to get his heart pumping. Yeah, he had a good ideawhat he was after, even if the very thought sent shivers running through him.
“Let Mom and Ben get a look at you, ’cause you know they’re just dying out there, waiting to see what you look like in all your finery,” she said with a grin. “’Cause you are surely gonna break hearts tonight.” Her admiring glances and words were doing a lot for his morale.
Tommy followed her out of the bedroom to where Caroline and Ben were talking, leaning back against the couch. Caroline’s eyes widened, and she gave him a huge smile.
“My, look at you. Why, I’d hardly believe it’s the same young man I was talking to this morning in my kitchen. Tommy—” She let out a contented sigh. “—you look great,” she said simply. Then she glanced at her watch. “And now that I’ve seen you, I’ll go spend some time with my husband. Apparently he’s feeling neglected, poor thing.” With one last grin, she left them standing in the small apartment.
Ben gave a long whistle. “The way you look, you could ask for anything you wanted, andanyonewould give it to you.” He stepped closer, walking around Tommy slowly and then coming to stand in front of him. “You worked out what you’re gonna say to Mike yet?”
Tommy shook his head. “I’m kinda playin’ this by ear.”
Ben tilted his head. “Well, what is it you want?”
His mouth was suddenly moist, and his breathing quickened. “Him.”
Ben’s eyes glittered. “Then make sure he knows that.”
Bethany nodded. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” She flashed him a wide grin. “So go get ’im, Tommy.”
Ben chuckled.
Tommy took a deep breath and nodded.
Time to lay my cards on the table.
Saturday night was looking to be as busy as usual. It was ten fifteen and the bar was full.
Except there was no sign of Tommy. The sight of that empty stool made Mike’s chest tighten.
“And I’mstillnot talking to you, bitch,” Kevin grumbled, collecting glasses from the bar and handing them to Mitch, who was working as barback.
In spite of his apprehension, Mike had to laugh. “What’s your problem?”
Patrick chuckled. “Oh, what you gone and done now, Mike?” He handed his customer his change and then turned to watch the two of them.
“It’s not so much what he’sdone, as what he didn’t do.” Kevin looked for all the world like a sulky teenager. He’d been ignoring Mike all evening, which was fine by Mike. He was used to Kevin’s moods after working with him for so long. Now that Mike thought about it, Kevin had been in a similar mood the last three nights they’d worked together. Mike had thought nothing of it at the time. There’d been a couple of days in New York in between, and he’d had other stuff on his mind.
Like a tall hunk with reddish-brown hair and beautiful green eyes.
Mike threw down the cloth he’d been using to wipe down the bar and beckoned to Kevin. “Okay, Princess, I’ll bite. What haven’t I done?”
Kevin huffed. “Not one word. Not a fucking word has passed your lips about New Year’s Eve.” He glanced at Patrick. “Has he toldyouwhat happened with Tommy? No?” Kevin smiled smugly. “So it’s not just me.”
“What are you talking about?” Patrick looked plain puzzled.
Shit. Mike should’ve remembered what a nosy bunch of queens he worked with. “What makes you think anything happened?”
Kevin grinned. “’Cause you’ve been too damn quiet all week, that’s what.” He folded his arms across that wide chest. “So?” That grin widened. “C’mon, Mike, give.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake…. “I took him for breakfast, okay? Then we met on Monday afternoon and I took him around Ansley Mall. And then we had dinner.” He smiled. “Happy now?”
Kevin stared at him. “That was it?”
Mike sighed. “Except for the part where he kissed me, yeah, that was it.” He groaned inwardly when Kevin’s face lit up. “But it was one kiss, and then he left.”Ran awaymight have been a more accurate description, but Mike wasn’t about to share that much. He still felt he could’ve handled the situation better.
