French Martini (Last Call #3)

Chapter 1

ONE

Oakley

Ten minutes to midnight and I can’t take my eyes off of Lowen as he moves efficiently around the bar making sure all the patrons have what they need. He finally gave in to Ridley and Bane a couple of hours ago and indulged in a few celebratory shots, and it’s nice to see him let loose a little.

If I had any balls at all I would march over there and tell him I haven’t stopped thinking about him since the minute I laid eyes on him. He’s the exact opposite of any man I’ve ever dated, and maybe that’s the allure. A couple of decades of failed relationships made me realize maybe I needed to try something different. Too bad I set my sights on a guy who would rather chew off his foot than date.

“Want to dance, Big Bear?” I turn to my left to see an adorable man, about chest high on me, swaying on his feet with barely open eyes. He plants his hand on my chest, squeezing my pec as he attempts to wiggle his eyebrows. “I need to be kissed at midnight, and you look delicious.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Just a bit. I know what I’m doing.” He slinks a little closer. “And if you play your cards right, I could be doing you in less than fifteen minutes.”

I snort a laugh and look around for his friends. “Who’d you come with?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

He’s all over me now, as much as he can be at his height, so I put my hands on his shoulders in a gentle attempt to shove him away. “I don’t take advantage.”

“I’m offering. Come on. One little kiss at midnight, you big gorgeous bear?”

“Excuse me.” Lowen’s terse voice cuts through the music and voices. “You’ve got your hands all over my plans for the evening.”

My eyes practically shoot out of my head, but I stay silent. The twink sizes Lowen up, then pops his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.

“Outplayed. Well done, sir.”

He pats my chest and slinks off to the bar.

Lowen smiles softly. “You looked like you needed to be rescued.”

“I did. Thanks. He was persistent.”

“New Year’s Eve does that to people.”

“Yeah.” I glance over at the bar. “Damn, he’s still watching us.”

“Guess we should dance then.”

Lowen takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor, and I follow, barely able to process what’s happening. Like Lowen said, it must be the atmosphere.

Some loud song with a heavy beat is playing, but Lowen wraps his arms around my neck like it’s a slow song. He looks incredible, as he normally does, but he’s turned it up tonight with dark eyeliner around his sapphire blue eyes and a light pink gloss on his full lips. His thick, sandy brown hair is always perfectly in place, but tonight there’s a tendril that’s fallen onto his forehead. I’m tempted to brush it away, but I don’t want to push my luck.

The mood shifts when Ridley climbs onto the bar top and yells that the countdown is starting. Lowen’s eyes briefly shift in his direction, then turn back to me as his cheeks flush pink.

“Did you have anyone to kiss at midnight last year?”

Shaking my head, I answer, “Nope. You?”

“No. I was still in Paris, hiding out from the media.”

“I can’t imagine what that would be like. Strangers giving a fuck about your personal life.”

He huffs. “It’s annoying. The breakup was messy and the gossips couldn’t get enough.”

I won’t admit that I spent hours looking him up and I know all about how things went down with his marriage. “At least no one cares here in Willow Bay.”

A slight smile pulls at his lips. “I love it. I feel almost like myself again.”

A loud pop draws my attention to the bar, where Ridley is now shaking a bottle and spraying champagne all over the place just as the DJ they hired announces that it’s midnight.

When I look back at Lowen, his expression is tense, but then his lips part, and he says, “Would you like to kiss me, Oakley?”

“Hell yeah.”

Before he can change his mind, I close the space between us and finally taste his lips. I’m not sure I ever considered what kissing him would feel like, but my weak imagination wouldn’t have been able to conjure the heat building between us.

Lowen parts his lips readily, inviting me to explore, and I do. Fuck yeah. I wrap my arms around him, holding him as close as possible as he buries his fingers in my hair, twisting the short strands the best he can.

If I were a betting man, and I am, I’d say this kiss has been building on his end as long as it has been on mine, but I know better than to get a big head about it. Lowen is guarded, and even though he’s allowing this moment, I’m positive that he’ll be all business again by tomorrow morning.

I have to enjoy this for what it is. A sweet moment in time.

We kiss until the song is over and we’re being knocked around by people. My cock is painfully hard, confined by my tight jeans, and when Lowen steps back, his lips are swollen, his chin red from my beard.

He drags his tongue over his lips, almost like he’s savoring my taste, but then he shocks me even more, twisting his fist in my shirt and saying in the clearest, most determined voice, “Take me home?”

A slow smile tugs at my lips. “You got it, beautiful.”

Lowen

Ugh.

I wish I could blame my throbbing temples on too many martinis last night, but unfortunately, I ended the night all too sober. Which, tragically, didn’t stop me from climbing all over Oakley like a horny monkey. The celebratory mood of a new year went straight to my head and I couldn’t bear the thought of not kissing the gorgeous man when the clock struck midnight. So sue me.

I rub my forehead before dragging my hand through my hair. Now I have to navigate that poor decision. After almost a solid year of ignoring the constant pull of attraction toward him, I fucked up and now I’m sure he’s going to expect to keep it going. Why wouldn’t he?

I can’t though. No way. I’m the last person on the planet Oakley should get attached to. My heart is firmly protected by steel walls and I won’t tear them down, not even for his puppy dog eyes and sexy smirk. Unfortunately for me, I can still feel his strong arms holding me close, and my lips tingle from his claiming kiss.

He’s an awfully quiet sleeper too, so I carefully roll over, hoping to avoid an awkward morning, only to find the other side of my bed empty. Hmm. I listen for running water in the bathroom, but it’s silent.

Sitting upright, I glance around my suite. There’s always a chance he’s in the sitting room, but if he is, he’s very quiet. That’s when I notice the note on the pillow. I pick it up, bracing myself for some shmoopy shit about how wonderful the night was and blah blah blah.

Low

I made a pot of coffee. Hope you don’t mind. Had some stuff to do so I took off.

Have a good day.

~Oak

Oh. Happy New Year. x

I flip the note over, expecting more but finding nothing. That’s it. No shmoop or requests for more time. Huh.

Well that’s great. Perfect, actually. It’s not like we did the deed. We just made out until our lips were sore and we couldn’t keep our eyes open, even though I really wanted to get into those jeans of his and see what I’ve been missing out on. I just wouldn’t let myself and he didn’t offer.

He’s kind of a gentleman. He also dipped before we could have the infamous awkward morning after. A smile tugs at my lips.

Perfect.

I climb out of bed for a quick shower before enjoying a cup of the coffee Oakley brewed. After an hour of reading emails, I head downstairs to see what the guys are up to, interested in what the dynamic will be now that Stewart has been added to our mix. Salem seems like he’s always been with us, but Stewart is more reserved around us so far. I love the effect his calming energy has on Kit though. It’s lovely.

The scent of bacon lures me into the kitchen where Jerryn is standing at the stove and Bane is juicing fresh oranges. Both men look over at me and smile.

“Morning, diva.” Bane winks. “How’d you sleep?”

“Fine, thanks. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

Jerryn snickers, but focuses on the eggs he’s scrambling.

“Like you know a secret.”

“Nope,” Bane says. “Oakley said he slept well too.”

I purse my lips as I steal a roasted potato from a platter. “What else did he say?”

“Nothing,” Jerryn says. “He was tight-lipped. Did you make him sign an NDA?”

I roll my eyes and chew on the tasty potato. “Smells good.”

“Changing the subject.” Bane nods. “We’re not here to tease you, Low. We’re proud of you.”

“Proud of me?” I scoff. “For what?”

“Hooking up finally. Oakley’s a tall drink of water. I was starting to think you were made of stone not to snag that man.”

“We didn’t hook up.”

Jerryn turns to me, his brow creased. “But he stayed the night?”

Blowing out a breath, I shake my head, feeling sheepish that I spent the evening making out like a teenager. “We just kissed. A lot.”

Bane looks confused while Jerryn’s expression softens.

“That’s sweet,” Jerryn says. “Very wholesome.”

“I was tired,” I say in a failed attempt at defending myself.

“Hey.” Bane squeezes my shoulder. “You don’t have to be weird with us, man. We’re your friends.”

“I know that.” I steal another potato, lowering my defenses. “It was a weird night. I didn’t mean to cross the line with Oakley, but it was New Year’s Eve and he was… you know.”

“Gorgeous?” Jerryn offers.

“Sexy?” Bane says.

I nod. “Yes, those things. And I was…” I wave my hand in the air.

“Horny?” Bane says.

“Lonely.” Jerryn’s voice is soft.

The word pierces my chest like an arrow, but I nod. “I guess so. I haven’t been with anyone since Alain. Not even a kiss. There was this cute guy flirting with him and it made me mad. I guess it all got to me last night, and now I have to deal with the fallout.”

“What fallout?” Bane asks.

“I made out with Oakley.”

“We got that part. Why is that a problem?”

“I crossed a line, Bane. I have to figure out how to get us back to the place where I wasn’t throwing myself all over him.”

“Oakley’s a grown-ass man, Low. He’s not some college kid who doesn’t know how to navigate life yet, and he knows you.”

“Yeah, he knows you,” Jerryn adds.

“What does that mean?”

“Unless he’s a total dumbass, which doesn’t seem to be the case, he’ll know it was a one-night wonder,” Bane explains. “He left before you could wake up. That’s a good sign.”

“Proper hookup etiquette,” Jerryn says. “From what I’ve heard. I have about as much hookup experience as a nun.”

Bane scowls for a second but quickly neutralizes his expression as he turns his attention back to me. “Yeah, Oakley knows what’s up. I’d be willing to put money on it.”

“Don’t, please.”

“Oh my god, it smells so good.” Kit shuffles into the kitchen wearing only a pair of basketball shorts. “Thanks for cooking, guys.”

Jerryn’s face lights up. “Our pleasure, but if someone wants to set the table, we’d appreciate it.”

“I can,” I offer, already heading to the butler’s pantry.

“I’ll help,” Kit says. “Stewart will be down in a few minutes.”

“Do you think we’ll even see Salem and Indy today?” Bane asks.

I smile just thinking about Indy and Salem’s relationship. I never thought I’d see Kit settle down, but Indy? I would’ve expected pigs to fly first. Salem is perfect for him though, and I knew it almost immediately. Indy and Kit finding love almost renews my faith that it does actually exist. Almost.

Kit and I are heading back through the kitchen to the dining room when a short man with deep red hair enters the room, clearly confused as he clutches his sneakers to his chest.

“Shit,” he murmurs.

“Can we help you?” I ask.

“I’m just looking for the front door. It was dark last night. This house is huge.”

“He was with Rid,” Kit whispers while all of us gaze at the man awkwardly.

I set my stack of plates on the island. “I’ll show you.”

“Thanks, man.” He clears his throat. “Ridley’s asleep.”

“No problem.”

I guide the man down the hallway, and when we get back to the stairs, he nods. “I went left when I should’ve gone right.”

“It’s easy to get turned around in here.”

Once we get to the front door, the man tugs his shoes on and grabs his coat from the rack.

“Thanks.”

“Certainly.”

I watch him walk down the path to a beat-up gray hatchback parked in the circular drive. I could’ve invited him to stay for breakfast, but I don’t know if Ridley would like that, and frankly, he looked like he wanted to leave.

Heading back to the kitchen, I pause and gaze up at the sound of pounding footsteps on the stairs, smiling when Ridley appears seconds later.

“He’s gone?”

“Yep.”

He scrubs his hand over his face. “Cool.”

“He got lost and ended up in the kitchen.”

“Great,” he mumbles.

“Wasn’t a good night?” I tease as we walk to the kitchen together.

“It was fine until I called him the wrong name while he was choking on my dick.”

I flinch at the mental visual. “Oops. What did you call him?”

Ridley glances at me like I’m missing something very obvious. Then it dawns on me.

“Oh shit. You called him Wren?”

“I called him Wren. It was the red hair.”

“He reacted poorly?”

“Tried to leave in the middle of it. I persuaded him to stay given the hour, but he slept on my couch. He told me even though he was just a hookup he deserved to be chosen and not a substitute for someone else. That cut deep. I couldn’t bear to face him this morning so I pretended to be asleep.”

“That explains why he looked like he couldn’t wait to get out of here.”

“Dick move on my part.”

“Accidents happen.”

“Yeah.” He bumps his arm against mine. “Too bad I’m hung up on someone I can’t have.”

“You never know.”

We find Kit and Stewart in the dining room setting the table, and then to our surprise, Salem strolls in carrying the platter of potatoes, followed by Indy who has two pitchers of juice in his hands. Bane enters next with a platter of bacon and a basket of toast, and then Jerryn comes in with the eggs.

We take our places, everyone complimenting how good the food looks, and we settle into our normal routine. The bar is closed for the day, so we can spend it how we like.

Before we dig in, Indy raises his glass of orange juice. “A new year toast?”

Nodding, I raise my glass too.

“May this next year be filled with wonderful surprises for all of us. I love you, guys.”

My chest tightens with emotion, but I nod, pushing down the budding hope that persists in spite of my attempts to kill it. I don’t know how to navigate love and romance anymore, not after trusting Alain with my heart and my livelihood. Could I ever give my heart to someone again or am I destined to be bitter and single for the rest of my life?

I sip my orange juice, but when I flick my gaze to Indy, he’s watching me, mouthing the words, Are you okay?

I nod and force a smile to my lips. Perfect , I mouth back.

Then I turn my attention to loading up my plate before he can see that I’m lying through my teeth.