Chapter Seven
Baxter
My decision not to go home hadn’t been a conscious one. But as I waited at the bar for my turn to be served, I knew it was the right one, the murmur of conversation and laughter surrounding me somehow comforting. Home would have had nothing but silence, and I’d had enough of that when I was dead.
The only downside was all the damn thoughts floating around.
It was no exaggeration to say they only centered on four subjects: sex, money, relationships, and drink.
People were looking to pick someone up, drown their sorrows because of money or family problems, or drink so much they were no longer capable of thinking about any of those things.
I’d asked for two shots of tequila and a vodka and coke. I took the two shots in quick succession. The warm burn in my chest not only made me feel better, but drove back the encroaching sobriety from this afternoon’s impromptu vodka session.
I scanned the room as I left the bar, the space I’d occupied swallowed up in no time.
Most people sat in pairs, some established couples seeking a third, while others were developing pairs, with flirting turned up to the max.
I didn’t do threesomes, my ego sizeable enough to want all the attention on me.
I wasn’t a great fan of competition either, which left the only viable options as the men sitting alone.
There were five of them. Number one, I discounted immediately for being too young and too green. I didn’t need to read his mind to know that this was his first time in a gay bar. He reeked of it. I suspected that if anyone approached him, he’d run away screaming.
Number two was an older man, more interested in his phone than in anyone else’s presence.
Shame. He was really quite handsome in a conservative and slightly rumpled way.
He intrigued me enough to tune into his thoughts, zoning out the cacophony in the rest of the room complicated by the amount of alcohol in my bloodstream.
What was it going to be? Sex, money, or relationships?
“I knew Verity would message. She just can’t help herself.
Do I lie to her, or tell the truth? How well does she know Glenn?
If I lie and he tells her what happened, it’s just going to be worse.
So I guess I have to tell her. Not tonight, though.
I’ll tell her tomorrow. I need sleep before I get another long lecture about Carl.
That won’t be fun. I also need to apologize to Glenn and offer to pay for the meal. ”
Relationships, it was then.
I moved on, man number three staring right back at me.
He lifted his glass in a lazy toast as our gazes clashed and then jerked his head to the empty seat next to him.
His urbane sophistication contrasted with the edginess of Blade from this afternoon.
Yet, as I changed direction and made my way toward him, something told me they were of a similar ilk.
It was the predatory gleam in their eyes.
That self-assuredness that when they crooked their finger in someone’s direction, they’d come running. And I had. Both times.
Two realizations came in quick succession.
The first was a personal one, that if this went the way I expected it to, how all signs showed so far it would, he would be the third man I’d picked up in twenty-four hours.
Was that what I’d become? Was that what I wanted to be?
I had no answer to that question, but I knew it should be a no.
My tête-à-tête with Blade had as good as cost me my job.
Yet, I’d gone straight from Cade giving me a lecture to here, ready to continue the same behavior that had led to my downfall and lose myself in yet another meaningless fuck.
I’d accuse anyone else doing what I did of destructive behavior.
No wonder Cade didn’t want me in the building.
The second realization came while working out the best way to extricate myself from the man who’d introduced himself as Evan. Why? Because while Evan’s lips said one thing, his thoughts said something completely different.
First, his name wasn’t Evan; it was Alec. Alec had a wife and two kids, one of them less than a year old. His wife thought he was working late, a stunt he pulled at least twice a week.
That was only the tip of the iceberg, though.
Evan had a friend who’d turned his basement into a sex dungeon.
And while, Evan was smiling and talking about how he and I should get to know each other better, he was plotting how to get me there without me suspecting anything, where he and his friend had plans for me, whether or not I was on board.
“So, what do you think?” Evan asked. “Want to come to the private member’s club with me? It’s quieter there and we’ll be able to talk properly.”
On the way to the private member’s club, he’d make up an excuse to call at his friend’s house. And then the party would really start. A party I wouldn’t like very much, and that would go on for most of the night. Yeah, right? In his dreams.
I feigned a yawn. “You know what. It’s a lovely offer, but I had a long day at work and I’m more tired than I realized. I think I’m just going to go home.”
The change in Evan/Alec’s expression was instantaneous. “I bought you two drinks.”
I laughed. “Jeez! What century are we living in? Do you want your money back?” I pushed my chair back, intending to stand and walk away. Evan was quicker, reaching out and grabbing my arm so I had no option but to stay sitting. It seemed the gloves were off.