Page 31 of Gin & Sin

“I appreciate it.”

We finish closing up the restaurant, and I walk with Lowen to the bank two blocks over to drop the deposit in the night box.

“Can you imagine doing this in New Onyx in the middle of the night?” I ask.

“Walking to the bank?”

“Yeah, with a pile of money.”

He laughs softly. “I don’t think we’d make it far.”

“No.”

We drop the deposit off and keep walking toward home. I’m hit with a subtle desire to go back to Stewart’s and climb into bed with him to keep him warm on this cold night, but we’re not at that level. It’s nearly three in the morning, and I’m sure he gets up early for work.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Lowen says, bumping his arm into mine.

“It’s nothing. Just kind of thinking of Stewart.”

“Yeah? What about him?”

“Honestly? I low-key feel kind of bad that I just work him over and leave, but that’s what he wants. It’s what we both want.”

“Then why do you feel low-key bad about it?”

His question makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle. “He’s nice. Too nice to be a casual thing, but he’s recently divorced and new at dating men. He wants to keep his options open, and he should. Fuck knows I’m not ready to settle down.”

Lowen nods. “Word. Or whatever they say these days to hard agree.”

“I think they say ‘hard agree.’”

Lowen laughs. “Perfect.”

“Any movement with you and Oakley?”

Lowen pulls his head back and looks at me like I’ve turned green. “No. Why would there be?”

“You said he wanted to work with you on some restoration projects.”

“It’s a business collaboration only.”

“I don’t know how you do it, man. Oakley is one hell of man. All muscles and hair and sweat. Mmm. You’re strong.”

“I don’t know if strong is the word I would use.”

I glance over at Lowen, who has a distant look on his face.

“I think I’m broken. My failed attempt at the fairy tale did me in, and not even a man who looks like Oakley can sway me from my pitiful celibate life.”

“Dude.” I wrap my arm around his shoulders, pulling him into me despite his weak protests. “Be careful. You keep talking like that and we’ll make you a project. A ‘rescue Lowen’s sex life’ project.”

He actually laughs, untangling himself from me. “Please don’t. That sounds awful. Besides, there are plenty of solo ways to tend to my needs.”

“Boring.” I turn around so I’m walking backward, facing Lowen. “There’s nothing like the feel of another person’s body on yours. Or their breath warming your face. Their sweet moans and needy whimpers. You can’t tell me you don’t miss that.”

Lowen’s face flickers with something I can’t read before he neutralizes it. “It’s just not worth it to me. Sex is nice, but it always leads to bullshit. It’s not my fault every man who beds me falls in love.”

I chuckle. “That must be some good ass.”

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