Page 34 of French Martini

“Ugh. How shallow. You didn’t deserve that.”

“No, but back then I was just a lowly worker in a big company. I didn’t have anything to offer him other than a good time.”

“And you thought Lowen would be like that?”

“No, but…” I shrug. “I guess it was in the back of my mind. I wondered if maybe that was why he didn’t want to date me, but now I’m pretty sure it’s because of what his ex put him through.”

“Oh. He’s damaged.”

“Rightfully. He married a chronic cheater. They worked together too, so it was a big deal when it all blew up.”

“Sucks.” Sam reaches over and squeezes my hand. “But the good news is, all you have to do is not be a piece of shit and you’re winning.”

I laugh at that. “Good point.”

“Seriously though, he’s feeling some kind of way about you or he wouldn’t have reacted the way he did over me. Maybe he’s confused about his feelings or whatever, but my guess is he at least likes you. Romantically, I mean.”

I wish I could spill all the amazing things about our dynamic. I could talk for days about the way his breath hitches and his eyes heat every time I call him kitten, or how stunning he looked on his knees with my cock in his mouth. I want to talk about how his face lights up when he has a new design idea or that adorable crease in his otherwise perfect brow when he’s deep in thought. But it wouldn’t be right to dump all that on a guy I used to fuck.

“You’re a good friend, Sam. Thanks.”

“You’re a good friend too, and I’m happy to help. Truth be told, I secretly hoped someone would catch you. You’re too good to be on the free market.”

I glance at him, laughing. “Maybe it’s my time.”

“Fingers crossed.”

Fingers and toes. Could I be the man to finally unlock Lowen’s heart? I sure hope so.

ELEVEN

LOWEN

The driver pulls upin front of Oakley’s house, and as I exit the car, I take a deep breath and then release it slowly. I didn’t see him today since he was in the city meeting with his new client, so this is the first time I’ve had to face him after whatever the hell that hissy fit I pulled on the phone yesterday was.

I played it over in my head so many times last night that I had to use concealer to hide the bags under my eyes today. It’s not like I’ve never felt jealousy before, I have, but I wasn’t expecting it to come out of nowhere and slap me senseless like that. I have no right to care who Oakley spends his time with. None at all.

I ring the bell and wait, tugging my wool coat up around my neck as a blast of bitterly cold wind whips past me. I hear his heavy steps approach, and when the door swings open, a bright smile spreads across his face.

“Hey,” he says, stepping to the side. “Get out of the cold.”

“Thank you.” I enter his cozy home and smile as he takes my coat for me and hangs it on the hook near the door.

Removing my shoes, I glance around the space. I’ve been here quite a few times, but for some reason I’m seeing it with new eyes. It’s an older home, and as Oakley tells me, it was quite a fixer upper. With his skill set, he’s been able to restore it to itsformer Craftsman bungalow glory. It’s not my preferred taste, but it suits him.

“How’s the bar tonight?” he asks, leading me down the hall to his living room.

“Picking up. Students are returning to campus before classes start.”

“Do you have to get back?”

I shake my head. “No. One of our new employees is starting tonight. We finally hired a woman.”

“Nice.”

“It’s not because we didn’t want to, we just didn’t have anyone apply. But she did, and I’m so glad. We need to break up the testosterone in there and make women feel comfortable too. Indy never wanted it to be a gay men only space.”

“I’ve seen lots of women there.”

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