Page 127 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

“Wow,” he says. “It was pretty damn obvious, but okay.” Being Natalie’s brother, Jackson is family, but he also works upstairs. It was his parents' brokerage firm that we bought. He’s barely out of university, but he’s been working his ass off to prove he deserves to be there.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m good?—”

“I know,” Nick says. “You’re fine.You always say that.”

I level a glare at him. “I am, except I could use another whiskey.”

As if her ears were burning, Margie’s here and offering, “Another drink, handsome?”

Jackson wags his finger in the air. “Another round, Margie.”

Still staring at me, she winks. “You got it.”

Nick says, “She’s definitely into you, man.”

A guy leans back from the table beside us. “I’m not one to give unsolicited advice, but I know a thing or two about Margie. She wants three things from a man. By appearances alone, you have two out of three.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

Chuckling, he replies, “Looks and money.”

After taking a sip of my drink, I say, “Trust me, my looks and bank account are the least interesting things about me.” I’m confident I have more to offer than that.

Nick is laughing but manages to say, “We’re going to have to trust you on that one, brother.”

Jackson leans forward as if Margie will somehow hear us over the rowdy crowd, and asks the stranger, “What’s the third?”

“A wedding ring.”

I angle to get a good look at him by resting my elbow on the table. “She only dates married men?”

“No, she likes to break up couples.”

He doesn’t seem like a shit-stirrer, but I know nothing about him. “That’s a damning accusation. How do you know?”

He shows his left hand where there’s no ring to be found. “I once fell for her tricks.”

“Luckily, I’m just here for the whiskey.” I toast to that and then empty the glass.

“Wise choice,” he says, setting the legs of his chair down again and rejoining his friends.

Jackson says, “I’m fairly certain it takes two to tango. He can’t place all the blame on her.”

I eye Margie across the bar as she rubs some other guy’s arm, the bartender now glaring at that guy. I’m not upset one bit.

That doesn’t change the fact that I’m reminded it’s been too long since I was with a woman. Clearly, I’m not seeking a relationship, but companionship with some fun at the end of the night wouldn’t be so bad. Turning back to my friends, I say, “I’m sure she’d appreciate the vote of confidence, though I’m not sure she needs it.” Just as her laughter reaches my ears, I cut my fingers through the air in front of my throat. “I think I’m done for the night.”

“Another round is on the way.” Standing, Jackson moves around the table. “I’m gonna take a piss.”

The bartender delivers our drinks and grunts when he sets mine down. Nothing else. Just a grunt.

Glancing between the glass and Nick, I ask, “Do you think it’s safe to drink?”

“Since I’m the spare, I’ll sacrifice myself to protect you, Sire.”

We’ve had a long-running joke about me being the heir and him the spare. Nick and my mom never appreciated it, but I cracked my dad up a few times. Not that he liked me more, but he likes a good one-up, and that was mine. “You will?”

“No, I fucking won’t. Drink it.” He taps his glass against mine, and adds, “The guy’s not going to kill his clientele.”

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