Page 30 of The Question of Us
Nick and I slid from our stools to take a look. My attention was quickly drawn to the photo of a chestnut mare named April Rain, surrounded by her entourage. A brass plate at the bottom of the frame listed the year, the mare’s name, her jockey, her trainer, and her owner. I scrutinised the photo and there he stood with his hand on the mare’s neck. Marty Klein. He looked mid-forties rather than the fifty-one years we knew him to be, with sleek dark hair, enthralling eyes, and what appeared to be a nicely toned body under that slimline suit.
I’d seen many photos of the man, and yet I was still struck by how very normal he looked. Handsome and supremely confident, he wore the huge smile of a winner, and try as I might, I couldn’t see a trace of the arsehole I so desperately wanted to find. If I’d passed him on the street, I’d never dream what an abusive fucker he was under all that handsome ordinariness.
“So, this Marty fellow still owns the stud?” Nick led me back to our stools.
Todd nodded. “Yep. Marty Klein. M. K. Stud. It’s a big outfit.”
“They drink in here?” I asked offhandedly.
Todd waved hello to an elderly man and pointed to a table in the corner of the room. “I’ll bring it over to you, John.” The man nodded and Todd grabbed a glass from under the bar. “A few of Marty’s trainers and stable jockeys come in on a regular basis, but we only see Marty now and then. Nice guy, but he’s more of the vineyard-restaurant type rather than a brewery fan, if you get what I mean.”
I watched my beer. “Does he have family?”
I felt Todd’s curious gaze but didn’t look up when he answered, “No. At least there’s never been a husband that I know of.”
Nick feigned surprise. “He’s gay?”
Todd hesitated. “Or something.” He arched a brow like he was reminding us old dudes that options had broadenedthese days. I tried not to blush, feeling suitably chastised as he continued. “When I was a horny teen, it was kind of cool knowing one of the local bigwigs was also gay. In a small town, it made you feel less alone, I suppose. It also meant the locals were warmed up to the idea.” He hesitated. “Well, some of them, at least. Word around town is that there’s been a few boyfriends over the years. Some serious, some not. The guy’s an incorrigible flirt.”
Nick raised a brow. “Sounds like the voice of experience.”
Todd rolled his eyes. “He’s tried a few times since I came back, but I don’t cheat and I made that perfectly clear.” He ran his cloth over the pristine bar.
“A few times?” I pressed. “I take it he didn’t take no for an answer the first time?”
Todd huffed. “The man’s a player and I’m a gay barman in a town with limited local offerings. Of course he’s gonna try it on more than once. A lot of older rich gays think all they have to do is click their fingers and us younger guys will swoon all over their money.” He winced apologetically. “Sorry. No offence intended.”
I chuckled. “None taken. And just so you know, we only fit the older part of that scenario, not the rich bit.”
Todd chuckled. “Noted. And I’m not complaining, not really. Marty employs a lot of locals and brings good business into town. Some of these guys—” He gestured around the rapidly filling bar. “—have come to town for the annual bloodstock sales tomorrow in Wangaratta. Marty’s a big part of that, and it’s an important event on the local calendar. The organisers bring in food trucks and stalls, and there’s even a fun fair with rides that lasts through the weekend. It’s a big community event.”
“And this is on tomorrow?” I shot Nick a look. It could be the opportunity we were hoping for.
“Sure is.” Todd slid a loaded tray of drinks over to a server to distribute. “We went last year to see what all the fuss was about,and it’s actually pretty cool. You should check it out if you have time.” Todd threw his towel back over his shoulder. “Can I get you guys another beer?”
I glanced down at our half-full glasses and then sideways at Nick who surprisingly, or maybe unsurprisingly, nodded. “Absolutely. But I think we’ll grab a table.”
Todd nodded. “I’ll send them over.”
“Make my beer a pot this time,” I told Todd as I scanned the blackboard menu. “And we’ll take two bowls of loaded potato skins as well.”
Todd grinned. “Excellent choice.”
We left Todd to his rapidly filling bar and headed for a table in the conservatory. It turned out to be more of a grapevine-covered pergola with glass sides and big sliding windows. We grabbed a table right next to the footpath to make the most of the cool breeze blowing down the main street.
The scrumptious loaded skins and fresh beers arrived in timely fashion and we ate and drank mostly in silence. When we were done, I reached across the table and ruffled his short spiky hair. “I could get used to this. It’s a good look on you. Todd certainly appreciates it.”
Nick sat back and eyed me curiously. “Is that right? Personally, I feel half-naked.”
I waggled my brows. “Like I said, I could get used to it.”
“I wish I could say the same about your ponytail.” He studied the grey rat’s tail. “But it’s kind of nasty.”
I chuckled. “I know, right? It’s like being a completely different person.”
He grunted and reached for a stray potato skin left on his plate, running it through the cold melted cheese and bacon before popping it in his mouth. “Well, I happen to like the original person more.” He swallowed the potato skin and beckoned me forward. “You’ve got sour cream—” He pressed thenapkin to the corner of my mouth with such focus that I couldn’t look away. It was inordinately sexy and I wanted to kiss him so badly. Before I could, he sat back in his chair. “There. Much better.”
I couldn’t help but sigh and lick my lips. His eyes darkened, so I did it again, slower this time. Then I ran my thumb along my lower lip and sucked the last bit of salt from the tip.
