Page 31 of Vodka And Virtue

Graham snorted. “You’re about as soft as a steel wall. You forget, I’ve been your wingman more than once, when it comes to other men and, also, in a fight.”

We were silent for a moment, each of us contemplating the conversation. I took another swig of my beer, and Graham reached for a fresh cold one.

“So, when are you gonna let me be your wingman again?”

He looked up, startled. “Fuck no. Don’t start down that road. We’re talking about you, not me.”

“Been a long time,” I pointed out.

“Not long enough. I get that you want to share your life with someone, but that’s not me. I’m happy. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything by being alone. I have everything I need. Four boys to raise, two bars to run. I don’t have time to waste on dating. I’m way too old for that bullshit.”

“This isn’t still about Mike, is it?”

“What? No. I mean, yeah, I pined over a straight man for almost five years. It kicked my ass when he decided to get married and start a family. I should’ve known better. But that’s in the past.”

“So then, what kept you single all these years?”

“Fuck, Rory. Life. I had a kid to raise. Shannon came to live with me when he was sixteen. I wasn’t going to bring another man into his life that he might not have trusted or liked and risk pushing him away. He needed something stable that he could rely on, and that was me. By the time he had his feet under him, we were busy running the bar. I spent my weekends looking after my nephews. When was I supposed to find time to build a life with someone new? I was spread too thin with commitments. It wouldn’t have been fair to anyone.”

I’d heard it all before. His endless litany of excuses. They were valid, but they were also too easy to hide behind. Nobody was busy for twenty years.

“And now?”

“Is there a reason you don’t want to enjoy this night?” He sighed, long and loud, his lips taking a hard pull from the bottle. “Sure, I could find time for a date now. But I’m not interested in trying to make someone fit into the mold I want them to be in. Not just anybody will do. I’d rather be alone. I guess I figured if I found someone that changed my mind, turned my life upside down, maybe I’d give them a chance. But until then, I'm good. I’ve got the boys, the bars, my bike, and I can live vicariously through you.”

I tipped my head back on the rim of the tub and extended my arms in either direction, gripping the hard plastic frame. “Sounds good, old man. Let me know if you’re ever in need of a wingman again.”

He laughed softly as he mirrored my position. I closed my eyes and thought about Carlisle and the kiss we shared in the store room. My lips still burned from the memory. I would do just about anything for another taste of him.

It was time to plan my next move.

* * *

The bar was usuallyslow on Sunday nights, but even more so tonight. Not that I minded. It gave me more time to focus on Carlisle. I watched as he inventoried the liquor, making notes on his clipboard. He was probably filling out an order form for his supplier. Then he made his way around the bar and lounge areas, inspecting every booth and chair, looking to see if any of the fabric was torn and needed replacing.

Carlisle ran a tight ship. He was every bar owner’s wet dream.

He wasmywet dream.

His dark hair and sea-green eyes, blush pink lips, and high cheekbones were a stark contrast to his toned masculine body. He had the face of a high-fashion model with an athlete’s build. Carlisle wasn’t muscled like me, but his body had filled out in all the right places, thick and solid. The kind of body I could put my hands on in a moment of passion and not worry about breaking something.

I waited until he stopped to take his dinner break and joined him, sliding into the booth beside him.

“Hi.” He greeted me shyly, glancing around to see if we were drawing attention.

“Relax. Nobody is waiting with their camera in hand for the next moment you decide to kiss me.”

“Obviously, you don’t know my brother very well,” he replied sarcastically.

“Speaking of that kiss, when are you going to let me take you out again?”

His beautiful face brightened. “How about tomorrow night? We could go out for dinner and dancing.”

“I didn’t realize you were so eager to spend time with me again. Tomorrow night sounds perfect.”

“Great! Wear a suit.”

“A suit? I’ll take you anywhere you’d like to go. Somewhere nice.”

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