JASON DIDN’T shower until a quarter to eight. He wasn’t sure what it was about Gabe that made him suspect the cop wouldn’t show up. But he washed himself, then wrapped a towel around his hips. It was about eight fifteen when his phone chimed, and he glanced at the face, expecting a text, canceling.
Hey, I’m downstairs.
Jason smiled. I’ll let you in.
After sending the text, he gave Jason access to the building through his phone, then dressed quickly in a pair of boxers and black slacks. He wasn’t sure where they were going for drinks, but he hoped it wasn’t Warrior. He saw that place way too often as it was. As he was about to reach for his shirt, the doorbell rang. He left the shirt and answered the door.
“Good evening, Officer Ford,” Jason teased. “You’re late.”
“Sorry.” Ford even looked sheepish. “Work was a pain in the ass today, and I ran behind on getting home to shower.”
Jason thought Gabe was gorgeous from the first time they’d met. But right then, in that moment as Gabe stood at his door, brown hair styled back away from his face, muscular body draped in black, Jason had to bite into his bottom lip.
“That’s all right. The wait was worth it because you clean up very well.”
Gabe chuckled. “Thanks?”
“Damn—I meant to say you look amazing.”
“I know what you meant.”
Gabe’s gaze traversed his body, from his neck, over the tattoo of the scorpion on his right pec, then down the massive tribal tattoo along his left arm to the elbow. He wondered if seeing the ink was a turn-on for the officer or disgust.
“Come in. Let me finish getting dressed.”
“Don’t rush on my account,” Gabe called. “I kinda like the view.”
Jason glanced over his shoulder and smiled but hurried into his bedroom. He pulled on a black shirt and slipped on his silver necklace before reaching for his Rolex. Once he was dressed, he tapped on a little aftershave, slipped his feet into a pair of black shoes, then picked up his wallet and cell.
“I don’t know where you’re taking me,” Jason said, reentering the room to find Gabe checking out the city below them. “So I figured I couldn’t go wrong in black.”
Gabe turned. “You look great. Ready?”
“Of course.”
They rode the elevator down in silence. Jason knew Gabe’s was staring at him. He kept his gaze averted to give Gabe time to find what he’d been looking for. Once they stepped through the door and out into the late-evening air, Jason was surprised to find Gabe had driven a black truck. The only color on the thing was the silver rims.
“I didn’t imagine you as a truck driver,” Jason said.
Gabe surprised him further by opening his door for him.
“No?” Gabe asked. “What did you see me driving?”
“I don’t know.” Jason gripped the bar and pulled himself into the leather seat. “Something strangely compensating.”
Gabe laughed. He closed the door, jogged around, and took his seat behind the wheel. “You think I need to be compensating for something?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll soon find out.”
Gabe’s cheeks did redden then, and Jason took great pleasure in that. They remained silent until after Gabe maneuvered the truck from the parking lot and onto the main road.
“Where are we going?” Jason asked.
“Don’t like surprises, huh, Jason?”
Jason smiled. “I like them just fine—sometimes.”
“We’re going to Boisson Scorpio.”
“The rooftop bar?” Jason asked. “I’m impressed. Trying to get into that place is like pulling teeth. How did you swing it?”
“I know a guy who knows a guy.”
Jason nodded and glanced out the window. They chatted about simple things all along the drive to the center of Dearhorn City until finally Gabe pulled into the parking lot of the luxury French bar. The lot was packed, as usual, but Gabe didn’t stop. He merely turned left at a sign that said This Way to VIP. Once he was parked, both of them climbed out of the vehicle and made their way to the entrance. They were admitted after Gabe gave his name, and then escorted to a glass elevator. They rode it all the way up, then emerged on the rooftop space.
Music played softly, customers spoke in hushed tones, and from somewhere laughter rang out. In the center was the bluest pool Jason had ever seen. In the corners, potted palm trees grew healthily toward the sky.
The tables were glass, and the seats single sofas. Their hostess seated them at one of the sides that overlooked the whole city lit up below them like the Fourth of July. Jason allowed his body to fall into his chair but couldn’t help glancing out over the town. He couldn’t remember a time he’d seen anything quite so beautiful—then he turned back at Gabe and smiled.
Oh yes, I can.
“Could I start you both off with a drink?” the hostess asked.
“Cranberry with a lemon twist for me,” Gabe said.
“Gabe, honestly. Are you one of those guys who is afraid of leaving their car in the lot for the night?” Jason baited.
“No.”
“Then have a real drink with me.”
Gabe tilted his head, then smiled. “All right—can I have the Scorpion’s Kiss?”
“Sure,” the hostess replied. “And for you, sir?”
“I’ll have what he’s having.” Jason grinned.
She laughed and left them alone to the ambience of the place.
“So?” Gabe asked. “What do you think?”
“I think this first date is off to a smashing good start.”
“Good. I’m curious, though,” Gabe said. “How does a bartender afford your condo?”
“Is this an interrogation, Officer?”
“No… I’m sorry if I offended you.”
“Don’t worry about it. People ask me that all the time.” He had to stop when the hostess returned with their drinks and meal menus. Jason took the menu and lifted his glass toward Gabe. “To first dates and unashamed expectations.”
“That’s a strange toast,” Gabe said. He touched his glass to Jason’s, then sipped.
“To answer your question—” Jason set his glass down. “—I’m not a bartender. I own Warrior and Empress over in Fullerton.”
“Oh. God. I’m sorry.”
“No need to be. We’re getting to know each other right now, right?”
“Right.”
“Well,” Jason said, after taking another sip from his drink. “While I was in university, I started working as a bouncer at a club over on Seattle Drive. Then slowly branched out into promoting, that sort of thing. I found I loved the idea of owning my own business, and I had connections in the bar scene. I switched my major, so I could double in business and education. My father was a little horrified. He thought I’d want to follow in his footsteps and become some kind of a professor.”
“Your dad’s a professor?”
“Yeah. He’s currently teaching ancient literature at a university in Osaka for a couple of years.”
“Wow—so you’re smart and ambitious. Why are you still single?”
Jason thought about the question while their waitress arrived, introduced herself, and took their orders. “I was in a serious relationship for four years. I thought for sure I’d found the one. It ended a year and a half ago.”
“I’m sorry.” Gabe leaned forward in his seat to rest his elbows on the table.
“That’s all right.” Jason glanced out at the view before meeting Gabe’s eyes. “I was ready to settle down, and Patrick—well, he didn’t seem as if he was ever going to. What about you?”
“Me?” Gabe asked. He inhaled, then offered a one-shoulder shrug. “I’ve always wanted to be a cop. My father was a firefighter; my mother worked in emergency dispatch. He died from lung cancer a few years ago. My mom—well, she passed away just as I graduated from high school.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. But we go on, right? I have a brother in the military. He is stationed in South Korea at the moment.”
“Oh—have you heard from him?”
“Yeah. It sucks, though, because he and I are close. I remember thinking—if he moved to South Korea, we’d lose that.”
“I don’t think so. You love each other.”
“Yeah,” Gabe said. “But distance has a way of worming its way between people, then tearing them apart.”
“Then don’t let it.”
Gabe smiled.
Soon their meals arrived. They fell into easy, flirtatious conversation. Jason learned more about Gabe in those moments than he’d learned about Patrick the entire time they’d been dating. The laughter was real, and the warmth between them was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. After dessert of a warm cookie topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate shavings, and caramel drizzle, Jason wanted to undo his pants.
“I think you might have to roll me home.” Jason groaned. “I don’t usually eat that much, but the food was delicious.” He eased back in his chair and exhaled. “I think I need a cigarette, and I don’t even smoke. Do you think they’d mind if I undid my pants?”
Gabe laughed. “Did you enjoy that?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe—thank you.”
“Good.” Gabe finished the last of his drink and set the glass back on the table. “You don’t find it weird dating a cop?”
“Should I?” Jason asked, tilting his head. “I don’t have a record—I’m an open book, as they say.”
“My last man was afraid of the gun.”
“Well, the gun isn’t the most ideal thing. I’m not going to lie.” Jason inhaled. “Tell me something. Do you get to take the handcuffs home?”
Gabe smirked. “Who’s to say I don’t have my own pair?”
“Do you?”
“I’ll never tell.”
Jason chewed on his bottom lip.
“Honestly, I’ve never thought about using them,” Gabe admitted. “The last guy I dated was always in church. We never—you know—”
“How long did that last?”
“Six months.”
“And no sex?”
Gabe shrugged. “He wanted to wait until marriage and I was cool with that—or so I thought. Then I realized I was hiding, and the less he pushed the subject of taking our relationship to the next level, the safer I’d be.”
“Tell me this… are you a sexual person?”
“I could be. For the right man.”
Jason nodded. “Fair enough.”
Their bill arrived, and Gabe quickly took it. Jason didn’t fight. After it was settled, they ventured back into the elevator. Jason took a moment to press his frame into Gabe’s body and kissed him deeply. Gabe reciprocated by tangling an arm around Jason’s neck and lifted his mouth higher to deepen the kiss.
Jason trembled. “I’ve been thinking about that all night,” he whispered. “I didn’t think you wanted to do it in front of everyone.”
No sound left Gabe’s lips. Instead he licked them and pressed his beautiful brown eyes closed.
“Do you want me to apologize?” Jason asked, worried he’d really crossed the line with the lip-lock.
“Do it again.”
Without a word, Jason lowered his head back to Gabe’s lips. He allowed their tongues to play with each other and send sparks of electricity charging through his frame. He plundered Gabe’s mouth until the doors pinged behind them. Only then did he reluctantly release Gabe and step back.
“Come, dance with me,” Jason managed.