It's Complicated: A Reservations Story

Julian’s heart stuttered at the words he had longed to hear for so long now. He gave himself the moment. Was he back in business? His head and his heart aligned then settled before both ran crazy rampant with unbridled excitement. His thoughts raced, going every which way as Remington placed a fresh drink in front of Julian then Thomas.

“Is that a blush?” Thomas asked, eyebrows raised. His fingertip caressed the line of Julian’s cheek. All the old feels were there. Excitement and anticipation of an arousing night followed by a nice-sized monetary bonus left for him after a job well done brought conflicting but comforting ease that he hadn’t had for a very long time.

Julian shifted his gaze up to a lingering Remington. He wasn’t prepared for the look of concern on the waiter’s face. As Julian read the confusion and judgment rolling off him, Remington seemed to remember himself, forcing a passive, disinterested look to drop in place as he said, “This round’s on Thane. Can I get you two anything else?”

Remington refused to look at Julian, his gaze fixed on Thomas.

“What’s Thane have to do with any of this?” Thomas asked.

Remington’s name drop had been done on purpose. Julian just wasn’t sure why. “Julian knows.” The waiter had been borderline rude when he punted off his explanation to Julian then turned away with nothing more than a judgmental cock of the brow and a disgusted harrumph.

What the hell was happening? No waiter had ever talked to him in that tone before.

Julian turned back to Thomas who had lost that mesmerized look. His gaze went from Remington to Julian and turned speculative as he sat back an inch or two and brought the cocktail glass to his lips, taking a small sip. If Julian interpreted it all correctly, Thomas was trying to figure out why Julian was at his table. Too bad. Julian could have used a few more minutes of Thomas’s genuine flirting.

He gave a sigh and lifted his own glass. “Thane’s looking for an introduction to Padraig Collins. He runs the bar at Pat’s Pub. He believes you could make it happen.”

“And how does he feel I could help him?” With the change of the song, the volume of the music increased. Thomas pushed back in his seat, inching away from Julian as understanding of a motive replaced the unabashed invitation being offered.

“Thane says you have a relationship with the guy,” Julian answered.

The bark of laughter was unexpected as Thomas turned up the glass, draining its contents. “Why does everyone assume I have a relationship with Padraig? One picture, one time…” Thomas leaned in with his elbows on the table, lifting a hand to Remington, motioning for another round. “If I pretend to know him, can the drinks be on Thane all night?”

The humor and good times were back with a roar. “You can guarantee your night’s on us. So, no connection or circle of influence with Padraig or maybe Pat?”

“Pat’s the old man. His grandson goes by Padraig.” Thomas lifted his hand in a scout’s oath. “And if he and I were the only two men in a room together, I’m not sure I would know it was him. No relationship other than I’ve been to the pub and apparently took a picture that wound up on some influencer’s page.”

Julian nodded his acceptance of the answer.

“So back to more important things. You back in the business or stuck in the nine to five?”

Julian started shaking his head as he tipped the glass up for a drink. “I miss it more than you’ll ever know, but my body’s not the same. I have significant scarring.”

Thomas nodded his understanding. What had happened to Julian wasn’t a secret. Of course, he’d know, but his next words shocked the shit out of Julian. “I heard about the one on your thigh and also the chest, I believe. We all know. It’s such a shame to mar such beauty, but there’s also no one out there like you, Julian. You’re a dying breed. Men today expect the cash and pleasure, then get clingy. You understand the arrangement. You give. The scars don’t matter. You’re gorgeous. You always have been. It’s those eyes.” Thomas leaned in further, close enough that Julian could smell the alluring scent of his expensive cologne, and whispered, “Let’s get out of here. I have a suite at Escape. Spend the night with me. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Thomas clasped Julian’s fingers in his, tentatively testing the hold. Julian’s heart stuttered then turned frantic. This was all he had wanted in the world, and he never truly believed it to be possible for him again. Julian refused to let Beckett’s warm smile and gentle, compassion-filled eyes compete with Thomas’s handhold.

This moment was so damned empowering for Julian.