by Sue Brown
“I know what he’s booked in for, Gideon. I’m old, not stupid.”
“Sorry, Aunty.”
Dan stepped forward and offered his hand. “Afternoon, ma’am.”
She took his hand, but instead of shaking it, she turned it over and studied his nails. From the pinched expression on her face, she obviously didn’t like what she saw. “I’m not a miracle worker, Gideon.”
Dan was getting mighty tired of dealing with the sneers and the attitude from everyone. He tried to extract his hand from hers, but she hung on, stronger than an old lady had a right to be.
“You come with me, Dan. I’ll manicure your fingers while your feet are soaking. Gideon, this is my grocery list. You can come back in an hour.”
He took the list and scanned it. “Okay. If there’s anything I can’t get, Ariel can bring it around tomorrow. See you later, dude.”
Dan panicked and mouthed, “Don’t leave me here.”
“You’ll be fine.” Gideon chuckled. “You’re in good hands with Aunty Vera.”
Sure I am. That’s what everyone thinks before they realize they’re in the hands of a serial killer.
He sat where Vera told him to and watched as she bustled around for a few minutes. He expected to be taken to a modern salon with rows of people having their nails done, not a room straight out of the 1950s.
Vera looked over at him. “Take your boots and socks off, son.”
“Yes, ma’am. Sorry.” He hastily undid the laces of his boots and prayed he didn’t have any holes in his socks.
“You haven’t done this before, have you?” It was more of a brisk statement than a question, but he answered out of politeness.
“I’ve never had a manicure or pedicure before, ma’am.”
Vera put a bowl in front of him, squirted something foamy and minty-scented into the water, and told him to put his feet in there. Then she pulled up a stool beside him and sat down. Dan winced at the creak of her bones, but she paid it no mind.
“You’re a very polite boy, but call me Aunty Vera. Everyone does.”
“Yes, ma’am… Aunty Vera. Are you Gideon’s real aunty?”
“No. I wasn’t blessed with a family or even nieces or nephews. Gideon and Sarah adopted me not long after they were married. Or I adopted them. Anyway, he’s family to me.”
“He’s very lucky to have you,” Dan said, and he meant it sincerely.
She patted his cheek. “You’re a nice boy, even if you have got terrible nails.”
Dan looked at his fingers. His nails looked fine to him, but he was a barman. Who was he to argue?
An hour later Gideon backed cautiously into the salon, laden with bags from a store Dan recognized as a grocery near Cowboys and Angels.
“Shut the door, Gideon,” Aunty Vera ordered. “You’re letting the cold in.”
“Yes, Aunty Vera.”
“Put them in the back. I’ll empty them out when you’re gone.”
Dan would’ve gotten up to help him, but he had one foot on Vera’s lap, and she had a pointed stick that looked as though it could do real damage.
Having deposited the groceries, Gideon returned to where they were sitting. “How are you doing?”
Dan waggled his fingers at Gideon. “I have beautiful nails.”
Gideon caught Dan’s hand and studied his fingers. “Yes, you do.”
Dan had to work hard not to blush.
“We’re almost done,” Aunty Vera said. “Five minutes, at the most.”
“Good. We’ve got one more stop today.”
“You’re gonna have to feed me, man.” Dan’s stomach growled loudly, and Gideon chuckled.
“Okay, next stop is the deli. I can’t have you going feral and eating the masseurs.”
Another rumble from Dan’s stomach signified its agreement. Gideon pulled up a seat and started a conversation with Aunty Vera, so Dan tuned out and focused his attention on the up-coming DDD. He’d tried hard to avoid thinking about it for a week. It wasn’t that he cared about the outcome. At best he’d get a date for the wedding. At worst, he’d meet nineteen guys he could cross off his dating list. Heh, what dating list?
“Dan?” Gideon interrupted his thoughts.
He blinked and realized Gideon and Aunty Vera were staring at him. “Hi… umm… I’m sorry. I was thinking.”
“We could see that,” Aunty Vera said. “You’re finished for now. I expect to see you back here at the start of next month.
Dan sent a panicked look to Gideon. This was a one-time thing, wasn’t it?
“He’ll be here,” Gideon said cheerfully. “Okay, Cinders, time for lunch.”
There was no obvious exchange of money with Aunty Vera, so Dan pulled his wallet out to give her a tip, but she told him to put it away.
“But—”
“Just do what she asks,” Gideon said.
“But—”
Dan wasn’t allowed to do anything except kiss Aunty Vera on the cheek and be ushered out into the crisp winter day.
Back on the sidewalk, Gideon smiled at him. “Food next, then the massage.”
Dan bit his bottom lip. “Could we make this the last stop? I don’t want to offend you or Ariel, but I’m not real keen on the idea of being massaged.”
He wasn’t really keen on being touched by strangers, and after his hair and nails, Dan had reached his people limit. To his relief Gideon didn’t argue—much.
“Ariel thought it might relax you before tonight.” At Dan’s skeptical look, he laughed. “I told her a bottle of bourbon would have a better effect. She said she wanted you relaxed, not trashed.”
“I don’t need relaxing. I just need it to be over.”
“You know I’ll be there, and Ariel and Bradley. We have your back.”
“I know you do.” Dan’s stomach interrupted them with a loud rumble. “I’ve gotta eat or I’ll be passed out before the first dude walks through the door.”
His phone beeped, and he looked at it.
Free 2nite. Wanna meet?
No. No. No. What did it take to get through to the man?
“What’s wrong?” Gideon asked.
“What?” Dan looked up.
“You’re scowling at the phone.”
For a moment Dan was tempted to tell Gideon about Disastrous Date and how he wouldn’t leave Dan alone, but that would make it seem as though Dan weren’t capable of getting rid of an asshole who couldn’t understand no.
“I’m fine.” He slipped the phone in his pocket. “Where’re we gonna eat?”
“We could go to the deli. Or pizza?”
Dan thought about it for ten seconds. “Let’s get pizza.”
“You read my mind.”
“Ariel won’t kill me about the massage?”
“I’ll tell her to take the appointment. She’ll be fine.”
They walked toward the pizzeria with a comfortable silence between them. The air was getting chillier by the day, and Dan wished he’d brought a hat.
Gideon caught Dan running a hand over his head. “Problem?”
“I’m cold,” Dan confessed. “I left my hat at home.”
Gideon fumbled in his pockets and pulled out his gray wool cap. “Here you go.”
“Don’t you need it?”
“I’m fine. You take it.”
He handed it to Dan, who jammed it on his head and sighed with relief at the instant warmth. “That’s good. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I don’t wear hats that much. I don’t know why I even carry it around.”
“So you can loan it to employees who forget their own,” Dan suggested.
“That must be it,” Gideon said with a soft smile, and Dan’s heart did a flip.
Chapter 11
DAN ARRIVED at Cowboys and Angels at 8:00 p.m., bathed and wearing black pants and a black shirt with short sleeves that displayed his muscles way too much. Gideon handed him a bag at the end of the day and told him to wear that or else. Dan would pay for the clothes. He was
n’t a damn doll to be dressed up.
He shed his coat, but he didn’t have time to feel self-conscious because he was immediately captured by Bradley with a query about a delivery earlier that day. Dan didn’t know if it was a calming tactic or not, but it worked, and by the time they finished, he was able to contemplate the evening without wanting to run… much.
Cowboys and Angels had been transformed. From somewhere Ariel had found square tables and chairs not usually in the bar, and they now lined the available floor space in neat rows of five. And there were flowers on them, for heaven’s sake. If they were really interested in guys dating, Dan thought they should’ve had condoms and lube. A few other men gathered at one end of the bar and eyed each other with open curiosity.
Ariel bounced up to him, dressed in a tight-fitting, low-cut, flame-red dress. His first thought was the dress was going to be wasted on tonight’s customers. Then again, maybe that was the reason she was wearing it. No one was going to hit on her. “What do you think?”
“It’s a nice dress,” Dan said cautiously.
“It’s a fabulous dress, but I meant the bar.”
Dan looked around. “It’s like being back at school.”
“But just for one night and no math on Monday morning.”
“That’s a bonus.” Dan would have preferred the math, and he was looking forward to Monday—The speed dating would be over, and life would return to normal.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”
Ariel waved at Bradley, who handed Dan a double of something.
Dan sniffed cautiously at the glass. “What is it?”
“Jack.”
“Knock it back, and let’s get this evening underway,” Ariel said. “It’s about time we got the best man a handsome date.”
Dan did as he was told as he felt the liquor burn through him. He handed Bradley the glass and gave Ariel the bravest smile he could manage. “I’m ready.”
Ariel smirked at him as though she knew exactly how brave he was and picked up the microphone. “Guys, we’re ready to start. You all have a number and your table order. You’ll have five minutes with each table. You each have a piece of paper to make notes. When the whistle blows you move. Let’s get started.”
“What number am I?” Dan asked, still confused about the whole proceeding.
Ariel rolled her eyes as though he’d just asked a really stupid question. “You’re number one, of course. This is all for you.”
“Oh yeah.” As though he could forget.
She waited till everyone was settled and then blew a loud whistle right by Dan’s ear. He winced. His palms were sweaty as he waited for the first man to sit down at his table. It only took a minute, and the seat opposite him was occupied by a handsome thirtysomething Asian man, with large eyes and a very nervous smile. Dan smiled back just as nervously. “Hi.”
“Hi. I’m Mr. Two.”
They stared at each other for a moment, and then the ridiculous mess of the situation made Dan’s lips twitch, and he started to chuckle. Fortunately the man opposite him wasn’t offended, and he joined in.
“I’m sorry, I’m really bad at this,” Dan confessed when he sobered again.
“Is it your first time?”
“Does it show?” Dan said dryly.
“It’s nice to meet someone as inexperienced as me. This is the first time I’ve been to anything like this too.” The man looked around and then leaned over and lowered his voice as though he didn’t want to be heard. “I must say, this is the last place I expected to host a gay evening.”
“Oh?” Dan made his voice as neutral as possible.
The man nodded. “I don’t know how much you know about this place, but it isn’t somewhere a gay man should set foot in. Except perhaps tonight.”
“I’m the manager,” Dan said flatly.
He would have laughed at the look of horror on the man’s face, but somehow it wasn’t funny.
“My God, I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean….”
Dan relented and gave the man a wry smile. “It’s okay. You’re quite right. I can’t believe this is going on either.”
“Why are you hosting a gay-themed evening? Obviously you’re gay, but your customers? Not so much.”
“Because….” Dan sought around for an explanation that didn’t make him look completely stupid. “My boss is trying to get me a date for a wedding. And although I told him I could get my own date, he thinks putting me through this ordeal will be quicker.”
The man stared at him. “I’m trying to imagine my boss doing the same thing. No, isn’t happening.”
“You don’t think he would?”
“It would be a cold day in hell before my father tried to get me a date with a man.”
It took Dan a minute to realize what the man meant. “You work for your father?”
“Yes, for my sins. He’s a wonderful man, but he’s not comfortable with having a gay son.” He grimaced. “This would be ideal if it were setting me up with a nice Japanese girl.”
“I’m sorry.” Dan struggled to think of something to say. “Well, have fun tonight. My boss keeps reminding me this is supposed to be fun. Why don’t we both relax, enjoy ourselves, and meet the other guys.”
The man gave him a smile that made Dan’s awkwardness worthwhile. “Thanks, man. I’ll do that.” He looked a little awkward himself. “You won’t be offended if I say you’re not my type?”
Dan grinned at him. “No worries. You’re not my type either, but I don’t think you’ll have any problems finding someone tonight.”
He could see the boost that gave the man’s ego. “You shouldn’t be here either,” the man said. “I’m surprised you don’t have the men lining up at your door.”
“Two problems,” Dan counted them off on his fingers. “One, I work in this bar, and two, I work in this bar. That’s why the boss has to find me a date.”
“Well, good luck, man.”
The whistle blew, and Mr. Two smiled as a new man took his place.
“Hi, I’m Mr. Four.”
“Mr.… er… One.” Dan realized he hadn’t bothered to ask the previous guy’s name. Mr. Four didn’t seem anxious to give his out, so Dan just waited.
There was that awkward look again, and then Mr. Four started to talk and didn’t stop for the whole five minutes. Dan listened with the attentiveness he would give any customer of Cowboys and Angels and surreptitiously studied the guy as he talked. Mr. Four was probably pushing fifty rather than forty. Not bad-looking but starting to show signs of wear and tear. He’d probably been a jock, and from the muscles in his arms, Dan would guess he worked out every day. He still hadn’t stopped talking, but at least he wasn’t like Disastrous Date. His monologue wasn’t about the sex he’d had and what position he favored. No, he was mainly about work, his family, and his children. Mr. Four was in the middle of a messy divorce. When the guy finally paused for a breath, Dan leaned over and said very quietly, “This isn’t the right place for you, you know. You need time to get over your marriage and make time to be with your kids.”
From his frown Mr. Four didn’t like that answer. “But I’m lonely.”
“There’s no reason you can’t go out and have fun. But you’re looking for a relationship here, and it’s really obvious you’re not ready for it.”
The man flushed an angry red, and for a moment, Dan thought he was going to storm out of the bar. Then he slumped back, his expression one of utter defeat, and he nodded. “I know you’re right, but I just thought…. I haven’t done this before.”
“Speed dating or being gay?”
“Either… both.”
“Try spending a little time being gay before you worry about the dating,” Dan suggested.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Try the Pink Palms. It’s a gay bar, and the men won’t eat you alive.”
“You mean the guys can at least drink legally?” The man sighed. “I�
�m wasting my time here, aren’t I?”
Dan shook his head. “Stay the evening and have fun. Take the pressure off yourself. Maybe listen to what the others have to say.”
Mr. Four made a rueful grin. “My wife always did say I talk too much.”
“Now is the time to prove her wrong.”
A huge smile spread across Mr. Four’s face and took five years off his age. “You are a very wise man, Mr. One. Thank you for not eating me alive. I appreciate it.”
“Keep that smile,” Dan suggested.
The smile grew even wider, and Mr. Four said, “I will,” as the whistle sounded again.
Mr. Six was the polar opposite of Mr. Four. Dan wasn’t even sure the man was old enough to drink in the bar, and his uncertainty must have shown on his face, because Mr. Six produced his driving license. “I know I look about fourteen. There’s nothing I can do about that. But I am twenty-five, perfectly legal and able to hold my beer.”
“That sounds like a rehearsed speech,” Dan said, unable to hide the smirk on his face.
“It’s probably one that I’ve given out at least five times a night since I was twenty-one. I can say it in Spanish and Korean too.”
“I’ll take your word for it. So, aside from defending your baby-faced charm, what do you do?”
“I’m studying to be a vet,” Mr. Six said. “I want to open up a small animal practice back in my hometown.”
Dan thought he’d detected a southern accent. “Where is home?”
“I’m a southern boy. Georgia.”
“You’re here to study?”
“I’m doing my postgrad training at NYU.”
“Do you like it here in New York?”
“It’s okay, but I’m a small-town boy,” Mr. Six confessed. “New York can be overwhelming. What about you?”
“I’m a New Yorker and a barman. I work here to be honest.”
Mr. Six snapped his fingers. “You’re the one they’re hosting this for?”
Dan nodded. “Guilty as charged.”
“I hope you find your date.”
Strike three off the list, Dan thought. He didn’t think he was ever going to find someone who liked him. Although at least he wasn’t wasting his time with men who didn’t find him attractive. Mr. Six stayed until the five minutes were up, but he was out of the chair as soon as the whistle blew, as though the end couldn’t have come soon enough.