Chapter One

Chapter One

“Good morning, folks, step inside and find a seat; then we’ll be on our way.”

Nico Andretti put on the hearty Welcome-to-New-York bullshit voice he’d perfected after years as a sightseeing guide for the iconic double-decker tour buses that tourists flocked to in Times Square. While he wasn’t using his college degree in business, one day he’d go for that master’s. Life had a way of sidetracking him, but he had his eye on the prize.

The truth was, Nico enjoyed his job. He got to meet interesting people from all over the world while riding around the city, made some nice tips, and occasionally he got a hot guy’s number.

Not a bad gig.

He grinned, thinking of the last guy he’d met—a divorced father of twins, who’d promised his kids the ride of their lives to see the city before they went home the next day to England. Later that night, as the kids had slept in their room down the hall in the Marriott Marquis, Nico had given Daddy the ride of his life.

Yeah, life was pretty damn good at the moment.

The bus filled up quickly, and Nico was about to tell the driver to close the door and take off when he spotted a harried man pushing through the crowd, waving his hand.

“Wait, please.”

The tour buses ran every half hour from the pickup spot in Times Square, and normally Nico would tell the driver to leave, but this guy seemed so desperate to make this particular bus, he waited.

“Hold up, Dave. We got one more coming.”

Windblown and breathing heavily, the man almost tripped over himself coming to a stop. Thick golden-brown hair fell over eyes the rich amber color of Nico’s favorite whisky. The man adjusted the leather computer case hanging from his shoulder, and Nico took note of the discreet but stupid-expensive designer logo. His brows rose. They didn’t usually get people on a sightseeing bus who’d drop thousands on accessories, but hey, he was all for it.

“Thank you so much.”

“You know we run these all day long.”

Perfect white teeth flashed in the man’s handsome face. “Yeah, but I have a meeting at two, and I leave tomorrow morning. I’ve never been to the city, and I wanted to make sure I got the earliest bus possible to see it all. So thanks again.”

“No problem. There are seats in the back or on top if you’d like.”

“Great. Appreciate it.” The man dipped his head and handed him a ticket, and Nico couldn’t help but notice the thin gold band on his finger. Of course he was married. All the beautiful men were. Mentally, he slapped himself. Married to a woman, most likely, with a perfect life at home—house, kids, golden retriever.

That didn’t stop Nico from giving him the eye as he made his way to the rear of the bus. And speaking of rears…damn. That was one beautiful ass. He blinked.

Mind out of the gutter, you perv.

With a flourish, Nico picked up his microphone. “All right, everyone, take your seats, and let’s start. Welcome to New York. As the song goes, it’s been waiting for you.” People chuckled. “We’re here in Times Square, known as the Crossroads of the World. But did you know that in the early 1800s it was called Long Acre after London’s carriage district? William Vanderbilt had his horse exchange located here, when obviously there were no skyscrapers and cars, just wide-open spaces with some tenement-style buildings. The name was changed to Times Square in 1904, when the New York Times moved its offices here.”

People murmured in surprise. Nico liked to give this introduction as a way for people to get a sense of what the city, now crowded with people and cars, must’ve looked like over one hundred and fifty years earlier. It kept their minds off the snarl of traffic they were inevitably stuck in. Nico took the time to grab a sip of water as people craned their necks, oohing and aahing as they traveled down Broadway. When the bus finally broke free, Nico continued.

“Now we’re passing the Empire State Building, no longer the city’s tallest spire, but still a world-famous structure. Many native New Yorkers will tell you they’ve never been to the top.”

“I’ve seen it in so many movies.” A woman who sat with her daughter sighed. “So romantic.”

They made stops along the way, passing the Flatiron Building and the designer shops in SoHo. People got off and on, most of the time barely noticing him. Occasionally someone tipped him, which was nice. He only made about twenty dollars an hour as a tour guide, and in a city like New York, that didn’t go far, but it gave him the freedom to make his own schedule, allowing him to keep working at the family restaurant. By the end of the night, his feet might hurt, but there was never a doubt that he’d help out. They all did—family helped family. He also saved every penny by living at home, in the basement apartment of his mother’s house, so he could eventually pursue his dreams.

Amid all the comings and goings, Nico noticed Mr. Gorgeous Ass staying put and staring out the window, taking pictures as they drove by Chelsea Piers and Hudson Yards. He grinned, enjoying the sight of a first-time visitor to the city. Surprisingly, the man had stayed on even when they passed through SoHo—considering the labels he wore, Nico would’ve sworn he’d want to get off and hit up the stores.

Most of the people exited the bus at the stop for the Statue of Liberty and picture-taking. Mr. Gorgeous Ass passed by him and hesitated. “Am I allowed to stay on for the ride back to Times Square?”

“Of course. You won’t be late for your meeting later.”

“Thanks. I just want to grab some pictures.”

“We won’t leave without you, I promise.”

His face brightened, and laugh lines fanned out from those smoky, golden eyes. Nico put his age around forty, a good twelve years older than him, but his body was in peak physical condition. A thin black sweater stretched across a broad chest, and well-cut gray slacks hugged his powerful thighs. When he exited, Nico forced himself not to gawk at that fabulous ass.

Dave took a pull from his bottle of Diet Coke. “Gonna run out and take a quick leak.”

“Go ahead.” Nico sat in a vacant seat in the front row. “They’ll be a few minutes, and I’ll collect the tickets from any newbies coming on.”

With a salute, Dave hustled to the diner on the corner, where he always stopped to pick up a muffin and a coffee. Nico scrolled through his phone, checking social media. His cousin, Joey, had posted pictures of his trip to Florida with his longtime girlfriend, Teresa. It pissed Nico off that Joey had scheduled his vacation without asking him, but as he was the one without a significant other, he let it slide.

Footsteps and loud voices heralded the return of the passengers, so he stuck the phone into his pocket and pasted a smile on his face. Company policy was clear—no phones were to be used during the trips—but Nico figured since they’d stopped and he was alone, no harm, no foul.

He collected the tickets from the new passengers and noted that his gorgeous out-of-towner hadn’t yet returned. Dave was at the corner, and Nico knew they couldn’t sit and wait for someone to daydream at the famous sights, no matter how good-looking they were. Spying the man’s golden-brown hair above the fray, he called out, “Bus is leaving.”

Mr. Gorgeous Ass snapped to attention and hurried to the curb. “Sorry. I got lost in my head.”

“Not a bad place to be.”

The man shot him an unreadable look and found his seat, where, Nico noticed with surprise, he’d left his computer bag.

Oh, buddy, you are such an easy mark.

Feeling like he had to say something to clue them in, Nico first gave his new passengers the spiel with the route information uptown, then said, “I want to give everyone a friendly word of advice. New Yorkers have a reputation as being tough and unfriendly, but that’s usually because we’re busy rushing somewhere. Truth is, we’ll always help you out in your hour of need. But you gotta be smart. Watch your personal belongings. Don’t go leavin’ your stuff on the seat if you get off the bus, or puttin’ it next to you on the subway if you take the train. Ladies, don’t hang your bag behind you on your chair. You don’t wanna ruin your vacation ’cause some sticky-fingered bozo made you as an easy mark.” He grinned. “That public service announcement is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood travel guide, Nico. Now, let’s talk about Chinatown.”

As he gave a brief overview of immigration and the historic Five Points area, Nico noticed his bus crush glance at the computer case by his side. A red flush rose over his cheeks. Nico had tried to be subtle and not make the tourist feel bad, wanting to warn people to be savvy and smart in the nicest way possible. Hopefully the guy understood Nico meant well.

The downtown loop normally took approximately ninety minutes start to finish, but there was a protest and a broken-down truck, so it was closer to two full hours before they returned to the final stop in front of the MM’s store. People filed out of the bus, thanking him, some pressing tips into his hand and tipping Dave the driver as well.

“Thank you. Thanks, everyone. Enjoy your day, don’t play three-card monte on the street—because you’ll never win—and if you want some great, homemade Italian food in Brooklyn, stop by my family’s place—La Dolce Vita—in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.”

Last off the bus was the gorgeous tourist, who handed him a twenty-dollar bill. Nico’s eyes widened—in all the years he’d been doing this job, he’d rarely seen more than a five.

“Oh, uh, thanks. I really appreciate it.”

“No, thank you, Nico. I enjoyed your stories about the city. You made the trip much more enjoyable with your extensive knowledge.”

“I’m glad you found it helpful. Now you can eat lunch and make your meeting. Have a safe trip home.”

“Thanks. I will. Next time I’ll try to stay longer. I definitely need more than two days here.”

Nico would’ve loved to keep talking, but a line was growing for the next group. “You do. Hope to see you again on your next trip.”

A sigh of regret escaped Nico as he watched the man stride away and get lost in the crowd. He faced the group of people waiting curbside.

“Give me a few minutes to clean the bus, and you can come right on.” Carrying a ten-gallon trash bag, he walked through the center aisle, peering at each seat, picking up discarded cups, fast-food wrappers, and newspapers people had left behind. At the rear of the bus, he spotted a leather wallet on the floor.

“Shit,” he muttered, picking it up. When he opened it, the face of his gorgeous stranger stared up at him from the driver’s license. “Ford St. Claire, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.” Why did that name seem like a perfect fit?

“Nico, you done?” Dave called out.

He shoved the wallet into the back pocket of his pants. He had another five hours until his shift ended, so he couldn’t do anything about it at the moment. “Yeah, Dave, coming right away.”

He finished clearing the trash, disposed of it, then began taking the tickets and introducing himself to the crowd.

On his next break, he pulled out the wallet, and though he felt a little creepy doing it, searched through it to see if he could tell where St. Claire was staying. Some of the receipts in the billfold pointed to the bar inside the Knickerbocker Hotel and the Charlie Palmer at the Knick restaurant. St. Claire had ordered a gem lettuce salad, the New York Strip, and a martini.

“Not surprised. Classy place for a classy guy.” Not that Nico had ever been. It was way out of his league. For now. But one day…because Nico had plans. Big plans and faith. One day he’d be able to walk in there and order anything he wanted off the menu.

By five thirty he’d finished, counted his tips—ninety dollars—and pocketed the cash. “See you in a few, Dave,” he said over his shoulder as he descended the bus steps.

“Yep. Good crowd today.”

Nico nodded and set off to file his timesheets then continued on toward the Knickerbocker Hotel.

The clerk greeted him with a pleasant expression. “May I help you?”

“Yes. I’m here to see Ford St. Claire.”

The clerk typed something into his computer. “I’ll ring his room.” The phone rang and rang with no answer. “I’m sorry, but there’s no answer.”

An unexpected complication. Nico had figured St. Claire would have returned to the hotel by now. “I can wait.” He took a seat, attention focused on the door. At five forty-five, St. Claire walked in, and striding quickly, made his way to the elevators. Nico jumped up.

“Mr. St. Claire. Wait.”

His steps slowed and he turned around, puzzlement written on his handsome face. Their eyes met, and Nico guessed the moment St. Claire recognized him, because his brows shot up.

“Hello. You’re from the bus, correct?”

“Yes.” Nico smiled. “I imagine you were frantic when you discovered your wallet missing? I’m here to return it.” He extended his hand, and with a face filled with pure relief, St. Claire took the billfold.

“Oh my God, thank you so much. I called your company, but they said no one had turned anything in. I thought it was lost forever and I’d be stuck.”

“Not a problem. Glad I could help.” Nico turned to go.

“Wait. Please let me give you something for your trouble.”

Normally, Nico wouldn’t have minded taking a tip from a customer, especially one he’d gone out of his way for, but something stopped him.

“No, it’s fine. Enjoy your night and have a safe trip home tomorrow.”

As he walked out, his phone buzzed.

“Hey, Ma.”

“Hey, yourself. How was work?”

“Good. Anything wrong?” Nico had the night off and was looking forward to hanging out in the city with his buddies.

“Nah. Just wanted to tell you that me and Aunt Justine are going to the movies, so I might not be home later.”

“That’s nice. You girls have fun. I’m calling up Anthony and Jack to see if they wanna hang out.”

“Good. Maybe you’ll meet someone nice and settle down. Like Anthony.”

Nico gazed up at the sky as if the clouds could help him. “Ma. I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”

“Why not?”

“I dunno. I’m just not.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Nico had learned that the easiest way to deal with his mother’s nagging about his personal life was to cut her off before she got rolling. “Well, it’s all I got. Now give Aunt Justine a kiss for me, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Bye.”

“But—”

He ended the call mid-squawk and texted his buddies in their group chat.

Anyone up for pizza at John’s, then Stonewall?

Anthony was the first to answer.

Sounds good. I’ll see if Sergio can join us.

Nico rolled his eyes. Sergio was Anthony’s newest boyfriend, and though Nico had zero desire to spend the night watching them make out in front of his face, he didn’t want to go home and watch television. He checked the time.

Great. See you around 7 at John’s. Pepperoni and mushroom?

Jack chimed in: No can do. Got me a date with a hot mechanic.

Jack worked as a contractor and filled in at his parents’ plumbing supply store in the neighborhood. Nico snickered to himself.

Have fun plugging his leak.

Jack sent him a middle-finger emoji.

Nico checked the time. Six o’clock. He made his way to 42nd Street and hopped on the subway. As always on a warm summer day, the Village was crowded, and Nico slid down his shades, giving himself a chance to surreptitiously admire the butts and broad shoulders. He sniffed the air when a few gym bros passed by, getting faintly turned-on by the scent of their sweat and musk. Man, he was horny.

There was a small crowd at John’s, but he ordered their pizzas and waters and found a table. He spied Anthony walking in, hand in hand with Sergio, and waved.

“Yo. Over here.”

They slid into the booth opposite him, and their pizza and drinks arrived a minute later.

“Oh God, I’m starving. We had fourteen cases.” Anthony groaned. “I swear I’ve never seen so many assholes in one day. Literally.” Anthony was a lab tech at a gastroenterology center in the city, and he was responsible for prepping the patients coming in for colonoscopies and other procedures.

Sergio grabbed a slice and sank his teeth into it. “Mmm. So good. We’re running our end-of-season sale, and it’s the same. How many pairs of leggings and sports bras do these people need? And in black, too? Girl, just buy Gap, I swear.” He stuffed more pizza into his mouth. Anthony gazed at him, eyes soft with indulgence.

“You’re obviously doing something right, baby, because the customers love you. Sergio made top sales associate for the second month in a row.” He kissed Sergio’s cheek and nuzzled his neck.

“You’re so supportive, baby.” Sergio snuggled into Anthony’s chest.

Sergio worked at lululemon and was wearing their latest, head to toe. He and Anthony had met when Sergio sold him a new outfit for the gym. They’d been dating for about three months, and at twenty-one, Sergio was the youngest man Anthony had ever dated.

Finished with chewing, he and Anthony began to kiss. Exactly what Nico had feared. He downed his water.

“Are we finished? Can we get over to Stonewall now? I really need a drink. Unless you two would rather get a room?”

Sergio disengaged his lips from Anthony’s, sporting a cat-that-drank-the-cream smile.

“Sorry,” Anthony muttered, looking anything but. “Yeah, sure. First round’s on me.”

“Baby, you’re so generous.” Sergio swooped in and pecked him on his lips. “I can’t wait to get you home and thank you properly.”

“Marone a mia. For fuck’s sake,” Nico cursed.

The walk to Stonewall took them about fifteen minutes, and it was already crowded when they arrived. Anthony brought him his whisky, and Nico leaned against a post, people-watching while Anthony and Sergio picked up their drinks at the bar. Anthony’s hand wandered to Sergio’s ass and squeezed it. Sergio shifted closer, and they kissed. Anthony had confided to Nico that he’d never had a lover like Sergio and couldn’t keep his hands off him whenever they were together, a fact he was proving each time Nico met them.

Sergio rubbed up on Anthony while Anthony’s hand kept busy on his ass. A little annoyed, somewhat amused, and strangely turned-on, Nico forced his gaze from his friend and, holding his glass to his lips, he scanned the room checking out the scenery, and froze. His heart did a double beat.

There, at the door, stood Ford St. Claire.