Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Ford stood for a moment, his eyes taking a few seconds to adjust to the dim interior of the bar. Dammit, he knew he should’ve had something to eat besides the salad he’d chewed without tasting, but he had to make sure he got to the Stonewall Inn. It was the landmark he’d most wanted to see on his short visit, but when his wallet turned up missing, he’d been afraid that would never happen. He’d berated himself for being that stupid tourist who got pickpocketed.

When the tour guide, Nico, had shown up at his hotel with it, Ford could’ve kissed him. Truthfully, it was something he’d wished he’d had the nerve to do, lost wallet or not, because Nico was the most beautiful man he’d ever seen.

He blinked, staring into the crowded room. It was as gritty as he’d seen in pictures or imagined, with a pool table in the corner and long tables filled with a mixture of cool, exciting people and gawking tourists like him. He’d hoped to grab a seat and people-watch, but that looked out of the question, so he decided on one drink, and then he’d leave to get something to eat.

He blinked and rubbed his eyes. It couldn’t be…but it was. Ford didn’t know whether to turn and walk out, or to put one foot in front of the other and fulfill a fantasy. No time to think because here he came, a disbelieving expression on his handsome face.

“Mr. St. Claire?”

Nervous now, he wet his lips. “Hi, Nico. Fancy meeting you here.”

“Funny, that was going to be my line.” A quick glance to his hand, and Ford realized Nico had seen his ring. Dammit. Why the hell was he still wearing it?

Because Lenny had given it to him on their tenth anniversary, and after so many years, it had become part of him.

Self-conscious, he twisted the ring around and around. “I, uh, I’m not married. When we met in med school, it wasn’t legal, and after we moved in together, we talked about it occasionally but never followed through.” Something always came up—mainly Lenny’s dick inside someone else’s ass, he’d learned. “Plus, Florida made it hard as hell for gay people. About a year ago, Lenny decided he didn’t want to be with me anymore, but we still co-own our practice.” Not the actual story, but it was neither the time nor place to get into details.

“That must be awkward.”

“We come in on different days, so it’s not too bad.”

The taut lines of Nico’s face softened, and a smile curved those luscious lips. “All I gotta say is, it’s his loss. My gain.”

Ford’s dick twitched. For a year, his libido had lain dormant, frozen in a body made impotent by the death of his relationship. And now, it seemed, it was waking up. Not that he planned to act on it, because that wouldn’t be him.

Well, the old Ford. Maybe it was time to try something new and be himself rather than the person others wanted him to be.

“I was going to get a drink and sit, but…” He glanced around the crowded space. “It doesn’t look like there’s room.”

The hand on his elbow startled him. “How about we try one out of two? Let’s get you that drink.” Ford allowed Nico to lead him to the bar, squeezing past people talking and laughing. And kissing. He gawked at the two men swallowing each other’s tongues. “What do you want?” Nico asked.

“Extra-dry martini.” He spoke without taking his eyes off the couple going at it, hot and heavy.

“Don’t mind them. They can’t keep their hands off each other whenever they’re together.”

“Or their mouths.”

Nico cackled. “That’s a good one. Lemme get you that drink.”

Nico ordered for him and raised his glass of whisky. “Salute.”

“Cheers.” They locked gazes as they sipped.

“I never expected to see you again after I returned your wallet. Especially here.”

Heat rushed to Ford’s face. “I, uh, I—”

“Let me guess,” Nico murmured, shifting closer. “You’ve never been to a gay bar.”

“No, I have. I mean…” He gulped his drink. God, he was so out of his element.

“Is this your first time since your split?” Eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea glinted, and Ford spied the pink tip of his tongue. “Are you looking to meet someone for some fun on your last night here?”

Did Nico think he was coming on to him? Did he want to have sex with Nico? For a brief moment, the world tilted as Ford imagined what all that hot, naked skin might feel like, but he didn’t want the man to think he was a tease. He couldn’t change overnight. “I’m not here to do that. It would be foolish.”

“Foolish, how?” Nico’s dark brows drew together.

Face flaming, Ford glanced at the crowd and whispered, “I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’m not going to…be with someone I just met. That’s not me. But Stonewall is iconic. I wanted to see what it was like.”

“So, you weren’t married, but you were together for how long?”

“Twenty years.”

Whistling, Nico nodded. “Long time. And you never…?”

“I-I’d rather not talk about it,” Ford rushed in.

The lies, tears, and betrayal. None of that belonged here, in this space where smiles met smiles and laughter reigned. Ford wondered if he’d ever be happy again.

Drink finished, Ford looked for somewhere to place the empty glass, and finding none, he stood squeezing it, hoping it wouldn’t break in his hand.

“Let me get you another.”

Before he could say no and that one drink was his limit, especially on an empty stomach, Nico plucked the glass from his hand and left him to go to the bar. Ford used that time to ogle the younger man’s body without fear of getting caught. His admiring gaze swept over those broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, where slim-cut pants cupped a perfect ass. God. His breath grew short. What would it feel like to touch him? Nico spoke to someone next to him and laughed, his face so alive and bright, Ford couldn’t imagine such unfettered happiness.

Nico returned with his drink. “Here you go.”

Ford vowed not to drink it and simply hold it for show. He didn’t want to get drunk. He might do something foolish. Like act on his desire to kiss Nico.

“Thanks.”

“So you’re from Florida? You like it there?”

Ford shrugged. “It’s okay. I could do without the hurricanes and humidity, but my apartment faces the water, so it’s nice to sit outside on the terrace.”

After their breakup, Ford bought a high-rise apartment on the Intracoastal, and at night he’d sit and watch the boats sail past, wishing they could carry him away to a new life. One where people he’d once believed were his friends didn’t whisper as he passed by, nor gave him fake sympathetic smiles.

“Sounds nice,” Nico mused. “They have places like that in the city—overlooking the river, you know? They’re out of my reach right now. But one day…” He took a sip of his drink.

“One day? Is being a tour guide your full-time job?”

“For now. And I help out at my family’s restaurant in Bay Ridge. That’s in Brooklyn.” He grinned, and Ford couldn’t help smiling in return. There was something so joyful about Nico. “Maybe one day you’ll get to visit the city again, and you’ll come eat there. I’ll make sure you get good service.” He winked, and a hot flush rose through Ford. They’d only just met, but he enjoyed this teasing and back-and-forth. It reminded him that life existed even though he often felt dead inside.

“Maybe. There are always seminars and events going on. This was a quick trip for me to give a deposition—expert testimony in a legal case. Normally they would come to me, but I wanted to see New York City. When I volunteered to come over, they were happy not to have to make the trip.”

“Sounds complicated.” Nico’s brows rose. “Whaddya do for a living, anyway?”

“I’m a dermatologist.”

“One of those doctors who give Botox treatments?” Nico shuddered. “I can’t imagine sticking a needle in my face.”

“You don’t need any work. Your skin is still supple and firm.”

“Yeah?” Nico’s gaze turned heated. “I’m definitely firm.”

“Uh, yeah, okay.” Red-faced, Ford ducked his head. “Botox and fillers are a significant part of the practice, but we do much more than that. We treat skin diseases and do aesthetic treatments and cancer detection. My specialty is surgery to remove growths—malignant and benign. It’s more than getting rid of wrinkles.”

Impressed, Nico nodded. “I shoulda known, considering how good your skin looks.” Nico’s fingertips brushed his cheek, and Ford froze. “Soft and smooth,” he murmured.

“I, uh, moisturize and always use SPF.” His throat closed, and forgetting his earlier promise, Ford gulped half his drink. “Occasionally use laser treatments and light therapy. And of course, stay out of the sun.”

“I love the sun. When I have the time, I lie out in my backyard where it’s nice and private.” A wicked grin kicked up his lips, and his eyes sparkled like sunbeams on the surface of the water. “No bathing suit means no tan lines.”

“Oh, uh, you should still use sunscreen. Even if you don’t burn, you can still damage your skin. People your age are coming in with problems because they don’t take care of themselves properly.”

Here he was, with the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen, and what was he doing? Talking about wrinkles and skin disease.

Smooth, Ford.

He drank the rest of his martini.

“You okay? You seem kinda nervous.” Nico cocked his head.

“N-nervous? N-no. I’m okay. Just taking in all the sights.” His smile was weak at best.

“Mmhmm. Me too. And I like what I see.”

Flustered and forgetting his glass was empty, Ford put it to his lips.

“Thirsty? Have some of mine.” Nico handed him his whisky.

“I-I shouldn’t.”

“Go on. We all do things we shouldn’t, but that’s the fun of being alive.”

The thought of putting his mouth where Nico’s had been sent a shocking thrill through him, and before he knew it, he’d swallowed the harsh liquor.

“Oh God, that’s awful,” he gasped. It went down like fire but settled warm and comforting in his belly.

“It just takes a while to get used to. Have another,” Nico urged. “The first time’s always the hardest.” Nico offered his glass again.

“Maybe just one more,” he mumbled and took another drink. “You’re right. It didn’t taste half as bad.” He licked his lips.

“It’s like sex. The more you have, the better it gets.” Nico winked.

Ford wasn’t so sure. Lenny had loved sex, and when they first got together, they were young and they’d had sex as often as they could. But for him, the stress of residency and then setting up the practice had put his sex drive second. They’d gone from sex every morning and evening to twice a week. Lenny had complained at first, and they’d talked about it. Ford, constantly worrying about failure and not doing the right thing, had argued that their responsibility to the practice took precedence and there was nothing wrong with cutting back on the sex. Lenny had agreed without complaint.

Ford should’ve known Lenny had given in too quickly.

The buzz in the room had risen to a dull roar, and his head pounded. Hazy from a healthy dose of lust and alcohol, Ford swayed, and Nico caught him. “Whoa. You okay?”

“I think I need to leave. I have to get up at five to get to the airport.”

“Okay, let’s get you back to your hotel.”

“I can do it. I’m at the Kickerblocker…I mean, Lickerboner.” Dammit. He knew what to say but couldn’t get his mouth to form the words.

Shaking with laughter, Nico slid an arm around his waist. “I know where you are. I’ll make sure you get there.”

He leaned on Nico as they walked out into the street. Nico took out his phone, and Ford was pushed into the back seat of the waiting car. To his surprise, Nico sat beside him.

“You’re coming too?”

“I have to make sure you get home okay.”

Ford clasped his hands tight and concentrated on not getting sick as the stop-and-go traffic played havoc with his head. A few times his stomach lurched, and he feared he’d embarrass himself, but Nico must’ve read his mind and opened the window, letting the cool night air in.

“Thank you. I can’t believe I did this. It’s not me.”

Nico didn’t seem concerned. “Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

They reached the hotel, and again, Nico took control, supporting his waist as they entered the lobby. Ford’s tongue was thick and his head still spun, while his stomach did slow somersaults. “I’d better get upstairs ’cause I might make a fool of myself in the lobby.” He swallowed.

“What’s your room number?”

“1602.”

Nico led him to the elevators, and he thought for moment he was in trouble when the elevator took off, but he managed to keep it together until they reached his room. Nico put a hand inside his back pocket.

“I’m not grabbing a feel, just getting your wallet out for the hotel key.”

“S’okay.” They were of similar height, and his head lolled onto Nico’s shoulder.

“Come.” Nico tugged on his arm, and he sprawled onto the bed while Nico kneeled in front of him and took off his shoes. “Go to sleep.”

“You’re being so nice to me, and I don’t deserve it.” He tried to smile, but his lips trembled, and to his horror, a river of tears rolled down his cheeks.

Mercifully, Nico ignored his drunk-ass rambling and swung his legs onto the bed. “I’ll set your alarm for tomorrow to make sure you don’t oversleep. Bye, Doc.”

The last thing Ford heard before he passed out was the click of the door as Nico left.

**

The blaring of the alarm woke Ford, and he lay for a minute with his eyes closed, feeling like death. Vaguely recalling Nico bringing him to the room, Ford flung an arm over his eyes and groaned.

“I can’t believe I started crying. What a pathetic jerk.”

He ordered room service, then took a long, hot shower. A snail mucin face mask and caffeine pads over his eyes to reduce the puffiness helped somewhat. By the time he left for the airport, he was feeling halfway human.

Ford sat at the gate, sipping an extra-large latte, and popped two Motrin. He should be chugging water to rehydrate, but at the moment, caffeine to get his brain working was paramount.

As a first trip to the city, Ford understood the appeal. There was something to be said for its anonymity. When all hell broke loose at home, he’d retreated, only leaving his apartment for the office, but he couldn’t escape the people who stopped, stared, and whispered.

Isn’t that the guy whose partner was caught sleeping with the senator’s son in the limo?

Don’t forget the parties on their yacht.

I heard he was sleeping with their pool boy too.

That poor man. Imagine having your sex life plastered all over the news.

Humiliation burned deep like a brand seared to his skin. The past year had been a blur of misery and pain. The perfect life he’d tried so hard to build had upended, and in shambles, Ford gave Lenny their beautiful house on the Intracoastal and the yacht, no longer able to live in a place where visions of Lenny fucking random people stalked his every waking minute, as well as his nightmares, not the least of which were if Lenny had been careful with all his random partners. For peace of mind, he made sure to get tested every six months.

In his seat on the plane, Ford sipped the pre-takeoff water offered by the flight attendant and closed his eyes, thankful that the NSAIDs had begun to do their work. The plane taxied, and as they flew up and over Manhattan, he glanced down, imagining he could see Times Square, wondering if Nico was giving another tour.

Wondering why he cared.