1. Cory

CHAPTER 1

Cory

Los Angeles in January was a different animal than New York City in January. For starters, blizzards didn’t shut down LAX the way they did LaGuardia. I didn’t mind the snow, except when I had to drive in it. Or when I had to leave my house. Or when it cancelled an entire roster of flights and stranded me in LA.

“At this rate, by the time I get to New York, I’ll have to hop on a plane back to Dallas, Margot. It was only a couple days at home before I had to meet with the team in Dallas anyway.”

“I know. I’ve rebooked your flight, but I can’t get you out of LA until tomorrow morning at ten. I’ve texted you the flight information. Unfortunately, you already checked out of your room and I can’t get you another at the Regent. I can book you a room by the airport.”

“That’s fine.”

“And I’ll rearrange your hotel booking for Dallas too.”

“Thanks, Margot. Sorry to drop all this on you so late at night.”

“This is why you pay me the big bucks.” Margot laughed. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Probably not or you would’ve told me by now.” I smiled in spite of the sudden upheaval of my travel plans.

“Call me if you need anything.”

“That is why I pay you the big bucks.” I laughed and ended the call.

My assistant Margot was a godsend. Easily the best decision I’d ever made. Not that I’d made the decision in the first place. I put up the ad for an assistant when my last one went back to school full-time. Margot had answered the ad and talked herself into a job. That was five years ago and, honestly, I’d be lost without her. Well, not lost. But I’d be extremely inconvenienced if I had to handle the day-to-day mundane shit like flight and hotel bookings, not to mention the thousand other things I delegated to her.

My phone buzzed a minute later with my hotel booking for tonight, but I secretly hoped I wouldn’t need it. It was hardly my first time in LA. My original plan had been to head home and have a day of getting things sorted out at the office before hopping on a flight to Dallas. The sudden opening in my schedule felt like fate had given me a fork in the road. On one hand, I could be a good boy and go straight to my hotel. I could watch shitty television on a bed that may or may not pass an ultraviolet light test. Or… I could find a nice quiet bar to hole up in, have a drink or two, and see if I could find some fun.

That’s how I found myself walking into a bar in Silverlake with my luggage in tow. Even on business, I travelled light, just a small rolling suitcase for my clothes and a bag for my laptop. Spotting a place at the end of the bar, I wheeled my bag over there and wedged it next to the wall before sliding onto the stool.

The bar wasn’t anything special. I’d been in hundreds of them. Thousands, maybe. They all had the same kind of boozy, sweaty scent to them. They all had the same sticky patch on the floor, and the same wall of liquor behind the bar.

I slid out of my jacket and dropped it onto my bag. I was in the process of rolling my sleeves up when the bartender finished up at the other end and made his way over to me. Heat flared in my gut when I looked at him. He was taller than me, which I loved. But I bet he was taller than a lot of people. He had a thick head of dark hair and the kind of hairy, veiny arms that got my attention. His jaw was sharp, like his gaze. I felt his appraisal as he walked over to me. He flashed me a smile, a real one with the warmth that the fake customer service smiles I’d dealt with all day had failed to deliver.

“What can I get you?” His voice was honey smooth and just as sweet. Deep and rich, it gave me goosebumps. I was far too old and cynical to believe in love at first sight, but I definitely believed in lust at first sight. And over the years, I’d gotten rather good at telling who batted for my team.

“Whiskey and Coke. Top shelf.” Pulling my wallet out, I handed a couple of bills to the bartender. It was way too much, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t afford it.

He smirked at me. “Top shelf around here is bottom shelf where you’re used to drinking.”

“What makes you think that?”

His eyes flashed down to the Rolex on my wrist. “Just a hunch.”

“The watch was a gift from my grandfather.”

The bartender’s smile only grew. “It’s cute that you think that makes you look less rich.”

Speaking of cute, the bartender was even more gorgeous up close. His sharp jaw was clean shaven, showing off his mouth. But it was his eyes that gave him away. They were kind, and vibrant, and a shade of light green that stood out under all of that dark hair.

He poured my drink and set it on a napkin in front of me. He seemed invested in watching me as I picked the glass up and brought it to my mouth. I held his gaze while I took a sip. The whiskey was a bit cheaper than I usually drank, but I’d drink paint thinner if I could sit and watch him watch me for the rest of the night.

And I’d die before I admitted that it was cheap.

“It’s good, thank you…” I trailed off, hoping he’d tell me his name.

“Reese.”

Reese. It sounded like an exhale.

“Good to meet you, Reese. I’m Cory, and I’ll take another one of these.” I pulled out another bill and held it out for him, waiting for him to take it.

“You’re not done with your first.” Reese arched an eyebrow at me and it felt like a challenge. I held his gaze, brought the glass to my lips, and tipped my head back. I powered the drink back in a few large swallows then set my glass down on the counter.

“I’d like another drink, please.” I held out the bill for him again, and this time he took it. His fingers grazed over mine, just the barest touch of his skin, and I knew I had to have him.

Just a taste.

“Coming right up.”