Love on the Rocks (Bar Tenders) Read Free Page A

been more different; Eric had height, good build, sculpted arms, perfectly styled blond hair, and the straight nose and sharp cheekbones of a model.
    Not all that different from himself , Justin thought. If he were more buff, more middle of the road, he’d probably be an Eric. Whether they’d be a good match in bed was tempting to find out. All the drinks had made Justin’s body warm and wobbly anyway; if he was going to bottom tonight, Eric looked promising.
    But….
    Justin couldn’t stop gazing at Yena. There was something about him. Justin’s instincts told him that if he went to bed with Yena, then he’d be the one to top the cute brunet—and Justin liked that thought, he had to admit. He wasn’t sure what it was about Yena, if it was the vibes he gave off, but he’d be willing to bet money Yena was more submissive than dominant.
    Those thoughts, and watching Yena behind the bar, had Justin’s cock hard. He wriggled atop his barstool, adjusting himself. But his attempts to chat with Yena kept meeting a brick wall.
    “Do a shot with me,” Justin asked, before Yena could rush off again.
    He paused, and just when Justin thought he might refuse, Yena agreed. “Okay. What do you want?”
    “Whatever your favorite is,” Justin insisted, at his charming best.
    “My favorite happens to be the most expensive on the menu,” Yena returned, deadpan.
    Damn . “That’s fine.” Justin fished in his wallet. “You, er, take cards, right?”
    An amused smile spread on Yena’s face. “Yes.”
    “If he’s buying, we’ll all have shots,” Tam pitched in. Justin glared at him but didn’t refuse. Yena began to make the shots, using a mixture of spirits and liqueurs.
    “So.” Justin turned back to Yena, determined to make him talk. “Where are you from?”
    “Croydon.”
    “But… okay, I meant, where are your family from?” Justin floundered. “I mean, with your name an’ all.”
    “My mum is half Indian.” Yena concentrated on the drinks, rather than Justin.
    “Ooh, like me,” Tara said. “I look like I’m tanned, but this is my natural color.” She offered her bare arm on the bar, and surprisingly Yena joined in, setting his hand beside her. Their caramel skin tones were remarkably similar. “Aw, twins.” Tara giggled.
    Yena smiled at her, and Justin felt jealousy twinge in his gut. His own skin was milky white; peaches and cream. By the time Justin had gotten over his annoyance and figured out something new to ask Yena, the drinks had been dispensed, and Yena was waiting to be paid. Justin handed over his card, wincing at the thought of his expanding overdraft.
    While Yena fed the card into the handheld machine, he knocked back his shot before Justin had even grasped his. Uncertainty quashed Justin’s usual confidence. He wasn’t used to men not wanting to flirt with him.
    Maybe Yena wasn’t gay?
    Yena finished the transaction and handed Justin his card and receipt. As Justin reached for them, Yena’s fingers brushed his. Justin looked up in time to see Yena looking at him before he focused back on the bar. A brief smile teased those plush lips and disappeared.
    It struck Justin at once. He’s shy . But his mouth worked faster than his brain, and the next thing he blurted out was “What time do you finish?”
    Yena looked at him in surprise, dark eyes blinking. “What?”
    “What time do you finish?” Justin repeated.
    “Umm, late.”
    “What time?”
    “We shut at two,” Yena said. “I’ll be cleaning till three.” He stared back at Justin, almost like a challenge.
    Justin liked a challenge. Smiling broadly, he said, “That’s cool. I’ll wait.”
    Yena returned the smile, though it had an edge to it. “Hang out if you want. I’ll be going straight home when I’m done.”
    With that, he walked off. Justin was left staring after him, not sure if that’d been a yes or a no.
    Tam, too, seemed confused. “Did he just shoot you down?” he hissed along the bar. “What the fuck