Guys on the Bottom - Guys Book Three

by Darien Cox

  “It’s a little early,” Corey said. “But hell yes. What are my options?”

  I handed him one of the newly printed drink menus. “Here you go.”

  “Okay. Hmm. I’ll try the vodka grapefruit thingy.”

  I set a glass down and poured Corey’s drink. “There you go. Juice is freshly made with Robert’s own two little hands. And a really expensive juicer. And top shelf vodka, just for you.”

  Corey smirked. “Just for me huh?”

  “Not really. That’s just the vodka we use.”

  He chuckled. “I thought so.” He took a sip. “Yeah, that’s good. Really fresh.”

  “Yeah, they’re good.”

  “So what have you been doing for fun?” Corey asked.

  “Not much, to be honest. Work mostly. I don’t go out much.”

  “Really?”

  I laughed. “Really. Oh, I saw a picture of you at Duncan’s when I was cooking for him. In your punk costume.”

  Corey shook his head and grinned. “Yeah, that was a fun night. You should come down to The Horse and Carriage some night for karaoke. You haven’t been back since we…”

  “Since we broke up. You can say it, Corey.”

  He shrugged. “Just saying. You don’t have to stay away.”

  Corey held my gaze. It was an innocent look, but again, it was so familiar I nearly leaned into him for a kiss. To hide my reaction, I forced a laugh. “Maybe I will come down some night. But I’m not dressing up.”

  Corey laughed and nodded. “You never would. Though I almost talked you into it once.”

  “Yeah, you wanted me to dress up as a flapper for your jazz theme.”

  “What?” He laughed. “You would have been cute as a flapper. But you were a lot skinnier then. Probably wouldn’t work now.”

  “Yeah.” I huffed. “Tell that to Duncan. You’ve seen the costume he makes me wear to bartend.”

  “Yeah, Duncan’s got his own thing going on. I’m not even touching that. So, um…Zach.” Corey set his drink down and linked his hands before him on the bar. “There’s something happening, and Duncan suggested it would be respectful if I told you before you heard it from someone else. He’s right, I realize. My uncle has better manners than I do.” He shrugged and smiled, but there was a sudden tension in his eyes.

  I wiped the bar, then set the rag aside and leaned over on my elbows. “Talk to me about it? That’s weird. What is it?”

  Corey took another sip of his drink, then met my eyes. “I’m getting married.”

  Somehow, I managed to school my expression, but inside of me, something awful and turbulent was happening. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. I realize it probably doesn’t matter to you. But with you working with my uncle now, I figured we might be running into each other more. Are we good, Zach?”

  “Of course. Did you think we weren’t?”

  “No, but…Duncan seemed pretty adamant about making sure you and I were on good terms. I didn’t know if you’d said something to him about me.”

  The ice inside my stomach melted just a little, knowing Duncan was looking out for my feelings. But only a little. Because this news hurt, way more than I’d have imagined it could. I was rattled in a way I didn’t understand, my body reacting before my mind could even fully absorb the information. Something inside me was dying a slow painful death, and it was an effort to breathe through the pain and keep a straight face.

  I knew full well that Corey and I were never going to get back together. But hearing he was marrying Angelo made me realize I’d still carried a tiny little flicker inside, that maybe one day, things would change, and we’d loop back around. That small, barely-there flame of possibility had just been snuffed out, and I had to stuff my hands in my pockets to hide their trembling.

  “You came up in conversation with Duncan a couple times, but nothing bad,” I said. “We’re good, Corey. I’m really happy for you. When’s the big day?”

  “This fall. Weird, huh? Never thought I’d get married. Me, the big skank slut of Boston, right?”

  “Yeah.” I forced a chuckle. “Definitely unexpected.”

  “You can say that again. I nearly shit myself when Angelo proposed.”

  “But you said yes.”

  “Yeah.” He smiled. “I said yes. I ain’t giving that guy up.”

  “Right. You guys seem happy together. I’m…happy for you.”

  “You seeing anyone?”

  “No.”

  His brows pinched. “You all right?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “You’re really sweating.”

  “Oh.” I wiped my brow. “Been working back in the kitchen all morning. Hey, I gotta take a leak, but take your time, finish your drink.”

  “Okay.” His eyes followed me as I slipped out from behind the bar.

  “Congrats again,” I said, and sped through the garden, around the fountain, bursting through the door of the main club, my heart beating too fast.

  The air conditioning was a blessing as I rounded the inside bar and headed toward the restroom. I passed Duncan and Barry speaking nearby, and Duncan looked up and held my gaze. I waved and forced a smile. No doubt Duncan knew what Corey had just told me, and I didn’t want him to know I was falling apart.

  But I was I falling apart, and I wasn’t sure why. This reaction was unexpected and over the top, but I couldn’t make it stop. Something deep inside was coming undone, making me tremble uncontrollably. Like my breakup with Corey had just happened yesterday, I felt devastated, and my emotions didn’t care what my logical mind tried to tell them—that I shouldn’t be devastated. That I had no right.

  As I stepped into the empty bathroom, I ordered myself to calm. Told the inner voice I was fine, and tried to get control of myself. Told the thing dying inside me to hurry up so I could cover it with dirt. But it hung on, cramping my stomach and making me want to vomit. I ducked into a bathroom stall and locked the door, pressing my forehead against it as my breath started to hitch.

  Sadness overwhelmed me and I cried quietly, my hiccupping breaths coming too fast, making me dizzy. I dropped the lid on the toilet and sat, snatching a clump of tissue and pressing it against my eyes. The tears finally stopped, but I sat for a while longer, regaining my composure.

  The outer restroom door creaked open. “Zach? You in here?”

  I quietly blew my nose and stood. “Yeah, Duncan.” I opened the stall door and stepped out, keeping my head down as I moved to the sink and washed my hands. “You need something?”

  My eyes flicked to his reflection in the mirror as he stepped up beside me. He ran fingers through his brown hair, eyes pinched with concern as he watched me tug a paper towel out and dry my hands. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah!” My voice sounded weird, high and squeaky. “Great. Everything’s going great.”

  I turned from the towel dispenser, and Duncan stood in front of me, blocking my way to the door. He reached up and ran a gentle finger down my cheekbone. “You’ve been crying.”

  “No, I haven’t.” As I stared into his eyes, that tremble started in my gut again. “I’m fine, just sweaty. Did you want something?”

  “It’s okay if you’re not fine. You’ve done enough today. Why don’t you go home?”

  “I don’t need to go home, Duncan! I said I’m fine!”

  Yowza. I didn’t mean to snap at him, but my voice came out so loud it made Duncan jump.

  “I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I just…I’m sorry.”

  I started past him and Duncan hooked me around the waist, pulling me back. Then suddenly I was in his arms as he hugged me. “I know you’re not fine,” he said softly in my ear. “I can feel you trembling.”

  “Okay,” I whispered as he held me against his chest. “Maybe I’m not fine. But I will be.”

  His breath tickled my ear. “What can I do? Tell me how to help.”

  What the hell was happening? Duncan was my boss. We weren’t close. We barely knew each
other. But here he was in the restroom, hugging me close, whispering in my ear like I mattered. Like he cared about me.

  All sorts of conflicting emotions tumbled around inside me like a mixed load in the dryer, pain, regret, and confusion over why Duncan felt so warm and good with his arms around me. And how in the hell I could possibly be getting turned on while I was in this much pain was beyond me, but Duncan’s body had things stirring in my pants.

  “Talk to me, Zach.”

  “He’s getting married,” I said softly.

  “I know.”

  “It shouldn’t hurt after this long. But it does.”

  His cheek grazed mine as he whispered in my ear, “It’s okay to feel hurt.”

  My trembles were calming, but a new shiver ran through me. “Duncan.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’d…better let go of me because if you don’t, I’m gonna fuck up and kiss you.”

  His hand paused where he’d been stroking my back. He went completely still, but didn’t release me. His lips stayed close to my ear. “Do you want to kiss me?”

  “Yes.” I shivered again, eyes closing. “Please.”

  Easing me toward the stall, Duncan still held onto me as I was forced to walk backwards. Once inside he pushed the door closed with his palm and pressed me against the wall. With no hesitation, Duncan kissed me hard, beard stubble scraping my skin as his mouth worked against mine, dizzying me with sensation.

  My fingers gripped his shoulders and I pulled him tighter against me, my cock springing to life as all other thoughts were blotted from my mind and I surrendered myself completely to the kiss. I slid my tongue into his mouth, and for a moment he reciprocated—he even let out a soft moan—but suddenly he pulled back, and the kiss was broken.

  “Okay,” he huffed softly. His cheeks were flushed, eyes drowsy with big dark pupils. “You all right now?”

  I stared back at him, my lips still parted. “Yeah.”

  He gathered himself, taking a deep breath and running fingers through his hair. “Good.” He nodded and squeezed my shoulder. “Take the rest of the day off,” he said, and darted out of the stall.

  I heard the door squeak, then close as he left the bathroom. And left me standing there in the stall, flushed, horny, confused.

  But one thing was certain. That cloying pain inside me had finally died. And Corey’s upcoming nuptials were no longer on my mind.

  Chapter Seven

  “Chauncy!” I shouted.

  The cook looked up from where he’d been mixing ingredients in a bowl, blinking at me. “Yeah?”

  “Tell me that’s not for the stuffed mushrooms. I told you to use the garlic olive oil. And you used too much! Jesus, how much did you put in there?”

  He looked down at the bottle of regular olive oil next to the bowl. “Oh. Sorry. My bad.”

  “Make it again.”

  “What? Come on, I just finished this! It’s just oil, bro.”

  “It’ll change the entire flavor of the…oh just get out of the way. Let me do it. Go help Steven.”

  I shoved Chauncy out of the way, dumped the mixture in the trash and started over, my hands moving at double speed. It was the grand opening night party at Elfy Choices, and I was starting to understand why chefs were always dick-holes. This was frustrating work when you had to rely on other people.

  Even so, things were running smoothly so far. The garden was packed with people, all lit up and gorgeous, fountains flowing, guests laughing and getting drunk on Robert’s cocktails. Everyone seemed to like the food, and we hadn’t yet fallen behind, but we would if Thing One and Thing Two in the kitchen didn’t get their shit together.

  But I was glad to be busy. The crowd in the garden was thick enough that even when I went up front to help Robert serve drinks I wasn’t focusing on anyone in particular. But I had seen that Corey and his friends and the whole ex-boyfriend posse were there. Oddly, despite my meltdown the other day, I couldn’t make myself give a shit about Corey, who he was with, or what he was doing. Because when my mind wasn’t filled with tapas and cocktails and how frustrating the cooks were, I was thinking about The Other Stengel.

  I had behaved myself and refrained from calling or texting Duncan after that bathroom kissy meltdown moment. I’d been known to hound Corey with calls back when I’d felt even slightly insecure, so this was a big step for me. I was proud of myself because I’d kissed my fucking boss and I was doing my damn best not to freak out over it. But regardless, I’d kind of expected to hear from Duncan after, whether it be an ‘Are you all right’ or ‘Sorry that was inappropriate’ or some such shit. But nothing. Radio silence.

  But we’d talked at work since then. He’d been in and out over the past week, mostly setting up the garden bar for tonight. He hadn’t avoided me, but our conversations were all business, with a few friendly smiles and the occasional lingering gaze. But the subject of the kiss was never broached, by either of us.

  It dawned on me that maybe it was just not that big a deal to Duncan. I tried to count the things I actually knew about him. He was Corey’s uncle. He was seductive and elegant. He was bisexual. He had people in his life he’d slept with recently, because I’d met them. He didn’t seem prone to monogamy. And I couldn’t for the life of me figure out if he was interested in me or if I was just another nymph in his enchanted forest.

  Before I’d gotten serious with Corey, he used to tell me I was too hung up on sex and what it meant and my skewed visions of monogamy. Pretentious asshole. But perhaps the apple didn’t fall far from the uncle-tree. Maybe to Duncan, a kiss was just a kiss. And the fact that I was his employee? Well, Duncan didn’t like rules unless he made them himself.

  I finished my mushrooms and stuck them in the oven, made sure Chauncy and Steven were on target with orders, then went and helped Robert out front at the bar. We didn’t get many party guests actually coming over to order drinks, because Duncan’s sparkling elven wait staff kept returning with empty trays to fill, then they were off again, passing out drinks to the crowd.

  I was in my modified wood nymph ensemble, but Robert was dressed as a full-on elf, complete with pointed ear tips. He looked handsome and radiant, and the two of us had a good rhythm together as we worked to keep the ship steady and refreshments flowing.

  “Hello, wingless.”

  I looked up into Duncan’s beautiful eyes. He looked tanned and handsome in a white shirt with black pants, silver chain around his neck, light brown hair shiny and a bit windblown. “Hey.” I chuckled. “Much better without the wings.”

  I was still nymphed-out in my leafy costume with my makeup and crown of twigs, but the wings were gone and I felt a million pounds lighter for it.

  “Things going okay?” he asked. “Anything I can help with?”

  “We’ve got it under control.” I smiled and gestured toward the crowd. “Looks like you do, too. Successful evening.”

  “Don’t jinx it, Zach. Oh, um…by the way.” He glanced over at Robert, who was busy reloading a tray for one of the elf waitresses, then turned his gaze back to mine. “You know Corey and his crew are here, right?”

  I sighed and rolled my eyes as I cut fruit garnish for Robert’s cocktails, replenishing the bin. “Yeah. I’m good, Duncan. It was just a shock that day. Temporary meltdown. I’m happy for Corey. Truly.”

  “Glad to hear it. If you need help, send one of the elves to find me.” He knocked twice on the bar, and started to turn away.

  “Are we good?” I blurted out.

  Duncan slowly turned back to face me. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  “Just checking. Because of, you know.”

  He rested his elbows on the bar and leaned closer to me. “The kiss?”

  “Yeah.” I chuckled. “That.”

  “We’re fine. If you’re bothered by it, just pretend it never happened. You were having a bad day.”

  “Is that what you’re doing? Pretending it never happened?”

  Duncan looked surprised for a mo
ment, brows rising. Then a grin crept slowly up his face. “Not a chance.” He pointed to his temple. “That memory is all mine, and I’m keeping it.”

  He turned and walked back into the crowd. I laughed and continued working, the comment making me fuzzier than it should have. I’m doing it again, I thought. I’m becoming too focused on someone. Someone who probably doesn’t share my interest. Duncan was probably just being nice, so I determined to behave as casually as possible. I would not allow him to see me as a needy little fuck, or beg for feedback. I would not let him see me the way Corey used to. That Zach was gone. I’d killed him.

  But there was no denying the truth. I had it bad for Duncan Stengel. It had been gestating in a cocoon, growing bigger and stronger with every encounter. I feared the cocoon was ready to burst. I was trapped between my vow to use caution, and my aching desire to enjoy, explore, and pursue these new feelings. Like it or not, I became all jitters and longing and horniness whenever Duncan smirked at me or spoke in his soft, low voice.

  When the night grew late, the crowd had thinned considerably, and Duncan said we could stop making food. About twenty party guests still gathered around the fountain, mostly Duncan’s close friends—which also included Corey and co. Duncan insisted Robert and I come over and join what was left of the party. He’d invited Chauncy and Steven too, but they’d declined and sped out like their asses were on fire.

  Duncan toasted to a successful opening, and he seemed giddy and a little tipsy. As soon as Robert and I settled in and relaxed with a drink, people were calling my name, coming over to talk to me. Corey and Angelo were there, in deep conversation with another couple. But several of their friends I knew from the old days slapped my back and complimented the food, chatting me up. Doug was sitting next to me, and even Stewart gave me a smile and told me he liked the eggplant.

  It was like an alternate universe, where none of that bad shit from the past had happened and we all got along. Except I was no longer with Corey. He was marrying someone else, and I had a ridiculous crush on his uncle, who was also my employer. Okay, so it was a weird alternate universe, but still. Here we all were, together again.