Page 96 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
If he did, that would be okay. So far on this trip, being wrong for Todd had been soveryright.
***
In the heat of Sunday evening, Fazil walked down the sidewalk to the club where Todd had taken him last Friday when he’d shoved forty dollars in his pocket. Definitely a hookup place, full of beautiful men. He was here to flirt and dance, see and be seen.
“I’m not cut out for that kind of place,” he’d told Todd before he’d left.
Todd had him stand in front of a full-length mirror, in the tightest pair of jeans he had in his suitcase and a red silk button-down they’d bought that day.
“No?” Todd had breathed that one word into his ear and set his blood dancing.
He’d had to admit, the man staring back was pretty decent-looking, especially with Todd standing behind him.
So here he was, outside of one of Todd’s favorite places to prove a point. He could turn heads, and male heads at that. He entered and one of the bouncers, a broad man who had the short cut of someone in the military, stepped forward. “You’ve got ID?” A clip to his speech from an accent of some kind.
“Yeah.” Fazil dug out his wallet and handed over his driver’s license. “You’re carding me?”
The bouncer looked at the license, took a long look at Fazil—one more thorough to check hisfaceagainst his photo—and handed the card back. “You look younger than you are.”
The bouncer’s smile sent a little shiver up Fazil’s spine. “Good genes.”
“Very.” Another grin. The door opened again, and the bouncer turned away.
Well. Appraisal number one.That left him a bit shaky, but a drink was a good place to start. He pressed his way through the crowd, with some murmurs of “Excuse me” and more than a few returned smiles. Eyes brushed over him.
Okay, maybe Todd was right about the wholeentirely fuckablething.
Tonight’s bartender had dark hair, a smirk, and a raised eyebrow. “What can I get for you?” In his formal shirt, bow tie, and perfect black pants, he looked like someone’s best man—or groom.
Fazil’s mind went blank. He hadn’t thought aboutwhathe wanted. “How about your choice?”
The bartender grinned. “Need something strong to get you through the night?”
“That obvious?”
“A little. Means you fit right in with the rest of the crowd.” He held up a finger. “I have just the thing.” He vanished to a spot a little farther down the bar and began concocting... something. Fazil couldn’t quite see all the ingredients, but yeah. It would bestrong.
When the bartender returned he handed over something vaguely... purple... and Fazil sipped. Fruit and almond... and the vodka went straight to his head. “Dude.” If this didn’t mellow him out, nothing would.
A laugh from the bartender.
He settled up, left a sizable tip, and found a spot to stand where he could watch the dancing. Despite the amount of alcohol that must have been poured into his glass, the cocktail went down smoothly. And fast. Before he knew it, the glass was empty, his head was spinning, and a man with blond hair and a thin gold chain around his neck was leading him out to the dance floor.
Fazil didn’t know his name—didn’t know anyone’s name—but he ended up in the middle of the dancing, twisting and turning and moving his body to the music. It wasn’t innocent, but the blond—while flirty and touchy and interested—didn’t bump and grind against him like some of the guys on the floor. After a few songs, Fazil was winded enough that he nodded at the edge of the dance floor. “Need to catch my breath!” And get his pulse under control.
The blond kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for the dances.” Then he was gone. The guy was cute. If Fazil had been free, he might have followed. But he was happily not free. Besides, beautiful blonds were not what he had in mind tonight.
When Fazil stepped off the dance floor, he found a man watching him. Tall. Brown hair. Blue eyes. Dark, tight jeans, and a t-shirt that was probably three sizes too small, given the way it showed every muscle of his chest and arms, especially with the way they were crossed in front of him.
Looked like he could be one of the bouncers—except for the devilish smile.
Todd. Good God, he was large. And stunning. He shivered when Todd raked his gaze up and down his body.
He cocked a finger and beckoned Fazil over. “Need a drink?”
“Could use one.” And some water, or he’d be in a world of hurt tomorrow.
Todd smiled, slid a hand around Fazil’s waist, and pulled him toward the bar.
