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  “Want to?” Cam injected a flirtatious note into his voice.

  Jesse’s full lips turned up at the corners. “I’d love to.”

  Cam handed him the drink. Jesse took a sip, his stare never leaving Cam’s. There was something pornographic in the way he licked his lips. Jesse handed back the glass. “Delicious.”

  Lust shot straight to Cam’s groin. He gulped down the final sip of the cocktail and cleared his throat.

  “I guess I should head out now.”

  “Why don’t you say your goodbyes to the guys, then I’ll walk you out?”

  “Afraid I’ll get lost?” Cam asked.

  “No.” Jesse’s gaze was intense, his eyes startlingly blue.

  “Oh.” Cam wet his lips and watched Jesse track his movements. “Sure, just give me a moment.”

  Cam said goodbye to Riley, Carter and Malcolm, a strange feeling buzzing through him. He shook David’s and Will’s hands and got a nod and a knowing smile from Kyle.

  Shit.

  He was really doing this. If he gave the go-ahead, he didn’t think Jesse would hold back at all. Which meant things were about to get very, very interesting.

  He followed Jesse out of the speakeasy and through the unmarked doors. He half-expected Jesse to reach for him the moment they were alone, but he didn’t stop until they reached the sidewalk in front of Lock & Key.

  Jesse faced him, and Cam took a deep breath. The streetlight illuminated Jesse’s face, and his intent expression made a shiver run down Cam’s spine.

  “What do you think?” Jesse asked.

  “Of?” Cam couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. There was a hint of silver in his dark blond beard, and Cam wondered what it would feel like against his skin.

  “The speakeasy.”

  “It’s phenomenal. I’m glad I came tonight.”

  Jesse leaned forward until their lips were less than an inch apart. “Cam, tell me if I’m out of line here.”

  Cam couldn’t think of a single objection, so he answered by pressing his lips to Jesse’s.

  Jesse let out a quiet sound and brought a hand up to cup the back of Cam’s head. Cam teased at the seam of Jesse’s mouth with his tongue and he opened, allowing Cam inside. Cam groaned.

  Jesse stepped closer and embraced him, their bodies coming together full-length.

  The kiss was slow and deliberate. Skillful. Not Cam’s hurried fumbling with Ben or any other guy he’d kissed in the past. Jesse took his time.

  This kiss Cam felt down to his toes.

  He gripped the back of Jesse’s suit jacket and let him take the lead. The soft prickle of Jesse’s beard against his jaw made his cock fill, and Jesse let out a low, appreciative sound in the back of his throat when Cam pushed against him.

  Jesse deepened the kiss. He dropped a hand to Cam’s back and pressed their lower halves together more tightly. Jesse was hard, too.

  They pulled apart, more to catch their breaths than anything, and Cam swallowed hard, his lips still tingling from the kiss.

  “I’m glad you came tonight.” Jesse brushed his thumb across Cam’s lower lip and sent a shiver through his body. “And I’m glad you gave this another chance.”

  “Me too,” he said, his voice faint.

  Jesse leaned in for another kiss, and Cam welcomed it. After a deep, thorough kiss, Jesse drew back but only far enough to place a peck to the corner of his mouth. He worked his way across Cam’s jaw to his ear. Cam closed his eyes and enjoyed the slow exploration.

  “I want to ask you to come home with me,” Jesse said in his ear. The warmth of his breath made Cam shudder.

  He slid a hand lower and gripped Cam’s ass. “I want to find out if you’re ginger everywhere. And I want to know if you taste as good as that cocktail Kyle made for you.”

  All Cam could manage was a little groan.

  “As much as I want to ask you to come back to my place, it is a school night. So I guess I’ll have to let you go.” Jesse pulled away, his voice husky. “For the sake of the children’s education.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Cam said, straightening. His tone sounded breathy and reluctant, even to his own ears. “For the children.”

  Jesse gave him a faint smile and leaned in for a final brief but thorough kiss. He drew back when a car pulled up. “There’s your ride.”

  Cam gave him a puzzled look. “You called a car for me?”

  Jesse shrugged. “Less chance of me changing my mind about letting you go home alone.”

  “Thanks.” Cam was strangely touched by the gesture. He reached for his wallet and searched through it. Jesse made sounds of protest.

  “You don’t need to pay me back.”

  Cam pressed his business card into Jesse’s palm. “My number’s on there. Text me.”

  Jesse closed his fingers around it and nodded. “I will.”

  Cam gave him a final hard, quick kiss before he jogged to the vehicle and got in.

  The car pulled away from the curb, and Cam had the sudden sense he’d gotten in way, way over his head. Involving himself with Jesse was the craziest idea he’d ever had, but there was no chance of stopping now.

  And he couldn’t wait to see what it led to.

  Chapter Seven

  Jesse let himself into his brother’s condo, hauling his briefcase and two bags of groceries with him. “I’m here, guys! Please, put your fucking clothes on!”

  “Words I never thought I’d hear you utter.”

  Jesse grinned at his sister-in-law, Sara, who made a beeline through the space toward him, her big brown eyes gleaming. “Honey, I may be a rake, but I have no desire to see Eric’s hairy ass. You, of course, are welcome to disrobe at any time.”

  A smile lit her lovely face. “You’re just jealous he has nicer legs.”

  “Bullshit.” Jesse set the bags down. “I know you’re biased, but nothing about that big lug’s body is nicer than mine, including his legs. Don’t tell him I said that, though—I don’t want to hurt his feelings.” He looked Sara up and down and admired the swell of her belly under her black sweater dress. He drew her into a hug.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Hey, yourself.” Sara pulled him close. “I’m glad to see you.”

  “Me too.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head before letting her loose. “Where is Eric, anyway? Clothing aforementioned hairy ass?”

  “He ran down the street to the pharmacy.” Sara ran a hand through her short dark hair. “We’re leaving for Vermont on Friday after work, and he wanted to stock up on his migraine meds.”

  “Isn’t the whole point of going to your country house to avoid stress and, by association, migraines?”

  “Yes, but your brother likes to be prepared.” Sara moved to help him with the bags, but Jesse waved her off.

  “I’ve got it.”

  “I’m pregnant, Jes, not incapable of carrying freaking groceries.”

  “Ooh, big scary feminist.” Jesse puffed out his chest. “Now move your ass, please. I have to cook dinner like a properly emasculated modern man.”

  Sara laughed. “What are you making tonight?” she asked and led the way to the kitchen.

  “Spicy Orange Beef.” He set everything on the counter. “You’re still off chicken, right?”

  Sara grimaced. “Yeah. I can’t describe why, but it tastes so very wrong right now.”

  “Meh.” Jesse began unpacking the bags. “There are other things to eat. At least you haven’t had any morning sickness.”

  “True.” Sara pulled wineglasses from a cabinet and noises from the front door echoed down the hall. “Still, I feel kind of bad. Eric’s missing some of the things we used to eat.”

  “Are we discussing the Great Chicken Ban of 2015?” Eric walked into the kitchen and joined them. He had more brown in his hair and more gray in his eyes than his brother, but he shared the incandescent Murtagh grin. “I told you, honey, I get plenty during the week when Jes and I go out for lunch.”

  Sara glance
d at Eric. “So you say. I still find it hard to believe.”

  “There’s a place near the office and everything’s fried,” he replied. “It’s a wonderland of bad foods.”

  “Eric stuffs himself with whole buckets of chicken,” Jesse added. “It’s utterly debauched and I’m so proud.” He squawked when Sara pinched his waist.

  “I hate you both right now. Not fair you look like this when you eat junk.” Sara set a glass in front of Jesse and pouted until he eyed her askance. “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just cranky because I’m four months along and already the size of a house.”

  “You are not the size of anything,” Eric scolded. He moved closer and slipped an arm around her. “Half the people we meet don’t even know you’re pregnant, honey.”

  “That means they think I’m the one who’s eating buckets of chicken, but they’re too polite to mention it.”

  “You may be right.” Jesse dug into his briefcase for what he and Kyle had fondly dubbed the Pregnant Lady Mocktails. “C’mere, girl, and let me pour you a drink.”

  “Ooh, yay.” Sara’s eyes gleamed and she stepped up beside him. “What have you got?”

  “Agua fresca with hibiscus, blood orange and vanilla. Kyle brews up stuff like this for Carter and he sent me the recipe last night.” He handed her the jug he’d stored in his office refrigerator all day.

  Sara uncapped the jug and sniffed. “Man, that smells delicious. Almost makes me feel less shitty about my expanding waistline.”

  Jesse filled a tumbler with ice, then set it down and picked up a lime. “If you think it’ll help, I’ll buy you one of those Baby on Board T-shirts.”

  “Ugh, no thanks.” Sara wrinkled her nose. “I don’t need to be reminded that I’m basically a spacecraft for what may be a hostile life form.”

  Eric’s eyes shone with amusement when Jesse turned to him, dumbfounded. “Sara’s got it in her head that pregnancy is essentially hosting an alien being. I blame all those sci-fi movies she watches.”

  “You guys are so weird,” Jesse mused. “Promise me that’ll never change.”

  “Says the weirdest of us all,” Eric retorted. “Don’t worry. From what I’ve seen, raising a family is only going to make us weirder with time.” He aimed a significant look at his brother. “You could try it, you know. Maybe change your mind about this professional bachelor thing you’ve got going.”

  Jesse barked out a laugh. Eric had fallen head over heels for Sara on their very first date, and they were so happy together. They’d built a great life between their Rose Hill condo and Vermont farmhouse and were embarking on parenthood with unabashed joy. Eric wanted the same kind of happiness and contentment for his brother.

  The idea of easing into a lifestyle like Eric’s made Jesse’s chest tighten, however, and not in an enjoyable way. He didn’t know how to live a life so quiet and, well, stifling. His spirit thrived on being unorthodox. To him, Eric’s picturesque, very staid existence was inconceivable.

  “You know me better than that, bro.” He garnished the glass of agua fresca with a slice of lime and handed it to Sara. “I’m having way too much fun in this city to settle into anything deep. Training for a second marathon with Carter is the most serious commitment you’ll get from me.”

  “Better you than me, man. I thought my knees were going to fall off last year.”

  Sara hummed into her drink. “I think I’m in love.”

  Jesse and Eric laughed. “Now you sound like my brother,” Eric said.

  “Hey, I have never fallen in love with a drink.” Jesse pressed his lips together over another laugh at Eric and Sara’s twin expressions of disbelief.

  “You fall in love with people and inanimate objects every week,” Eric said.

  Sara nodded. “That’s kind of your thing, babe.”

  “Okay, fine.” Jesse turned his attention back to preparing dinner. “I don’t fall in love, however. It’s more a super-deep and short-lasting infatuation.”

  Eric chuckled. “True. Like the club in Chelsea you told me about. You’re definitely infatuated with it, or something in it.”

  Jesse’s movements came to a standstill for a moment before Sara’s voice caught his attention.

  “What club is this?” she asked.

  “Club Ember.” Eric gestured at Jesse with his wineglass. “He and Kyle checked it out and Jes has gone back, what, three or four times since then? Which means either the music and booze are phenomenal or there’s another draw, as in someone gorgeous owns the place.”

  “The owner is Dad’s age and working on his third wife,” Jesse replied. He peeled a piece of ginger. “He’s attractive but not my type. I told you, I like the place and I’ve gotten friendly with one of the DJs.”

  “Looking to hire him for Under?” Sara asked.

  “I considered asking him,” Jesse admitted. “But the kid lives in Brooklyn, and he has a day job—I doubt he’d care to make the trip that far uptown, no matter how good the pay is. He’s been out to the bar, though, and met the guys.”

  Of course, Jesse had zero business interest in Cam. For all he knew, Cam could very well be interested in spinning at Under. He’d never brought it up, however, and Jesse didn’t plan to, either.

  He turned the bulk of his attention back on the food while Eric and Sara discussed transportation from Brooklyn to the Upper East Side. He felt oddly tense. He always shared details about his partners with Eric and Sara, and it was out of character for him not to disclose the extent of his friendship with Cam. Specifically, that he and Cam exchanged messages every day. And that each time Jesse went to Ember, he and Cam spent Cam’s breaks making out in dark corners of the club.

  Jesse dusted a steak with baking soda. He didn’t know what held him back from talking about Cam, especially as he didn’t have much to tell. So far, Cam was still being cagey about going on an actual date. Cam had been busy most weekends and Jesse in London every few weeks to oversee the internet radio venture, too. Just kissing Cam was hot, though, and Jesse enjoyed hanging out with him. He wanted more—a lot more—from Cam, and he wanted it soon.

  A flush of heat worked its way up under his shirt collar. Damned if his body didn’t respond to the memory of Cam pressed up against him. He frowned and carried the plate of steak to the refrigerator to chill. Cam’s path would intersect with Eric’s and Sara’s sooner or later. Jesse needed to get his head in order before that happened.

  * * * *

  Jesse checked his messages during his walk home that night and found a couple from Cam. They’d discussed favorite foods earlier in the day, and Cam’s varied tastes pleased his adventurous palate.

  I have a gnocchi problem, Cam’s last text read. I straight out love them. They’re like little pillows of potato goodness from God.

  I happen to agree, Jesse replied. Further evidence we should have dinner. I even know a place that serves fantastic gnocchi, and I’ll bet you’ve never been.

  Cam didn’t reply straight away, but Jesse didn’t fret. It was late and Cam no doubt had lesson plans to work on and an extensive collection of vinyl to catalog. Jesse was stretched out in bed reviewing documents for the internet radio project on his tablet when his phone pinged again.

  Showing off is rude, Cam wrote. I’m free Friday night, Big Money. Wanna put your wallet where your mouth is?

  Jesse smiled down at his phone. He could think of plenty of places he’d like to put his mouth, and damn Kyle for telling Cam about that ridiculous nickname. Quickly, he checked a few things online, then turned his attention to a reply.

  I’ll pick you up outside the school at 3:00, Red. Bring a jacket.

  * * * *

  Two days later, Jesse met Cam near the main entrance of Midtown Academy. Cam had his gray leather jacket slung over his shoulder and still wore a school-appropriate blue Oxford shirt and khaki trousers rather than the edgy pieces he wore to spin at Ember. He looked good enough to eat.

  The afternoon sun lit up Cam’s fair skin and made the reds in hi
s hair burn bright. For a split second, the sight struck Jesse, leaving him almost transfixed. Cam smiled widely when he saw Jesse, and cast an appreciative glance at his slate wool suit.

  “I didn’t expect to see you on foot,” he called as Jesse got closer. “I thought for sure I’d get a ride in the mystical Range Rover you keep talking about.”

  “Hey, I’m not ashamed to admit I love my car, but she won’t be much help where we’re going tonight.” Jesse held out his hand. If they were anywhere else in Manhattan, he’d be kissing the shit out of Cam. But here, in front of Cam’s workplace, he could play innocent, at least for a moment, and shake hands.

  “Where’s your nose ring?” he asked.

  “At home,” Cam replied. “Visible piercings outside of the ears are against academic dress code.”

  Jesse fought back a leer. He’d look forward to checking Cam for not-visible piercings then. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Sure,” Cam let go of his hand. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going at three in the afternoon?”

  “All in good time.” Jesse made an “after you” gesture and the two fell into step. “We’re not walking far. We’ve got one stop to make before we get going, and I’d like to buy you a drink.”

  Cam looked at him askance. “Are you playing hooky to get tipsy?”

  “Maybe.” Jesse winked. “But my brother’s covering for me at the office. He’s owed me favors since he and Sara got stuck in Boston during one of those crazy storms in February. We didn’t see them for almost four days.”

  Cam winced. “Four days?”

  “He and I cover for each other any time it’s necessary,” Jesse replied. They turned left on Third Avenue. “That said, Eric being out of town made my life a pain in the ass, and I feel no guilt calling in a favor today.”

  They chatted and made their way east, and Cam glanced around, his curiosity plain. Jesse knew he was trying to figure out their destination without asking. He looked dumbfounded when Jesse led him under FDR Drive and toward the waterfront, and finally caught hold of his arm. He pulled Jesse around to face him.