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“We probably shouldn’t do that here.”
“Why?” He cocked his head.
“Because at the club, I’m an employee and you’re the client. Remember?”
“Dammit.”
I looked down at the remains of my cigarette. “Oh, sorry… Did you want a suck?” I asked benignly.
He stared at me, opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it. He shook his head and gazed at me with meaning. “Not of your cigarette.”
We stared at each other for a long moment.
“Anyway,” Alastair muttered, “it’s fucking freezing.”
“You keep talking about the cold. I didn’t make you come out here.”
“Toby, for fuck’s sake. Can we get together after your shift? We need to talk.”
“Talk?” I asked, with a quirk to my lips. I figured it was time to let him know I wasn’t a complete dick.
“Yes. Talk. That’s all.”
“Not at the Chateau,” I said, with firmness.
“No. We can go to my place,” he suggested.
I raised my eyebrows and thought about the implications of that.
“If you’re uncomfortable doing that—”
“Okay,” I said.
“Okay?” He seemed incredibly pleased.
“Sure.”
* * * *
I sent a text to Esther letting her know I wouldn’t be back until the next day. It would be midnight when my shift was over, so I’d sleep at Alastair’s. I sent her his contact info as a safety measure.
Alastair Kenney lived in a picturesque historic townhome on Cameron Avenue, a couple of blocks west of Bank Street. The Uber he’d arranged dropped us off in front, and I followed him up the steps and onto the porch. The door had one of those fancy touchpad locks. Alastair put in his code and opened the door, muttering about the cold as we went inside.
I was trying to get a look at Alastair’s digs when he turned and hemmed me in against the wall.
“I need to kiss you,” he said.
I thought about denying him, because I was still resentful about the boy toy, but that didn’t last for one heartbeat before I gave him my consent. He sighed with relief and planted his mouth on mine. The kiss was a little bit desperate, a little bit frustrated and a little bit precious, a combination that just about laid me flat, especially because I responded in kind without even thinking about it.
We stood there, in the tiny entryway, kissing like we were already an established couple, until I forced myself to end it.
“I thought you wanted to talk.”
He was staring at me as if he couldn’t even fathom his own behavior. He blinked, and remembered the plan.
“Yes. Talk. Sorry.” He stepped back and started unbuttoning his coat. “Please come in.”
I smiled. “Now, that’s much more gentlemanly.”
