STORY EXCERPT

Since he had time on his hands, Bran drove there and parked in the lot on the side of the building. It was four in the afternoon, and cars were already parked there.

Bran wiped his hands on his thighs and then walked inside, blinking rapidly from sun blindness. When his eyes adjusted, he saw there were a few people sitting on stools at the counter, some at tables eating, and Jake, the owner, was behind the bar talking with an older guy with a scraggly beard and face that looked more like leather than skin.

Some country song was playing on the jukebox, and Bran could smell fried chicken. Peanut shells crunched under his feet as he walked toward the counter and took a seat away from the other customers.

“Hey, Bran,” Jake said as he walked his way. “What can I get you?”

Jake placed a napkin on the space in front of Bran, which made Bran think again of the napkin in his front pocket. “Whiskey neat.”

With a nod, Jake poured his drink as Bran looked around. He doubted he would have gotten the phone number of anyone currently in there. The people eating at the table were women. The men at the counter weren’t his type.

Then again, the “magic” might have made him flirt with anyone.

Did he really want to know who Hayden was?

When Jake set the drink in front of him, Bran said, “Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot,” Jake said.

Bran hesitated. He wanted to ask if he was in the bar last night, but he didn’t want Jake asking why he didn’t remember if he’d been there. “Do you know anyone named Hayden?”

Being a bartender, Jake knew a bunch of people. At least, that was Bran’s reasoning. There were quite a few regulars in there, but Bran knew a lot of the regulars, too.

He just didn’t know who Hayden was.

“Why do you ask?” Jake rested his arms on the counter, bringing him closer. Bran always thought Jake was hot as fuck, but he’d never flirted with the guy. A lot of people hit on Jake, and Bran doubted the owner would want to date someone who drank as much as Bran did.

Besides, from what Kayla had told him, Jake was now in a committed relationship with the owner of Sweet Spot.

With nothing to lose, Bran took the napkin from his pocket and placed it next to his drink. “I had this in my pocket this morning.”

Bran took a sip of his drink as Jake picked up the napkin and looked it over. “He’s my new bartender. Is there a problem?”

If only Bran could remember enough to answer that question. He wasn’t sure if he’d flirted with Hayden to get that number or if he’d gotten it just so Hayden would leave him alone. “Um, no.”

Jake handed the napkin back to Bran. “Hayden will be in around six if you want to talk to him.” He pointed to Bran’s hand. “Or you could call him.”

Bran didn’t like the strange way Jake was looking at him, as if wondering why Bran wouldn’t know who’d given him the number. “Thanks.”

He downed his drink, paid for it, and walked out. Jake was right. Bran should just call the guy. Clearly, he’d seen something in Hayden that he liked. Right?

Once he was back in his car, Bran blew out a few short breaths and pulled out his phone from his pocket, but he hesitated. What if he’d been so high that he’d flirted with someone he wasn’t even attracted to, or like he’d thought inside, what if he’d gotten Hayden’s number just so the guy would leave him alone?

That made Bran think of Owen. Would he have his own Owen on his hands if he called the number?

“Stop being a chickenshit and call.” Bran really, really wished he could recall last night. It would’ve been nice to at least remember what Hayden looked like.

“If he ends up being like Owen, you can avoid the bar,” he said to himself. “Or you could introduce Hayden and Owen to each other. They’d have their overinflated egos in common.”

Bran was simply stalling. He ran a hand over his hair, blew a few more breaths out, then dialed. Normally he wasn’t this nervous when talking to a guy. One, he couldn’t remember Hayden. Two, his gut still told him this was important.

The thought of Hayden offering him a job came to mind, but if that were the case, Jake would have said something since he owned the bar.

“Hayden Lovato.”

Bran froze. Hayden had the deepest, sexiest voice he’d ever heard. Reaching into the glove box, Bran grabbed the flask and took a few sips of whiskey. “Hi.”

A rumbling chuckle made Bran’s heart skip a few beats. “I’m sorry. You have me at a disadvantage. Who is this?”

It seemed they hadn’t talked a great deal last night if Hayden didn’t recognize Bran’s voice. He’s a bartender. He talks to a lot of people in the course of one night. Of course he can’t tell who you are by your voice. “Bran.”

Was that a purr Bran just heard? “I was wondering if you were going to call.”

Bran wasn’t sure about this, but one thing was for certain. He was thoroughly enjoying Hayden’s voice. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was also a slight Spanish accent in it.

“I’m going to be honest.” Bran took a few more sips of whiskey. “Last night is kind of fuzzy for me.”

Hayden’s laugh was like a rumble of thunder through a summer night. Bran loved the sound of thunder. “Ouch to my ego,” Hayden said. “And here I thought I was memorable.”

“You are,” Bran lied. “Why do you think I’m calling you?”

“I tell you what,” Hayden said. “I have to work tonight. Why don’t you come by and we can see if an impression of me sticks this time?”

This time Bran was leaving the “magic” alone. He wanted a clear head when he met Hayden for the second time. “I’ll be there.”

He didn’t bother to tell Hayden that he was already at the bar.

“See you there, Bran,” Hayden said in a seductive tone.

“See you there,” Bran said before he hung up and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. He just had to walk into Fearless Fox tonight, check out the bartender behind the counter, and decide if the guy was worth it.

Hayden didn’t even have to know that Bran had slipped inside. Not until Bran was sure this was right for him.

ADULT EXCERPT

After Bran used the bathroom and had stolen some of Hayden’s mouthwash to get rid of the gunky taste, he slipped back into bed. He was no longer drunk, but he was still tired as shit.

As soon as he lay down, Hayden curled around him, tightening his hold. It was already too late for Bran to call Kayla. Since he hadn’t called her or gone in, he wouldn’t have a job now.

That thought should have had Bran running out the door to go home, shower, and start job hunting again. Instead, he sighed, snuggling deeper into Hayden’s embrace.

Bran took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of Hayden’s skin. It almost smelled like campfire, smoky and alluring—earthy, too. Bran couldn’t help but feel safe and protected in his embrace. He knew he should leave, but he couldn’t bring himself to move.

As the morning light began to filter through the curtains, Bran felt a gentle nudge from Hayden. “Hey,” he whispered, his voice raspy from sleep. “You should get some more rest.”

Bran nodded, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He closed his eyes and let himself drift back to sleep, comforted by the sound of Hayden’s heartbeat against his ear.

When he woke up again, it was mid-afternoon. Hayden was still asleep beside him, looking peaceful and content. Bran could only recall bits and pieces from last night but seriously doubted they’d had sex. His underwear was still on, and he wasn’t sore.

What worried Bran were the parts of last night that he couldn’t remember. What had they done? What had he said? He hadn’t expected Hayden to show up at Fearless Fox. If he’d known the guy was going to be there, Bran wouldn’t have drunk so much.

“I can feel you staring at me,” Hayden said, though his eyes were still closed. “Do I have dried drool on my chin or something?”

Bran smiled. “An entire lake on your face.”

Hayden pulled him closer and nuzzled Bran’s neck. Bran wasn’t unaffected by Hayden’s closeness. He’d wanted the guy since first meeting him. Or the second time he’d met him since Bran hadn’t remembered the first time.

Maybe now that he was sober, they could take their relationship to the next level. Bran was dying to know what it would feel like to have sex with Hayden, what it would feel like to have those lips on his skin, those strong arms around him, those hands roaming over his body. He curled his hands around Hayden’s biceps, slowly grinding himself into the guy.

Before he could take a breath, Hayden rolled them, trapping Bran beneath him. “Good morning,” Hayden said, staring right into Bran’s eyes.

“Morning.” Bran smiled. “Thanks for rescuing me last night.”

“Thanks for not getting sick in my truck.” Hayden laid a path of kisses along Bran’s jawline.

“Oh god,” Bran groaned. “Don’t remind me.” Though he didn’t remember getting sick. That would explain why his mouth had tasted like trash this morning. He was thankful he’d used Hayden’s mouthwash, but Bran would love to have a toothbrush, too.

“Was there something you wanted by grinding your hard cock against me?” Hayden smirked as he stared at Bran. “I’m ready to oblige in whatever you want to do.”

“How’s my breath?” Bran asked.

“Minty.” Hayden kissed him so thoroughly that Bran felt like he was losing his damn mind. He curled his arms around Hayden’s neck, trying to pull the man even closer, though Bran could tell Hayden was being careful of putting his weight on him.

Hayden shifted, balancing his weight on one arm as he dragged his other hand down Bran’s side. The feel of Hayden’s rough palm against his sensitive skin made Bran groan. He arched up into the touch, wanting more, needing more.

“You feel good,” Bran murmured against Hayden’s soft lips, his fingers tightening on the guy’s biceps.

Hayden hummed, his mouth moving to Bran’s neck, teeth scraping against sensitive skin. Bran gasped, his hips jerking up as he chased the sensation. He felt Hayden’s hard length pressed against his thigh, and he wanted nothing more than to feel that heat inside of him.

Bran moaned as Hayden’s hand slipped beneath the waistband of his boxers, his fingers brushing against Bran’s hipbone. He bit his lower lip as Hayden’s hand continued its descent, cupping his ass and giving it a playful squeeze.

“Fuck,” Bran breathed, his hips bucking up instinctively as Hayden’s fingers grazed over his erection. “Hayden…please.”

Hayden’s head shot up, his eyes meeting Bran’s. There was a moment of hesitation, of uncertainty, and then Hayden was moving, shifting down Bran’s body. His hands were warm as they tugged at Bran’s boxers, pulling them down and off. And then Hayden’s mouth was on him, hot and wet and perfect.

Bran cried out, his hands flying to Hayden’s head, fingers tangling in his hair as he held on for dear life. He felt himself spiraling out of control, felt the pleasure building inside of him until it was all he could think about.

This was exactly what Bran needed. He spread his legs wider, giving Hayden more room as he tossed his head back and let out a long moan.

Hayden’s responding moan vibrated against Bran’s sensitive flesh, making him tremble. The guy sucked and licked, his hands gripping Bran’s hips, holding him down as he worked him over. Bran was writhing beneath him, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. He felt the pressure building inside of him, felt himself getting closer and closer to the edge.

“Hayden,” he panted, his fingers tightening in Hayden’s hair. “I'm gonna...I’m gonna come.”