Somebody to Love (Tyler Jamison #1) - April Wilson Page 0,44
deserve that.”
Roy frowns. “No, he didn’t.” Then he reaches out and takes my hand in both of his, turning it over to rub his thumb down the center of my palm.
Although he’s always been friendly, Roy’s never paid this kind of attention to me before, and I’m not enjoying it now. I pull my hand back and force a smile.
Roy’s gaze darts over to Miguel, who appears to be preoccupied with his phone, but I know better. Miguel doesn’t miss a thing.
When I glance back at Roy, he gives me a heated look. “Have you got plans tonight?”
In other words, How about a hook-up?
Roy’s a good-looking guy, muscular, about five-ten. His blond hair is buzzed short, and he’s got a lot of tatts visible on his neck and arms. He’s well-liked by his customers and employees, from what I can tell. Before meeting Tyler, I probably would have taken Roy up on his offer. But not now. I’m not ready to give up on Tyler.
Before I can even take a pass on Roy’s offer, my buddies Chris and Trey join me at the bar, both of them flushed and breathless from dancing.
“There you are!” Chris says as he lays his arm across my shoulders and draws me close.
Miguel casually shifts on his stool to face me as he evaluates the new arrivals.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “These are my friends!”
Roy gives me a tight smile as he eyes Chris and Trey. “We’ll talk later, Ian.” And then he walks away.
Chris eyes Miguel, not very subtly. He leans close to whisper in my ear. “Who’s the hottie? Should I be jealous?”
“No. He’s just a friend. Chris and Trey, this is Miguel.”
They all say hello.
Chris tightens his hold on me. “I’ll forgive you if you come dance.”
I finish off my beer. “I’m going to dance,” I tell Miguel. “Try not to miss me.” I figure he’s not going to follow me out onto the dance floor in a club full of queers who might make a grab for his mighty fine ass. But I’m not entirely sure. After all, he’s obligated to keep me within view.
Miguel gives me a look that speaks volumes. Don’t go far. Stay where I can see you. He swivels on his bar stool and watches me follow the guys out onto the dance floor.
Chris and Trey and I meet up with a few other guys we know on the dance floor, fortunately on the edge of the dense crowd of partiers. I greet the others, and then easily step into the rhythm of the diva classic playing loudly on the sound system. I make a point of keeping myself on the periphery, within Miguel’s sight.
“Oh, my God, Ian,” Trey says as he glances back at Miguel. “Your friend is hot.” He rolls his eyes. “Like seriously hot. Who is he, and why isn’t he dancing with us? Why isn’t he dancing with me?”
“He’s not here to party. He’s actually working.”
When Trey’s eyes get big, I laugh. “Not that kind of working. He’s my new bodyguard.”
“Oh, fuck me,” Trey says, as he fans himself. “I think I need a bodyguard, too. Want to share?”
We’ve been dancing long enough that I’ve worked up a sweat when I notice that Miguel’s no longer sitting alone at the bar. Shit. At the sight of Tyler seated beside him, my belly does a little flip. He’s here?
Both Tyler and Miguel are sitting with their backs to the bar, facing the dance floor, arms crossed over their chests. They’re both wearing black leather jackets that I know conceal holstered guns underneath. It’s hot, the pair of them, in a Men in Black kind of way. No, actually it’s hotter. Especially Tyler.
Suddenly, I feel like the belle of the ball, because the hottest guy in the room is watching me like a hawk. Miguel says something to Tyler, and Tyler shakes his head, looking a bit rueful, but he never once takes his eyes off me.
Chris comes up behind me, his hands on my shoulders. He leans close and says, “You’re awfully popular tonight, sweetie. The cop’s staring at you. And who’s the guy who came in with you?”
“That’s Miguel. He’s my new bodyguard.”
Chris laughs. “I thought you said no more bodyguards.”
“It’s just temporary, until the murder investigation is over.”
“But the cops arrested Brad Turner, right? They got the guy.”
I shrug. “They’re still waiting on the DNA test results. Nothing is official until then.”
Chris links his arm casually around my throat and pulls me