his brows. “Jenya? Nice. She’s cute. Didn’t you tell her you were going to Jasper?”
I hadn’t. She hadn’t been on my radar since I’d started talking to Windsor. I’d only agreed to have dinner with her to be polite, not because I saw it going anywhere.
I set my phone down without replying.
“I’ll call her later.”
“I didn’t know you and Jenya had anything going on.”
“We don’t. She’s interested, I think. I’m not.”
“Why? God, you are the pickiest man I know. She’s cute, she’s young, she’s smart as hell. What’s there to hate?”
She’s female.
I shrugged and picked at my meal.
“If I can be so bold, you two would make a cute couple.”
“Thanks. I’m not sure she’s my type.”
“That’s your go-to excuse, man. We’ve known each other how long?”
“Five or six years?”
“Exactly, and in that time, I think I’ve only ever seen you date that one girl.”
Samantha. One of my pitiful attempts at leading a straight guy life. What a failure that had been. It had taken three weeks before she’d thrown her hands up in frustration and left me. Willing myself straight hadn’t worked out as well as I’d hoped. My sex drive shut down completely, and when Samantha had initiated intimacy, it was difficult to extinguish those feelings of repulsion that reared up out of nowhere.
“I’m picky. Besides, I’m extremely OCD and anal. Most people can’t deal with me. In the few weeks I was home last time, I nearly drove my brother up the wall. Just ask him.”
It was true. If my hidden sexuality wasn’t bad enough, my obsessive need for cleanliness and control did me in. Windsor had yet to learn that about me. How many times would I inadvertently boss him around before he grew frustrated too?
“Did you ever think it’s because you don’t get laid enough?”
“Can we not be crude. I’m not twenty-five. I don’t say ‘getting laid’ or talk about my ‘aching cock’ or call it ‘fucking.’ I have manners and respect myself more than that.”
Ivan whistled and laughed as he stabbed at his spinach salad. “Definitely anal, and I would go out on a limb and call you a prude too. When is the last time you… How should I say it? Participated in coitus?”
“Shut up.”
“I’m serious. I think you need a solid orgasm or two to alleviate this tense edge of yours. How long’s it been?”
“Awhile.” Not over twenty years like Windsor.
“What’s awhile?”
“I don’t know. Last fall.” Riley, the boyfriend who’d lasted a solid five weeks before I’d driven him crazy.
“That’s way too long. What are the chances of you getting laid… Sorry, having intercourse while in Jasper?”
High.
“I don’t know. I don’t fraternize with the locals. Too much potential for gossip.”
“Who cares. Find someone to enjoy your vacation with. Pardon my French, but please go fuck your brains out until this cranky mood evaporates. You’ll feel better. Trust me. Don’t make me set you up on a blind date when you get home because I’ll do it.”
“Noted. Now can we be adults and change the subject?”
“Prude.”
“Asshole.”
Ivan chuckled but did me a favor and veered the conversation to something different.
* * *
Later that night, I double-checked all I’d packed, refolded clothes, and labeled all the little plastic bags containing my bathroom supplies before I got ready for bed. My plan was to leave at the crack of dawn to be in Jasper by late afternoon. It was a good eight and a half hours by car, and that didn’t take rest stops into account.
Before I texted Windsor to let him know I was home, I made a call to Jenya to let her know I wouldn’t be around for a few weeks. She was disappointed, but I promised I’d call when I got back. I figured if things went well with Windsor, I could tell her I’d met someone back home, and we were trying a long-distance relationship. She didn’t need to know specifics.
Once that was settled, I got cozy in bed and sent a text to Windsor, letting him know I was home and could talk.
My phone rang right away. The man hated texting.
“I can’t believe that in less than twenty-four hours, you’ll be here with me.” Windsor’s husky voice was brimming with excitement.
“Nervous?”
He chuckled, and the rumble went right through to my core. “You have no idea. I informed John that I’ll need to cut out early tomorrow. You’ll text when you get here, right?”
“I will.”
“And you figured out how to get to the cabin?”
“Yeah, it doesn’t seem too difficult. I know the