Trust (Temptation #3)(113)

“I don’t know what I feel like tonight. Why don’t you surprise me? ” he suggested, and when Tate lifted the towel and started to slide it back and forth between his hands, Logan followed the gesture then saw a gleam in those brown eyes he loved.

“Surprise you, huh?”

“Yes,” he said. “You can’t go wrong. I’m positive that I’d be open to trying anything with you.”

Tate gave him a mock frown and stilled his hands. “Sir, I’m talking about your drink. I’m not sure what you are talking about.”

Putting his arms on the counter, Logan pushed up with his toes on the rung of his stool to get closer to the teasing flirt opposite him. “Oh, would you look at that. I’ve shocked and scared the man behind the bar…”

Tate placed his hands on the edge of the wood and moved in close so they were practically nose to nose. The one-time conversation from long ago was now taking the turn Logan had wished for that very night.

“No, you haven’t. I’m just trying to decide how best to shut your inappropriate mouth.”

“Well,” Logan said, his lips twitching at the heat swirling in Tate’s eyes. “Alcohol is certainly one way. Food, which I can smell somewhere in here, is another. But…I’m not very hungry for food, and I know a much more pleasurable way to fill my mouth.”

As Tate angled his head and teased his lips over Logan’s top one, he had a hard time staying where he was. Hard being the operative fucking word. The guy sure was testing his self-restraint.

“Do you hit on everyone you meet?” Tate asked and then—fuck yes—nipped his bottom lip.

“Not anymore.”

“But you used to?”

“A long time ago. A whole other life ago.”

Tate smiled against his mouth and straightened, their lips parting. “So that’s why I’ve never seen you around here before.”

Logan lowered himself back to his seat and shrugged as nonchalantly as he could. “Could be, or maybe it’s because you’re new here.”

“You’re right, I am new. But then again, so are you.”

“Well, I used to frequent this one place. You may have heard of it—After Hours.”

Tate’s mouth curved up as he leaned a hip against the bar. “Yeah, I’ve heard of it. You say you used to, huh? What happened?”

Logan raised a hand to his chin and stroked it as he answered, “I got involved with one of the bartenders.”

“Oh,” Tate said with a false grimace and shook his head. “That happens, I suppose. Probably why it’s not allowed here.”

“Is that right?” Logan asked, looking around. “And where is here, exactly?”

“You mean you don’t know?” Tate asked. “The owner wanted a catchy name. One that was…specific to him.”

“He did, did he?”

“Yeah, but it’s a secret right now because he was only given the keys this morning.”

A massive smile stretched across Logan’s mouth at Tate’s excitement as he pulled a set of keys from his pocket and put them between them on the counter.

“I can keep a secret.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I should tell anyone yet who isn’t totally committed to being involved.”

Logan felt his breath catch in his throat as he waited for Tate to continue, hoping he was asking him what he thought he was. Ever since Tate had mentioned his idea for this, the dream he’d always wanted since he was old enough to know he had one—Logan had wanted to be a part of it. He just didn’t know how much until right that second.

“I mean…” Tate started again. “He wouldn’t have to be hands-on to be invested, and I don’t want—”

Logan cocked his head to the side and asked quietly, “What don’t you want?”

Tate reached for the keys and ran his fingers over them, making Logan think he was more nervous than he was letting on.

Logan placed his hands over the top of his, stilling them, and asked again, “What don’t you want?”

“I don’t want him to think he has to say yes.”

Logan stared at the man across from him, the one who’d stolen his heart months ago, and knew that this was their way—their unique way to settle down.

“Ask me,” Logan encouraged.

Tate chewed on his bottom lip then locked eyes with him, direct as always. “Do you want to be a part of this…with me?”

“As in?” Logan asked. He wanted to make sure he wasn’t misunderstanding what Tate was asking.

“As in be partners with me.”

Logan was about to speak when Tate rushed on.