CHAPTER SEVEN

 

 

SO THIS is how the other half lives. Billy looked around the bar in the country club. Not much like the places where he hung out with the guys on his crew. Not too much like Anthony’s either. People here might be giving each other blow jobs, but they weren’t in the bathroom; it was out in the open over business deals. Funny, the drinkers seemed half twitchy and half bored. Totally weird to be on a triple date with his sister and her fiancé and a gay couple. And him dressed like some fashion model with a rich blonde on his arm. Jesus. He’d never have believed it if someone had told him.

“Cheers.”

Billy turned back to the group. Mitch held his glass of scotch on the rocks up in the center of the table. Everyone else raised their glasses, so Billy did too.

Shaz smiled, which was an amazing sight all by itself. “To love and happiness for our soon-to-be newlyweds.”

Rhonda beamed. “I would wish that for all of us.”

Sissy put a hand on Billy’s arm. Nice nails. A soft beige with little white tips. She squeezed. “So you’re a builder, right?”

Billy shrugged. “Not really. I work construction.” He looked up in time to see Shaz’s boyfriend glance away like he was bored. Billy turned his eyes back to Sissy. “I’m a construction supervisor.”

Shaz sipped his champagne. That was sure the right drink for the guy. He grinned. “Too bad you’re not a contractor. I’m going to be needing one for the new building.”

Rhonda leaned in. “Billy is more than qualified to be a contractor, believe me. We just haven’t been able to get him to take the test.”

Damn. Change the subject.

Mitch nodded. “Yeah, man, you should do that. Take the test. Shaz needs someone he can trust.”

Shaz put a hand on Billy’s arm beside Sissy’s. Warmer. “Is there a chance you’ll be completing the test in time? We’ll be going to bids in about a month. I’d love to include you.”

Shivers ran up his arm. “Uh, no. I won’t be doing that.” Shaz took his hand away, and Billy’s arm felt cold.

Rhonda was so on it. “Why not, Billy? That would give you a goal. Imagine getting to bid on a job right away. What a fantastic idea.”

The boyfriend, Giles, practically sneered. “I hardly think it would be wise to hand over our project to an untried individual just because you think he’s cute.” He raised an eyebrow. “No offense.”

God, give me strength not to hit the idiot. He should keep his mouth shut, but…. “Actually I’ve been a construction super for almost five years. So I have more than enough experience to qualify, and my company relies on my bidding skills.” Jesus, he should sink in the floor. Why was he bragging about this shit? Easy. Because this dude was a rude asshole.

Shaz glanced some daggers at his boyfriend, then looked at Billy. “Almost five years. You must have been a baby.”

He shrugged.

Rhonda glared at Giles. “Yes, he was made a supervisor when he was twenty-one. That’s how professional he is. You should see those big men who are older than Billy by decades all following his lead.” She patted Billy’s arm. “He’s inspiring.”

Well, hell, who’d have thought she’d ever say that?

Shaz clapped his hands. “It’s settled. Billy’s going to get his license and bid on my job. Yay!”

Sissy clapped too.

Holy shit, this was a runaway train. “No. I can’t.”

Shaz cocked his head. “Why not?”

He stared at his beer. “I can’t take the test.”

“Why not?”

He always said the same thing when somebody asked him, but he didn’t really want to say that to Shaz. Still, he didn’t have another answer. “I’m not smart enough to take the test.”

Rhonda snorted. A real live snort. “Nonsense!”

Shaz’s hand came back to his arm. Billy’s eyes locked on those long, slim fingers, with blue polish now. The guy’s high voice was soft. “Have you tried taking the test?”

Billy shook his head. “Not exactly.”

“Then how do you know?”

He sighed. “I’m not good at tests.”

“That was a long time ago, Billy.” Rhonda gave his shoulder a pat.

He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Can’t.”

Sissy pressed her boobs against his arm. She didn’t seem to have a lot of control over where she landed those things. “I think you’d be great. I’ll bet you’re better than you think you are. And to get to do the new building? What an opportunity—”

Shaz’s voice cut her off. “Who are you styling currently, Sissy?”

“What? Oh, this new singer who’s up for a Grammy. I’m picking her accessories for a dress that Wendell chose. It’s—”

She was off on a whole new track. Thank God. Billy looked up, and his eyes met Shaz’s. The guy winked. Giles was staring at Billy’s face so he didn’t smile back at Shaz, but he wanted to. That sure was nice of Shaz to save him from all these people’s good intentions. Wouldn’t that be great, to do build-outs for a guy with such amazing taste? He often fantasized about taking the test, but this was the first time he ever wished he really could.

The next two hours were interesting like a toothache. Clearly, Rhonda matched with these people. Hell, she had a decent education and was the prettiest girl in the room, including Sissy. She fit. Him? Not so much. Mitch and Giles talked about the stock market. Rhonda and Sissy dissected the current fashion trends, with snarky comments from Shaz about something called wedge sneakers, which he maintained should join gladiator sandals on the list of worst fashion statements of all time. Billy had no clue what they were talking about. He didn’t really care. But watching Shaz’s mouth form words was adult entertainment. Je-sus, the man had these full lips. Actually, the top lip was just kind of nicely shaped, but the bottom one looked like some bee had pounced on him. Full and pouty. What would that feel like in a blow job?

Gotta think of something else. “So Sissy, do you want to go to the bachelor party with me?”

Three sets of eyes turned to him.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.” Heat singed his ears.

“Hey, I’d love to!” Sissy gave him a giant hug. Not quite what he was expecting. Rhonda smiled, Giles raised an eyebrow, and Mitch just seemed like he might laugh. But Shaz? His face looked funny. Half happy and half uncertain. Hell, Billy understood that reaction.

Mitch excused himself and went to the men’s room. A couple of minutes later, Giles went too. Sissy leaned toward Billy. “What are you going to wear to the party? So I can coordinate, you know?”

Coordinate? Did people do that? Billy looked at Shaz. “Don’t know.”

Shaz nodded. “No worries. We’ll suit you up perfectly.”

She kind of bounced in her seat. “What color?”

Shaz pondered. “Navy and white, maybe. Or possibly mauve.”

“Ooooh. Lovely.”

He kept getting half-and-half feelings. Half of him felt like an idiot for not being able to dress himself. The other half thought it would be fun to have Shaz spruce him up. He needed a breather. “Excuse me. Men’s room.”

He got up, threaded through the tables in the club dining room, and walked into the men’s room off the lobby. Standing at the urinal, he heard a soft moan. Uh-oh. Maybe this club wasn’t quite as conservative as he thought.

Embarrassing. He stared at his dick and tried not to look toward the classy little rooms the toilets were in. A guy could sneak a girl in one of those easy. Hell, or another guy.

He shook his dick, flushed, zipped, and walked around the wall to the sinks. As he soaped up, Mitch ambled around the corner. Billy nodded as he rinsed. “Hi.”

Mitch stopped for a second, then smiled real big. “Oh, hi, Billy.” He said it kind of loud.

“Fancy head.”

Mitch stuck his hands under the automatic faucet. “Yes, I guess so.”

He couldn’t think of anything else to say so he grabbed a hand towel—real terrycloth—from the counter, dried, and left.

When he got back to the table, Shaz looked up. “Have you seen Giles?”

“No, just Mitch.”

“He must have fallen in.”

“I should get going.”

Sissy stood up. “Would you mind giving me a ride? I hitched with Mitch and Rhonda, but I bet they don’t want a third wheel hanging around.”

“Sure. Where do you live?”

“Newport Coast.”

“It’s on my way.” He looked up as Mitch arrived at the table. Billy stuck out his hand to his soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Thanks for inviting me. Nice club.” He turned to Rhonda, leaned down and gave her a kiss, then gave Shaz a grin. “Thanks for—” He looked down at his outfit. “—everything.”

Shaz extended his hand with a soft smile. “My pleasure, and we’ve only just begun.”

That gave him kind of a weird thrill. He shook the slim hand, which gave him more of one.

Giles sauntered up to the table, and Shaz’s smile cooled. He pulled his hand from Billy’s as he stared at Giles. “I thought we’d lost you.”

“Nah, sorry. Just got in a conversation with an old friend.”

Billy nodded. “Good to meet you.”

Giles barely glanced at him. “Yes. My pleasure.” He sat and sipped at his champagne, which had to be more than flat by now. Shaz glared at him, but the man didn’t look up. That guy was cruisin’ for a losin’ if he didn’t behave better. But maybe Shaz couldn’t afford to dump him.

Sissy slipped her arm through his. “Bye, you guys. See you at the bachelorette.”

She happily chattered all the way through the short drive to her house. Billy got what Shaz and Ru meant when they said she was good-hearted. She talked about other people most of the drive, but never a nasty word except for Giles.

“I hate to say it, but I don’t think Giles is good enough for Shaz, you know what I mean?”

Billy nodded. He sure as hell did.

“I mean, come on, he has no reason to be so stuck-up and rude. Mitch isn’t that way, and he has way more money than Giles. Oh well, maybe his family is mean to him because he’s gay. Who am I to judge?” She pointed to a row of condominiums that overlooked the ocean north of Laguna. “My place is over there.”

He followed her directions and pulled up in front of a Mediterranean-style two-story townhouse. “Here you go.”

“Thanks so much.” She turned and looked at him. She was a fancy addition to the cab of his truck, no doubt about it. “You don’t want to kiss me good night, do you?”

What the hell? “Uh, I don’t—”

She held up a hand. “No problem. I understand about breakups and stuff. I mean, it would be okay with me, but I don’t think you really find me irresistible or anything. I just want you to know that I’m happy to go to the parties with you and just be friends if that’s what you want. I’ve got no big plans or anything.”

His mouth opened, closed, and finally opened again. “You’re really pretty, and seem nice—”

She nodded. “Good. I like you too, and you sure are cute. We’ll have fun, okay?” She leaned over and kissed his cheek, opened her own door, and was headed up her walkway before he recovered enough to react. Finally, he opened the passenger window and leaned over. “Thanks so much.”

She waved a hand. “G’night.”

He watched her walk and finally smiled. There was a woman he could like.

He drove away from the complex and back out onto the Pacific Coast Highway, heading south toward Laguna. The phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out and clicked the speaker by feel. “Ballew.”

“Billy?”

“Shaz?” He caught his breath.

“Hello, darling. I’m sorry. I figured you’d be busy and I’d leave you a message.”

“No, I’m just driving.” God, that man’s voice was so cool. “Aren’t you busy?” Jesus, why did he ask that?

Shaz chuckled. “As in getting busy? No, I’m afraid Giles made it all the way into the doghouse tonight, so I’m not at all busy.” He laughed, but it sounded kind of strained.

“I’m sorry.”

“La la, darling. I’ll get over it, I’m sure. Anyway, I wanted to see if you’d like to go look at some of my places with good prices on furniture tomorrow. I have a day off and could show you where they are and introduce you to the owners.”

“Hell, I don’t want to make you work on your day off.” But his heart beat fast.

“Not at all. It would be fun for me.”

“Wow. If you’re serious, I’d love it. I work until three, though.”

“No Little League?”

“No. Not tomorrow.” He’d have to call and beg off his second job for a day, but he never missed, so the super would forgive him. “Thanks so much for remembering.”

Shaz’s dancing voice got kind of soft. “I wouldn’t forget.”

Billy swallowed. “Where shall I meet you?”

“You live in Laguna?”

“Yes.”

“How about I come to your place? Then I can help with selection if we see anything good.”

Jesus. Shaz at his apartment. “Uh, okay. It’s not much.”

“And we’re going to make it much more.” He laughed.

“Okay. Here’s the address.” He rattled it off.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at, what, three thirty?”

“Okay.” Maybe his pulse would slow down by then.