I’m so excited that Hands On is finally available. I’ve been thinking about this story for a year but a few others came first. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’m always looking for reviewers so if cash is tight and you want a copy, just drop me a line at ariagracebooks@gmail.com and ask for a review copy. I’ll always help out a fan in need. 😉
Here’s a quick excerpt:
After a
quick shower and a power bar, I head over to Ray’s. Heather, the woman that
lives below me with her year old daughter, said it’s a quiet spot to shoot some
pool or just have a drink. That’s exactly what I need.
quick shower and a power bar, I head over to Ray’s. Heather, the woman that
lives below me with her year old daughter, said it’s a quiet spot to shoot some
pool or just have a drink. That’s exactly what I need.
When I
walk in, I’m surprised how busy it is for seven PM on a Wednesday. Pop music is
playing in the background and several groups of people are seated at tables
around the place. There are some open high tops but I don’t want to sit alone.
walk in, I’m surprised how busy it is for seven PM on a Wednesday. Pop music is
playing in the background and several groups of people are seated at tables
around the place. There are some open high tops but I don’t want to sit alone.
A stool
in the middle of the bar seems innocuous enough so I slip onto it and take a
look around. This doesn’t look like most of the gay bars I’ve been to but
they’re definitely gay-friendly, if the small rainbow flag above the register
is any indicator. It’s actually the only indicator.
in the middle of the bar seems innocuous enough so I slip onto it and take a
look around. This doesn’t look like most of the gay bars I’ve been to but
they’re definitely gay-friendly, if the small rainbow flag above the register
is any indicator. It’s actually the only indicator.
Most of
the patrons are guys but that’s true in most bars. Regardless, I’m not here to
pick up anyone. That’s not my style. I’m just here for a drink and to feel like
a regular guy again. I’ve missed not having the guys from the band to have a
drink with on weekends or after gigs.
the patrons are guys but that’s true in most bars. Regardless, I’m not here to
pick up anyone. That’s not my style. I’m just here for a drink and to feel like
a regular guy again. I’ve missed not having the guys from the band to have a
drink with on weekends or after gigs.
By the
time I turn back around, the bartender is standing in front of me. “Can I get
you something?”
time I turn back around, the bartender is standing in front of me. “Can I get
you something?”
“Tanqueray
and Tonic, please.”
and Tonic, please.”
He
smiles and nods. “You got it.”
smiles and nods. “You got it.”
With
what I hope isn’t taken as anything more than polite curiosity, I watch the kid
reach for the bottle from the top shelf. His shirt pulls up slightly, revealing
the creamy white skin of his slender hips, peeking out from his dark, tight
jeans. The boy looks young—younger than he must be if he’s a pouring drinks,
but hot.
what I hope isn’t taken as anything more than polite curiosity, I watch the kid
reach for the bottle from the top shelf. His shirt pulls up slightly, revealing
the creamy white skin of his slender hips, peeking out from his dark, tight
jeans. The boy looks young—younger than he must be if he’s a pouring drinks,
but hot.
I’m
still staring when he turns around and pours the liquor into a highball. I
slowly let my gaze crawl up his chest to his face. He’s not looking at me so I
study his delicate features and streaked blond hair. It’s not too short but you
can tell he likes to look good and puts effort into it.
still staring when he turns around and pours the liquor into a highball. I
slowly let my gaze crawl up his chest to his face. He’s not looking at me so I
study his delicate features and streaked blond hair. It’s not too short but you
can tell he likes to look good and puts effort into it.
The
time he takes is well spent. He’s hot as hell. When I glance at him, his
crystal blue eyes are trained on me. I want to look away but I can’t. He winks
then hands me the glass. “Here ya go. That’ll be eight bucks.”
time he takes is well spent. He’s hot as hell. When I glance at him, his
crystal blue eyes are trained on me. I want to look away but I can’t. He winks
then hands me the glass. “Here ya go. That’ll be eight bucks.”
I pull
out a ten and hand it to the kid. When he tries to give me my change, I just
shake my head and take a sip. The citrusy drink is smooth and only briefly
reminds me of Finn.
out a ten and hand it to the kid. When he tries to give me my change, I just
shake my head and take a sip. The citrusy drink is smooth and only briefly
reminds me of Finn.
As I
nurse my drink, I can’t help but watch the sexy bartender. He has an easy smile
and an infectious laugh. He’s clearly liked by all his customers and enjoys
chatting them up. Every now and then I catch his eye and he smiles, but then he
glances down to my glass to see if I’m ready for a refill. When I finally
finish my drink, he’s in front of me before the glass meets the wood.
nurse my drink, I can’t help but watch the sexy bartender. He has an easy smile
and an infectious laugh. He’s clearly liked by all his customers and enjoys
chatting them up. Every now and then I catch his eye and he smiles, but then he
glances down to my glass to see if I’m ready for a refill. When I finally
finish my drink, he’s in front of me before the glass meets the wood.
“Ready
for another?” He’s wiping out the inside of a glass as he waits for my answer.
for another?” He’s wiping out the inside of a glass as he waits for my answer.
“Um,
yeah.” I slide the empty glass to him. “Just one more. I don’t usually drink
much on work nights.”
yeah.” I slide the empty glass to him. “Just one more. I don’t usually drink
much on work nights.”
He nods
turns to grab the bottle of Tanqueray. “That’s usually a good policy.”
turns to grab the bottle of Tanqueray. “That’s usually a good policy.”
He
moves gracefully as he prepares my drink. Since I’ve spent the past thirty
minutes watching the poor guy, I’ve noticed he rolls his shoulders and
stretches his neck often.
moves gracefully as he prepares my drink. Since I’ve spent the past thirty
minutes watching the poor guy, I’ve noticed he rolls his shoulders and
stretches his neck often.
Before
he slides my drink to me, I lay down another ten.
he slides my drink to me, I lay down another ten.
He
pulls two singles from the register and tries to hand them to me but I just
shake my head. “Keep it.”
pulls two singles from the register and tries to hand them to me but I just
shake my head. “Keep it.”
“Thanks.”
He drops them into a jar on the back wall and comes back to me. “I haven’t seen
you in before. Just visiting?”
He drops them into a jar on the back wall and comes back to me. “I haven’t seen
you in before. Just visiting?”
I take
a drink before responding. “New to town. I’ve only been in the area for a few
months.”
a drink before responding. “New to town. I’ve only been in the area for a few
months.”
“Cool.”
His hand moves to his left shoulder and he rubs circles while nodding slowly.
“Where are you from?”
His hand moves to his left shoulder and he rubs circles while nodding slowly.
“Where are you from?”
“Colorado.”
I watch his hand move from his shoulder to his neck. “You got a kink?”
I watch his hand move from his shoulder to his neck. “You got a kink?”
“Oh,
yeah.” He drops his hand self-consciously. “Occupational hazard.”
yeah.” He drops his hand self-consciously. “Occupational hazard.”
I look
left and right, confused by the comment. “I didn’t realize bartending was so
dangerous.”
left and right, confused by the comment. “I didn’t realize bartending was so
dangerous.”
He
gives me another wink. “It can be.”
gives me another wink. “It can be.”
A guy
leans in on my right and places his elbow on the bar beside me, brushing
against my back. I bristle at the unexpected contact and lean away.
leans in on my right and places his elbow on the bar beside me, brushing
against my back. I bristle at the unexpected contact and lean away.
“Caleb,
can you send a couple Cokes to the back when you get a chance?” The man is
large with full tattoo sleeves on both arms. He looks like a body builder so I
don’t look too closely. If he’s straight, he probably won’t appreciate me
checking him out.
can you send a couple Cokes to the back when you get a chance?” The man is
large with full tattoo sleeves on both arms. He looks like a body builder so I
don’t look too closely. If he’s straight, he probably won’t appreciate me
checking him out.
“You
got it, Steve,” Caleb responds.
got it, Steve,” Caleb responds.
Caleb.
I like it. He looks like a Caleb.
I like it. He looks like a Caleb.
“Thanks,
gorgeous.” The man drops a twenty on the counter and walks away.
gorgeous.” The man drops a twenty on the counter and walks away.
I let
out a low whistle. “Damn, Cokes are expensive in here.”
out a low whistle. “Damn, Cokes are expensive in here.”
He
laughs and rings up the drinks then drops the 300% tip in the jar. “He’s a good
friend.”
laughs and rings up the drinks then drops the 300% tip in the jar. “He’s a good
friend.”
“I
see.” If that guy is calling him gorgeous and leaving tips like that, I’m sure
he’s more than just a friend.
see.” If that guy is calling him gorgeous and leaving tips like that, I’m sure
he’s more than just a friend.
Caleb
gives me smirk that tells me he knows what I’m thinking. I hope my snide
comment didn’t sound as petty as it could have.
gives me smirk that tells me he knows what I’m thinking. I hope my snide
comment didn’t sound as petty as it could have.
When
Caleb walks away to place the Cokes on a tray, I turn in my stool and look
around again. It’s gotten a little busier but I can still see to the billiard
tables in the back. The guy, Steve, is playing with a young blond that looks
even younger than Caleb. This kid is barely legal. But by the way they watch
each other and stop to kiss between almost every shot, it’s clear Steve isn’t
interested in Caleb.
Caleb walks away to place the Cokes on a tray, I turn in my stool and look
around again. It’s gotten a little busier but I can still see to the billiard
tables in the back. The guy, Steve, is playing with a young blond that looks
even younger than Caleb. This kid is barely legal. But by the way they watch
each other and stop to kiss between almost every shot, it’s clear Steve isn’t
interested in Caleb.
When I
spin back around, Caleb is taking a picture of two girls holding up pink drinks
at the far end of the bar. When he hands the phone back to them, he notices me
watching him. His hand moves to his neck and rubs it while he smiles broadly at
me. “Do you need anything else?”
spin back around, Caleb is taking a picture of two girls holding up pink drinks
at the far end of the bar. When he hands the phone back to them, he notices me
watching him. His hand moves to his neck and rubs it while he smiles broadly at
me. “Do you need anything else?”
My
glass is still half full so I can’t use that as an excuse. Besides, I have to
work tomorrow and I don’t want to feel like shit all day. “No, thanks. But I
can probably help with your neck.” I take a final drink then stand. “I just
started working as a massage therapist at Hydrate Day Spa. Come by and I’ll
comp a massage.”
glass is still half full so I can’t use that as an excuse. Besides, I have to
work tomorrow and I don’t want to feel like shit all day. “No, thanks. But I
can probably help with your neck.” I take a final drink then stand. “I just
started working as a massage therapist at Hydrate Day Spa. Come by and I’ll
comp a massage.”
Caleb
takes the card I hand him and looks at it for a minute before understanding
dawns. “Oh, my neck.” He smiles shyly. “Thanks, I might do that.”
takes the card I hand him and looks at it for a minute before understanding
dawns. “Oh, my neck.” He smiles shyly. “Thanks, I might do that.”
