Page 6 of Controlled Burn

“Caleb, we have two groups booked for the purple room, and I’m not sure where you want me to put them.”

“Crap.” I pulled out my phone and looked at the electronic version of my schedule. “I have the Vesper County women democrats scheduled but no one else. Who’s the other group?”

“It’s the committee for the upcoming book sale.”

I sighed. “Because it’s the third Tuesday of the month, darn it. I just forgot to put that on there because it happens every month, so I thought I would remember. Giles, can you check out Keith’s book for him?”

“Sure thing.”

Directionally challenged, and I suck at my job. Wonderful.

Chapter 3

Keith

“What do you think about him?” Red pointed to a pretty young guy who was standing at the bar.

“He’s pretty. I haven’t seen him around here before. Have you?” The boy wasn’t at all my type, but he was right up Red’s alley.

“Yeah, a couple of times, but never on Daddy Night. Maybe I should go say hi.”

“Maybe you should.” I took a sip of my drink and watched him walk in that direction. I didn’t think Red was the boy’s type, but you never knew unless you gave it a shot.

I looked around to see if anyone caught my eye, but no one did. I recalled my brother Nash’s words from the last time we’d been here.

“Do you ever get tired of this? Like maybe think it’s time to settle down?”

I’d been thinking about that ever since. When Jonathan had left, I’d jumped right back into dating, but when my first attempt at anything more than a hook-up had crashed and burned, I decided I was done with relationships.

That had been eight years ago now, and I was getting tired of the whole thing. Sure, hook-ups were easy. I’d never struggled to find a partner who wanted to play, and I always made it clear that was all it was… play. And so far, I hadn’t met anyone that tempted me to even try for anything more. The question was, where did that leave me?

I tossed back my drink and motioned for our server to bring me another. On the dance floor, a mix of couples and friend groups moved to the music, bodies gyrating seductively. Some had removed their shirts, and their bodies glistened with sweat from the physical exertion.

The server placed another drink in front of me. “Anything else I can get you?” He ran his gaze up and down my body and then lightly bit his lower lip. He was new, and on a different night, I might’ve taken him up on what he was so obviously offering. But not tonight.

“Nothing else right now.” I picked up the glass and took a drink, shifting my attention back to the dance floor.

“Okay, but if you change your mind, I’ll be working until eleven.” He winked at me and then walked off, his hips swaying. I had no doubt he would find someone else to go home with. He was sexy and obviously bold enough to go after what he wanted.

Red and the boy he’d gone over to talk to were out on the dance floor, and it looked like things were going pretty good for him. I debated hanging out for a while, but if I was just going to sit here by myself and watch, I might as well head home.

I sent Red a text letting him know I was going home, downed what was left of my drink, and stood up. I figured I would hit the head and then be on my way.

I wasn’t at all surprised to see a couple making out in the dark hallway that led to the bathroom. I ducked my head to give them privacy as I walked by, but stopped in my tracks when I heard the young man begging, and not in a sexy way.

“Let me go, please. I need to go find my friends.”

“Your friends are busy dancing. They probably don’t even know you’re gone. We have plenty of time.”

I could tell the boy was trying to tell the guy no in a nice way, but I recognized the other man’s voice, and nice wasn’t something Sebastian understood. He was a good-looking guy, so boys were usually interested until he opened his mouth. I kept thinking the owners would tell him he wasn’t welcome here, but sadly, being rude wasn’t really a bannable offense. As far as I knew, he hadn’t crossed any lines up to this point, and tonight wasn’t going to be the night he did if I had anything to say about it.

“No, really, I need to head on back,” the boy insisted a little more firmly.

“You can just stay—”

I turned back to them and made eye contact with the boy, giving him a reassuring smile.

“Sebastian, I believe he said no.”