Page 28 of The Bartender Special

Not as ridiculous as Benny’s next suggestion though.

“Or we could talk about Marcus's engagement to Felicity,” he said. “I'm sure Carol would love to deep dive into talking about throwing the first Robertson wedding in years. The white lace and dove-filled horror.”

It was good advice, but he knew the execution would be horrible.

Jack didn’t want Felicity back and she obviously didn’t want that either, but pretending that everything was hunky-dory wasn’t the play he wanted to make.

But did Benny De Carlo still want Marcus Robertson?

He said he didn’t…

But.

What if he was doing exactly what they were doing now?

What if he lied?

Jack could have asked again—maybe more doggedly— but he decided the answer wouldn’t matter.

Their fake dating arrangement was one of necessity. Benny needed a cover, Jack needed press.

That's all it was.

Jack shook out the tension that had crept into his shoulders.

“How about, worst case, I'll just flip a table,” he said. “Give everyone something to talk about. No need to look for a distraction when I can become one.”

Benny, to his surprise, gave a genuine laugh.

“Truth be told, I'd rather you just kiss me again before you flip any tables. More enjoyable, way less messy.”

Jack knew he hadn’t meant to say that last part the moment Benny went cherry red.

It made the pity in him turn, momentarily, into something else.

He caught his fake boyfriend’s eye and sent a wink his way.

“Squeeze twice and I can make that happen.”

SIX

Benny was just going to have to accept the fact that his existence post-viral blog would be a hot one. Cheeks, neck, and ears always nearing the temperature of lava from embarrassment, self-consciousness, or lust.

Yeah.

Lust.

Not so fake beneath the belt thoughts for the bartender he was supposed to be faking it with.

It was like that one kiss from Jack had unlocked something in Benny. A mix of feelings that started building at random around the man. Sometimes they stayed balanced, sometimes they ratcheted up after a casual smirk.

But that was normal, right?

To blush a little and think about kissing a little more often around an attractive man?

Because that's what Jack was.

Sure, he wasn't a Marcus Robertson type of classic, but he was a darker, cockier type of nice. A mmm-mmm good. A rough and tumble character who, sometimes, you couldn't help but think about having a rough tumble in bed with.