Chapter 2

Mack backed up a step and walked behind his desk. He indicated Seth should sit in one of the leather chairs facing him.

“I’m adjustin’,” Mack said. “It’s been hard at times, but I know she’s better off now. The pain is gone.” He wanted to change the subject. “How’ve ya been?”

“Well, don’t know if ya heard but me and Mary Lou split up a few years back.”

“No, I hadn’t heard,” Mack said. “I’m real sorry ta hear that.”

“No need. We parted friendly,” Seth went on. “It wasn’t workin’ for us.” He smiled at Mack. “So, it looks like we’re both single again, just like the old days.”

Seth’s words triggered a flashback in Mack’s mind—two young stud cowboys out on the open range, tending cattle for old man Chesterfield in southern Montana, forming a bond based on loneliness and sex. They drank away their weekends in Boardus and Billings, and fucked the week nights away under the stars. They’d become friends based on that life. Then Mack had gone away to school in the Midwest, fulfilling the wishes of his daddy. The old man had wanted Mack to do him one better by getting a college education. There he majored in business, met Nancy, and left Seth and the life of a cowhand—which he’d loved—behind.

The intercom buzzed.

“‘Scuse me,” Mack said to Seth. Picking up the phone, he said, “What is it, Denny? I told you ta hold—”

“Sorry to interrupt, but your appointment with Mr. Silverstein—”

“Oh yeah. I forgot…”

“Well…he’s here.”

“Yep, yep, all right. I’ll be done in a minute. Tell him I’ll be right with him.”

He put down the phone.

“I’m sorry, Seth, but I got this here big shit client that wants ta buy a buildin’.”

“Not a problem.” Seth stood. “But I want to see ya again. We got us some catchin’ up ta do. Can we have dinner somewhere tonight?”

* * * *

Seth said he wanted something different for dinner than could be found in Montana. So, after being told Seth was staying at The Gem Hotel on 8th Avenue and 22nd, Mack suggested Uncle Nick’s, a Greek restaurant in Chelsea, not far from the hotel.

“This is a pretty nice place,” Seth said as they were seated at one of the balcony tables that overlooked the main floor of the restaurant.

“Glad ya approve,” Mack said with a smile.

Seth looked across the table at his old friend. “Ya haven’t changed a bit,” he said.

Mack laughed. “Your eyesight must be failin’ ya. I’m thirty-five years older than when you last laid eyes on me.”

“Well, you haven’t changed that much. Have I?” Seth asked.

Mack looked closely at the man still dressed in cowboy gear. “You’re older, and you’re balder—”

“Hey, careful there, fella. Ya don’t want ta go and hurt my feelin’s right off,” Seth said with a chuckle.

“I have ta admit you’re still pretty damn good-lookin’.”

“I was hopin’ you’d say somethin’ like that,” Seth said with a warm smile.

Mack felt a stirring in his nether regions as he looked at his old friend - something akin to an awakening from a long sleep. Seth was still handsome. The long, curly brown hair he’d had as a young cowhand was gone, replaced with a close-cropped salt-and-pepper look. He sported a matching goatee. These were new. But the sparkling blue eyes and sensual mouth were the same. How many times had Mack looked into those eyes and paid homage to those lips?

“Ya look like you’re thinkin’ about something,” Seth said, bringing Mack back to the present.

“I—”

“Gentlemen, welcome to Uncle Nick’s,” the waiter said. “My name is Andreas and I’ll be taking care of you tonight. Can I start you off with something from the bar?”

Andreas was tall, dark haired, and handsome with that five-o’clock-shadow-look so popular with younger men. He wore a tight-fitting black T-shirt with the Uncle Nick’s logo on the left breast. The shirt showed his well-developed chest and biceps wonderfully. His forearms sported a perfect dusting of black hair. The man’s slight accent completed the picture nicely.

Mack glanced at Seth, who smiled as he undressed the young waiter with his eyes.

“I’ll have a dry vodka martini, Absolute,” Mack ordered.

“And you, sir?” Andreas asked, turning to Seth. For a moment Mack thought Seth was going to say something like ‘You on my rocks,’ but he ordered scotch neat.

“Very good.” Andreas smiled warmly before leaving.

“You’re droolin’,” Mack said, laughing.

“Hell, yeah, I’m droolin’,” Seth replied. “That man is prime beef!”

“Back ta your old ways?” Mack asked, again thinking of the long nights on the prairie where the two men had spent so much time in each other’s arms.

“Never really left ’em,” Seth said. “That’s what I meant when I told ya it wasn’t workin’ for me and Mary Lou.”

The waiter returned with their drinks. “Are you ready to order?” His radiant smile was directed toward Seth.

Mack laughed to himself. Gaydar at work.