Chapter 2

In the mirror behind the bottles, Josh held a cold glass and sipped. Only Coke, rule number one, he didn’t drink too much, especially here at The Pariah. If not for the curse, he’d have a few beers, and anything might happen.

Not a lot of action, it was Monday after all, slow at the bar. Few on the dance floor and quiet in the booths beyond, thumping music filled the empty space. Early yet for tourists, that time approached. A man appeared at the door. Bottles in the mirror blocked the sight of him. Josh turned around. Eyes met across the floor. He broke the second rule

Those eyes came his way. Josh turned back to the bar. Now in full view in the mirror, this guy knew how to move. Tall and built massive yet graceful, he could be a dancer. The way he walked accentuated every muscle in his body. Even through jeans and sweater, the extra effort showed and so exceeded the simple act of walking that Josh had to laugh and hide it in the mirror’s anonymity.

The guy sat on a stool beside him and shouted the bartender’s name. He must be local. Yes, that smile, one of the regulars here. Rule number three, no locals, only tourists. Vegas was good for that, finding guys to never see again. Not that he didn’t want more sometimes, but this was all the curse allowed. Besides, Vegas locals could be so sketchy.

Last sip, Josh pushed the glass forward. Time to move on, feet hit the floor.

“What’s the rush? I’m Steve. What’s your name?” A hand stuck out, long thick fingers.

No reason for rudeness, he shook the guy’s hand. His grip was firm, warm, big. “Josh.” Time to let go, too bad.

Joe, the bartender, picked up the empty glass and held it in the air like a question. Steve winked at him. “Beer, a mug, the usual. What’s our friend here drinking?”

“Coke,” the barkeep said.

“Get him a Cuba libre.”

Josh’s back bristled. He would have none of it, whatever it was. Hopefully, it went well with beer, for this fellow’s sake.

“Pretzels?” The bartender brought them.

Steve gave a thumbs up. “Thanks Joe.”

Josh’s heels spun around toward the exit, and something touched his elbow. It squeezed and held him next to the stool he abandoned. His breath stopped. That hand. He glared at it and followed the big bicep and hefty shoulder on up to the guy’s startled face. Steve let go of him not a second before Josh’s elbow jerked away. It took a moment before a smile returned to Steve’s face. Nice, but short an apology.

“Sorry about that.” Steve squirmed a little. “I’m not trying to be a jerk.”

“You don’t need to try. You’re a natural.” Josh’s mother taught him better than that, but he said it anyway. The smirk fell from the guy’s face. Time for Josh to walk away, maybe he’d been too hard on him. The guy’s big shoulders sunk, eyes fell, and the square jaw dropped.

“That really hurt.” Steve’s eyes lifted. “Why don’t you like me?”

“How can I dislike you? I don’t even know you.”

“Well, I’ve tried doing something about that, and you ran away.”

“I have somewhere to go.” He didn’t, but he never paid much attention to regulars at the bar. They asked too many questions.

Steve’s eyes drilled. “The bartender tells me you only talk to tourists. Is that true?”

They knew. They were on to him. One of the bartenders, maybe Joe, must have noticed. On second thought, Josh shouldn’t be surprised. But of course. Joe kept tabs on the customers, talked to them, and sometimes saw ID. Josh was glad he’d never lied about his name. Deception drew attention to itself, defeating the purpose. “I talk to whomever I want. Who are you to question it?”

Steve shrugged. “Who am I? You don’t ask, you don’t get. I’m that guy.”

“I’m on my way out, in case you didn’t get that.” The hairs on his arms rose. This guy was getting under his skin.

“Okay. At least I asked, and we talked. That’s something.” Steve leaned in and smiled. “I live here. We could get together, hang out, have a drink, like we are now. How about a movie?”

The fact was undeniable. Steve was right. They did speak. Josh didn’t know why he let it happen. Should have known better. Maybe he liked it. It was time to go, but he didn’t.

Steve patted the stool. “Before you got mad at me, you know, for touching your arm, I was going to say I’ll save this for you.” He circled his palm above the seat. “Still warm.”

That smile again, one’s eyes could get lost in it. Steve wasn’t his type, too big and pushy. Worse, he was local, but one couldn’t deny it. The heart expressed its own opinion. The echo pulsed in Josh’s ears. It pounded. Breath quickened to agree. “I have to go now.”

“Why? Got a hot date?” Steve’s eyebrow rose.