Chapter 45
Dan decided if he wanted a drink he should do so immediately and then eat. If he were called away, he needed to be clearheaded if he had a sick horse to attend to.
As Dan stood at the bar trying to decide what he wanted, Bill walked up beside him, placed a hand in the small of his back just above the elastic of Dan’s swim trunks, rubbed lightly, and asked, “What are you drinking?”
Momentarily caught off guard, Dan just looked at the man.
“Doing a little research,” Bill said with a smile. “So I’ll know what to order for you when we go out.”
Dan realized he was staring with his mouth slightly open, puzzled as to what Bill was playing at. What was he researching, Dan’s drink preferences or…? Dan finally said, “A white…whatever.”
Bill pulled a bottle of Chablis out of a cooler, got a plastic cup, and poured for Dan. Bill handed Dan the cup, winked, and said, “I’ll remember that.” He got a beer from another ice chest, patted Dan’s butt, winked again, and turned away.
Dan stood holding his wine. He watched Bill as the man walked away, feeling a definite tightening of his groin at the sight of the man’s well-formed ass. It was displayed nicely due to the wet bathing suit that clung to the muscular globes. Dan tried to decide if it was his imagination, or was Bill Henley flirting with him?
Just as his view of Bill was obscured by the crowd, Dan’s beeper went off. He’d gotten an emergency call.
* * * *
Dan didn’t return to the party. The emergency call had taken a long time. It’s just as well, Dan thought. It was too strange to be there without Chrissy. And then there’s Bill.
Dan didn’t know how to interpret Bill’s conversation and actions. If Bill was intimating what Dan thought he was, then Dan wasn’t sure how he felt. He found Bill attractive. But he’d been with four men since the beginning of summer, and fallen in love with three of them. Dan had vowed he was going to put things on hold for a while in order for him to sort things out. Besides, Bill and Dan both worked at All Creatures. Not good, Dan thought.
The next day proved to be a busy one for the vet. His beeper went off at four in the morning: another emergency. They kept coming all Sunday long. By the time he got home it was late evening. A much welcomed note from Julee on the kitchen counter said the dogs had been fed and walked.
Dan showered, poured himself a glass of Crisp White, then went outside to sit with Lad and Lady on the deck. After a quick patrol of the back yard they joined Dan on the glider to watch the fireflies and listen to the crickets. He absently stroked Lady. Mercifully, his mind was free of all the frustrations of the last few months, and he was able to enjoy the moment.
After about a half-hour, he went in and got ready for bed. He lay on his back, glad he’d been too busy and too tired to think about anything, including Bill. However, Dan’s cock reminded him by getting hard, that it had been a couple of nights since it’d had its bedtime exercise. Immediately, as soon as Dan had complied with his dick’s demand for attention, the handsome face and muscular body of Bill Henley came to mind. Dan, and his stiff little buddy, began to picture what it would be like to have sex with him.
Monday morning, Dan was in his office reading email and checking in with clients before going to get his schedule for the day from Rose. His phone rang.
“Hello. This is Dr. Parker,” Dan said.
“Hey,” came the deep male voice on the other end of the line.
“Bill?”
“Yeah. Sorry to use our clinic phone but I didn’t have your cell number. You won’t turn me in for using the company line for personal business, will you?” Bill asked, then chuckled.
Dan smiled. “No, your secret’s safe with me. What can I do for you?”
“I can think of a couple of things. But we’ll save that for another discussion. I was calling to see if you’re free tonight after work to go out for that drink.”
Dan had forgotten that Bill had talked about going out to get to know one another at the party. He hesitated. He’d hoped to hear from Scott about coming out to check Shadow. That would mean he’d be home late.
Dan’s hesitation must have shown in his voice because Bill said, “Wow, your enthusiasm is overwhelming.” He laughed.