A Bar Tender Tale by Melanie Tushmore Page A

reaction was to give into the very strong pull he felt towards Auryn; to launch himself forward and wrap everything he had around the man. But Nathan forced himself to stay still. He didn’t want a repeat of the other night, with poor Auryn having to push him away again.

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    Nathan cleared his throat. “So, um… how was your game day, or whatever it was?”
    Auryn grinned at him. “Suitably nerdy, thank you, and I let Gaz win.”
    “Oh right. I bet he was pleased.”
    “Pretty much.”
    “So, um….”
    “I missed you.”
    Nathan blinked in surprise. “Huh? You did?”
    “Yes. How crazy is that? I only met you two days ago.”
    “Technically, this is the third day.” Nathan smiled. “And I missed you, too.”
    Auryn’s shy smile was enough to make Nathan’s heart flutter. His eyes were drawn to the man’s lips. He was desperate to lean up and taste them, but nerves got the better of him.
    “Um… are you gonna kiss me?” Nathan asked.
    He watched Auryn’s brown eyes flicker down and wondered if his own lips held the man’s interest.
    Auryn breathed out, almost a small laugh as his eyes rose again, over Nathan’s shoulder.
    “I would, Nathan, but all those people in the window are putting me off a bit.”
    Nathan glanced round to see his Rainbow’s colleagues pressed against the window, smirking at them. Rolling his eyes, he faced Auryn again. “Ignore them.”
    “Am I allowed to come in? If you’re busy I can—” A Bar Tender Tale | Melanie Tushmore 102

    “No, no,” Nathan insisted. “It’s fine; we’re not busy yet.
    Just, um….”
    “Yes?”
    “Er, well, they’ll probably talk you.” Auryn almost frowned in confusion. “Okay… isn’t that a good thing?”
    “No, I mean….” Nathan struggled to put his insecurities into words. While he loved the idea of Auryn keeping him company at work, he wasn't so keen on the prospect of competition in the form of his colleagues. Not only were all of them very good-looking, but soon there would be a whole horde of gay men in the bar to contend with. And they just loved fresh meat.
    Way too much competition.
    “Um, what I mean is, they’ll probably come onto you.” Realization dawned on Auryn’s face. “Oh, right. Well, what are the house rules? I’m allowed to say no, aren’t I?” Nathan’s lips opened to respond, but then he saw Auryn was joking.
    “Yeah, you better,” Nathan teased, smiling to hide the fact that he was deadly serious.
    The look Auryn gave him in return was so intense Nathan felt all the blood rush around his body.
    “You don’t have to worry about that, Nathan.” A Bar Tender Tale | Melanie Tushmore 103

    Chapter 5

    “YOU jammy git, Nath,” Stuart hissed, immediately after Auryn had excused himself to go to the gent’s.
    Nathan grinned wickedly. “Moi?”
    “When you said he played computer games I expecting some geeky minger.”
    “Hah! Well, that’s where preconceptions will get you.” Nathan had been feeling smug since Auryn had taken off his jacket and sat down at the bar. So much for Stuart’s flabby belly prediction! Under the man’s clinging T-shirt they had all noticed a flat stomach, not to mention a well-toned chest and shoulders pulling the fabric taut. Nathan felt all flushed as he’d practically tripped over his goggling colleagues to get the man a drink. It seemed none of them could quite believe Nathan’s good luck.
    “The proof is certainly in the pudding,” Mathew commented now.
    “Mmm, pudding is right.” Justin smirked. “He's very dishy.”
    “I know that,” Nathan said. He glanced across the venue to check Auryn wasn’t returning yet. As soon as he’d been out of earshot, Stuart and Mathew had pounced on Nathan to gossip. They’d also had to physically restrain Justin from following Auryn into the toilets.

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    “I say well done, you,” Mathew told him.
    Nathan beamed. “Cheers,