during the dot com boom, and reinvested it before the crash, diversifying into everything from commercial real estate, to media, to telecom.
He didn't like politics but he was a significant contributor to gay marriage campaigns across several states. Jasmine thought that Luke looked a little uncomfortable when Evan brought up that fact. But then Evan changed the subject tactfully, mentioning that he was also a large donor to the hospital Luke worked at.
Luke had lived in an artsy uptown neighborhood, sharing a loft with three other guys while he struggled to put himself through nursing school. He'd wanted to be a doctor originally, but he'd realized that didn't suit him. He liked the one-on-one intimacy of working directly with patients.
Waiting tables was barely paying the rent, so Luke had picked up other odd jobs on the side. He'd even tried a brief stint as a stripper on a friend's suggestion, but that had ended quickly and with some kind of disaster. Jasmine pressed for details, but Luke's face turned red. Evan gave him a knowing smile, but wouldn't say anything more.
They'd met at a mutual friend's art gallery and couldn't resist each other. Evan had pursued Luke, cornering him in a hallway, and making it very clear what he wanted. Jasmine didn't think it was possible, but Luke turned a shade redder.
She wanted to hear more but just at that moment, Evan stood up.
"We need to call it a night. I have plans for Luke and I don't want him passing out before we get home." A sly grin played across his lips.
Luke yawned. "I don't think I can make it. Why don't you take me upstairs? Then you can take advantage of me in my weakened state."
Jasmine giggled. But inwardly she was disappointed. She hadn't known what to expect at the start of the night. Of course, she'd hoped for the best: that Evan and Luke would make up.
When they'd finally kissed, she'd wanted to cheer for them and shout, "Yes!" But she thought that Evan would probably drag Luke home after, and that would be it. She might never see them again.
What she wasn't expecting, was that they would want to spend time with her, chatting like a group of old friends. Just that feeling of closeness was mesmerizing and she didn't want it to end.
"We have a spare room if you'd like to join us." Evan shrugged into his coat and then glanced back at her.
She raised an eyebrow. "I've heard that before." But a smile spread across her face.
He coughed into his fist. "I meant that innocently," he said under his breath. "We both enjoy your company. No strings attached. If you wish to have a bed of your own, the invitation is open."
"That is if you don't mind a little noise through the walls." Luke chuckled as he stood up. "Although Evan does have ear plugs if you need them."
She scrunched her lips. "Your room is magnificent." She slung her purse over her shoulder. "I think I'd like to join you."
As they passed by the bar, the bartender lifted a hand. "Looks like you've got something special going on. Have a good evening, Luke, Evan…" He paused as he bowed. "—m'lady."
"You, too. Blake." Luke waved as he held the door open.
"Are you friends?" Jasmine asked once they'd stepped out of the bar.
"I've known Blake a while but I rarely see him. He's a good man," Evan turned to her. "Very perceptive. If you need an honest opinion on anything, he's the one to ask."
Luke leaned close to her and whispered, "And he's discrete."
The three joked and laughed the whole way up to the penthouse. And once inside the spacious main room, they continued their conversation around the coffee table.
Jasmine sipped at the tea Evan had given her and gazed out over the city lights. "You two have an amazing life, you know that?"
Luke hummed and stroked Evan's leg. "I'll admit that I like it, but it does take a lot of work. I mean, someone's got to keep him grounded so this doesn't go to his head."
Evan gave Luke a level stare. "That's a losing battle." Then a smile twitched on his lips.
He didn't like politics but he was a significant contributor to gay marriage campaigns across several states. Jasmine thought that Luke looked a little uncomfortable when Evan brought up that fact. But then Evan changed the subject tactfully, mentioning that he was also a large donor to the hospital Luke worked at.
Luke had lived in an artsy uptown neighborhood, sharing a loft with three other guys while he struggled to put himself through nursing school. He'd wanted to be a doctor originally, but he'd realized that didn't suit him. He liked the one-on-one intimacy of working directly with patients.
Waiting tables was barely paying the rent, so Luke had picked up other odd jobs on the side. He'd even tried a brief stint as a stripper on a friend's suggestion, but that had ended quickly and with some kind of disaster. Jasmine pressed for details, but Luke's face turned red. Evan gave him a knowing smile, but wouldn't say anything more.
They'd met at a mutual friend's art gallery and couldn't resist each other. Evan had pursued Luke, cornering him in a hallway, and making it very clear what he wanted. Jasmine didn't think it was possible, but Luke turned a shade redder.
She wanted to hear more but just at that moment, Evan stood up.
"We need to call it a night. I have plans for Luke and I don't want him passing out before we get home." A sly grin played across his lips.
Luke yawned. "I don't think I can make it. Why don't you take me upstairs? Then you can take advantage of me in my weakened state."
Jasmine giggled. But inwardly she was disappointed. She hadn't known what to expect at the start of the night. Of course, she'd hoped for the best: that Evan and Luke would make up.
When they'd finally kissed, she'd wanted to cheer for them and shout, "Yes!" But she thought that Evan would probably drag Luke home after, and that would be it. She might never see them again.
What she wasn't expecting, was that they would want to spend time with her, chatting like a group of old friends. Just that feeling of closeness was mesmerizing and she didn't want it to end.
"We have a spare room if you'd like to join us." Evan shrugged into his coat and then glanced back at her.
She raised an eyebrow. "I've heard that before." But a smile spread across her face.
He coughed into his fist. "I meant that innocently," he said under his breath. "We both enjoy your company. No strings attached. If you wish to have a bed of your own, the invitation is open."
"That is if you don't mind a little noise through the walls." Luke chuckled as he stood up. "Although Evan does have ear plugs if you need them."
She scrunched her lips. "Your room is magnificent." She slung her purse over her shoulder. "I think I'd like to join you."
As they passed by the bar, the bartender lifted a hand. "Looks like you've got something special going on. Have a good evening, Luke, Evan…" He paused as he bowed. "—m'lady."
"You, too. Blake." Luke waved as he held the door open.
"Are you friends?" Jasmine asked once they'd stepped out of the bar.
"I've known Blake a while but I rarely see him. He's a good man," Evan turned to her. "Very perceptive. If you need an honest opinion on anything, he's the one to ask."
Luke leaned close to her and whispered, "And he's discrete."
The three joked and laughed the whole way up to the penthouse. And once inside the spacious main room, they continued their conversation around the coffee table.
Jasmine sipped at the tea Evan had given her and gazed out over the city lights. "You two have an amazing life, you know that?"
Luke hummed and stroked Evan's leg. "I'll admit that I like it, but it does take a lot of work. I mean, someone's got to keep him grounded so this doesn't go to his head."
Evan gave Luke a level stare. "That's a losing battle." Then a smile twitched on his lips.
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