The guy’s lips twitched. “Do you mean ‘when in Rome’?”
Benny snapped his fingers. “That’s it! Exactly. But I think the bartender’s…” The rest of Benny’s sentence was cut off as his new friend waved a hand and the bartender just, like, magicallyappeared, putting together a bright-pink drink with a pineapple slice and little umbrella in under a minute.
“Whoa.” Benny’s eyes lit up, and he swallowed with a dry throat. The pink drink looked delicious, and he really was thirsty. “You’ve got connections here, huh?”
“Something like that.” But the guy didn’t hand the drink to Benny yet, keeping it just out of reach. “What do I get in exchange?” he asked.
Benny furrowed his brow. “For the drink?”
“You said you’d owe me.”
“Um.” Benny scratched at his chin. He’d gone all clean-shaven for this beach vacay, but it was late enough that some stubble was breaking through. “What would you want?”
Was this like a sex in exchange for a drink thing? Benny wouldn’t exactly be against it, but wasn’t it a little friendlier to chat a guy up first?
Maybe they did things differently in Miami.
“Oh, nothing too dear,” the guy reassured him. “A mere measure of your time, I think.”
“Just my time?” Benny laughed his relief. “Sure thing. Sounds cool.”
“Excellent.” There was that weird flash to the guy’s eyes again. He pushed the pink cocktail to Benny.
Benny accepted and slurped at it happily. The cool drink felt amazing after he’d been dancing in the heat. He had to force himself to slow down after half of it was gone, to savor the taste a little. It was sweet but not overwhelmingly so.
The guy watched him closely the whole time.
It was a little intense, but he’d bought Benny a drink and all, so Benny stayed close, letting him look his fill. He gnawed on his pineapple garnish to delay finishing his drink. “So…are you a professor?”
His new friend cocked a brow. “Pardon?”
Benny waved a hand. “The way you talk.” He knew a smart dude when he heard one.
“I deal in contracts.”
“Oh, cool.” Benny tossed his pineapple husk into his drink for a little added flavor, mushing it down with his straw. “Big money in that?”
The guy gave him his first real smile. It was a nice one, and Benny found himself leaning in a little closer. “It has its rewards.”
“Cool, cool.” Benny realized he’d forgotten an important step. He stuck out a hand. “I’m Benny by the way. Benny Carter.”
The guy’s palm was cool and dry. It felt good against Benny’s sweaty skin. “Is that your full name?” he asked, holding Benny’s hand tight. “Benny’s not short for anything?”
“Nope.” Benny flashed him another smile. “That’s it.”
“How trusting of you,” the guy murmured, finally letting Benny’s hand go.
“What?” Benny asked, figuring he’d misheard.
“You can call me Helio.”
“Helio.” Benny nodded. It was an unusual name. He liked it. “You wanna dance, Helio?”
Helio shook his head. “Not my scene.”
“Sure, sure.” Benny slurped the rest of his drink, tapping his fingers on the bar, then asked, “You mind ifIdance? I’m only in town for a couple nights.”
It was all he’d been able to afford. He’d wanted to stay at a fairly nice hotel, but the odd jobs he did back in his hometown of Seacliff Harbor, Maine, didn’t pay much, and his workout vids—though pretty killer, in his opinion—weren’t exactly paying the bills yet.
