Free The Christmas Top by Christi Snow Page A

invitation one more time.
    Madame Eve requests your presence at the Castillo Resort & Hotel, Las Vegas, December twenty-fourth, 7:30 PM in the Royale Bar & Dining Room where your secret fantasy will come to life. Watch for the man in the purple tie .
    He’d probably made a huge mistake coming there, but couldn’t resist the allure of his secret fantasy .
    “Would you like another?”
    His gaze shot from his empty glass up to the blonde bartender. When had he drunk his bourbon? He gave her a small smile. “Sure, just one more.” He pushed the empty glass toward her and checked his watch again.
    “Are you meeting someone?” Her eyes held more than a glimmer of interest. A few years ago, she would have been his type, but back then he’d been in deep denial about his sexuality.
    “Yes, and he’s late.”
    “A business meeting on Christmas Eve?” she asked with unabashed curiosity.
    He shook his head and took a deep breath. “No, this is something else.” If he planned to be open about his lifestyle, he needed to get used to doing this. “It’s a blind date. I’ve never met him before.” He glanced up at her, but didn’t see any of the censure he expected. Instead open friendliness reflected there.
    “You’re nervous, aren’t you?”
    He gave a quick nod. “I’ve never done this type of thing before and having the guy show up late doesn’t help.”
    “Is he supposed to be wearing a purple tie like yours?” She stared at the entry and grinned. “You’ll probably want to give him a break.”
    “Why do you say that?” The urge to peer over his shoulder tempted him.
    She shrugged with apparent regret. “Why are all the best-looking guys gay? And he looks even more nervous than you. Why don’t you go put him out of his misery?” She tilted her head toward the entrance.
    “Thanks.” He paid for his drinks along with a generous tip. “And Merry Christmas.”
    Standing, he scanned the room. Heading toward him was a man wearing a purple tie, but for him the color worked, setting off his short, coal-black hair and rugged jawline. Not quite as tall as Mark, he still stood above most men and had a lean, predatory quality that sent a shiver of arousal up Mark’s spine. The man searched the crowded bar anxiously.
    When his date caught sight of Mark’s purple tie, he began to smile in greeting, but as he peered up at Mark’s face, his gait faltered and he scowled. Mark’s hopes plummeted. He’d always been considered a reasonably good-looking guy, but it appeared this man didn’t seem to agree. The quick change in demeanor didn’t make sense, but he wouldn’t accept rejection before they even spoke.
    Striding forward, he reached out his right hand. “Hi, I’m Mark Cummins and I think you’re my date for the evening.” The man glanced down at his outstretched hand and then back up toward his face, hesitating, his expression running a gamut of emotion from anger to confusion. Mark didn’t know what happened here to derail their date before it even began, but he wanted to see this through. “You’ve been sent from Madame Eve, right?”

    Jason couldn’t believe it. Is this some kind of cruel joke? Why would Molly’s brother be meeting him? Mark dated women, not men.
    But his cock didn’t get the memo, hardening on cue, the same way it always had around Mark. Something about the guy did it for him. And suddenly, he morphed back to that horny seventeen-year-old lusting after the jock.
    He hadn’t seen him since high school, but Molly would have told him if her brother had suddenly come out of the closet. Not that that would ever happen. Mark didn’t have a gay bone in his body…quarterback of the football team, banged the head cheerleader on homecoming night, and then he went on to play college football, where his escapades on and off the field continued to make news. Now he worked as the offensive coach for the St. Louis pro football team. There wasn’t anyone out there straighter than Mark