One Long Embrace (Eternal Bachelors Club #5)

“Not that you would know that,” Xavier added, addressing Wade. “Since clearly you haven’t gotten any action in a while.”


“Says who?” Wade protested. “Just because I don’t kiss and tell doesn’t mean I don’t kiss.”

Xavier and Michael exchanged a whatever-you-say look.

“And the stubble look is in. You’re just envious that you guys can’t carry it off, right Jay?”

Jay nodded absentmindedly. “Yeah, sure.”

“Besides, I don’t wanna be too handsome and get snatched up by some marriage-crazy woman.” Wade grinned.

“You should be so lucky,” Xavier teased and chuckled.

“Meaning what?”

Xavier motioned to Paul who was whispering something into Holly’s ear, making her smile.

“Look at Paul. He didn’t think it would happen to him either. And look at him now. And in a few months he’ll be a father. Way to flunk out of the club!”

Jay smiled wistfully. The way it looked right now, he was going to be the last member of the Eternal Bachelors Club and collect the sizeable bounty that was sitting in the club’s coffers. As if he needed any more money.

He rose from the table and walked to the bar.

“Bourbon, please,” he told the bartender and looked back at Paul and Holly.

Paul’s parents sat to one side of them, Daniel and Sabrina to the other. Even Paul’s mother seemed to have come around and accepted Holly, particularly now that she was carrying her grandchild. In the end, all that mattered was love, not what other people thought.

“Your bourbon, sir.”

“Thank you.”

Jay brought the glass to his lips and took a sip. He enjoyed the burning sensation as the liquid ran down his throat. It was numbing his senses for a moment. Still, he couldn’t look at Paul and Holly any longer. Seeing other people happy right now made him even more aware of what he’d lost with Tara.

He’d tried everything to get her to be reasonable: voice messages, text messages, emails. She’d responded to none of his attempts to make it up to her. He’d said sorry in so many different ways, but Tara had ignored him.

“Hey, who pissed in your drink?” Zach asked, slapping him on the shoulder and leaning against the bar.

“Who says anybody pissed in my drink?”

“Your sour face is kind of a dead giveaway.”

Jay shrugged. “We all have our off days.”

Zach lifted an eyebrow. “Okay.” Then he motioned to the bartender. “A glass of champagne, please.”

While the bartender poured a glass, Zach turned back to Jay. “How are things going with Tara?”

“They’re not.”

“Ahh, I see, hence the bad mood.”

“I’m not in a bad mood.”

“Could have fooled me.” Zach accepted the glass of champagne and took a sip. “What happened? Did dating a waiter finally lose its luster?”

Jay growled and kicked back the last of his bourbon, before slamming the glass onto the bar. A few heads turned in his direction. “You know what? Why don’t you stay out of my business and go play with the others?”

“That bad, huh?” Zach clicked his tongue. “Never thought the Ice Maiden could get under a man’s skin like that.”

“Don’t call her that! She’s not cold! She’s…” He stopped himself. Tara was hot blooded, passionate, wild. Not only their sexual encounters had taught him that, but also their fiery argument. Make-up sex would be scorching, but unfortunately, it didn’t look like there would be any make-up sex. Not until hell froze over.

“She’s what?” Zach probed. “Driving you mad? Yeah, some women have that effect on men. So what did she do? Dump you, because the novelty of sleeping with Joe Ordinary was wearing off?”

“I’d advise you to shut up. It’s nothing like that.”

“What then?”

“You can’t let it rest, can you?”

“Apparently you can’t either, or you wouldn’t be moping around like this.”

“Who’s moping around?” Paul suddenly asked from beside them.

Jay turned to the groom. “Nobody.”

“Jay is,” Zach said simultaneously.

Paul’s gaze ping-ponged between Jay and Zach. “I’m inclined to believe Zach. Is something wrong? Are you still pissed about your designer getting poached? Man, you really take things too seriously sometimes. Didn’t you like any of the applicants?”

Jay tilted his head. “Oh, yeah. About that.” He paused for an instant. “Why the fuck did you not tell me that Jane York was Tara Pierpont?”

Paul shrugged. “I didn’t want you to be influenced in your decision. Besides, she wanted to remain anonymous.”

“Huh?” Zach threw in.

Jay ignored him. “I would have never given her an interview if I’d known it was her.”

“Why not? Didn’t you see her portfolio? She’s actually good!”

“Hey, would somebody fill me in here?” Zach asked.

“I recommended Tara Pierpont for a job at Jay’s company,” Paul offered.

“Ah, now I get it. That’s how she found out. And then she got pissed at you,” Zach said, looking at Jay.

Before Jay could reply, Paul asked, “Found out what?”