The rest of the afternoon, he thought about what Toni had said, that a lot of the women in the Port weren’t truly happy, they were simply filling a role. It made him think over some of the summer choices he’d made the last few years as the playboy veterinarian, and he wasn’t sure he liked being the guy that gave them what they wanted in the bedroom and nowhere else. Sure, it was fun at the moment, and everyone involved was always a consenting adult, but had he put himself in the category of men who weren’t valued either? Had I become the town gigolo?
At the end of the workday, Donovan was still unsettled, so he hit up his best friend Gavin Fraser for a drink. The two had spent many a summer pursuing the ladies of the Port, offering their services as it were, and with summer approaching, what better time to get his head back in the game of fun than a few drinks with his buddy.
After a shower and an internal pep talk, Donovan met up with Gavin at their usual watering hole, the Rusty Scupper. One of the oldest bar and restaurants in the area, it was a place both the townies and tourists frequented, with amazing food, reasonably priced drinks, and a summery, nautical vibe that appealed to the area.
“We eating, or just drinking tonight?” Gavin said, patting his friend on the back.
“Just drinking, I think,” Donovan replied. He was happy to see his old friend. Gavin was a real estate agent in the Port, and a busy one at that. Houses and properties were constantly changing hands, being foreclosed on, or inherited, for that matter. “How’s business?”
“Better than ever!” he exclaimed. “There are six new properties on the market, and I’ve already got offers pouring in. Rock stars, actresses, and even a famous TV chef are all bidding on one of them. It’s gonna be a good summer.” He rubbed his palms together. “How are the pets of the rich and famous?”
“I don’t think any of my patients are particularly famous.” Donovan laughed. “They are rich though.”
“Fair enough. How’s that hot tech of yours? Toni, is it?”
“She’s good, and she’s off limits,” Donovan replied sternly. Friends or not, he wasn’t about to let Gavin try to sweet talk Toni into some kind of summer fling. Not that she’d accept—he was pretty sure Toni had her own game in town, but she was hush-hush about it.
“Okay, okay.” Gavin put his hands up in surrender. “No hot assistants. Got it.”
“Thank you.” Donovan rolled his eyes.
“So, what’s new? Anything else besides work?” Gavin had a gleam in his eye as he scanned the room. “Either the women are getting younger, or the plastic surgeons are getting better. We gonna be each other’s wingman this season again or what?”
As despicable a thing as it was to say, he was right. Donovan glanced around the room as well, and the beautiful people were showing up in full force. For a mid-week night, the bar was full, and the restaurant had a waitlist already. There were a lot of familiar faces, although several of them looked like they’d had a freshening up in the offseason. “Uh, yeah. I’d say it’s business as usual. That’s why we work so hard all winter, right?” Donovan wasn’t sure he meant what he said, but he could sense it wasn’t the time to have a conflict of morals discussion with his friend.
The bar was situated near the front door and when she walked in, it was quite the ruckus. With a giant suitcase on wheels, a small purse strapped across her body, and a laptop bag, the woman slung the door open wildly, causing some of the long dark hair that had been piled on top of her head to fall down past her shoulders. It seemed as though she wasn’t quite sure where she was as she looked around the room with a raised eyebrow.
She dragged her suitcase over the bar and plopped down two seats away from Donovan and Gavin, who watched her silently. When the bartender came over and asked what she wanted, her reply was even more surprising.
“I’m gonna need a shot of tequila. You know what? Make that two,” she said as she rested both hands on top of the bar and took a deep breath.
Donovan couldn’t take his eyes off her. Dressed in cutoff jean shorts, a ripped sweatshirt, and canvas shoes, she wasn’t like anyone else he’d seen of late, and she definitely wasn’t a townie. Before he could say anything, Gavin whispered, “Dibs!” excitedly.
“Hold on just a second. She just walked in,” Donovan replied.
“Since when did that matter?” Gavin shrugged his shoulders and blew his friend off, approaching the new girl.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked her in his smarmy way. Donovan had no reason to be jealous, he didn’t even know the girl, but he knew he didn’t want Gavin’s grubby hands on her.
“I already have two, thanks.” She held up her shot glass up to show him before taking it like a college kid on spring break.
“You’re new to Port Henry, aren’t you?” he asked her, completely unphased by her disinterest.
“What gave it away? The clothes from the mall?” she replied sarcastically. Her sunglasses were tucked into her hair on top of her head, and her body language definitely indicated she wanted him to go away. She’d turned herself on the bar stool to face away from him without being too blunt, but Gavin wasn’t one for taking hints.
“So what brings you to the Port? You here for the summer?” Innuendo dripped from his mouth as Gavin leaned in closer to her. Donovan watched the scene unfold, shaking his head and sipping his beer.
The young woman, whose pale face and pink lips were in stark contrast, shut her eyes and sighed deeply. She picked up her other shot glass, downed the amber liquid like a champ, and locked eyes with Gavin. “What’s your name?” she asked him.
Grinning, he replied, “I’m Gavin. Gavin Fraser.” He put his hand out for her to take, but she didn’t take it.
“Listen, Gavin Fraser,” She sneered down at his outstretched hand while Gavin continued to grin, blissfully unaware she was about to crush his confident swagger, something Donovan saw coming from their first interaction. “I’m sure that you’re pretty boy, charming personality works on the local gals in the offseason and, hell, maybe it even works on the
rich tourists all summer. But you won’t be adding this”—she waved her hands down the front of herself—“to your body count. I don’t have any interest in a fuck in the bathroom or a one-night stand, or even a summer fling with some wannabe rich boy looking to whet his whistle for the season. You got me?”
Donovan choked on his beer audibly, garnering her attention. “Don’t you bother either. You two are easy to spot a mile away, with your good looks and nice clothes. I’m not buying what you’re selling.”
“Who me?” Donovan asked defensively. “I didn’t say anything!”