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it wasn’t going to be easy, but he’d be damned if he didn’t do his best.
    “All right then,” he smiled. “It’s chance that we have met this early in the game. At least we had time to get used to each other. And I’m gaining some time, since my bosses are taking me to my new home!” He saw a brief flick of relief in James’ eyes and Bo hurried them to the car. There was a lot of traffic on the road and if they wanted to arrive before the end of the day, they should go now. James and David threw their luggage into the back of the SUV and hopped in as Bo started the engine.
    They chatted on the way to the bar and David learned that Bo had called it the Black Bulldog in honor of the mascot dog of the US Marines. They arrived far earlier than David would have thought. He still felt confused about the situation: the connections between the other two men, the meet on the plane, the effect that James’ light touch had brought in him, everything melting together in his head. He decided to analyze the situation when he was less tired and tried to concentrate on what was going on right now, instead.
    They arrived in front of a magnificent cathedral. Before David could have a better view of its square tower and the other details of the facade, Bo turned into an underground parking lot and parked his car in a reserved space. Everyone stepped out of the car and David and James grabbed their luggage before following Bo to the exit door.
    Walking up a brightly lit stairwell, they went up to the ground floor. It wasn’t one of those seedy places where you’d better be a black belt in karate to have a chance to survive; it smelled like fresh paint and it was obvious that the parking lot, as well as the stairwell, had been renovated recently.
    Bo unlocked a door when they reached a little landing, giving them access to a small utility room. Bo suggested they hang up their coats and pointed James toward a closet. James opened the door, waiting for David to shrug out of his gabardine as he hung up his own and Bo's jackets. Coming from France to the US in April, his coat was a bit light for the weather. David was surprised by the cold temperatures, as he was used to a good seventy degrees at the time in the year, dropping to the low forties was pretty hard for him. All he wanted was a cup of coffee, a hot shower and settle down, but Bo and James wanted to show him the bar before he collapsed.
    From the utility room you could see the long and narrow kitchen that was, like the utility room, covered in white tiles from floor to ceiling. The confined space was optimized, almost like a laboratory with the bright light glinting of stainless steel back-splashes; it was cold but efficient. From where he stood, David could see that the left wall was covered with a line of range cookers, at the far end of which were storage shelves and a small walk-in refrigeration unit. The wall on his right, lined with more shelves and a long counter, was dominated by large double doors, leading to the main room of the bar, and a serving hatch that was closed with a steel door. Nearby, a small silver bell.
    Going through the double doors, it was like stepping foot in Ireland. The contrast between the clinical kitchen and the warmth of the bar was stunning. Cleanliness oozed out of every pore with its polished, blond, wooden floor. Booths had been created along the left-hand side wall by benches covered in dark green leather. The seats seemed to impatiently await the arrival of customers while a small wooden stage looked forlorn without its musicians near the front door.
    An old bar ran along the right-hand wall with stools, covered in the same dark green leather of the benches, in front of it. A few, round, tables and chairs were placed haphazardly throughout the remainder of the spacious room.
    The overall look created a welcoming, warm atmosphere, enhanced by dimly lit wall lamps. The blades of a ceiling fan stood still, ready to move at the first sign