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fix you up.
    With Phil?
    Oh God, that would be a nightmare. Hell, no.
    Had he ever told anyone here of his past with Phil? He tried to think back to his conversations with Rose or anyone else.
    He’d told Rose about Phil and him when she was her alter ego, Devyn. He’d been drinking one night after a show, and Rose had changed back into Devyn already.
    Phil had been walking out of the club. “Bye, Rose. Bye…Neo.” He’d said the words quickly and almost seemed to run past them.
    “Bye, Phil.” Devyn had looked back and forth between Phil and Neo for a few seconds. “You two know each other? That’s the only time I’ve seen Phil stumble over his words. And run like a bat out of hell.”
    Neo had had a few mojitos in him by this time. He was feeling warm and fuzzy—maybe only fuzzy. So he’d thought, fuck it, and told the truth. “Sort of.”
    “Oh?”
    “We had a ‘thing’ about five years ago.”
    “Really? I wasn’t even sure Phil was gay.”
    “Oh, yeah. Bastard spent months chatting me up, and then when he finally did me, he left me in the morning.” His voice had been raw and jaded. “Didn’t even say good-bye.”
    “Bastard.” Devyn had shaken his head. “Had a few of those myself. Before I met the man.”
    “You’re lucky.” Neo had laughed with a bitter undertone. “To have your man. Sad thing is, up until he walked out, I was considering dating Phil. And I don’t date.” He threw back another mojito. Bastard.
    No other man had ever walked out on Neo. Ever. Usually they came flocking back to dip in seconds.
    He’d been whammed, bammed, and thank-you sirred. Left in the fucking bed all by himself.
    He rubbed a hand across his face. He had contemplated their future after sex that steamy night. And thought he might try Phil for a while.
    Which had made the disappearance all the more galling. He, Neo von Brade, had thought about hanging on to a guy for more than three seconds, and that guy had booked it the other way.
    Wasn’t fair.
    At least Rose/Devyn knew about the event. So maybe it wouldn’t be a blind date setup. He still couldn’t believe Phil had come to work where he danced. They’d hardly spoken since Phil had taken the job. Phil had given him some sultry glances. Which Neo had promptly ignored.
    Whatever Rose’s plan, it better not include Phil. Or Neo would go diva all over her ass.
    * * * *
    Phil collected another glass from the bar for cleanup later as he stifled a yawn. It had been a long day.
    “Philip,” someone cooed behind him.
    He turned quickly to find Rose Winter, still in full drag regalia, standing at the bar. He nodded. “Hello, Rose. What can I get you?”
    “It’s been a bitch of a day. I’d love an appletini. You make the absolute best ones.” She settled on a bar stool. “Damn, these things aren’t wide enough for my ass.”
    He made the drink and set it on the bar in front of Rose. “Here you go.” He expected her to take the drink into the back.
    Instead, she picked it up and took a sip. “Like I said, best damn appletini in town. Hands down.”
    Phil nodded, looking down at the bar. This was bizarre. Rose was nice but never this complimentary, and she never sat at the bar to have a drink. Was he getting fired or something? Surely the bar’s owners would do that, though everyone said that Rose Winter ran the place. And it was true. He and Rose had never hung out together. Not like this.
    “So, Phil.”
    He looked up to meet the drag queen’s eyes. She wore huge fake purple eyelashes to go with the purple number she’d done a Prince song to. “Yes?”
    “Sunday is your day off, right?” She took another sip from her drink.
    “Only one I have.”
    Rose clicked her tongue. “You’re such a hardworking man. Too bad you’re off on Sunday, though.”
    Phil cocked his head to the side. “Why would that be?”
    “I’m doing a super male revue. A real showstopper of an act. It’s going to be huge . Only my best dancers will be