Something Like Lightning (37 page)

“Gentlemen,” Rick said, voice strained. “If I may continue?”

“By all means,” Nathaniel said.

Kelly tried to focus on the task at hand, wanting to prove how professional he could be, but his mind was racing. What was Nathaniel doing here? He had arranged the fundraiser for Marcello, but that had little in common with a photo shoot. Maybe he had come by to discuss business with his boss and had stopped to stare. Lustfully.

“There’s that smile again,” Rick said. “I don’t think I’ve seen anything naughtier in my life.”

“I have,” Marcello replied. “Shall I draw you a picture?”

Rick ignored this to give Kelly more instructions. The photo session dragged on, and soon all Kelly could think of was getting away from the lights and cooling down. By the time the lamps finally shut off, he saw ghost images that practically blinded him. When his vision cleared, only the technicians, the photographer, and his would-be employer remained. Nathaniel was gone.

“Well done,” Marcello said, approaching with a hand outstretched. He thought twice when he saw how sweaty Kelly was. Instead he fetched Kelly’s crutches and handed them to him. “We’re finished for today. No need to come to the studio tomorrow. I thought we’d entertain ourselves with some location shooting. If you’re agreeable, I’ll send a car around to pick you up. Say, seven in the morning?”

“Fine,” Kelly said. “Speaking of which, I need a ride home.”

“I’ll make arrangements immediately.” Marcello looked him over. “Perhaps you should treat yourself to a shower first.”

Kelly didn’t need to be asked twice. When he got in the shower, he made sure the water was cool, but by the time he was finished, the small room was full of steam. Once he stepped out, he discovered he wasn’t alone. Like Jack the Ripper lurking in the London fog, Margie stood there, a fresh towel held at the ready.

“Sounds like you’re riding home with me,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind sitting in the smoking section, because that’s all my car has.” Kelly snatched the towel from her, covered himself, and sighed. So much for his stretch-limo dreams.

Five in the morning. That’s how early Kelly woke up. Now he wished he hadn’t bothered. After taking a shower, he didn’t have anything to do. He only ate an apple for breakfast, worrying more would make him look bloated. The text he’d received from Marcello last night insisted he remain as natural as possible.

No hair products, and certainly no makeup!

As if Kelly used either. Once ready, he sat around the breakfast table and yawned, the last twenty minutes full of temptation, thanks to his mother’s French toast. Kelly glanced at the microwave clock, the first digit changing from a six to a seven.

Ding dong!

“I’m out of here,” Kelly said, standing up and heading for the door. Then he stopped and considered his parents. “Or is that too eager? Maybe I should have one of you answer.”

“I’m not pretending to be your servant,” his mother said.

His father was already on his feet. “I’ve always wanted to be a butler! ”

Kelly watched in amusement as his father headed for the door. He strained to listen. Would it be a limo driver? Or a taxi at least? Or maybe just Margie again. When his father returned to the kitchen, his eyes were wide. A limo! It had to be!

“I think you’re going to enjoy this,” he said. “Best of luck, son!”

“Thanks.” Kelly swung toward the front door so fast he nearly left his crutches behind. Of course this made it all the harder to stop when he saw who was waiting for him.

Nathaniel stood just outside the glass door. His back was turned, but the build was unmistakable. Kelly slowed and reached for the handle. Nathaniel turned, looked him up and down through the glass, and made no effort to open the door for him. So much for helping the crippled guy. Not that Kelly really needed it. Switching one of the crutches to his other arm, he got it open and hopped outside.

“Good morning,” Kelly said.

Nathaniel’s brow lowered. “Don’t speak. I’m serious. Just get in the car.”

“Okay,” Kelly said. “Are you hungover or something?”

Nathaniel just glared at him in return.

Not hiding his smile, Kelly headed for the driveway. No limo, but the black sedan was a step up from the hunk of junk Margie drove. Once again, Nathaniel didn’t seem concerned with opening the door for Kelly.

In fact, he was already seated behind the wheel by the time Kelly reached the car. Charming. He made sure that his crutches clattered together as he got himself settled. Once buckled up and in motion, he considered everything.

Light electronic music played just loud enough to be heard. The beat was pretty mellow, which seemed to ease Nathaniel’s sour expression somewhat. The interior fabric was dark, the windows tinted against the sun. Maybe Nathaniel was a vampire. Kelly glanced over at him, noticing the natural highlights in his light brown hair, the tan on his forehead and nose, and the scruff on his chin that was platinum blond in places. No enemy of the sun. Just not a morning person. Or maybe he was irritated that he’d been sent to fetch Kelly. Marcello seemed to save money by having his employees act as taxis.

Kelly settled back and relaxed, waiting to see where the photo shoot would be located. On the banks of the Colorado River? Or maybe a downtown street, Kelly posing in front of expensive shops while Rick shot photos. Or how about a completely average pancake house, because that’s what they parked in front of. He looked around for signs of the crew, or some cordoned-off area where they would be working.

“Come on,” Nathaniel said, already halfway out of the car.

By the time Kelly was standing in the parking lot, Nathaniel had closed the trunk, a camera bag slung over one arm. When they entered the restaurant, he expected Nathaniel to announce them to the greeter. Instead, when she asked if it was just the two of them, Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgement. Soon they were seated.

Kelly glanced around. No sign of Rick or Margie. Or Marcello, not that Kelly could imagine him visiting such a humble restaurant. Maybe they simply hadn’t arrived yet. He turned his attention back to Nathaniel, feeling a thrill at sitting across from such a handsome guy. God that was sad! Kelly blamed it on a lack of action. Not a drop since William, in fact, and even then they hadn’t slept together for that last month or so. Not after Jason had wedged his way into the picture.

Nathaniel felt his gaze, the hazel eyes swiveling to meet his. “You eaten breakfast?”

Was that even a complete sentence? “I had an apple.”

“That’s not breakfast. You don’t have body image issues, do you? If so, get out of the modeling business now.”

Kelly shrugged. “I thought a big breakfast might make me look bloated.”

Nathaniel snorted. “A hotdog eating contest will make you look bloated. An omelet will make you look like a normal human being.” Then he winced, due to the arrival of their waiter.

“Good morning! It’s going to be a lovely day! What can I get for you fellas?”

“Coffee,” Nathaniel grumbled. “And the triple slam dunk breakfast.”

The waiter scribbled on his pad before turning to Kelly. “And for you?”

“The same,” Kelly said, smiling slyly. “Especially since I no longer have to worry about my figure.”

“He’ll have the single slam dunk,” Nathaniel told the waiter. “No sense in wasting food.”

“I’ll be right back with that!” the waiter chirped cheerfully.

Nathaniel watched him go, then glowered at the other patrons. Not a morning person then. Kelly decided to let him stew, their time together spent in silence. This soon grew dull. With nothing to do, Kelly found his attention repeatedly returning to the man across from him. The impression from the first time they met remained. Nathaniel really could be some distant cousin of William’s, or perhaps some future version of him, grizzled and embittered. Or maybe he just really needed some caffeine.

“Where’s that coffee?” Nathaniel said, sounding weary.

What had it been now, fifteen minutes? Kelly could see multiple pots steaming at the nearby serving station. Pushing himself out of the booth, he grabbed one of his crutches, leaving the other behind so he’d have a hand free to carry a pot. Coffee cups were on the table already, along with cutlery, meaning they would be good to go. Kelly made it to the station and grabbed one of the pots before a waitress noticed him. She scowled, about to complain, but noticed the crutch and empty space where a leg should be. Then her face softened considerably.

“Need any help, hon?”

“Nope,” Kelly said. “I’m all right. Uh, this isn’t decaf, is it?”

“You’ve got the right one.”

“Thanks.”

He returned to the table, feeling victorious, especially when Nathaniel’s eyes lit up.

“You’re a godsend!” he said, grabbing the pot and pouring them each a cup. He held on to his for dear life as he slurped repeatedly and very slowly appeared to defrost. Or at least he ceased glaring at anyone in the near vicinity.

Kelly tried his own, overwhelmed by the bitter tang. Was it supposed to taste like aspirin? Nathaniel didn’t appear disgusted and was already halfway through his cup, so Kelly had to assume this was normal. He took another sip, hoping his repulsion wasn’t evident.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “Do that again.”

“What? Take a drink?”

Nathaniel nodded, digging around in the camera bag. Kelly took another sip, trying to make it a small one.

“Again,” Nathaniel said, the camera out and pointing at him now.

“Do I have to?”

“Drink!”

Kelly slurped at the coffee and the camera flashed.

“One more time.”

“It’s hot!” Kelly complained.

“I agree.”

Oh! That spurred Kelly on. He took not one, but three more sips, the last one ending with him declaring “Bleh!” and sticking out his tongue.

Nathaniel captured this on film and laughed, the sound deep and pleasant. “How long have you been a coffee drinker?”

“About five minutes,” Kelly said.

“That’s what I thought.” Nathaniel set aside the camera. “You know what we’re supposed to be doing today?”

Kelly shook his head.

“Your friend Jason convinced Marcello that photos need to be more spontaneous and less polished. That’s called amateur photography. If people wanted that, they wouldn’t yawn their way through tourist photos. Anyway, we’re supposed to purposefully put you in a number of natural situations. You see the inherent flaw in that idea?”

“You can’t be spontaneous on purpose,” Kelly said.

“Correct. But maybe we can get close. Take a look.”

Nathaniel pushed a few buttons on the camera and turned it so Kelly could see the display. It wasn’t the most recent photo, thank goodness, but one of Kelly squishing up his face behind a cup of joe. And it looked good. Odd as it sounded, there was a certain appeal to it.

“Gorgeous but relatable,” Nathaniel said. “Who would have thought?”

Kelly felt his cheeks flush. “So it’s really just you and me today? No fussy technicians or little old ladies oiling me up?”

“Just us,” Nathaniel said. “Doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”

It certainly didn’t, but before Kelly could respond, their waiter had finally returned. Empty handed.

“Can I get you anything else?” he asked. “If not, you can pay up front when you’re ready.”

“We’re still waiting on our food,” Nathaniel said.

“Oh!” The waiter took out his pad of paper, like they hadn’t already ordered. “What can I get you?”

“A new waiter,” Kelly snapped. “Preferably one who knows how to do his job!”

And there it was. Kelly sighed inwardly. Just as well that Nathaniel reminded him a little of William, because this was the exact situation they had found themselves in so often. Something dumb would happen and Kelly would react with anger. No doubt Nathaniel, much like William, would keep his cool and—

“Excellent idea,” Nathaniel said. “While you’re at it, send your boss over here. Better yet, have
him
bring us our food, because if he can’t bother hiring competent staff, then he needs to get off his lazy ass and do the work himself.”

Music should have swelled. In a puff of heart-shaped glitter, the waiter should have turned into Cupid and fluttered away. Then Nathaniel would clear the table with a swipe of his arm and take Kelly right then and there. Instead the waiter made a strangling noise before marching off. Shortly afterwards, the waitress Kelly had spoken to before came and apologized, taking their order once more and promising to rush some emergency carbs out to them.

“I’m still talking to the manager,” Nathaniel said when she had gone. “I’ll tell him to fire the other loser, and give that woman a raise.”

Kelly rested his chin on splayed hands. “Can I watch?”

“Of course. Feel free to join in.”

Before Kelly could propose, two stacks of pancakes landed on their table. Their real meals didn’t take much longer, leaving them with more food than they could eat. Or so he thought. Nathaniel very steadily devoured any food Kelly left untouched. Afterwards, he leaned back and finally seemed at ease.

“That was a close call,” Nathaniel said. “You almost saw me in a bad mood.”

“Almost?”

Nathaniel grinned. “I can’t stand mornings. Or morning people. Nothing personal.”

Kelly shrugged. “Why would that offend me?”

“You’re the one who insisted on an early start. Normally I don’t get out of bed until ten.”

Kelly blinked. “Marcello told me when I needed to be ready. It wasn’t my decision.”

Nathaniel exhaled and shook his head. “That motherfucker.” Then he chuckled. “I am so going to make him pay! I hope today’s assignment isn’t also a joke.”

“So do I,” Kelly said, feeling vulnerable.

“It’s not,” Nathaniel assured him. “And even if it was, we’re going to bring back photos so amazing that the poor bastard breaks down in tears. Hey, speaking of which, let’s go find that manager.”

“After you,” Kelly said. When he was certain Nathaniel wasn’t looking, he allowed himself the dreamiest sigh ever.

As fun as fawning over Nathaniel during breakfast had been, the time had come to start working. Kelly was curious as to how they would proceed. They returned to the car and stood outside it rather than getting in, Nathaniel glancing around the parking lot.