The Right Words (17 page)

I guessed that was the best he could do for an opening line. I rolled my eyes at him and took another sip before trying one of my own.

“Are you going to explain anything to me? I don’t get any of this. Lying about the photos before they’re even revealed seems far-fetched and paranoid. Did you know he wanted to do that? Substitute a woman for me? Or Jovan? Why didn’t you bring him into this, by the way? You’ve known him longer. Hell, I heard you—” I threw my hand over my mouth. I didn’t want him to know I’d heard them that night. It was creepy. Suddenly the well-lit bar interior didn’t seem so great. I could have used a little darkness to cover my furious blush.

Michael’s brow furrowed. He tilted his head thoughtfully and gave me a funny, lopsided grin.

“That
was
you, wasn’t it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you goi—”

“Yeah, I’ll answer your questions, but answer mine first. Were you standing outside the window that night? Did you hear Jovan and me?”

I held his gaze before deciding honesty was the best policy, especially since I’d just made a point about how stupid it was to lie about the photos. Fuck, this was going to be embarrassing.

“Yes. But it wasn’t what you’re thinking.”

“What am I thinking?”

“That I’m a creepy voyeur? I didn’t mean to listen. I didn’t know. I swear. I couldn’t sleep, and I thought some fresh air would be nice, so I was making my way along the side of the house to the terrace. I stopped when I heard noises. You’d just gotten that letter asking for money, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, what if Jamie is crazier than we thought? What if he came back to finish Michael off?’”

“‘Finish me off’? You are very dramatic, Lukey. Were you going to rush to my defense?” His eyes twinkled with humor as though the very thought of me as his rescuer was hysterical.

It kinda was, so I smiled wanly. “Well of course, but after I heard the ‘fuck me, fuck me harder’ chorus from the porno I figured you didn’t need my help.”

I started to chuckle but stopped when I saw the fierce desire in Michael’s expression. I knew he wasn’t thinking of a memory of Jovan, either. I swallowed hard and shifted slightly to adjust my suddenly interested cock. He picked up the lime from his glass and made a production of squeezing the juice into the water. I wished he’d say something. The sexual tension was insanely distracting.

“Maybe not. But then again, I wouldn’t have said no.” His grin was lecherous. I gulped and offered a weak smile.

“Yeah well—”

“I thought it was you, which made me think for a second you and Jamie had something going on.”

“How? Why would you think that?”

“Like you said, I just got the letter demanding money. I heard a weird noise outside my window just as I was about to fu—well, what was I supposed to think?” He sighed deeply and took a sip of his water. “And then the photos a week later. Jovan had gone back to Sweden by then. Put yourself in my place. It’s suspicious. It may be circumstantial, but….” He shrugged as if to say, “Do the math.”

“It sounds bad when you put it like that, but I swear I—”

“I had to tell Tonio. It would be irresponsible not to. He’s my manager. I didn’t go into specifics, but he guessed. He knows about Jovan and that we—”

“He knows you had sex with Jovan? You share that kind of information? If that’s the case, why was he looking at me like I was a piece of shit you accidentally stepped in on the way in? God, I can’t imagine what he’d do if
we
ever—”

“Keep your voice down!”

I looked around the bar area to find we were one of maybe six people in the whole place.

“Dude, you’re in a gay bar at four p.m. on a Tuesday. There are less than ten people here total, and I’d bet none of them would be shocked in the slightest to hear about sex between two men. If anything, I think they’d like us to turn up the volume.”

“I don’t go to gay bars, Luke. At all. And I’ve been very clear about the reason. So now that I’m in one, could you please cooperate and keep it down?”

I gave him my best dirty look before continuing with an exaggerated whisper. “Fine, but what is the deal with you and Tonio and Jovan and Jamie?”

“Fuck. You’re exhausting. Look….” He paused to take a long sip. “If Tonio was looking at you funny, it has more to do with him being suspicious than homophobic. I’m not denying he’s uncomfortable talking about two men together but he doesn’t hate you. He’s worried. That’s all.”

“I’m inno—”

“I know.”

“Then why did you bring me to meet him at all? Why not just say, ‘He’s just a designer, not an accomplice to fraud and extortion’?”

“I told you why. I wanted him to see that I trust you.”

“Thank you. Why
do
you trust me? I’m curious.”

He shrugged and leaned forward on one elbow. “I’ve told you this a dozen times already. You’re a horrible actor. If you’d been lying, I certainly would have figured it out by now. And I know Jamie well enough to know he wouldn’t have partnered up with anyone quite so transparent.” He winked, and my heart did a funny flip in my chest. “I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“Why did you put on that act back at the office? We haven’t known each other for long, but I’ve never seen you quite so….”

“What? Fabulous?”

“I guess that’s one way to put it.”

“Did it bother you?”

“No, but it confused me. Something happened to set you off. What was
it?”

It sounded silly to say it aloud now that we were removed from the situation. I stirred my cocktail lazily and looked over at a boisterous couple sitting at the bar before giving my attention back to the intense man across from me waiting expectantly.

“He called me a name.”

“What did he call you?” The utter confusion on his face was real. Hadn’t he heard Tonio?

“Maricón,” I said in a low voice.

Michael didn’t say a word. He sat still and tall, not moving an inch. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded gravelly and sincere.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are
you
sorry?”

“I didn’t know you understood so much Spanish. I didn’t think you… whatever. I’m sorry. I wish you’d understood my response too.”

“What did you say to him?”

“I told him to lay off. I would have said ‘fuck off,’ but I held back out of respect. Maybe I shouldn’t have bothered.”

“Did I embarrass you? I didn’t mean to, I—”

“Nice try. You’re a terrible liar, Luke. You wanted to make me very uncomfortable and hopefully piss Tonio off with your rainbow-sparkle-fairy-queen act.”

“Did it work?”

“Not for me. Tonio is always going to be a little uncomfortable. It’s his generation. But I wish you could see he’s better than most.”

“By whose definition? He was horrible!”

“He wasn’t his best, I admit. But he’s always accepted me.”

“I hate to ask this, but does he accept you for
you
or your ability to kick a stupid ball?”

When he went quiet, I thought I might have overstepped a boundary. It was probably uncool to suggest someone may hold you in esteem because you represent a paycheck. I was about to apologize when he stopped me.

“I honestly think he accepts me, but maybe I’m kidding myself. Maybe it is all about the money. I don’t really know.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Whatever. Back to your fairy act.” He reached across the table and held my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You may be a terrible actor, but you’re really fucking cute. I kinda liked the way you hung on my arm and fluttered your eyelashes. It was adorable.”

“Adorable.” I felt my smile morph and take on a life of its own, spreading across my face and into my eyes. Funny how a single word can make you feel lightheaded and dizzy. I’d probably be a puddle under the table if he’d said “beautiful.” But I liked “adorable” and I loved the way he was looking at me with hungry desire. He wanted me and I fucking loved knowing it.

“Can we get out of here?” His tone was raspy, but he kept his shrewd, piercing eyes locked on mine.

“I have one more question.”

He rolled his eyes but gamely sat back against the booth.

“Go ahead.”

“What happens now? I’m not staging a photo or—”

“That was a stupid idea. You’re right. It smacks of desperation and….”

“Dishonesty?”

“Yeah. I’d rather concentrate on getting better, ignoring Jamie, and trying to keep a positive attitude. Worrying about what may or may not happen is too damn taxing.”

“I’m not one to give out advice usually, but it seems like honesty is always the better choice.”

“Says the man standing on the other side of the closet door?” he asked with a wry grin.

“Something like that.”

“C’mon, kid. I’ve got someplace else I want to take you. You game?”

“Where?”

“Just say ‘Yes, Michael.’”

“No, Michael,” I mocked with a shake of my head. “Tell me where.”

Michael fished his cane out from under the table and stood, waiting for me to do the same. I looked up at him and impetuously reached up to trace his strong jaw, loving the feel of his afternoon stubble against the back of my hand. He snatched my fingers and kissed them one by one in a suave move that made my heart jump to my throat. I stared longingly into his eyes, thinking I’d go anywhere he wanted. His devilish grin told me he knew. He leaned in and licked the corner of my mouth before whispering in my ear.

“Let’s go.”

W
E
MADE
idle conversation about the high-end shopping in Beverly Hills as we passed designer stores and boutiques on the drive back up Santa Monica Boulevard. Jay-Z had been replaced by Eminem, and I smiled to myself as Michael tapped along to the beat on his steering wheel. He caught my grin and shrugged nonchalantly. I looked out the window, hoping to hide the fact that I found him undeniably attractive and extraordinarily sexy. He was so multifaceted and different from most men I knew or had an opportunity to know. He struck me as being rather serious one moment, but then his dark eyes would twinkle as he talked about the merits of sound systems for optimal audio performance in the car. Then he’d sing along off-key purposefully to make me laugh. He charmed me.

When he drove by the freeway, I turned to ask again where we were heading.

“We’ll be there soon. Patience, honey.”

“I’m not good at being patient.”

“I noticed,” he said with his sweet, lopsided grin.

Michael turned into an underground parking structure one block before the Pacific Ocean came into view. The sunset was glorious, and it was especially stunning near the water in brilliant shades of orange, pink, and purple. I wondered if Michael would be game to cross the boardwalk and check out the scenery at the Santa Monica Pier. I unfastened my seat belt and turned to find him closer than I expected.

“Ready?” His voice seemed to offer a challenge somehow. I wanted to say no, but the truth was yes. I was ready for whatever he wanted to show me as long as it meant I could be near him without fussing over a remodel or a menacing ex. I nodded and opened the car door.

Michael led the way to a bank of elevators and slid a card key in before pressing the button to the tenth floor.

“Is this an office building? It doesn’t really look like one and—”

“Shh. Just follow me.” He set a finger on my mouth and kissed me gently. My response was automatic. I wrapped my arms around his waist as I probed his lips with my tongue to deepen the connection. Michael took over, licking and tasting me hungrily until a beeping noise alerted us we’d arrived at our destination.

He held the elevator door for me and guided me down a well-lit corridor to number 1022. He inserted the same card key and opened the door again, waiting for me to enter first. The blinds were drawn across a bank of windows spanning the entire back wall, but there was enough natural light to let me know I was in a private residence. A condo.

“Is
this
your LA condo?” I asked as we passed through a short hallway leading to the generous living area.

There was a small kitchen on the left with top-of-the-line stainless-steel appliances. A low counter on the opposite side had modern-looking stools pulled underneath and pendant lighting above. A small round glass dining table sat adjacent to the kitchen. Lucite chairs anchored the table, creating a beautiful, light, contemporary space. Michael’s cane made an uneven scraping noise on the light-colored hardwood flooring as he made his way past me to open the blinds by remote control.

“Very sleek.” I smiled widely. I was positively delighted with this unexpected gem.

“Check out the view from the patio.” He gestured me outside to a corner balcony constructed of glass and steel. There were four metal chairs with light blue cushions arranged in twos with side tables tucked in between. Succulent plants dotted the patio tastefully. The overall feeling was one of peace and tranquility. The outrageous view from the tenth story certainly helped.

“This is… breathtaking! I can see the pier and the boardwalk and—why would you ever want to be anywhere else?”