by Tara Lain
JJ tipped the bottle from the counter and splashed a couple of inches of bubbly into a flute. Better stay sharp. Tonight was for special patrons and VIPs, so it promised bigger potential sales than most of the Winter Fantasy. He rejoined the others. “Hi, Mrs. Esterhays. How’s it hangin’?”
Carlotta Esterhays, the most dignified lady on earth, laughed. She loved it when JJ teased her. “Sadly, my dear, it’s hanging much too far down.”
“Not that I can see.” He winked at her. Her trim jeans and floral jacket complemented her ladylike style.
“You charmer.”
David sipped. “How are the boys?”
JJ grinned. “Evil as ever.”
Mrs. Esterhays smiled. “They’re adorable. I even bought one of their paintings, didn’t I, David?” He nodded, and she looked up at JJ. “So, JJ, will you come over to my house soon and make some decorating suggestions?”
“Umph.” He spit champagne and had to juggle to keep it from spilling on his jacket. “Seriously?”
She laughed and nodded at David. “Will you tell your employee to not sell himself short and learn to accept new commissions with aplomb?”
David shrugged toward JJ. “What she said.”
JJ stood up tall. “You know I haven’t graduated yet.”
She smiled. “My dear, you had more style and taste even before you went to design school than most of the students will have when they finish. And I love being a pioneer.”
JJ swept a grand bow. “Mrs. Esterhays, I’d be delighted to view your residence and make suggestions commensurate with your exceptional taste.” His heart beat so fast he could hear it hammering in his ears.
“Much better. Can you come this week? Will you let him off, David?”
“Off? Carlotta, I fully expect him to recommend many outrageously expensive objets d’art available only from the Underwood Gallery. He’ll be working hard, my dear.”
“Yes, gang up on me. I love it.”
JJ sipped the champagne. His first real commission. Of course, Mrs. Esterhays was a doll baby who just wanted to be kind, but still. She had a great house, and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on it.
She nodded toward the beautiful painting on the back wall of the booth. “What do you think, JJ? If I hang one more painting of a delicious nude man in my house, will my family have me locked up for perversion?”
JJ frowned elaborately. “As your decorator, I can assure you one can never have too many nude men, and—oh my God!” JJ felt his mouth drop open. Carlotta, David, and Rodney all turned their heads to follow JJ’s line of sight. JJ flapped his free hand. “No, no. Don’t look. Don’t look.”
They all turned back like they were watching Wimbledon. Carlotta put a hand on his arm. “What aren’t we supposed to look at, darling?”
Rodney cocked a hand on his narrow hip. “We’re not supposed to look at the hunky policeman who is walking directly toward this booth pretending like he’s not sure where he’s going.”
David turned his head. “Ooh, ohh, I want to see the hunky policeman, please.” He glanced over his shoulder. “My, my. We are going for the lean and hungry ones, aren’t we?”
JJ wanted to die. Ryan Star ambled down the path toward their booth but, just as Rodney said, he was looking idly at jewelry, inspecting tree ornaments, and exchanging an occasional word with the artists manning the booths. His outfit defined casual. Slim jeans hugged that pair of nicely muscled thighs and defined a package that more than filled out the denim. Yum-my. His blue sweater would bring out the summer sky in his eyes, and it sure showed off his beautiful pecs and narrow waist.
Rodney whispered, “Looks to me like somebody made an effort to look real good.”
JJ fluttered and then grabbed one hand with another. “Sweet god of Calvin Klein, he’s wearing a scarf.” The deep paisley was idly looped around his neck twice. A definite fashion statement.
Rodney leaned in. “In case you were wondering if Mr. Put-Your-Hands-on-the-Wall-While-I-Frisk-You is gay.” He laughed.
Carlotta joined in the sotto voce conversation. “You mean to tell me that dark and dangerous-looking creature is gay? Oh my, I think he’s yours, JJ.”
JJ hissed, “Come on, you guys.” Just how brave was he?
Ryan stopped at the display across from theirs. JJ walked over to the edge of their booth, breathing deeply all the way. Deep-voice time. “Hello, Detective. Did you decide to take in the Winter Fantasy in a less-official capacity?”
Star looked up like he hadn’t known JJ was there. Maybe the others were wrong and he just happened by. Star smiled. “My best witness. How’s it going?”
“Oh, the Winter Fantasy has barely started, really. This is just a preview night, but it usually attracts a big audience.” Shoot. Star was making small talk, not asking about JJ’s sales record. “Uh, I mean, great. How about you?”
Star sauntered over to JJ. “I’m good. I’ve never been to this winter thing before, so I thought I’d check it out. They were nice enough to invite the police.”
“Well, sure. You guys keep us safe.” Jesus, he was such a dork.
Star grinned. “What’s good to see? What shouldn’t I miss?”
“Oh well, I’ve barely been out of our booth so far, but be sure and see the demonstrations of glassblowing and decoration making. They’re always fun.” Shoot. Why would Star care? The guy oozed macho. “And there are some great handmade wine racks and beer containers with team logos.”
“No shit? Where?”
JJ felt a hand on his arm. David stepped up beside him. “Hello, I’m David Underwood.”
Star took David’s offered hand. “You own the gallery.”
“Yes. And thank you for all you’re doing to bring the thieves to justice. If someone gets away with robbing one exhibitor, we’re all vulnerable.”
“It’s my job.”
David flashed the breathtaking smile that had wooed a thousand customers. “Yes, and you do it well. I couldn’t help overhearing you asking for suggestions on things to see, and I thought I should spare JJ for a little while to show you around. After all, first visits are special.”
JJ swallowed hard. Obvious much?
Star looked up at JJ. “That would be great. Thanks. I’d appreciate a tour.”
David clapped his hands. “Oh, good. Go, go.” He made a shooing motion.
Sinking into the ground and dying would be good, but JJ really did want to walk around with Ryan Star, so he nodded. “Okay, thanks, David.”
JJ wanted to take Star’s arm, but maybe that wasn’t something an alpha male would do. He kind of wagged a hand. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
JJ guided Ryan a few booths down, where the walls were hung with paintings of female figures on rough wooden surfaces. “These are two of the best artists in the Winter Fantasy. One of the artists paints the figures, and the other does the scenes. Isn’t it cool how they put them together?” JJ forced himself to hold his hands still, but he loved these artists so much.
Star cocked his head and stared at a large painting with two abstract female figures against a line of trees. “It’s interesting, but I kind of liked that painting in your booth better.”
“Oh, that’s Rodney Mansfield. He’s called Roman. Yeah, he’s one of the best in California. We’re the only gallery in Laguna that carries Roman.”
“Does he always paint nude guys?”
“Pretty much. That’s what he’s known for.”
Star just nodded. “I don’t know much about art. My place looks like it was abandoned by its previous owner and never reoccupied.” He barked a laugh.
JJ thought that was sad, but he didn’t say so. “So let me show you some of the non-art stuff.”
They walked up and down the nonlinear aisles until JJ finally found the booth that had a whole back wall of paintings, T-shirts, and other memorabilia featuring sports team logos.
Star walked right into the booth. “Hey, this is great. Do you like the Chargers?” He pulled
down a cap sporting a blue-and-yellow logo with something that looked like a lightning bolt.
JJ nodded automatically. “Oh sure.”
Ryan walked to the person manning the booth and pulled money from his pocket. So Star must really like the Chargers. JJ looked around frantically. A blanket folded on the back counter said San Diego Chargers. Oh good. At least he now knew they were a San Diego team. Football? Sounded kind of footbally. Baseball teams had less active names like Dodgers or Yankees. He’d heard of those. Of course, it could be basketball, but JJ knew the local team was the Lakers.
Star walked out of the booth while ripping the tag off the cap. He stopped beside JJ and looked up. “Here.” He reached up and put the cap on JJ’s head, then grinned. “You looked so good in that USC cap. Thought this blue would be even better.”
Oh my heart. “Thank you.”
Ryan started walking down the aisle again, and JJ, complete with cap on his brown hair, fell in beside him.
Ryan glanced at JJ, then away real fast. He had a funny expression on his face. Scared? Apprehensive? “Uh, maybe you’d like to go to a Chargers game some weekend?”
“With you?” It came out like a squeak. Cool, JJ, you idiot.
“If you’d rather not go someplace with a cop, I understand.”
“Oh no, nothing like that. Uh, I’d love to go… sometime.” Holy shitcakes, was this happening?
Star smiled. “That’s great. How about Sunday?”
JJ felt half disappointed and half relieved. “Oh damn. I have to work here on the weekends.”
Star shrugged. “Sure, I understand. No biggie. I just happened to have tickets.”
Oh my God, Ryan Star actually looked a little disappointed. JJ wanted to clutch his heart but resisted. “I’ll see if I can get the day off. Okay? I mean, it’s not every day I get to go see the, uh, Chargers, uh, team. I’ll talk to David.”
A dimple flashed in Ryan’s right cheek. “Great. Just let me know.”
“How?”
“How what?”
“How shall I let you know?”
“We could walk back to your booth and ask, I guess.”
Oh no. David would bust a gut at the idea of JJ going to a sports game with Ryan Star. “Uh, no. I’d better ask him privately. I don’t want to put him on the spot.”
“Good idea. Umm, do you think he’ll let you?”
“Oh sure. He’ll see what a great opportunity it is.”
Ryan gave that bark of a laugh. “You kidding? I’ll bet that guy never went to a sports event in his life.”
JJ raised an eyebrow. “Actually, his partners are pro volleyball players, and he met them at a tournament.” JJ didn’t mention David had never been to a volleyball game before that.
“Partners?”
“Yes, he’s gay.”
Star frowned. “I knew that. But you said ‘them’ as in more than one.”
“Yes, he lives in a poly relationship with two great guys from Australia.”
“No shit? That’s pretty amazing.”
“David is pretty amazing.” JJ looked at his watch. “Which reminds me, I better get back to the booth before he fires my ass.” Not that David ever would, but Star could think so.
“Let me see your phone.”
JJ pulled out his smartphone in the lime-green case. Uh-oh. Not exactly a Stallone-ish choice. Star glanced at JJ, then took the phone and keyed in a number. He added the name Star. “Call me when you know about Sunday. I could pick you up, or we could meet somewhere.”
“Great. Sure.” JJ stuck out his fist. Ryan looked a little startled, then bumped it. “So maybe I’ll see you Sunday.”
Ryan nodded. “Yeah. Yeah.”
Star turned and walked a couple of steps. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Hope so.” And he walked away toward the entrance to the grounds.
O. M. G. JJ wanted to sit down in the middle of the sawdust. Did he really see that look in Ryan Star’s eyes when the guy said those two words “Hope so”? Something that looked like he cared if he saw JJ again?
JJ certainly cared if he saw Ryan again. But what the hell? A Chargers game? How could he ever fake his way through that?
He took off at a run and made it to the booth in seconds. Rodney was talking to a few customers and David was on his cell, fingering the twinkle lights in JJ’s display. JJ took a deep breath. Finally, David hung up and JJ pounced. “Oh my god of the last kid chosen for kickball, Ryan Star asked me out.”
David grinned. “Of course, I’m a champion matchmaker.”
But what if…. “Actually, I’m not sure it’s a date. I mean, he asked me to go with him, but it could be just a guy thing, you know?”
“Tell me what he said.”
“He said he could pick me up, or we could meet somewhere.”
David screwed up his smooth forehead. “Hmm. That’s too neutral to tell. What else? Where’s he taking you?”
JJ’s grin defined sheepish. “A Chargers game.” JJ grinned anxiously. “That’s football, right?”
“You’re joking, darling?”
“It’s not football?”
“Yes, it’s football, but you’re seriously considering going to a football game?”
“Yes.” JJ’s hands started to flutter. “Oh God, David, what am I going to do? I don’t know anything about it at all.”
“About what?” Rodney stepped up next to David.
David glanced at his miniature friend. “Football. Somehow JJ has managed to get himself invited to a football game.”
JJ wailed. “And I don’t know the first thing!”
Rodney shrugged. “Simple.”
JJ frowned. “What’s simple?”
“Just ask Jerry. He’s the magical knower of all things boringly athletic. He will be your guru of football. Mick might help too.”
Of course, their good friends Jerry and Mick could cram some facts into JJ’s head.
David threw an arm around Rodney’s shoulder. “Brilliant. You’re brilliant, my dear.”
Rod smiled, then looked up at JJ’s head. “And speaking of football, where on earth did you get that ridiculous cap?”
JJ shrugged. “Ryan Star bought it for me.”
David whooped. “That’s it. In answer to your question, Detective Star is taking you on a date.”
RYAN TOOK a sip of his beer and stared at the TV over the top of his propped-up feet. The game was boring. But maybe it would be less boring if he stopped glancing at his phone and concentrated on the plays. The guy would either call or he wouldn’t. No biggie.
Hell, who was he trying to kid? Ryan stood up and paced the few feet into the kitchen, threw away the empty, and grabbed another beer from the fridge. He stared at the bottle and rested the side of it against his cheek. The cold felt good, because just thinking about JJ in his tight jeans and yellow jacket heated up Ryan’s blood.
He’d already broken a shitload of personal rules just by asking out Mr. JJ LaRousse. The guy was obviously deeply involved in all things Laguna. Hell, that gorgeous flaming queen who owned the gallery was already trying to fix them up. There were bound to be a lot more people sticking their noses in. Ryan hated that. Nobody needed to know his business. But instead of getting a perfectly good blowjob from a perfectly good biker, he’d flown out of that Santa Ana bar and headed straight for Winter Fantasy like it was the only address in his GPS. He was cracked.
The harsh bell on the phone sounded, and Ryan had to catch the bottle before it hit the floor. He cleared the space between the kitchen and his board-on-two-bricks coffee table and grabbed the phone. “Hello.”
“Ryan?”
He could feel his shoulders tensing. “Yeah. This JJ?”
“Yes. I checked with David, and I can go to the game on Sunday.”
Weirdly, Ryan felt like laughing. “Uh, good. That’s good. Shall I pick you up?”
“Why don’t you come get me at the Winter Fantasy? That way I can help David in the morning before we go.”
“Sounds wonderful, uh, great. I’ll have to be back in time to close up. Is that possible?”
“No problem. Good. See you then.”
“See you.”
Ryan waited to see if JJ would say anything else. For a second they breathed at each other. “Okay, bye.” He hung up and took a swig of his beer. He’d never been this happy at breaking his own rules. But then, he still wasn’t positive the guy was gay.
“OH GOD, I just learned about the one-point kick and now you’re telling me about a two-point conversion? I’ll never get this straight.” JJ leaned forward on Jerry’s coffee table—the one JJ had picked out—and buried his face in his hands. Maybe he shouldn’t have canceled his date with the McMillan twins. A good orgasm would have relaxed him.
Jerry’s strong arm came across JJ’s shoulders. “Hey, man, no problem. You’re getting it just fine. Besides, the guy isn’t gonna care. I’ll bet he’s interested in you, not your football credentials.”
Mick, Jerry’s partner, looked up from the armchair where he’d been doing math problems that he said relaxed him. Mick was huge, even bigger than JJ, platinum blond, awkward, and sweet. Nobody ever could have socialized him except Jerry, the kindest, coolest, and most gorgeous firefighter alive. Mick nodded. “I agree. He just wants to be with you.”
JJ shook his head. “No, not true. I’m not even positive he’s asking me on a date. He may just want a football companion, and, oh God, I don’t know a two-point conversion from two yards of chiffon!”
Jerry put down the pencil he was using to draw a football diagram and stood up. “You want some iced tea?”
“Yes, please.”
Jerry walked across the littered apartment to the kitchenette and pulled out a pitcher from the small refrigerator. God, what a handsome guy. Blond, athletic, and laid-back. Jerry was the epitome of the classic California surfer. Between him and Mick, how much more alpha could two guys get? But Jerry and Mick were gay, and hardly anybody thought anything about it.
Jerry poured three glasses of tea, put the pitcher away, and walked back to hand glasses to JJ and Mick. JJ sipped. “Thanks. Maybe I can do another round of decorating to help make the apartment fit the two of you better.” JJ had already brought Jerry’s place out of the locker room and man cave stages.
