by Devon Rhodes
Kim turned back to the mirror with a giggle. “Nope. He hasn’t seen anyone since the divorce that I’ve known of. And I would know,” she added confidently. “No, apparently Jesse is his first love… his first guy.” She waggled her eyebrows meaningfully.
“He told you this? Boy, when he comes out, he shares all the way.” Abe finished wrapping her head and covered it with a towel before spinning the chair next to Kim around and perching on it. He really needed to get back to the office while her color set, but this was way too juicy a conversation to walk away from.
“He didn’t have to tell me. Just last week, Friday, he got an e-mail message from the guy. Jesse Sullivan. Let’s see.” She mentally searched the dead-on memory for detail that made her an excellent assistant. “He couldn’t believe it had been over twenty years since they ‘went their separate ways’.” She used her index fingers for quotes. “He just went through a divorce. He said that he was going to be home for the holidays and really wanted to see Geoff. Oh, and he mentioned that he’d be staying in a hotel. It’s gotta be him. I’ve been doing Geoff’s Christmas shopping and cards for him for over ten years. There is no other Jesse in his life.”
“Huh, over twenty years ago, so high school or college age? And you’ve been with him for over ten and have never seen him with anyone but his ex-wife, right? Guess the twink had a point.” Abe sat back in the chair and swiveled from side to side. “Heard from his old flame and had to go out and get some dick after all these years. Just wasn’t together enough to shout out the right name.” He tsked and shook his head. “Shame for a fine piece of man like that to be buried in the closet.” Abe sighed regretfully. Geoff Radcliffe was a seriously drool-worthy stud, but obviously conflicted. And hung up on his long-lost lover to boot.
“I agree,” Kim agreed demurely, and something about her tone had Abe looking at her sharply.
“Uh oh. Why do I feel like I should duck and cover?”
Kim shrugged as she studied her perfect nails. “I have no idea. I was just going to suggest—”
Abe had to nip this in the bud. He interrupted, “Time to rinse.”
“No, it’s not.” Kim slanted him a knowing look. “So what’s happening in your love life right now?”
“Sweetie, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Suffice it to say, I have more than my hands full.”
“Liar. I heard that Tyler moved to California last week.”
Abe felt a little foreign embarrassment shoot through him. “How did you hear about that?”
“Lula,” Kim replied smugly, naming Abe’s assistant manager.
Abe immediately sought out the tattletale with his gaze, spotting her at the till. She waggled her fingers across the room at him, and he gritted his teeth, returning his attention to Kim.
“Okay, I can see where you want to go with this, babe, but seriously, I don’t need those kind of complications in my life. I like my men gay, out, and proud to flaunt it.”
Kim shrugged, going back to examining her nails. “Well, it was worth a shot. Mmm, you should’ve seen him without his shirt on. All those lunch workouts at the gym sure have paid off.” She peeked up at Abe as he tried to tamp down the little shot of heat that zinged straight to his cock at the thought of Geoff Radcliffe shirtless and shoeless. He had only ever seen the older man coming and going in the building lobby, always immaculately turned out in a suit and tie, which was usually not Abe’s preferred style on his men, but was frankly sexy as hell on the guy. He wore a suit well. Very well. And Abe knew a lickable, ripped body when he saw one, covered up or not.
Abe closed his eyes and muffled a groan as a visual of that fine, slacks-covered ass popped into his head, then proceeded to morph into a delectable view of what Abe imagined Geoff’s naked backside would look like. He bit his lip and opened his eyes, meeting Kim’s knowing gaze.
“I’ve made his travel plans for the holidays, and he’s leaving in less than a week. Which doesn’t give us much time.”
Abe dreaded the answer, but felt compelled to ask anyway. “Time for what?”
Kim just smiled a little Mona Lisa smile. “Time for you to snag him before that divorced, rebounding man-whore on the prowl gets his claws back into him.” She leaned forward. “I have a plan.”
* * *
Geoff walked warily into the outer office, remembering with relief that Kim was going to be in late. Thank God. After the debacle this weekend, he wasn’t sure he would ever be able look her in the eye again.
Exhausted from lack of sleep, he suddenly wished that he had stopped for a coffee. Maybe he’d order in. He sighed. No, he’d run down to the coffee place on the shopping level. Usually Kim picked up his coffee fix for him, which he subsidized by paying for hers too. He hung up his suit coat and set his case on the desk, before patting his back pocket in what had become a very familiar habit over the past day, verifying that his wallet was there.
Geoff walked back toward the elevator as his mind inevitably went back to Saturday night’s nightmare. He had gone home as usual on Friday, planning to go out somewhere, but when he went through his closet, he was dismayed to realize he had suits at one end of the spectrum and faded jeans and athletic wear at the other end, but nothing in between. He hadn’t gone out to a bar or club, other than work events, since college.
So Saturday had been spent shopping. He had finally found a hip, expensive place with a sympathetic employee who made it her project to dress him out. Geoff had to admit that the form-fitting slacks and silk tops, the stylish jeans and tight T-shirts all fit him well and made him feel more confident. Geoff was almost ready to go Saturday night when he discovered a problem. The pants he chose were so tight that the bulges of his wallet and keys and phone were really noticeable. Then he spied a leather vest in the pile and slipped it on over his tight black T-shirt. Perfect. The inner pockets were just the right size to hold everything without being visible.
By the time Geoff had finished his first beer, he had two more beers and a shot lined up, and had stammered his way through rejecting several invitations to dance, or more, from both men and women. Flattered, but feeling wholly out of his element, he once again resolved to work on what he came here for, a little practice in the sexy, flirty chatting he’d been on the receiving end of all night. When Troy had approached him and made it very clear very quickly that he was interested, available, and willing, Geoff couldn’t help but respond to his blatant invitation. It had been nearly a year since anyone had touched him besides himself, and Troy had been squeezing and stroking him all throughout their conversation.
The elevator door closed Geoff in its comforting privacy, and he hung his head as he tried to block out the rest of the evening. When Troy had gone ballistic, Geoff knew that it was time to go. He had managed to pull on his tight, new slacks and had retrieved his phone from his vest to call a cab, when he was taken by surprise at the strength and intent of the smaller man as he manhandled him toward the front door, shoving him out and locking the door behind him. He had tried to get Troy to open the door for nearly twenty minutes, freezing his ass off, barefoot and half-dressed in the glow of the Christmas decorations, before he finally gave up and dialed Kim.
He walked off the elevator and crossed the festively decorated atrium area toward the coffee shop. “I definitely need to give Kim a raise,” he muttered to himself as he joined the line waiting to place their orders. Geoff shuffled forward automatically as the seemingly endless line moved in front of him. Lost in thought, his gaze drifted around the retail area, and he noticed an upscale hair salon in the far corner. One of Troy’s jibes from Saturday night suddenly rang in his ears, drowning out the cheerful Christmas Musak. Old man. Can’t even remember who you’re fucking.
Coffee in hand, he walked over to take a closer look. Golden Shears. Even if he didn’t get something done to his grey, it would a lot handier to get trims here in the building. He stopped in shock a few yards from the door. “Oh God,” he groaned aloud as none other than Kim exited t
he salon and began walking toward him, her eyes showing surprise as she registered his approach. As she reached him, she hooked her hand through his elbow and turned without a word, escorting him toward the salon.
“Kim, where are we going?”
“Where you were going in the first place,” she retorted as she became the second person that week to manhandle him past a door he didn’t want to go through.
Once inside, he opened his mouth to protest, and snapped it closed again as he beheld the sexiest man he had ever seen in his life. Standing well under six feet, he nevertheless carried himself in a confident manner that made him appear much larger in stature. He was lean and tightly muscled, as evidenced by his clingy, collared sleeveless shirt and tight jeans.
Oh my God, what’s happening to me? His cock stirred, and he tried to think of something deflating. Ah yes, Saturday night’s fun ending.
Back under control, he was baffled by his response. Just looking at this guy made him hard, whereas it had taken Troy considerable groping and whispered lewd comments. First Jesse, then Troy, now this guy. What, am I going through a mid-life crisis? Focus, Geoff, you need to figure things out with Jesse before you go off on any more youthful tangents.
The man’s golden blond hair was arranged in a disheveled modern cut, and interested hazel eyes met his as he finished woolgathering and completed his assessment. Geoff flushed as he realized that he’d been checking the man out rather blatantly for some time.
“This is Abe Golden, my colorist. Abe, my boss, Geoff Radcliffe.”
“Hi Abe, good to meet you,” Geoff responded to Kim’s introduction automatically. Golden? Is that like a stage name? He matches his hair, or maybe he dyes it to match his name.
“Nope, it’s really mine. The hair color and the name. The greats shortened it from Goldenbaum to sound less Jewish.”
Geoff would have happily sunk through the floor as he realized he had said that aloud. Could this week get any more embarrassing? And what am I even still doing here?
“Okay, well, you already have your coffee, and no appointments, so I’ll head up and leave you in Abe’s capable hands.”
“What?” the two men echoed as Kim walked out the door, abandoning them.
Chapter Three
Abe fought hard to keep his face straight as he beheld the panicked look in Geoff’s beautiful dark eyes. He was delighted by the turn of events. The mountain had come to Mohammed. Kim’s scheme had been clever and Machiavellian, involving considerable time on her part while she insulted, flattered, shamed, and bribed Geoff into a trip to the salon. So much for Kim’s grand plans. If Abe was going to do this, he was going to do things his way.
His quarry gave him a wary glance as Abe stepped closer and placed a hand on the small of Geoff’s back, herding him gently toward his personal styling area at the back of the shop. “What can I do for you today?”
Geoff had been walking along willingly enough, but the question apparently threw him, because he froze in his tracks. His eyes met Abe’s, and as Abe stared up into that dark, deep gaze, he felt a tug at his heart at the self-doubt and confusion he read there.
“Sit,” he gently ordered, indicating the salon chair, and when Geoff hesitantly complied, he immediately went into action, raising the chair, wrapping a soft paper towel around his neck and securing it with the cape, then raising the chair to optimal height. Geoff’s slightly alarmed look finally relaxed into something like determination.
Mourning the loss of the view of that hard body now concealed under the cape, Abe turned his focus to Geoff’s classically handsome face. Strong jaw line, straight nose, full lips over a square, masculine chin already sporting the early hints of what was evidently a daily battle with five-o’clock shadow. Those dark brown, almost black eyes were set off by lovely, naturally shaped dark brows and straight lashes. Abe met those eyes in the mirror from his stance behind Geoff and felt a curl of wanton longing tighten his insides. Barely able to keep from rubbing up against the man like a cat in heat, Abe settled for resting his hands briefly on Geoff’s wide shoulders, before raising his hands to sift through Geoff’s hair.
At the first touch of his hands, those eyes fluttered closed, lashes flirting with his cheeks for a moment, before reopening to a slightly more heavy-lidded position. Poor man seemed starved for touch, Abe mused. Every time Abe laid his hands on him, he got a strong reaction. To test this, he lifted his hands from Geoff’s hair and replaced them on his shoulders, this time giving a nice squeeze, feeling the firm give of muscles. This time Geoff tensed and shifted in the chair. Abe smiled inwardly and stroked his hands down and back up Geoff’s arms, which were hidden from view by the plastic, but Abe could just imagine how they must’ve looked bare in the cold on Saturday night as his fingers learned their girth and definition through the layers between Geoff’s skin and his own.
Abe wasn’t just touching gratuitously or with an ulterior motive; he was naturally a very tactile person. But something about Geoff just made Abe want to wrap him up in his arms and never let go.
“I want you to cover up all this grey.” Abe was startled back into the scene by the assertive command in Geoff’s voice. He frowned as he raised his hands back to Geoff’s dark locks, thick but fine and straight, filtering them through his fingers repeatedly as he examined the hair with an expert eye. Obviously took care of it, clean scalp, and a well-shaped cut. No receding, good genes. Sexy splash of silver at the temples, just a touch, just the right place. A few other isolated silver strands woven through the dark. He was going to grow into salt and pepper well in the coming decade.
“What do you mean, ‘all this grey’?” he countered. “You mean this gorgeous silver here?” he stroked Geoff’s temples with his index fingers, watching with pleasure as his eyelids did that sexy drift closed, then open again. A frown marred Geoff’s forehead as he reopened his eyes, meeting Abe’s in the mirror.
“It’s not gorgeous. I look like an old man,” he insisted with a touch of vulnerability that made Abe impulsively reach forward and give him a brief, tight hug from behind. The shock on Geoff’s face as Abe withdrew was priceless. Oops. Oh well.
“You do not look like an old man. Old man, please!” Abe snorted. “Whatever little bitch told you that, they were just jealous. You are one sexy hunk of man, and that silver is going to stay right there.” He punctuated that last with another couple squeezes to Geoff’s shoulders. “Now, how about a relaxing aromatherapy wash and a light trim instead?”
Geoff’s jaw hung in disbelief. Abe watched in amusement as he tried several times to start, finally managing, “Wait a minute.” Geoff appeared to collect himself, and turn to face Abe, the frown back, deeper than before. “I want this grey covered up, not a trim, not a wash. Color. You’re a colorist, right?” He paused and Abe nodded. “Then color.” He sat back, facing the mirror once more, smugly certain he would get his way. Foolish man.
“Nope.”
“What?” Geoff looked like he was about to jump out of the chair, and Abe set his hands back on his shoulders. “Now wait a minute! I know you’re Kim’s friend, but it’s not up to you whether I color my hair, that’s my decision. I’m the damn customer, and if you won’t do it, I’ll get someone else to.” Geoff looked around the salon as if to pick out another technician.
“No one here will do it, handsome, so don’t bother,” Abe soothed. “How about that wash?”
Geoff went from looking slightly annoyed to plain angry. “I want to speak to your manager,” he demanded with scowl.
Abe couldn’t hide his grin. “Abraham Golden, owner, operator, and colorist to a select few, at your service. ‘Golden’ Shears? The name should’ve been your clue, hon.”
Geoff wilted back into the chair, deflated. “Oh.” He looked down and wearily ran a hand through his hair. “Shit, I’m sorry. Even if you weren’t the boss, I had no right yelling at you like that.” He looked up at Abe with a worried expression that gave Abe insta-wood. Mmm. Nothing like an uber-male grovel
ing. Super hot. “Hey, don’t tell Kim about this? I’ve done enough this week to ruin my credibility with her.” His mouth quirked into a wry smile. “I must be going through a mid-life crisis or something. I really need to get my act together.”
Abe smiled. This was nice leverage. “Sure thing, Geoff. I’ll make a deal. I won’t tell her about your meltdown and rude behavior if you do a few things for me.”
“Anything.” Oh, he was just asking for it with that agreement. Poor sweetie, Abe thought. He must be really rattled. It was pretty out of character for a successful businessman like Geoff to give carte blanche.
“Okay, first of all, you need to promise me that you won’t go to another salon to get your hair done, or, God forbid, try to do it yourself.”
Geoff frowned again. “I really want to get rid of—”
“All this grey, yes, I know. And I’m getting to that, okay? Hold your horses.”
“Sorry.” Geoff looked a little sheepish at the reprimand.
Abe continued, “Secondly, you need to tell me the complete story of what has you so convinced that you look old… over dinner tonight. Then I’ll think about it.”
Geoff breathed out in a whoosh. “You don’t ask for much, do you?”
“No, not much considering I think it would be crime to do anything at all to your incredible hair color.” Abe returned with a little accompanying caress at Geoff’s temples. “Agreed?”
Geoff turned to face him again with a considering look that held an awareness of the mutual attraction between them. Abe held his breath as his lips parted, his eyes dropping to Geoff’s mouth. The moment sizzled between them.
“Six o’clock?” came from those beautiful lips, and Abe let his breath out as he raised his gaze back to Geoff’s eyes. “I’ll walk down and pick you up here, if that’s okay?”
“Fantastic,” Abe murmured softly. “I can’t wait.”
* * *
The day crawled by for Geoff, going south in the way only Mondays seem to be able to. Kim was barely speaking to him, not that he was giving her much opportunity to do so. He could barely look at her without the Saturday night incident popping into his head. Jesse had called just to chat while he was down in the salon, and Geoff was disappointed to have missed him, especially since Jesse said he’d be unreachable until the next day. And several kinks popped up in business transactions that he had thought were all sewn up. He and Kim put out fire after fire, until by the end of the day, they were both exhausted and tense.
