by Turner, CJ
“Okay,” said Theo. “Pack your things.”
“But, mon chérie—”
“Don’t mon chérie me. We’ve had the same discussion for the past three days. I’m sorry you went through hell, but you must take responsibility for your choices. I’m leaving my apartment today, and you will not be staying.”
“I’m sorry, mon chérie, if I interfered—”
“Save your apologies. You either go to the center, or you go to the street. Your choice.”
“You can afford to put me in an apartment. Make it possible for me to paint again. And when I do and sell some paintings, I can repay you.”
“That’s a lovely plan, but my well isn’t endless. I’m trying to get a business off the ground. And you have a track record of not following through. How do I know if you won’t fall in with the same scum and call me again to rescue you? Or worse yet, end up dead. I can’t do it, Armand. I’ll make sure you’re safe this time, but it’s up to you from here on out.
Theo’s phone rang, and against the odds, he hoped it was Lennox. Instead, it was his father. Theo blew out a breath while he walked to his study.
“Hello, Dad.”
“What is this contribution for $150,000 to Domestic Abuse Recovery? I’m all for philanthropy, but you’ve hit your limit on your trust fund this year.”
Theo rubbed the back of his neck.
“I know, Dad. But it’s important. It’s for Armand.”
His father huffed in disapproval. “That’s why you rushed to the city.”
“Dad, I’d appreciate it if you would approve the donation. I’m trying to convince him to go there now.”
“Son, I love you, but you’ve been making too many questionable choices this year. That business of yours, and now this man. I don’t want to see you back with him, or any like him. He’s trouble.”
“Dad, I know. That’s not what this is about. I couldn’t live with myself if he died, and he almost did. He’s messed up, Dad, and he has no one else.”
“That would be his fault.”
“Agreed. One hundred percent. This agency does good work, especially for the gay community.”
His father sighed. “I’ll move things around. As long as it’s tax-deductible.”
If it weren’t such a dire situation, Theo would have laughed. “I’ll move things around’ and “As long as it’s tax-deductible” were two of his father’s favorite phrases.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“But I want you home tonight. Livvy is beside herself and driving her mother crazy, who is driving your mother to distraction.”
Theo didn’t say that was his plan all along. Better to let his father feel he “won” something out of the exchange.”
“I’ll be home for dinner.”
“Fine, I’ll have your mother invite the Grants.”
But Livvy couldn’t contain herself. As if she knew the minute that Armand had entered the facility’s door, Theo’s phone rang.
“You’re coming home!” she squealed.
“Yes.”
“When will you be here?”
“Depending on the traffic, two hours.”
“And where is Armand?”
“Getting the help he needs. I’m sitting out here to make sure he doesn’t slip out. But if he does get by me, I told the doorman that should he return, not to let him in and call the police.”
“Wow, I’m impressed. When did you get tough?”
When Armand interfered in my life.
Theo didn’t relay this last to Livvy. In the past three days, he had many chances to reflect on how Lennox shared characteristics with Armand such as his social class, and dark good looks. At first, it shook Theo, but then he thought of the differences, too. Lennox didn’t depend on others for his livelihood, cared for others, and was genuinely interested in Theo’s work. The depth with which Lennox had researched his ideas impressed Theo. While keeping watch on Armand while the man rested, Theo did a deep dive on the internet and found Lennox’s ideas sound and financially feasible.
Theo had discovered that houses built from containers could be hurricane, earthquake, and fireproof. In a world rocked by increasingly extreme weather, this opened up new markets for the idea. One downside of shipping containers was that without insulation, the interior could get intolerably hot. But Lennox’s vision of creating a sleeve from recycled plastic could double as insulation. All of this kept Theo jazzed as he waited out Armand’s recovery. He wanted to speak with Lennox about all these things, but Armand would perk up the minute Theo touched his phone. It was uncanny and annoying, so Theo decided to wait until he returned to Waterside to talk with Lennox.
But in the meantime, Theo called an architect friend, and described what he wanted, and he was happy to draw the blueprints, for a fee, of course.
But for all of Lennox’s brilliance, Theo could easily see where his family and friends would misapprehend what he saw in him. He decided to invite Lennox to Livvy’s party as his plus-one so his friends and family could get to know him.
“Theo, you’re home!” gushed Livvy. She sat in the backyard garden with the two sets of parents sipping their usual summer drink—Lemon Drop martinis. After he kissed his mother’s, then Mrs. Grant’s cheek, Livvy sprang to her feet and threw her arms around his neck.
Lemon and vodka wafted from her breath.
“I see you’re feeling relaxed,” he said.
“And you don’t look debauched at all. How did you manage it after all that time with Armand?” She slipped her arm around his waist as Theo guided her into a stroll in the garden.
“He lost his appeal a long time ago, Livvy.”
“I’m glad. And I’m happy you’re home. Mother has been driving me insane.”
“I heard it was the other way around.”
Livvy laughed. “We do feed on each other’s emotions, don’t we?”
“Ooh, Dad must have made those Lemon Drops especially strong.”
She squeezed his waist with her arm. “Yes. Why do you think I came here tonight?”
“Because you can’t resist me, you wicked girl.”
“That’s me,” she giggled. “Wicked Olivia. And what about you?”
“Me?” Theo sucked in a breath. He didn’t have much time before his mother called him to dinner. “I’ve met someone, Livvy.”
“Really? Who? Give me the details. Who is he? What’s his name? Who’s his family? How serious is it? Have you gone to bed with him yet? Give Theo Collins, before I burst apart.”
“You could give a man a chance to answer.”
“Then do so!” she demanded.
“His name is Lennox Sewell.”
Her eyebrows scrunched in consternation. “Sewell? I don’t know any Sewells.”
“You do.” He blew out a breath. “He’s the man that sold us your engagement party flowers.”
The flushed excitement on Livvy’s face plunged to sub-zero temperatures.
“Oh, Theo. No. He’s handsome, yes, but not suited for you. Couldn’t you pick a nice lawyer from the social registry?”
Theo restrained a huff. He could not believe these words coming from his best friend.
“Social registries are passé, Livvy. And you don’t go picking men from a list and say, ‘Hmmm, let’s give this one a try.’”
“I did,” pouted Livvy.
“You are a wicked thing. From a list of one. Had I known that you picked me on that beach so you could meet my cousin, at five years old, no less, I would have thrown sand at you.”
Livvy crossed her arms and glared. Livvy’s expression told Theo that Lennox would be a hard sell.
“I’m not kidding, Theo. You’re too good for Lennox Sewell. Just like you were too good for Armand. You need a man worthy of you.”
“Livvy, please. Give Lennox a chance. I’m bringing him to your party as my plus-one.”
“What? You’re bringing the florist as your date?” said Livvy. Her voice dripped incredulity.
“I
hope to. I haven’t been able to reach Lennox to ask.”
Livvy shook her head and blew out a long breath.
“I can never deny you, Theo Collins, which has been the bane of my existence. Go ahead, bring your florist. But I’ll only be polite.”
“That’s all I ask.”
“Fine,” she huffed before she stalked to the patio. Livvy barely spoke to him through dinner and left with her parents right after. He didn’t like her behavior, but he refused to apologize when he did nothing wrong. Livvy needed to get over this on her own.
The day before the party, he still couldn’t reach Lennox, and curiously the phone at the florist shop gave an automated message that the line was disconnected. He couldn’t imagine why Pearson’s florist shop’s phone would not work. As he drove to his storefront, Theo slowed as he passed the florist shop and found the store fully lit.
Gathering his courage, Theo stepped toward the shop as his stomach roiled with nerves. He would answer Lennox’s questions about Armand, but he wasn’t sure how the man would respond. Theo had done nothing wrong. Hell, Lennox and he weren’t even in a relationship. But how Theo obsessed over the man, that was a good possibility if Lennox allowed it.
The bell rang as he entered, but Bonkers was at the door, jumping on him, happy to see him.
“Hello, boy,” said Theo. He bent to pet him.
“Bonkers,” said Lennox. “Go to your bed. I’m sorry, my dog—”
Theo raised his head to find Lennox emerging from the backroom.
“Mr. Collins,” he said stiffly.
“Please—Theo. I must apologize.”
“There is nothing to apologize for,” said Lennox. “If you don’t mind, I have a lot of work to do for tomorrow’s order.”
“Can I see?” said Theo. He didn’t care about the flowers, but he didn’t want Lennox to shoo him out the door.
Lennox sighed, “If you must. They are in the back room. Well, some of them. I still have twelve more left to finish.”
Theo stepped into the backroom to see a large worktable filled with floral arrangements. He stared amazed. Livvy had wanted original and classy, and Lennox delivered it.
“Why are you doing this work. Where is Mrs. Pearson?”
“The hospital. She had a heart attack three days ago.”
The owner of the shop was in the hospital, and Lennox took on this project by himself? Theo knew nothing about flowers, but he imagined that many arrangements had to take a lot of time.
“These are great,” he said.
Lennox stepped into the room. “Thank you. But they are a little better than that.”
“How do you mean?”
Lennox stepped to the first one on the table. “It took me a while to work it out, especially since I couldn’t get batteries wet.”
“You made battery-operated flowers?” said Theo in amazement.
“I figured that for a nighttime affair, some lighting was in order. So, I wrapped fairy lights through the baby’s breath inside this bowl and tucked the on/off switch under one of the hydrangea heads. Turn off the lights. The switch is behind you.”
Theo did as Lennox instructed, and Theo fumbled with the top of the vase, and in a second, the bowl lit with tiny lights and interspersed around stems of tiny white buds. It lit up the bank of flowers stretching across the middle showcasing the delicate and magical arrangement.
“Livvy will love it,” he said in awe. “You are a talented florist.”
“I’m not a florist,” said Lennox. “I’m an artist.”
“I’m sure.”
“No, I’m an artist—a painter. I exchange rent for working in Mrs. Pearson’s shop.”
Theo blinked, not sure what to say.
“Artist, florist, architect. You’re a man of many talents.”
“No. It’s just that as an artist, you learn how to use different processes to, wait—what are you doing?”
Theo had edged closer to Lennox without thinking.
Damn it. The man is like a magnet.
But Lennox scooted away. “Don’t you have someone to go home to?”
“Me? No.”
“Mon chérie? Lennox’s eyes bored into him as he spoke those words.
Theo sighed. “That was Armand. He got into a bad spot, so I helped him out. We aren’t together.”
“Famous last words,” said Lennox acidly.
“I don’t cheat,” said Theo with heat. “Armand and I were over a year ago. It didn’t last long.” Just long enough to break my heart.
Lennox shook his head. “You talk a good game, but—”
“Don’t say it,” said Theo. “What can I do to convince you?”
“Do you have any social media testimonials announcing, ‘Theo Collins is single?’”
“I don’t do social media. But I could call Livvy.”
“Sorry. No. Good friends may lie.”
“Do you know anyone in town?”
Lennox shook his head. “Mrs. Pearson is in the hospital, and Elias is still in Europe.”
There had to be a way to work this out. “But you can call him, right?”
“No, my phone broke.”
Oh, that’s why he didn’t pick up the phone.
“Do you know his number? We’ll use my phone.”
Lennox put his hand on his hip and stared at Theo with an incredulous stare.
“Okay. You win. If you’re willing to call my best friend to get the scoop on your love life, you’re either the cockiest bastard I’ve ever met, or legit.”
Thank you, Jesus.
“In that case, there is something I’ve been dying to do.”
“What?” said Lennox.
Theo leaned forward and kissed him.
Chapter 9
Lennox
How does a man taste so good?
Theo’s kiss blistered with fire and need, and Lennox quickly fell under its spell. This man’s mouth was pure sin, and Lennox’s heart raced as he deepened the meshing of their flesh with the passion that lit his body.
“So good, so good.” ran through his head in a repeating loop. Theo had pushed Lennox against the sink as his hands cupped Lennox’s glutes and pulled him against Theo. The man laid another fiery kiss on his lips, possessive and greedy. Lennox’s head swam from all the sensations that bombarded him—Theo’s spicy cologne, the slide of his lips, Theo’s hips pressed against him. Trapped against the stainless steel sink, with Theo’s need pressing like a blade against his, Lennox quickly lost sight of anything but getting closer to this man. He thought of his bed, just a staircase away, and doing the things he fantasized about the past few days to Theo.
Lennox got lost in Theo’s kisses and the touches which clouded his head. At the moment, he wanted more of this sexy man. His breathing sped, and he grew more lightheaded.
They pressed against each other, and the pleasure that churned through Lennox made him toss thought and reason out the window. He hated the layers of fabric between and ached for the slide of flesh against flesh. The heat burning inside him flared to a scorching flame. He did not know how much longer he could hold out before he demanded that Theo strip so Lennox could touch his skin.
The front doorbell rang, startling both of them, and Bonkers barked as if saying, “Hey, guys, someone’s here.” Lennox and Theo froze, staring at each other. Theo’s flushed face showed Lennox’s stubble burn, and Lennox rubbed his feeling the raw skin.
“Oh, hell,” said Lennox. He ran his hand through his hair, not sure if he could go out front in his excited state.
“Hello?” said a woman.
Theo reached for the hook, where Mrs. Pearson kept an apron and threw it over Lennox’s head.
“Get rid of her. And lock that front door.” Theo gazed at him with undeniable desire in his eyes.
Yeah. It was probably time to close the shop early, thought Lennox.
“I’ll be right there. I’m working on an order.”
“I had to come in. It seems your phone is out of o
rder.”
“Is it?” said Lennox.
Maybe Mrs. Pearson didn’t pay the phone bill? But that explained why the store had been usually quiet.
“Sorry about that. Mrs. Pearson has taken a few days off. I’ll ask her to look into it.”
It took twenty minutes to help the woman with an order for delivery to a sick friend in the hospital. Every “I’m not sure” made Lennox want to scream, “Oh, my freaking God.” But finally, she picked a lovely sixty-dollar arrangement that Lennox thought he could pull off.
“I can’t deliver it today. I will get it there first thing tomorrow.”
“I didn’t expect it delivered today. It is afternoon. Tomorrow will be great.” The woman handed him a one hundred bill. “Keep the change,” she said with a wink.
Lennox locked the door after her and changed the moveable tabs, so the sign read, “Closed until Monday, 9 AM.” If Elias showed up on Saturday, he could open the store, but Lennox couldn’t keep the store open and make the scheduled deliveries.
“Your customer has good taste,” said Theo leaning against the doorjamb to the workroom with a big smile.
Lennox rang up the sale and pocketed the tip.
“And I know a customer that tastes good. I’ll take the latter, upstairs to my spacious studio apartment.”
“Um, watching the delicious ass of Lennox Sewell climb the stairs. Yes. I can do that.”
“Who says I’ll be the one climbing the stairs first?”
“The last one up the stairs gives the first blow job,” said Theo with a laugh.
They glanced at each other, and then they both dashed up the stairs fighting each other to get there first. At the top of the stairs, they fell over each other, and Theo started laughing. Lennox leaned over and kissed him.
“I guess it’s rock, paper, scissors, then,” said Lennox when he pulled away. He reached and opened the door. He didn’t need to lock it when the other exit doors were locked.
“Oh, hell, no,” said Theo. He scrambled to his feet and launched himself into the apartment. Lennox couldn’t catch him before Theo fell on the bed, laughing.
