Playing Dirty Book 2 of the Action! Series

by GA Hauser

  “What’s the offered part?”

  “In some action movie. Gay men don’t do action movies, Keith,” Carl ranted bitterly. “Oh, no. If you’re gay you turn off straight men, right? So, if James Bond was played by an out gay man? No sales. That’s what they all think.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s a load of crap.”

  “Oh? And since that piece in the tabloids? Offers for movies? You call that crap? Who are you kidding?”

  “I don’t know who we’re kidding anymore. My head is upside down at the moment. I wish we did have that crystal ball, babe. It would help.”

  Carl pulled into a lot of a high-rise building. Shutting off the engine, Carl opened the door as Keith asked, “You want me to wait here?”

  “No.”

  Keith acknowledged him and got out, meeting him on the sidewalk in front of the lobby entrance.

  Walking through the large glossy atrium to the wall of elevators, Carl wanted to hold Keith’s hand in a gesture of affection and it annoyed him he couldn’t.

  Once they were inside the seclusion of the elevator, it was a different story. The minute the door closed, Carl pushed Keith against the wall and practically mounted him.

  A grunt of surprise emerged from Keith until he wrapped around Carl and sucked back at his mouth. The bell rang to alert them of their arrival. Carl pushed back from Keith’s hot body and wiped the taste of Keith’s mouth off his own lips gently. “I love you.”

  “Me too!” Keith announced happily, touching Carl’s arm as the doors parted.

  “This way.” Carl tilted his head towards a hallway with one side paneled with large glass panes, over plush mauve carpet. Original lithographs lined the corridor and huge potted trees accented the pale pink walls.

  Carl opened an office door and stepped in. “Hello, Paula.”

  “Hiya, Carl!” An attractive young woman waved at him from behind her desk. “I’ll tell Cole you’re here.”

  “Great.” Carl watched as she gave his lover a once over. Whatever. It’s no secret Keith and I are friends.

  “Cole? Carl Bronson is here.” She hung up. “Go right in, sweetie.”

  “Thanks.” Carl reached out for Keith to join him.

  ~

  Keith wondered if Mr. Rossi had even more clout in Hollywood than Adam Lewis. The office was dripping with expensive trinkets and artifacts from a lifetime of exotic traveling.

  After Carl greeted the gray-haired gentleman, he gestured back to Keith. “You know my co-star? Keith O’Leary?”

  Keith shook Mr. Rossi’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Yes. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Mr. Rossi did not smile when he said that, releasing Keith’s hand abruptly. “Carl. Have a seat.”

  Trying not to interfere, Keith moved to a chair against one wall and looked into a glass case with strange, carved, wooden African idols in it.

  “Here’s one I highly recommend.” Cole pushed paperwork at Carl. “Blockbuster summer movie about a superhero.”

  “Am I a good guy or a bad guy?” Carl appeared amused.

  “Good. You’re the second banana.”

  “Really? Like Robin to Batman?”

  “Yes.”

  Keith felt Mr. Rossi’s eyes dart to him with discomfort. Perhaps Carl’s agent was trying to decide if Carl was gay after all. Maybe seeing them together gave him the idea that the cover story in the tabloid was just that. A cover.

  Cole added, “It’s going to begin filming during your summer break. No conflict with your cable drama whatsoever.”

  “Where will it be filmed?”

  “Here in LA.”

  “Good.” Carl flipped the pages of the paperwork, a contented smile on his lips.

  “This one’s for a guest spot on Leno.” Cole kept handing Carl paperwork. “This one’s for advertising men’s underwear in Japan.”

  Carl laughed, looking back at Keith in amusement.

  Keith tried to smile at him even though Mr. Rossi made him feel uneasy. It was as if Keith was preventing the two of them from talking candidly.

  “Just look them over. The audition for the film includes the date, time, and script. That’s the big money offer. The rest are just fun extras.”

  “Okay, Cole.” Carl smiled sweetly at him.

  Finally Cole appeared to be unable to contain his thoughts. “Carl.”

  “Yes?”

  “You are dating a woman, right?”

  Carl whipped his head around to Keith.

  What the hell do you want from me? Keith tried to communicate his distress at the topic.

  As if making a command decision, Carl replied, “Yes.”

  “Good. I’m sorry, Carl, but I think if you weren’t seen on that latest weekly tabloid with a model on your arm, I wouldn’t be handing you any of these offers.”

  “I know, Cole.”

  “Give them a look over, and get back to me.”

  “I will.” Carl stood, shaking Cole’s hand.

  “Bye.” Keith waved weakly.

  “Goodbye, Mr. O’Leary.”

  It was said as a scold, and if Carl couldn’t hear it, Keith would be amazed.

  “Bye, Paula.” Carl smiled sweetly at Cole’s assistant.

  “See ya, Carl. Bye!” she addressed Keith.

  “See ya.” Keith waved at her.

  Once they were in the hall, Keith grumbled, “He hates me.”

  “What?” Carl tucked the paperwork under his arm and pushed the down button for the elevator. “He does not.”

  “Yes. He does. I’m the ruin of his top star.”

  “Shut up.”

  They entered the elevator, and since they weren’t alone, they behaved.

  Just as they hit the sunshine and approached Carl’s black Corvette, Keith’s mobile phone rang. As he climbed into the passenger seat, Keith answered. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Keith. It’s Adam Lewis.”

  “Hi, Adam.” Keith laughed at the irony. “Let me guess. Since we’ve come out as heterosexual men you have offers.”

  “How did you guess?”

  “I’m a genius.” Keith closed the car door and gave Carl a pained look. “Actually, we’re sitting in Carl’s car outside his agent’s office with his own handful of scripts.”

  “I told you.”

  “Adam, we’ve got a serious problem.” Keith rubbed his hand over Carl’s thigh as he started the car.

  “Oh?”

  “The producers, Derek Dixon and Will Markham want us to stop pretending we’re straight.”

  “Crap.”

  “Ya think?” Keith tried to laugh but it came out like a cough. “Rock, hard place, Adam.”

  “Keith, their interest is in their drama, period.”

  “We know that. But it may be the difference between working one season on it or eight.”

  “Yes. I understand.”

  “What the hell are we supposed to do, Adam?”

  “Where are you guys? Are you anywhere near Malibu?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “Come by.”

  “Your house?” Keith shook Carl’s leg for him to stop putting the car in gear for a moment.

  “Yes. Come to my house. Let’s have a discussion about this.”

  “Okay.”

  “See you soon? You know my home address right?”

  “Give it to me again.” Keith repeated it out loud as he did. Carl nodded he got it. “Okay, Adam. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

  “Good.”

  Keith hung up. “You believe this?”

  “No. It’s insane.”

  “At least Adam is gay. Christ, I thought Rossi wanted to murder me for killing your career.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “He was shooting daggers at me behind your back.”

  “That fuckhead.” Carl entered the main road and headed to the coast.

  “Sorry. He was.”

  “He’s slightly old fashioned. I don’t
think he likes the whole West Hollywood gay thing.”

  “Asshole.”

  Carl shrugged. “I wasn’t gay when he offered to represent me.”

  “No. You were just another pretty face,” Keith purred, cupping Carl’s crotch.

  ~

  They found the correct address. Carl pulled into the long sandy drive and parked. “Well, Adam does very well for himself.”

  “No kidding.” Keith unfastened his seatbelt.

  “Beachfront. Nice. Have you ever been here before, Keith?”

  “No. Never.” Keith exited the car and stood for a moment, looking at the front of the white stucco house.

  Carl met him at the walkway leading to the door. “Pretty Jaguar.”

  Keith turned to see a sleek maroon Jaguar XK in the drive. Walking to the front door, Keith rang the bell. When a muscular blond answered, Keith gaped at him in awe. “Uh…I’m here to see Adam Lewis?”

  “Come on in.”

  Keith entered the interior and admired the southwestern design. “I’m Keith O’Leary and this is Carl Bronson.”

  “Yes, I recognize you from Forever Young. I’m Jack Larsen, Adam’s partner.”

  Keith took his outstretched hand and relinquished it so his lover could take it next.

  “Adam is making margaritas. It’s his specialty.” Jack gestured to the kitchen. “Adam? Your guests are here.”

  “Hey!” Adam met Keith’s eyes as he entered the room. “Come on in and make yourselves comfy.”

  “Nice place,” Carl announced, looking outside at the view of the ocean.

  “Thanks. With or without salt?” Adam held up a glass.

  “With,” Carl replied.

  “Without,” Keith said, sitting down on a high stool around the island Adam was working on.

  “One with, one without.” Adam handed them off as he made them, taking one for himself after Jack had his. “Okay. Talk to me, Keith. What the heck is going on?”

  “You want me to leave?” Jack asked, pointing to himself.

  “No. Stay.” Keith smiled at Jack sweetly. He didn’t mind staring at him for a while longer. The man was gorgeous, and built like a damn pro-body builder.

  Carl relaxed on the stool next to Keith as Jack leaned against the counter.

  “We had a chastising from the producer and co-producer of the show,” Keith said, sipping the drink. “Mm. Good one!”

  “Thanks,” Adam accepted the compliment. “What did they say, Keith?”

  “Well, they were very upset at the tabloid photos of me and Carl with the models Jeff Palmer set us up with. They pretty much told Carl and I that we were going to ruin the ratings if we didn’t keep our sexual preference ambiguous.”

  Adam shook his head sadly. “Typical. Thinking of themselves.”

  “I don’t know about that, Adam.” Carl set his drink down on the counter. “If the show can run for almost a decade, then it’s easy money for me and Keith. We don’t want the series to end prematurely.”

  “What a choice.” Jack dragged one of the chairs from the kitchen table over to sit on.

  Keith lost himself momentarily on Jack’s massive biceps and forearms before he shook himself back to the conversation. “Yes. Anyway, they pretty much said we can’t keep up the charade. And to be honest, Adam? Carl and I hated it. It felt very wrong.”

  “Okay.” Adam shrugged. “Don’t do it again.”

  “But,” Carl asked like a complete statement.

  “But?” Adam responded. “Take the chance.”

  “I want to come out, Adam.” Keith wiped the margarita off his lips with his index finger. “I want to be free to dance at gay nightclubs. To support the gay community.”

  Keith caught Adam glance at Carl for his opinion.

  After a deep long sigh, Carl shook his head. “I disagree. Adam, I just came from my agent’s office with an offer for a blockbuster action movie. Everyone in this room knows if I come out, that offer disappears.”

  “This sucks.” Jack reached to place his empty glass on the counter.

  “Welcome to our world.” Keith smiled sweetly at the handsome blond.

  Jack stood, moving closer to their group. “Adam, you can’t tell me it would make that much of a difference to people. What century are we in?”

  “Jack…” Adam chided, “we’ve had this discussion. I’ve asked the same question over and over again, and I’ll ask it once more. What gay icon do you know doing big summer action packed blockbusters or romances? Hm?”

  That shut everyone up.

  Gesturing around the room, Adam replied, “I rest my case.”

  “There has to be a compromise.” Carl finished his drink and balanced his glass on the counter.

  “Yes,” Keith agreed. “Some way we can get our cake and eat it.”

  Jack cracked up at the comment while Adam smiled wryly and Carl covered his smirk.

  “Yeah, wouldn’t that be nice.” Adam held up the pitcher. “Refills?”

  As Keith watched Adam top up their glasses, the doorbell rang. “Are we keeping you from something?” Keith asked.

  “No. I have a feeling it’s just Mark and Steve.” Adam glanced at Jack as he left the room to answer the door.

  “Gay couple?” Carl enquired softly.

  “Yes. Oh, just ignore Mark. He’s liable to get all gushy over meeting you two.”

  Smiling shyly, Keith replied, “So? I like that.”

  “Good.” Adam winked.

  Sipping the second margarita quietly, Keith could hear Jack greeting the men as they came in.

  “Whose car is that, Jackie?”

  “Come in and see.”

  Swiveling on the stool, Keith faced the threshold of the living room, waiting to witness their reaction.

  The minute one man entered the room, Keith almost fell off his chair. And Adam thought his friend would be all gushy? Holy Christ! Keith caught Carl’s gaze quickly, assessing his opinion to be the same.

  “You’re Dennis Jason and Troy Wright from Forever Young!”

  Keith choked, “And you’re British as well?”

  “As well as what?”

  Jack touched the gorgeous man’s shoulder. “Mark, this is Keith O’Leary and Carl Bronson. Guys, this is Mark Richfield and his partner, Steve Miller.”

  “Hey.” Steve waved, managing to get into the kitchen around Mark and Jack who had paused at the doorway. “Margaritas?”

  “I’ll make more.” Adam went into action.

  “Do you act?” Keith asked Mark.

  “No. I don’t.” Mark smiled flirtatiously. “Why? You think I’m cute?”

  “Don’t start, Mark.” Steve rolled his eyes. “He’s sees handsome men and he gets all ga-ga.”

  Keith couldn’t quite get over Mark Richfield. Tall, lean, athletic, and as pretty as any woman Keith had ever seen. Kissing him would be like having the best of both worlds.

  “I like your hair.” Keith reached out to touch it.

  Mark leaned closer, allowing Keith to run his fingers through its length.

  “Is it hot in here?” Carl laughed, fanning himself.

  “If it’s hot,” Mark crooned, “it’s because there are two fabulous TV stars in the room.”

  “Down boy.” Steve leaned his elbows on the counter near Adam who was busy mixing more cocktails.

  “You see?” Keith pointed to Carl. “This is what it’s like to be out.”

  “Makes me want to have an orgy,” Mark purred, thrusting his hips forward.

  Keith loved the gesture and gave Mark’s full crotch a good inspection. “Jesus. You’ve got a big dick too?”

  “He’s the whole damn package,” Steve bragged.

  Keith glanced back at Carl as if asking permission to have another threesome.

  Carl gave Keith a knowing smile. “It’s okay with me.”

  Adam raised his head from his task of stirring a large glass pitcher. “What’s okay with you?”

  “Nothing,” Keith replied, grinning hung
rily at Mark.

  Jack obviously got it. “Uh, Steve…these adorable young actors have the hots for your man.”

  “What else is new?” Steve took a bag of pretzels out of a cabinet and opened it, munching on one and passing the rest around. “Christ, your hair’s getting long, Adam.” Steve tugged on its length. “Soon it’ll be as long as Mark’s.”

  Adam gave Jack a smile at the comment.

  “Really?” Mark lit up. “You have the hots for me?”

  “He’s kidding, right?” Keith asked in disbelief. “You’re surprised we think you’re gorgeous?” Keith took a few pretzels, handed one to Carl and passed the bag to Jack. Holding one out to Mark, Keith asked seductively, “Wanna bite?”