Hoaley Ill-Manored (11 page)

Along with the blistering heat came the
biting bugs and a steamy humidity that made the smallest movement
seem like aerobics in quicksand.

Adam would kill for a shower. With that
thought came the memory of his last shower, the night before, and
Adam smiled. A husky voice from behind made him jump.

“What are you smiling about?”

Adam turned and laughed as Dirk waggled his
eyebrows at him. “I was thinking I’d kill for a shower.”

Dirk’s lips curved upward. “Especially one
like the last one, eh?”

Shaking his head, Adam said, “At least we
won’t need to come back and clean up sawdust, I’m sweating so much
it’s all sticking to me.”

Dirk grimaced, “Yeah, me too. I’m afraid if
I stand still too long a bird will mistake me for a tree and make a
nest in my hair.”

They laughed and Dirk touched Adam’s arm
affectionately before returning to his task of carting cut logs off
and stacking them at the edge of the woods. The logs would come in
handy in the winter for the fireplaces.

Adam intended to leave at least one of the
house’s eight fireplaces wood burning for authenticity. The ones in
the bedrooms and the large fireplace in the library he planned to
transform into gas for ease of use and the one in the kitchen he’d
considered turning into a brick oven. He was excited about that
idea.

The sound of tires crunching on gravel told
them Maddy had arrived with her hourly offering of cold drinks.
Adam had never been happier to see her. The men all stopped what
they were doing and walked over to her Explorer as it pulled to a
stop before the fallen tree.

Maddy jumped out and walked around to the
back of the car, pulling a small cooler out and placing it on the
ground. “I brought lemonade this time. I figured the sugar would
help. And I threw some sandwiches in too.”

Adam grabbed an icy can of lemonade and
drained half of it in a single gulp. He grimaced as he swiped a
sawdust encrusted hand over his mouth before he remembered how
filthy he was.

“She held a plastic container of wipes out
to him. “Here.”

“Thanks, Mads. You’re a lifesaver.”

She shrugged. “It’s the least I could do. On
the plus side, the library and three of the five bedrooms are
painted and demo’s almost done on the kitchen.”

Adam finished off the lemonade and reached
for a sandwich. “Good. The new cabinets are coming today.”

“I’m glad we decided to leave the exposed
brick in the kitchen. It gives it a very 1800s retro feel.”

“Me too. You happy with the slate tiles on
the floor?”

She nodded. “It’ll be dark with the brick.
But the room’s huge, with lots of windows, and we’ll paint the
cabinets a light color. I think it’s going to be spectacular.”

“Agree. Oh, and Tim Smith will be here later
today to start work on that copper ceiling.”

Maddy grinned. “I can’t wait to see that
when it’s restored.”

He tapped her on the nose, feeling much more
chipper with liquid and food in his belly. In fact, Adam was
feeling better about the whole project and he realized it was
probably because his personal life had taken a turn for the
better.

Much better.

Right on cue, a horn honked and everyone
turned to look at the road. Dirk came up beside him and Adam felt
his lover stiffen at the sight coming toward them. A small,
fire-engine red car sped down the road. The top was down on the
two-seater convertible and a handsome face wearing dark sunglasses
and a dazzling smile showed behind the windshield.

A thick mop of dark hair blew in the wind as
the driver lifted a hand and waved.

“Shit.”

Adam turned to Dirk, the first flutter of
unease tightening his gut. “You know him?”

Dirk slid Adam a nervous glance. “Yeah. I
know him. That’s Franklin Spence.”

Franklin Spence reeked of Hollywood. From
his perfect, white teeth to his smooth, sun-kissed skin, to the
magic haircut that looked flawless even after it had been blowing
in the wind for a few hours on the highway.

Adam hated the man. H-A-T-E-D him.

They’d returned to the house and were
holding court with Spence in the living room of the manor. Adam and
Dirk had thrown their shirts back on, but they were still damp and
crusty from their efforts on the tree.

Adam would have excused himself to go
shower, but he was afraid to leave Dirk and Franklin Spence alone
together in the living room for any length of time. He didn’t trust
the smooth-voiced, hot-eyed producer any more than he trusted the
coyotes from the night before.

Watching him work his magic on everyone in
the house, Adam thought Franklin Spence was a lot like those
coyotes. The man was a predator. Mindlessly pursuing his next meal
of money, power, or sex, and Adam couldn’t get it out of his head
that Dirk had spent a lot of time with him.

Adam suppressed a shiver. He was drawn out
of his discomforting thoughts when Spence draped an arm around him.
Adam blinked in surprise, fighting the urge to step away. He was
well aware that he was sweaty, filthy, and stunk to high heaven.
Franklin Spence, who smelled like Clive Christian No1 Cologne and
wore pristine white from head to toe, didn’t even seem to notice
Adam’s eau de construction dude scent and couture. “I can’t believe
I’m finally meeting the infamous, Adam Hoale.”

Spence’s pretty blue eyes sparkled merrily
and Adam got the feeling his name was the source of many jokes in
Hollyweird.

Adam slid Dirk a look but Dirk seemed
unwilling to meet it. The unease that had slipped down Adam’s spine
when Spence arrived grew. “That’s me.” As casually as he could, he
stepped out of Spence’s grasp. “And I can’t believe I’m finally
meeting the guy who dominates all those Hollywood gossip rags.”

Spence’s flawless eyebrows lifted in a look
of surprise that could have been scripted it was so perfect. “You
read those rags? I’m surprised a man like you would lower
yourself.” Spence shook his head.

“He doesn’t. I do. I just fill him in on the
important parts.” Maddy threw Adam a supportive smile as she
entered the room bearing a tray with coffee and the last of the
donuts from that morning’s elegant repast. “Adam thinks everything
in Hollywood is silly.”

Adam appreciated Maddy’s support, but on the
heels of her statement he was unable to meet Dirk’s gaze. They both
knew he
did
read those magazines, and despite his knowledge
of Dirk as a good and loving man, there was a small part of Adam
that didn’t completely trust his lover. And that part couldn’t help
believing the stuff in those rags implying that Dirk and Spence
were a bit friendlier than they should have been. It was the basis
of Adam’s insecurity where Dirk was concerned, and the rationale
behind him and Dirk breaking up. And, though the reason centers of
his brain told him Dirk wouldn’t do that to him—wouldn’t sleep with
a powerful member of the Hollywood elite to advance his
career—Adam’s long-time doubts gave him constant angina.

He was just so tired of the worry and
suspicion.

With something that looked like an angry
gleam in his eye, Spence crossed the room and placed a hand
possessively around the back of Dirk’s neck. Dirk leaned forward,
stepping out of the grip, but he wouldn’t meet Adam’s gaze. Spence
seemed unconcerned. “So, did our boy tell you about my
proposition?”

Adam frowned, his heart pounding a staccato
beat in his chest. Any proposition by the evil Franklin Spence, as
Adam had just decided to dub him, couldn’t be good. And Dirk’s
guilty behavior wasn’t making Adam feel any better.

Dirk turned to Spence. “Lin, let’s not get
into that right now. Why don’t I show you to the nearest hotel and
then, after Adam and I get cleaned up, we’ll meet you in town for
dinner. We can discuss it then.” He slipped a quick glance in
Adam’s direction. “When everybody’s more comfortable.”

In the way powerful, self-centered men do,
Franklin Spence laughed off Dirk’s insinuation that it wasn’t the
right time for whatever discussion he was getting ready to broach.
“I’m perfectly comfortable, darlin’.”

Adam stiffened at the term of endearment and
his gaze flew to Dirk. Dirk met his gaze directly, his head jerking
once in denial. But there was way too much guilt in his expression
to put Adam at ease. Suddenly Adam couldn’t stand the painful
suspicions he was harboring. He just wanted everything out in the
open. “Why don’t you just tell me about your proposition, Mr.
Spence. Then you can be on your way.”

Spence laughed off Adam’s dismissal. He
obviously had no intention of being “on his way” anytime soon. “I
can’t believe Dirk didn’t tell you what we have planned…”

“Only if Adam is interested, Lin. Don’t
forget this is his house.”

Spence flipped a hand in the air as if to
say, “details, details”. It was patently obvious to Adam that
Franklin Spence was a man used to getting what he wanted.
Apparently he wanted something from Bilsworth Manor. And just as
apparently, he wanted Dirk.

Suddenly Adam was determined not to let
Spence have what he wanted, at least the part he could control. “I
think it’s only fair to warn you that, whatever you have in mind,
I’m probably not going to be interested.” Adam told the man with a
scowl.

Franklin Spence pinned Adam with a cold
gaze, his perfect lips tightening just slightly with annoyance, and
then he inclined his head, smiling. “I understand. I’ve intruded on
you and come on too strong.” He smiled at Dirk knowingly, his
perfectly manicured hand snaking out to briefly squeeze Dirk’s
forearm. “I have a tendency to do that, don’t I, darlin’.” He shook
his head, laughing at himself. “Dirk’s always telling me that.”

Maddy and Adam shared a look. It was obvious
from Maddy’s murderous expression that she didn’t like Spence any
more than Adam did.

“But, in reality, you’d be a fool…” Spence
caught himself as Dirk threw him an angry gaze and rephrased his
offer. “It would be a poor business decision for you not to hear me
out. You see, I think I have a win-win proposition for you, Adam.
If you’ll only listen.”

“I’m listening.”

Spence smiled. “Good. Good.” He indicated
the coffee and donuts. “Shall we sit, and have…erm…some
refreshments?” He sat on the pretty brocade couch Maddy had
purchased for the room and Adam looked at the companion chairs.
But, though the furniture was still covered in protective plastic,
he didn’t want to sit on it in his current state. He jerked his
head toward Maddy to indicate she should sit with Spence and he
remained standing.

She grimaced but sat, and lifted the paper
plate full of donuts toward the other man. “Donut, Mr. Spence? I
apologize we can’t offer you something a little nicer, but the
kitchen is undergoing pretty substantial renovations so we don’t
have much in the house right now.”

Spence declined the half-stale pastries with
a smile. “Thank you, I ate a couple of hours ago. I’ll just drink
some coffee, which smells delightful by the way.”

Maddy nodded. “Adam provides a single cup
coffee maker for every project, and a wide selection of coffees. He
treats his people very well.” She threw Adam a look filled with
such pain and kindness it just about broke his heart. It was
obvious she believed the same thing Adam did, that Dirk had been
playing at more than movies with the man seated on the dusty
plastic of the new couch.

Adam hoped Spence had a big, brown stain on
his white ass when he stood up.

Spence nodded, “Which is why I think you
should really listen to my proposition, Adam. This manor is a
gorgeous piece of American history. I’d like to see it restored to
its former glory just as much as you would…”

Adam thought he saw where Spence was going.
“I don’t need any more partners, Mr. Spence.”

Spence’s gaze turned cold at the
interruption and then heated too quickly for genuine emotion. “I’m
not proposing a partnership, Mr. Hoale, not officially, what Dirk
and I thought…” he smiled at Dirk, who suddenly glanced at the door
as if considering making a run for it, “was more of an investment
in the project. My production company would like to offer Hoale
Construction a million dollars toward the completion of Bilsworth
Manor.”

Maddy gasped and looked at Adam. Though he
was struggling to hide it, he was every bit as shocked as she was.
“Why?”

Dirk finally spoke up. “It’s actually a good
deal, Ads.”

When Adam turned a glare on Dirk, he cleared
his throat, but went on, “We would pay for all of your renovations,
making sure you could spend anything you needed to return the manor
to its original elegance, and all we ask in return is that you let
us film my next movie here before you sell.”

Adam’s mouth dropped open. He hadn’t even
known Dirk had signed to do a historical film. “Your next film?
Really? You’re doing a historical?”

Dirk’s enthusiasm got the best of him and he
smiled. “I am. It’s a great script, Ads…”

His voice trailed off, battered into silence
by the force of Adam’s anger. “That’s why you came here isn’t it,
Dirk? You didn’t come to see me, or to make things right between
us. You came to make nice so that I’d take this deal.” Adam turned
away and started for the door, so angry he couldn’t keep his hands
from fisting at his sides.

He was vaguely aware of Dirk calling his
name and Spence, whose triumphant voice was like razors against
Adam’s skin, telling Dirk to let Adam go. At that moment Adam
wasn’t sure what the producer’s motivations had been for coming. He
suspected that Spence had come just to throw a grenade into Adam’s
and Dirk’s relationship.

As Adam jumped in his truck and tore away
from the manor, more hurt and angry than he’d ever been, he
realized, if that had been the man’s purpose, he’d succeeded.