What We May be (10 page)

Jared shook his head. “That’s not Rick’s style. He doesn’t play games.”

“And it’s not yours to mope around so much. You like him. I can tell. If you want it to have any chance at all—”

“You think I don’t know that? I figured that out when he left before breakfast the next morning. But it doesn’t make a difference. He hasn’t called, I’m not going to grovel, end of story.”

His tone was sharper than he intended. Theresa didn’t know how to stop fighting for what she considered important, and when it came to his happiness, she wanted only the best for him. Hell,
he
wanted only the best for him, and for a few 88

WHAT WE MAY BE

fleeting moments, he’d thought that just might be Rick. There hadn’t been a single moment before Jared had opened his big mouth that hadn’t been fantastic. The sex, the company, the conversation. Rick was smart and sweet, not to mention hot, and he made Jared feel like he wasn’t just a pretty face or a nice body.

But that was done now. He had to let go of the possibilities and move on. It wasn’t as if they’d been longtime lovers or something. Two dates. Unless he counted the coffee in the studio. So three dates. Three
amazing
dates. And he’d even met some of Rick’s family—

“Hello?”

The masculine voice from the doorway made him turn around, Theresa already rising from her stool. The man was in his twenties, with shaggy dark hair nearly hiding his warm brown eyes. He was tall and this side of thin, and his long hands fidgeted with the end of a scarf he had draped around his neck.

“Can I help you?” Theresa asked.

The stranger glanced from her to Jared, and back again. “I think I’m a little early, actually. Maybe I should wait downstairs.”

They both frowned. “Early for what?” Jared said.

The brown eyes returned to him. “Are you Mr. Harvey?”

“Yes.” Unfolding from his seat, Jared approached the man, though he didn’t get any more familiar the closer he got. “I’m sorry, did you have an appointment or something?”

“Rick said to meet him here at two.” He glanced at his 89

WHAT WE MAY BE

watch. “I guess he’s running late. I just figured he was up here when I didn’t see him out on the sidewalk.”

Mention of Rick made Jared’s pulse leap. “Rick Paulson?

Why were you supposed to meet him here?” And why hadn’t Rick told him about this?

The young man looked around the room, his gaze lingering for a moment on the design wall. “He told me about your show. I’ve never modeled before, but he said we’d just be escorting your other models down the runway, so I figured that can’t be too hard.” He gestured toward the wall. “Are these your designs?”

“Yes.” His mind was awhirl. Rick was talking to guys about his idea? But he’d shot it down that night. He hadn’t called to warn that he’d be stopping by. “Hang on, I’ll phone Rick and find out what’s going on.”

He left Theresa to talk to the young man and went off to the corner of the studio for privacy, dialing Rick along the way. The first ring hummed through his body, an effect that was only strengthened when Rick’s deep voice came over the line.

“You’re actually taking a break?” Rick teased. “I’m impressed.”

“It’s more like I’ve got someone here looking for you.” He did everything he could to ignore the thumping of his heart.

“He says you two were supposed to meet up here at my studio.”

“Damn it. I told everybody to wait downstairs. I missed my train, so I’m running late.”

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WHAT WE MAY BE

“Everybody? What’s going on, Rick?”

“I’ll explain when I get there. Can you do me a favor and go downstairs and round anybody else up who might be waiting? Since someone already spoiled the surprise, they might as well meet you now.”

“Sure, but—”

“Great. I’m about five blocks away. I should be there in just a few minutes.”

The line went dead. Jared stared at it for a second in shock before slipping it back into his pocket.

“I’ll be right back,” he announced. He ignored Theresa’s questioning look and slipped out the door, taking the stairs two at a time in his haste to get to the street. His thoughts wouldn’t stop, and the possibilities that kept cropping up seemed totally unbelievable.

What wasn’t unbelievable were the two men loitering in front of the building, both tall, though older than the guy upstairs. They looked to Jared curiously when he emerged.

“I don’t suppose you’re waiting for Rick Paulson, are you?” Jared asked.

The taller of the pair smiled in friendly greeting. “Is he upstairs?”

“He’s on his way.” Jared held the door open and gestured for them to go inside. “Head on up and help yourself to some coffee.”

He was still staring at the door when an approaching figure caught the corner of his eye. Rick’s cheeks were flushed, his breath slightly quick as he slowed from his jogging pace. He 91

WHAT WE MAY BE

smiled upon spying Jared, and the brilliance of it melted the last of Jared’s fears.

Jared didn’t give him a chance to speak. As soon as he was within touching distance, he grabbed the back of Rick’s neck and pulled him in for a long, searching kiss.

Rick opened to him without hesitation. Their tongues twisted, hands grappling for a hold at the other’s waist. The thickening line of an erection nudged into Jared’s hip, but it was the heat of Rick’s firm mouth that Jared savored the most.

“I’m glad to see you, too,” Rick said when they parted for breath.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” It was all he could manage. He knew he had to get an apology out there at some point, but right now, this was the answer he needed the most.

“About finding the guys for you? I told you. I wanted it to be a surprise.” Rick searched his face, his smile slowly fading.

“I thought you’d be happy about this.”

“I am. I
am
. I just didn’t expect it. You said you didn’t think it would work.”

A faint color appeared in Rick’s cheeks. “No, it was a great idea. I should’ve told you that. But I honestly didn’t think anybody would actually agree to get put on parade like you would’ve needed. Then when I mentioned it to Tyson the next day, he got so excited about it, I felt like a real jerk for not thinking others might be more interested in modeling for you than I would’ve been. So I’ve spent the last few days asking around to see who might want a chance in the spotlight.

I didn’t even have to mention the charity angle to two of the 92

WHAT WE MAY BE

guys who said yes.”

Jared stared at him in disbelief. His ears had to be playing tricks on him. He would never associate
Rick
and
jerk
in the same thought, let alone understand why Rick would place such a label upon himself.

“I thought you thought I was being insensitive,” Jared blurted. “When I didn’t hear from you, I figured I’d finally said the one thing that would piss you off.”

Rick frowned. “Because you want to raise more money for the charity? Why would that piss me off?”

“The way I wanted to do it.”

“You were doing it the way you know best. I should’ve respected that. And I shouldn’t have jumped to the wrong conclusions about my clients. I’m sorry. That’s why I wanted to surprise you.”

Every word that came out of Rick’s mouth only left him increasingly flabbergasted. This was an apology Jared should’ve made, though from the sound of it, Rick wouldn’t have let him get very far. What it also meant was they weren’t over. Rick had been trying to make things up to him. They could have a real chance, and all Jared had to do was grab it.

“You did. You really did.”

The lines disappeared, and the smile he loved returned. “It took me a few days to find three guys who wouldn’t look ridiculous with whatever models you got. I never realized how many short guys I know.”

Jared laughed, free and happy. “Everybody’s short next to you.”

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WHAT WE MAY BE

“But we don’t want them short next to the models, now do we?” Rick caught his hand and pulled him toward the doorway. “Come on. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Jared followed him inside, but tugged him to a halt before going upstairs. “Thank you for this.” He pressed Rick to the wall, conveying his gratitude in every line of his body. “I can’t believe…I thought we were over.”

Rick rested a hand in the small of Jared’s back, holding him as close as Jared wanted to be. Closer than he thought he’d ever get just a few minutes earlier. “Really? And here I thought we were just beginning.”

At the touch of Rick’s mouth to his, Jared closed his eyes and sank into the caress.

Just beginning.

He liked the sound of that.

94

VIVIEN DEAN

Vivien Dean has had a lifetime love affair with stories. A multi-published author, her books have been EPPIE finalists,
Romantic Times
Reviewer’s Choice Nominees, and reader favorites. After spending her twenties and early thirties traveling, she has finally settled down and currently resides in northern California with her husband and two children.

For more information about Vivien and her books, visit her website at

http://www.viviendean.com

* * *

After a grueling night in the ER, all Dr. Pete Coen wants is to
decompress at his local watering hole. He’s not interested in
casual hook-ups with sexy strangers, though Duncan Burgess
is as seductive as they come. But their chance encounter seems
not so random when Pete discovers he’s not a stranger to
Duncan after all.

One explosive night changes his entire future. Pete saves
Duncan’s life, Duncan saves Pete’s, and still, the danger for
both of them has only just begun. Pete doesn’t want to believe
stories about demons who feed on pleasure, and he certainly
doesn’t want to get thrown into the middle of incubus politics
nor become the prey of a succubus. But Duncan has had
centuries to perfect his powers of persuasion. They have no
choice but to join forces.

Because even for the best doctor in town, sex can be killer…

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