“I’ll admit, he hasn’t been able to drag me to Laguna before, but that will be changing. What a charming town. He has brought some of your designs for me to see, and I’m thoroughly impressed.”
“Will I sound like a poor country girl if I say ‘wow’?” He smiled.
“Not at all. I share the sentiment.”
Gray glanced at Ru and flashed a grin. Heart stop city.
Food arrived. Ru had ordered the salmon, one of his faves, and Gray copied him. Merle had gone for Rick’s famous fish sandwich, as had most of the others. As the waiter placed the plates in front of Ru and Gray, Gray’s napkin dropped to the floor between his legs. He scooted back, spread his knees so he could reach between them, and managed to press the full length of his hard-muscled thigh against Ru’s. Perfect paralysis. Don’t move, don’t speak, don’t make him aware of what he’s done. Shocks of heat streaked into Ru’s balls, and he enjoyed the boil.
Gray snagged the napkin, scooted his chair back in, and—didn’t move his leg. From knee to hip, his long limb rested fully against Ru’s. Didn’t he notice? Was being pressed against another man normal for him? Maybe an action-star thing?
Forget about food, conversation, breathing. Don’t miss a moment.
Artie started talking to Gray about some entertainment industry thing. Gray ate heartily. Nothing abnormal or extraordinary going on in his universe. Ru pushed his salmon on the plate and gazed into near space, every ounce of his consciousness living in his tingling flesh.
“Ru?”
Ru’s glance flicked up to find Merle staring at him. “Sorry?”
“Boy, you were a million miles away. Designing costumes?”
“Oh yes.” He liked Merle. He didn’t want to wish the guy would shut up so he could listen to the sound of his balls expanding.
Merle lowered his voice. “I wondered if you’d like to get that drink we didn’t quite get to have later?”
Gray shifted and pressed his knee harder. Ru sucked wind. “Oh!”
Merle cocked his head. “Is that an unexpected invitation?” He grinned. “I did everything except hire a billboard.”
“Oh no. Sorry. I, uh, have so much to do—”
“It’s not really late. We could go over to the Ocean Bar for a little while, and then you can get home to your designs.”
“I—”
Gray turned abruptly to Ru. “Did you talk with Artie about your great design concepts for the Hamlet character?”
“Oh no, not yet.”
Artie grinned. “I’m all ears.”
Ru glanced at a deflated-looking Merle but launched into an explanation of his glamorized gangster costume. The more he talked, the more excited he got. “It immediately sets Hamlet apart from his family and everyone else. He has other allegiances, a different take on the world. When he says ‘to be or not to be,’ he’s not just depressed and melancholy. He’s seriously considering his options, and they’re violent.”
Gray started beating out a rap rhythm on the edge of the table. “To be or not to be. Yeah, to be or not to be. That’s the question in front of me.”
The others laughed, and Merle joined in.
Ru nodded. “Horatio would have some of the same gang colors as Hamlet, but we can see that he’s being sucked in by the man.”
Artie clapped. “Brilliant idea, Ru.”
“But remember, this will be fashion, not costume, so it will suggest the look but not be slavish.”
“Can’t wait to see it.”
Beverly nodded and sipped more wine. “Amajing. Ruj’s amajing.”
Ru sat back and smiled. Even while he’d been rapping, Gray had never moved his leg. If anything, he’d pressed it harder against Ru. Jesus, he wanted to pull Gray to his feet and press more than their legs together.
Penelope leaned forward and looked toward Ru. “I agree, you’re amazing.”
He nodded. “Why, thank you, lovely lady.” It made him feel a little squirmy to think he was lusting after this woman’s boyfriend, but maybe she and Gray had some kind of agreement?
She put a hand on Gray’s arm. “I think I should ask him.”
Gray frowned. “No, not now.”
“No better time. Ru, I’m soon going to be looking for a designer for my wedding gown, and I’d like to invite you to submit a concept. It’s not right away. I know you’re working on a collection, but I wanted to tell you, so you can keep my needs in mind.”
Ru didn’t move. Even his heart must have quit. He couldn’t hear it beating over the rushing in his ears.
“Of course, I can’t assure you the commission until I see roughs of the design, but I can’t imagine anyone better. Say you’ll do it. Please. Please!” She laughed and clapped her hands like she’d just given him the world’s biggest cookie.
Beverly tossed back more wine. “Amajing.”
Merle smiled like the cookie was his.
Gray’s thigh turned to stone along with Ru’s gut. Ru nodded, but his head felt so heavy it should have fallen off and rolled on the floor. “I’d be honored, of course. Thank you for thinking of me.” He sucked in his breath and turned to Merle. “How soon do you want to go for that drink?”
Gray’s leg moved away.
Chapter Five
Ru stared in his wineglass on the table in front of him. “Sorry. I’m here under false pretenses. I’m too distracted to be good company.”
“It’s okay. I like you anyway.” Merle laughed and took a mouthful of beer.
“Why?” Okay, Maitland, don’t give the pretty actor the third degree just because you don’t like yourself much.
Merle took the question seriously. He held up one finger. “Because you’re genuinely creative and original.” Another finger. “Smart and snarky. I like that in a guy.” Up went the third finger. “Cute as all hell.” He shrugged. “Plus, if truth be told, I’ve always had a thing for queens.”
“Is that so?” Ru grinned. “Wait until you meet my best friend and business partner. His husband once said he was so far over the top he had his own cloud cover.”
Merle snorted. “I’d probably be more like that if it wasn’t for my acting thing. Wish I had the guts.”
Ru waved a hand. “It’s okay. You can be as queeny as you want with me, babe.”
Merle stared into the glass like he was reading beer leaves. “Do you top or bottom?” He held up a hand. “Just for research purposes.”
How should he answer? Did he want to do Merle? No brooding gray eyes or cheekbones that would cut glass. Yep, and no wife. Ru cocked his head. “I’m a top, darling.”
Merle’s head snapped up. “Really? I guess I just assumed—”
“That the girl always goes on the bottom?” He laughed.
“No, I didn’t mean—yeah.” The grin took over his face.
“Tell you what. All appearances to the contrary, I’m not very promiscuous. So let’s work together a little, and if we’re both still interested—” He spread out his hands, palms up. “—we’ll fuck.”