Beautiful Box Set

Chapter 4-1

Chapter 4

Johnny’s never bothered to reconnect with anyone he’s met in a club before. He rarely takes their number, never gives his own. But he needs a portfolio before he meets up with Lou again, and he doesn’t know any other photogs in town. Not to mention that the earnings he made years ago are rapidly dwindling down to nothing, so he hopes to maybe get some sort of discount from this Brett Cary guy. And who knows where things might lead between them? Johnny may not be looking for a man, but if one just sort of found him, he’s not likely to kick him to the curb.

There is a scary moment when the phone stops ringing, before Brett says a word, but he recognizes Johnny’s voice and the world starts spinning again. “I’ve been thinking of you all day,” he says. “Why didn’t you tell me you were famous?”

“We didn’t really get much chance to talk,” Johnny points out.

Part of him preens to think someone recognized him, but a little voice inside wants to know who else might have, too. A voice that sounds suspiciously like Lou. At least there were no paps inside the club. Johnny and Brett left separately so when the cameras started to whirl, they wouldn’t be caught in the same frame. Not that any of the paparazzi seemed to clue in to who he was.

“JT, right?” Brett laughs, an infectious sound, and Johnny remembers how he tasted at the club, fresh and heady, spearmint gum and a hint of rum. “Man, I used to have wet dreams about you.”

That has to be the best thing anyone’s ever said to Johnny. He’s heard dozens of girls say they loved him when they were little, but none of the guys he’s ever been with really seemed to care. He can’t stop the stupid grin that tugs at his lips. “Really?”

“Listen,” Brett says, “I’m in the middle of a shoot right now, but maybe we can hook up tonight, what do you think? Dinner, a movie, get to know each other a little better?”

There’s something seductive in his voice that makes it hard for Johnny to say no. As if he would. But he needs pictures, and soon. “Actually, I wasn’t kidding about the headshots last night. I’m trying to get back in the game and my manager says I need an updated portfolio. I was wondering, if maybe you weren’t too booked….”

“I’m free after two.” Lowering his voice, Brett purrs, “I don’t usually mix business with pleasure, but there’s always the exception to the rule.”

“Then maybe we can do something afterwards,” Johnny says. A hint of suggestion creeps into his voice, and he has to shift from one foot to the other to dull the sudden ache at his crotch. Brett was hot, from what Johnny remembers, and damn, that voice of his just seems to curl up inside Johnny’s ear and trickle down the back of his neck like warm honey. “Let’s get the business out of the way first, then move onto the pleasure.”

Long after he hangs up, he still hears that voice in his mind. I’ve been thinking of you all day. Johnny decides that’s a much better come-on line than the one about modeling, and he’s glad he gave the man a chance.