Page 60 of Meeting Mr. Adorkable
“I know.”
Gripping the stem of his flute, Lucian’s nervy gaze flittered between them. Arlo’s combative stare had mellowed a little, softening the snarl into something that was more, if only a little, like a genuine smile.
Jonas inclined his head. “You are indeed. Enjoy your night, Arlo, every single moment of it. We’ll speak tomorrow.” Raising his glass in salute, he excused himself and disappeared into the crowd.
Lucian sagged against Arlo.
“You okay?” Arlo asked, concern coloring his words.
Lucian nodded. “Yeah. He’s a bit intense.”
Arlo snorted. “That’s one way of putting it. I could see he was making a move from right across the room. Are you sure you’re okay? Jeez, I don’t know how I stopped myself from laying one on him.” He rested a palm against Lucian’s cheek and all Lucian wanted to do was purr as he pushed his face into Arlo’s warm, sure touch.
“I’m glad you didn’t. Although, aren’t all great artists meant to be tempestuous and temperamental? It could be your brand. The Punching Painter.”
Arlo blinked down at him, before he grinned, the last of his tension and held back anger draining away. Lucian allowed himself a silent sigh of relief.
“Do you think we could just slip away and—”
“Arlo! You’re the second most famous guy the town has produced, after my illustrious ancestor, of course!”
Both Lucian and Arlo looked around at the handsome, good-natured face of Sheriff Morgan.
“I heard,” Sheriff Morgan said, leaning closer and lowering his voice, “a couple of New York types talking about showing your work there. Hope you’re not planning on hauling your ass back east after only being back in the Creek a few months?”
“No way. I’ve got everything I want and need right here.”
Sheriff Morgan’s friendly eyes shifted from Arlo to Lucian. “How’s it going, working with Bibi?”
“Oh well, Bibi’s… Bibi.”
“She sure is.” Sheriff Morgan nodded as he laughed.
Lucian was glad of the sheriff’s easy, good natured chat, easing away any lingering tension.
“Are you sure we can’t slip away?” Arlo whispered into his ear when Sheriff Morgan left them. “That suit looks great on you, but I can’t wait to take it off.”
Lucian’s spine tingled as Arlo’s eyes, dark with desire, stared into his. His heart pounded hard. “Yes—”
“Hey man, not been able to get near you all evening. You’ve been surrounded by all your fans paying homage. Hope fame’s not gonna turn your head?” Hank laughed before he took a nervous sip of champagne, and grimaced. He looked uncomfortable and hot in his ill-fitting suit.
Lucian blinked. He’d been so caught up in slipping away, and slipping off his suit, he’d not noticed Hank’s arrival.
“Just think of all those stories you can sell to the papers about what we got up to when we were young and handsome. Here, let’s get rid of that.” He plucked the glass from Hank’s hand. “I’ll get them to grab you a beer.” Calling over a waitress, he whispered to her, and she nodded with a smile. Hank looked almost pathetically grateful.
“My goodness, Arlo, this is awesome. Who would have thought it, me being a good friend of a famous artist? Oh, my, more champagne!” Francine, newly arrived and pink cheeked, plucked a glass from the waitress who arrived back with Hank’s beer. Her eyes settled on Lucian, and widened to cartoonish proportions. “Luci-Ann! Oh, my gosh! I didn’t recognize you! You look so, so… different. I didn’t realize your eyes were so big and blue. Hank, doesn’t he look good enough to eat?”
“Errr um…” Hank stuttered, and Lucian squirmed.
Arlo’s arm, still around his waist, tugged him in closer, and Lucian had to use all his willpower not to snuggle into him and bury his burning face into Arlo’s muscular chest.
More people joined them, bestowing their congratulations on Arlo. Lucian knew a few by sight from around town, but most of them were strangers. Arlo accepted their congratulations and adulation with good natured, if reserved, thanks. Hank and Francine, edged out by the adoring newcomers, gave him a quick wave and disappeared into the crowd.
Arlo sighed when there was a brief lull. “Do you have any idea how long we need to stay for?” he murmured. “I think my face is gonna crack if I have to keep smiling.”
“It’s the price of fame. You’re now in the public eye.”
Lucian ached to be alone with Arlo, just the two of them, but this was Arlo’s first showing and he needed to embrace the opportunities it would bring, and which his talent deserved. A wave of pride flooded through him, mixed with other feelings he wasn’t brave enough to examine too closely. He looked out over the crush of people.
