Page 43 of Outside the Lines
“Well, I fixed it, with a lot of help from town.” I gestured to Simon. “So, I’m giving him a small tour.”
Interest flickered in Carter’s eyes, and he held out his hand to Simon. “Carter Samuels.”
Simon was still pale and somewhat wide-eyed, but he took the offered hand and shook it. “Simon Derry.” Soft, wondrous voice. He let go. All of Simon’s movements were careful. Yeah, starstruck.
“He and his wife own the comic and games place in town,” I said, as Carter took a sip of his coffee.
“End o’ Earth.” Simon’s voice sounded stronger now. Less overwhelmed.
A nod from Carter. “I’ve wanted to go in. Miss comics something fierce, but I wouldn’t know where to start with all the new stuff. I should research—” His wave encompassed the sound stage. “But I’m a little busy.”
I saw the gears grind in Simon’s head and watched the fear vanish—this topic he knew. “Well, if you tell me what you like, what you used to read, I can put together some books for you to try.”
A raised eyebrow from Carter. “Like a comic book sommelier?”
“Exactly.” Simon’s smile was stunning.
I wanted to drag him behind the sound stage and have my way with him.
Carter rattled off a few titles and why he liked them, and Simon whipped out his phone and jotted them down. I was trying hard not to laugh. Starstruck to salesman in no time flat. My lovely sexy Simon.
That’s when it hit me, a bit like a boom lowered too far. I was in love with Simon. Except I shouldn’t—couldn’t be. Notlovelove. Not long term. He was married—there wouldn’tbea long-term anything. I swallowed the gnawing lump just before the sound-stage door opened. “Mr. Samuels, we’re ready for you.”
“That’s their way of sayingget your ass in here,” Carter said. “Nice to meet you, Simon. I’ll stop by your shop next time I’m in town.” A quick nod to me. “Ian.” Carter threw back the rest of the coffee, then tossed the cup in the trash as he headed into the sound stage.
Once the door had clanged shut, Simon deflated. “Wow. Did that really happen? Did I just meet Carter Samuels?”
“Yup.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets and pushed away my churning thoughts. “And charmed the socks off him so he’s gonna come in and buy comics from you.”
Simon turned red. “Oh, shit.” Then he laughed. “Lydia’s gonna kill me.”
I clapped him on the back. “Let me show you the rest of the place.”
Took a good part of the day to walk around the lot. We watched Natalya working with the stunt actors, and meandered through a few of the other outdoor sets. One of the sound stages wasn’t being used, and turned out that was the one where the sacred grove had been built.
“This is weird.” Simon walked around the altar like the floor was covered in eggshells.
Itwaseerie to be here after working so hard on the miniature version. “It kinda is.” But also wonderful. “You know, we did this.” I gestured to the set. “In a week!”
His grin took my breath and did nothing to ease the worry in the back of my mind. But damn, I was going to enjoy Simon while I had him, so I let it go. We were both here, now.
He must have seen something in my stare, because a moment later, we were tangled in each other, hands in hair, and kissing like we hadn’t made out in my shop. “We shouldn’t do this here,” I said, between taking his mouth and making him moan.
“Probably not.” He was breathless and hard against me.
“Because what I want is to fuck you on that altar, and I would get in so much shit if I did that.” I cupped his package and he rocked into my palm.
Simon groaned. “Killjoy.”
Oh hell, that only intensified my desire to bend him over the altar. But logistically—and professionally—so not a good idea. “Let’s go back to my shop.” At least there I could lock the door.
We hurried out of the sound stage. Simon seemed determined and sexy and vulnerable all at once and I wanted him so bad. If I focused onnow, then I wouldn’t have to think about the future and the churn of my emotions. Lust was so much easier to unravel.
So, of course on the way back to my shop, we ran into Anna. She was walking with the assistant art director and the head of pyrotechnics. “Ian.Thereyou are. Come with me.”
I checked my phone, and there was a text I hadn’t felt. Shit. “Sorry, I didn’t—” But Anna was already marching off. I started after her, but realized Simon wasn’t at my side. “Si.”
“I—” He seemed spooked.
