Part 1 (2/2)

”Because it's mostly naked, not the full Monty. Besides, I'm getting paid to be gorgeous and naked on set, and everyone's a professional there. I'm narcissistic, not an exhibitionist.”

”Look, we're just meeting some of my friends here, and we'll be out quick.”

”You know they're not going to let me in and be around food with nothing on.” Bennie had only waited tables for a month before getting his break, but it was long enough to know that, and he wasn't above using it to get out of this torture.

Harley frowned and looked around the restaurant. ”You're probably right. Wait here.” He took off before Bennie could say anything.

While he waited, Bennie leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, letting the events that drove him here wash over him. He'd left his parents' trailer as soon as he graduated high school. He'd literally grabbed the parchment, climbed in his car, and started driving across the country. He'd made it to Los Angeles and started pounding the pavement, looking for any work he could get. Everyone had always told him how gorgeous or how hot he was. It was time to put it to a test. If he couldn't somehow work that to his advantage over the summer, he would return home and go to college. He didn't have to wait long. With his light brown skin and wavy black hair, he immediately caught everyone's attention when he batted his baby-blue eyes at them. Within a few weeks, the exotic combination got him signed to a lucrative contract, and he'd never looked back. Until now.

His circle of true friends had gotten smaller as his career took off. He was surrounded by people, all of them claiming to be his friends, but very few really were. Most of them were just using him, wanting the exposure he drew to get their fifteen minutes of fame. Hooking up with him to get their head shots to agents, hanging off his arm just to be seen, most of them with something to promote. Wear my new line. Help open my club. Introduce me to the photographer. Wear my new line. Help open my club. Introduce me to the photographer. It seemed never-ending. It seemed never-ending.

Then he'd met Palmer, and finally he felt he had a partner. Someone to stand by his side. He wanted Bennie for Bennie, not for what Bennie could do for him. Quiet nights at home, just the two of them, doing nothing but being with each other. Secluded dinners out, away from the crowds and the chaos that usually clung to him. Then the photos had started turning up online. Intimate moments caught with them unaware. Bennie couldn't believe the access this lucky photographer had gotten, so he started cutting people out of his life one by one, trying to figure out who was feeding the press these photos.

When it was down to Palmer and Harley, he knew which one it must be. Harley had been his best friend since he'd arrived in LA. He was the first person Bennie made friends with after settling in, all the way back at that c.r.a.ppy wanna-be-upscale restaurant. That first night, when Bennie didn't have a clue what he was doing, Harley stepped up to train him, never judging him on his looks. When the first agent came calling, Harley helped Bennie understand the contract. And Harley helped keep him grounded when fame tried to pull him apart. He didn't believe Harley would ever betray him in any way.

His heart broke when he realized it had to be Palmer. The confrontation had been awful. Palmer yelled and screamed at him with such sense of ent.i.tlement, it made his stomach roll. He found out Palmer had planned it from the beginning. Get himself famous by d.i.c.king Bennie over with no thought to Bennie's feelings. He was just another replaceable pretty face, after all.

When he decided he had to get away, Harley was the one who cleared his schedule and rearranged his commitments. Getting out of town and away from their regular crowd sounded like a great idea, and tagging along to visit Harley's high school buddies might be just the thing he needed-a low-key mini-vacation with real people instead of the soul-sucking toadies who usually surrounded him.

He sighed and bounced his head against the wall to clear out the negative energy. A voice roused him from his thoughts. He looked over and found a pair of stunning green eyes, just above the cutest pair of dimples he'd ever seen.

”Excuse me,” the stranger said. He and his party had come in through the outer door while he stood there lost in his thoughts. Bennie took in the well-made suit, down the well-formed legs, and back up to those incredible eyes. He was struck with an overwhelming urge to stick his tongue in one of the dimples that deepened as the man smiled wider.

”Dude? You mind?” Bennie noticed the man flinch when his friend stepped up next to him. Bennie bristled against the att.i.tude but stepped aside.

”Not at all,” he said, looking at Dimples, hoping to get another smile from him.

”Thank you,” Dimples mumbled and dropped his gaze as he followed his friends to a table.

Bennie watched them leave, with Dimples still staring at the floor. One of his friends stepped up to whisper something in his ear and slap him on the shoulder. Bennie could see his profile as he looked up and smiled at the p.r.i.c.k, but he could tell from where he stood that it wasn't real. Bennie wished he could see that infectious grin again.

”All right, man. Let's go.” Harley returned from his mission, somewhat defeated as he bent over to pick up his shorts and put them back on.

”What?”

”You're right. They won't let you in with it all hanging out.” He turned and waved at the party that had just been seated. ”We'll catch up with them later.”

Bennie noticed the man sitting next to Dimples waved back. ”You know those guys?”

”A couple of them. I went to school with them.”

Bennie looked at the other two men at the table, and he realized he recognized them. He didn't know them, but they had the exact same look as the group of sycophants he'd been removing from his life. The ones he'd left back in LA. He caught Dimples's eye and winked at him, delighted by the blush he watched race up the man's neck and cheeks before he quickly looked down to study his flatware. He turned to Harley, a plan forming in his mind.

”Give me a minute.”

Chapter Three.

ALLY sat down between Derek and Robbie, but his attention kept returning to the man at the host station. He watched the man's friend show up and say something while he put on his shorts before turning and waving at their table. Robbie waved back to him. Ally could feel his face burning when the gorgeous man looked directly at him and smiled. He looked down to study the place setting and nervously moved the silverware around. When he spared a glance back up, the man was heading toward the kitchen area, leaving his friend standing there. sat down between Derek and Robbie, but his attention kept returning to the man at the host station. He watched the man's friend show up and say something while he put on his shorts before turning and waving at their table. Robbie waved back to him. Ally could feel his face burning when the gorgeous man looked directly at him and smiled. He looked down to study the place setting and nervously moved the silverware around. When he spared a glance back up, the man was heading toward the kitchen area, leaving his friend standing there.

”Do you know them?”

Robbie shook his head. ”Just Harley. He went to school here before taking off.” He tried to wave Harley over, but Harley just put up a hand and waited for his friend.

”What about the other one?” Ally hoped his voice didn't sound as desperate as he thought it did. He cleared his throat and took a sip of water.

”He looks familiar, but I don't know him.” Derek looked over at Harley, who was pacing in the small foyer.

”Me, either,” Robbie said before flagging down a waiter and ordering drinks and food for the table.

”Oh. Okay.” Way to not sound desperate, Ally. Get your mind on why you're here. Way to not sound desperate, Ally. Get your mind on why you're here. ”Before I forget, I've started a new story. I really want your opinions.” He stood and pulled the pages from the inside pocket of his jacket before taking it off and draping it on the back of his chair. He handed out copies to both his friends and waited while they read them. The waiter brought the drinks and the first courses. Ally tried to catch him before he left, but as usual, he ignored Ally and rushed off to take care of other customers. He pushed the c.o.c.ktail away and picked up his water gla.s.s while his friends read his work. ”Before I forget, I've started a new story. I really want your opinions.” He stood and pulled the pages from the inside pocket of his jacket before taking it off and draping it on the back of his chair. He handed out copies to both his friends and waited while they read them. The waiter brought the drinks and the first courses. Ally tried to catch him before he left, but as usual, he ignored Ally and rushed off to take care of other customers. He pushed the c.o.c.ktail away and picked up his water gla.s.s while his friends read his work.

When they finished, he put the water down and turned to Derek. ”Well, what do you think?”

His friend's smile was wide. ”I think it's your best yet. It's fantastic. I can't wait to see how this works out. I'm hooked.”

”Really? You think so?”

”I know so,” Robbie kicked in. ”This one will get published. No doubt about it.”

”What do you like best about it?” Ally couldn't help but ask. He had to know just how far they would go to give him what they thought he wanted to hear.

”Everything, man. It really moved me.”

Ally nodded and leaned back in his chair. He'd suspected they had just been humoring him, but now he was sure of it. Now he had to decide what he wanted to do about it. He looked between his two friends. Derek motioned toward the appetizer, a serving of bacon-wrapped shrimp. Ally sighed and nodded, pus.h.i.+ng the plate toward him, while Robbie leaned over to take his c.o.c.ktail. ”You gonna drink this?”

”No, go right ahead.” Ally closed his eyes and shook his head. He was already running plans through his head, thinking of all the things he needed to do when he heard some movement behind him. He turned and saw Robbie's friend Harley walk up and put a hand on Derek's shoulder. The gorgeous man from the lobby stood next to Ally's chair. He looked past a skintight blue s.h.i.+rt to matching blue eyes. Ally let his gaze wander back down the man's body, but he stopped at the short ap.r.o.n right in front of his face. In his peripheral vision, he noticed the man's legs were exposed. He let out the breath he had been holding, inadvertently exhaling directly into the stranger's crotch. Ally really tried to look back at his face, but the ap.r.o.n s.h.i.+fted slightly, even though the rest of his body remained still. When he realized that meant there wasn't anything but bare skin under the ap.r.o.n, Ally blushed and studied his silverware again. ”Excuse me.”

”No problem, man.” He smiled at Ally and held his hand out. ”I'm Bennie.” Ally took it, but he couldn't remember his own name. Not with his eyes glued to the ap.r.o.n that seemed to be moving toward him.

Derek stood up and put one hand on Ally's shoulder and held the other out. ”I'm Derek, that's Robbie, and this is Aloysius.”

”I'm sorry. Did you say Aloe Wishes?” Bennie asked, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

”Close enough, dude.” Derek shook Bennie's hand, then Harley's. ”Hey, man, long time no see.”

Robbie stood and gave Harley a one-armed hug. ”Cop a squat.”

”Thanks. It's good to see you guys. It's been what, four, five years?”

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