Hunks of the Month

Chapter 21

STERLING WAS helping in Connor’s booth, but he sat down in back out of the way when he realized he really wasn’t needed. Connor was doing great on his own. At noon, he got Connor something to eat, and they sat behind the back wall of the booth and hid for fifteen minutes. “Drink a little more so your voice doesn’t wear out.”

Connor took the bottle and drank before finishing his salad and chicken wrap.

“I know this is bothering you,” Sterling said.

“I’m trying not to let it. There’s nothing I can do about it, and I need to be at my best.” The small lines around Connor’s eyes told Sterling a lot more than his words. “It will be okay. I don’t know how, but somehow I know it will.” He brushed his hand over Sterling’s shoulder. “You’ll do amazing things, and your images will appear forty feet tall all over the country. I have school breaks, and I’ll go where you are, and you said you’d come back here when you can. Maybe we can have spring in Paris.” Connor was trying to put a brave face on things, but Sterling saw the darkness in his eyes. Connor always seemed so positive, and his eyes always radiated intense heat and excitement, almost no matter what he was doing. The public wouldn’t notice it, but Sterling saw that was missing. Connor could put on his smile and talk to people all day, listening to what they wanted to say. But only Sterling could see past the facade to know he was hurting. His eyes, with their intense blue that drew him in each and every time, had lost their sparkle, and Sterling hated beyond words that he had been responsible for that.

“Are you done?” Sterling asked, gathering the trash. “Drink a little more water and take the bottle out with you. I’ll take care of this.” He wished he could take Connor in his arms, kiss away the hurt, and tell him that nothing was going to keep them apart, no matter what. But he couldn’t make promises—not like that. This required action, not words.

“I EXPECT HER in an hour,” Sterling told Connor when he called for the fourth time. Apparently he was as nervous about this meeting as Sterling was. They had spent much of the past few days together, but Sterling felt like things were different. During the day, everything seemed normal. Connor went to work, and Sterling had his appointments. But the evenings were strained. An elephant had suddenly sprung up from the ground and stood right between them. There was no need to talk about the offer and what it meant, because they already had, but it was there nonetheless. Connor thought he was hiding his worried expressions, but Sterling saw them when Connor didn’t think he was looking. “I have everything cleaned up and the appetizers you made ready to go.” Sterling could not believe that Connor had insisted on making something to serve.

“Do you want me to come over when I’m done with work? I can stay away if you want the time alone.”

Sterling was well aware that Connor wanted to come over, and he figured Connor needed it. Maybe if he met Endrea then she wouldn’t be this bogeyman-type person who was trying to break up his relationship with her employment contract and job offer. “Come over about six. That will give me about an hour to review things with her. We planned to have dinner, and then she’s apparently going on to Pittsburgh.” Though Sterling had no idea why.

“Okay. I’ll see you then.” He paused. “I hope everything goes well and you get what you want.”

For the past few days, Connor had been vocally supportive every chance he got, and it was starting to drive Sterling crazy. He knew that Connor was saying what Sterling wanted to hear, and sometimes he wanted to scream. What Sterling really wanted to know was exactly how Connor felt in his own words—he didn’t want to read between the lines to try to determine what Connor was actually saying.

“Things are going to be fine. Just relax and have a good class. I’ll see you in a few hours.” He ended the call and put away the last of the cleaning supplies. Then he got the food ready to serve before peering out the window as a limousine pulled up right in front. Sterling went to the door and opened it as Endrea regally got out from the back and joined him at the stoop. “It’s good to see you again,” he said, extending his hand.

She took his hand and smiled. “It’s been since Paris a few years ago.” She released his hand. “This is a beautiful town. Parts of it feel like home,” she said with a flowing French accent that made her sound exotic.

“Please come in.” He motioned, and she floated past him like one of her runway models. “I have us in here.” He motioned toward the living room. “Would you like something to drink? I have some nice wine or, if you prefer, a cocktail.”

“I would love a martini, please, dry,” she said, and Sterling went to the kitchen. He was aware of what Endrea liked, so he had the fixings ready. After mixing the drinks, he brought them in along with the hummus Connor had made and set everything out on the coffee table. She sipped from the glass, smiled, and then set it back on the table. “I thought we would get our business completed before we went to dinner.”

“I agree.” He picked up his tablet, where he had the agreement loaded. She pulled a paper copy out of her bag. “I’ve reviewed the document in detail, and there are parts that are fine. The pay is acceptable, as is the travel. I’m aware of what this kind of job entails.”

“Yes. You will be my right-hand man when it comes to visuals for this line. I will need you close.”

Sterling wasn’t surprised at her response. He reached to the table beside him and handed a copy of the calendar to her.

“Yes. I have seen this. It’s why I am here.”

“Of course. I’m aware. Open it, please, and tell me what your favorite images were.” He sat back and tried to look comfortable even as his heart raced.

“I love this one. It’s very evocative.” She showed him the picture of Red and Terry.

“He’s an Olympic gold medalist, and the other man is a police officer here in town. They’re a couple.” He leaned forward. “The lighting is because Red has scars from an accident, and we used it to minimize them. If you look closely, you can see them, but you wouldn’t if you didn’t know they were there. But… see that look, it’s all them. All I did was capture their feelings for one another.” He smiled, and she flipped a few pages.

“This one with the firefighters. They’re too big for models, and yet they seem softer and kind of gentle, like guys I’d like to meet and have to dinner with, one on either side of me.”

Sterling liked her more and more, especially her smile.

“They’re also a couple. They met on the job. I wanted them to look like firemen without the usual accessories, so we used the hose. But those eyes and that look, it’s also a reflection of how they feel. The only fire in that picture is the one they light in each other.” Sterling waited as Endrea began to nod.

“I see that.” She thumbed through the pictures. “And this one is you.” She paused at April. “And this man….” She smiled and nodded. “Your Scotsman?”

“Yes. His name is Connor, and he’s a history professor. And yes, that’s how he dresses most days. Connor is very proud of his heritage.”

She continued looking at the image. “What does he think of this job offer?” she asked without looking up.

“He told me that I had to take it. That he wouldn’t allow me to give up the chance of a lifetime.” Sterling figured it was best to be honest with her. “That’s the kind of guy he is. Connor is unselfish, and he would never put himself first. He’s running for mayor right now so he can make the town better.”

Endrea set the calendar beside her. “What is it you’re saying? That you don’t want this job?”

Sterling rubbed his hands together. “I want to do this so much I can taste it. I have ideas on various models who would be amazing to represent you and your brand. I can’t wait to see the designs so we can develop a campaign that will take the world by storm.”

“Wonderful. I need you in Paris next week, and while you’re there, you can look for a place to live and—”

Sterling put his hand up. “But I need Connor more than any job. I can’t do this without him. I’ve already done the globetrotting thing, being away from the person I’m with, and you know how that worked out. The entire world apparently got a ringside seat. I can be in Paris next week if you want, but I won’t move there. This is my home, and it’s where Connor is. I won’t relocate, and I’m not going to spend my entire life on planes going back and forth. I know you’re based in Paris, but if you want me, then I’ll be based here. I can be in New York by train in under four hours. I will travel to Paris, Milan, Morocco, Rome, wherever you need me, but at the end of the day, I come back home to Connor.” He leaned forward, picked up the calendar, and opened it to April. “I can’t give him up because this was as much him as it was me.” He pointed. “This image was his idea. He made this happen, and as you can guess, I wasn’t even behind the camera. Connor is my inspiration. He makes me better. I can’t give him up, and I know you’re aware that long-distance relationships don’t last.” Look at him and Alexander—a prime example. “But people in happy, stable relationships make the best business associates because they’re happy.”

She picked up her glass, sipped, and didn’t answer right away, her intense brown eyes unreadable. “This was not what I was expecting.” She held the glass, swirling the liquid as she watched it. “I like to keep my people close to me. This is a creative business.”

“Yes. But it’s a business.” He leaned forward. “How many times a year do you travel to New York? A dozen? More?”

“Not as much as I used to. I Skype, or we have internet conferences, and….” She sipped from the glass and smiled. “You made your point.”

“And let’s not forget that fashion is a business. Travel is expensive, and so is relocating people to live in Paris only to have them travel around the globe.” He had her attention at least. That was good. “Let me ask you something. Do you see your men’s brand as international or more American-based, as far as the look?”

She didn’t hesitate. “American. Without a doubt. It needs to be clothes that men will want to wear every day, and yet they need to have style and a great cut.” She brought out some boards and handed them to Sterling. “This is confidential.”

“Of course.” He looked them over. They were amazing, and he could see himself in them. “I bet these would work for guys no matter the size.”

“That was the idea. I wanted something real men could wear, not just models or teenagers.” Sterling handed the boards back, and she slipped them into her bag.

“Will you take a walk with me?” Sterling asked.

They set their glasses aside, and Sterling quickly took care of the food before guiding Endrea out of the house and leading her toward the main street. “This isn’t your everyday American town. It’s vibrant and understands its history.” He led her to the courthouse. She stepped around front and stopped at the fluted red stone columns that soared up almost forty feet.

“I see what you mean.” Sterling could almost see her mind going to work. “That’s too new over there. But this—it’s like Rome meets America, old world meets new.”

“Just like your clothes,” Sterling said as his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered Connor’s brief message, telling him where they were. “I’m thinking that instead of trying to make New York or Paris or Milan the background for your clothes, we make it places like this—American places, coast to coast, and that includes New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, but also New Orleans, Natchez, Savannah, Albuquerque. Iconic places backing up looks that we want to be just as iconic.”

Endrea put her hand up. “Okay. I’m convinced.” She smiled, her eyes filling with excitement. “I do want you in Paris next week so we can start laying out the plan for the entire campaign. I have samples of all the clothes, and we’ll start our model search.” She held out her hand, and Sterling shook it.

“I see you came to an agreement,” Connor said quietly as he approached.

Sterling couldn’t help smiling as he turned.

“This gorgeous man must be Connor,” Endrea said, shaking his hand. “Yes. We have agreed to many things.” Her gaze traveled over Connor, and Sterling felt a growl welling in his throat. There was no way he wanted anyone looking at Connor like that. “If you were a model, I’d have you in one of my Paris shows in two seconds.”

“I’m not. I only appear in pictures for Sterling, and that’s just how I like it. Now… if you decide to design a line of kilts, then I’d certainly be your man.” Connor smiled, but it didn’t go all the way to his eyes.

“Do you always dress this way?” Endrea asked.

“Yes, he does. Connor is Scottish, and these are his clan colors.” Sterling slid an arm around Connor’s waist and turned to Connor, letting his smile shine through.

“When do you leave for Paris?”

“I need him there next week.”

“I see,” Connor said, tensing.

“It’s only a business trip for a few weeks. Endrea and I have agreed that my home will be here. There will be travel and a lot of work, but much of it will be over Skype and videoconferencing.”

Endrea actually patted his shoulder. “Sterling, I’m going to walk back to your house.”

“We won’t be long,” Sterling told her, and she nodded and smiled, heading back the way they had come. “Look, honey, I know what you’re thinking, but you’re wrong. I took the job with Endrea and I’m going to Paris next week, but I’m coming back, because this is my home. You are my home. Yeah, I jumped at the opportunity, but I’m not moving. It will mean travel, but I know that you’ll be waiting at the end of each trip.”

“But… she could have said no.”

Sterling shrugged. “Yes, she could have. But Endrea is creative, smart, and a businessperson. She also wants amazing images for her campaign, and she wants the feel of what I’ve been doing.”

Connor lightly smacked his shoulder. “You could have blown your entire chance, and I told you not to because….” He groaned. “I would have felt awful if you had lost your dream job because of me.”

“But I didn’t. I got the job and I got you.” Sterling tugged Connor closer. “That will be the best of both worlds. Now… I think you and I better go to my place, because my new boss is walking there, and I don’t think it’s a great idea to leave her waiting on the sidewalk. She might change her mind, or worse.” He smiled and took Connor’s hand, and they walked back toward the house.

“Worse…? What does that mean?” Connor paused as though trying to figure out the nuclear option.

“Yeah. She might try to turn you into the face for her brand.” Sterling shivered at the thought and continued walking with Connor. He’d seen the way Endrea had practically devoured Connor. “I think one model boyfriend is enough for a lifetime.”

“Maybe I’d like being the face of a brand and being in front of the camera.” Connor stepped back, legs apart, hands on his hips, chest out, the breeze blowing his shirt and the hem of his kilt. Connor presented quite a sight as squealing brakes sounded from behind them. Yeah, he was definitely enough to stop traffic. A semi passed, swirling the air, and Connor’s kilt took on a life of its own.

“Come on, Marilyn. No flashing the town.” Sterling pulled Connor into his arms, where he belonged. “Besides, if you want to be in front of a camera, that can be arranged whenever you want, no modeling—or clothes—required.” He held him tight. “I love you, Connor,” he said, barely loud enough to be heard over the traffic.

“And I love you,” Sterling read on Connor’s lips, which he then kissed hard and deep, right there on the street.

“Get a room, Professor!”

Sterling backed away, and they both chuckled. Then he took Connor’s hand and headed for home.