Chapter 28
Slade
The wait was hell. From the perspective, where worry and concern lived wild and free, whoever was responsible for this breach had really fucked with my head. On the other hand, the man spread across my legs was now officially my guy.
I sat against the headboard, scrolling through my phone, not wanting to miss of minute of this brand-new Mace.
Last night at his family’s house then on to Linda’s home changed my handsome boyfriend in ways I didn’t know were possible.
He became less stern or resistant or both for that matter.
The bursts of laughter and joy were also new.
We spent the remainder of last night and these morning hours just having a good time together.
It might have been the best day of my life.
I lowered my phone and stared at the drape-covered window.
I wouldn’t be here right now if there wasn’t a blackmail attempt.
The moment of appreciation stunned me. Thankfully, before I went down that mental rabbit hole, my phone’s screen change drew my attention that direction.
Tommy’s name appeared. Based on the text, he was apparently in our house and making fun of me for sleeping in so long.
Why was he here? I racked my brain, trying my best to remember if I knew he was coming.
And did I want to leave this bed to find out?
Fuck. It took an insane amount of time to untangle from my sleeping guy. Last night hadn’t involved lovemaking, only the soul connecting chemistry we shared emotionally.
It appeared I’d have no sex this morning either.
The haze of the relief and love we had unexpectedly stumbled into last night hit the brakes hard, a whiplash assault, as I quietly shut Mace inside the bedroom and went in search of Tommy.
He wasn’t hard to find, sitting in Mace’s spot at the kitchen counter, dressed pristinely in what I guessed was Prada.
In complete contrast to the environment where he currently sat, bouncing his head to an unheard melody inside his earphones.
His fingers danced across his laptop’s keyboard.
I was able to walk up on him unnoticed as usual. When he finally caught a glimpse of me, I startled the shit out of him. His yelp was an added bonus, lightening the mood a bit.
“Why do you do that?” he asked, knocking one earphone free.
“Who could say? Why does it still scare you?” I asked, the chuckle escaping as I went for a cup of coffee.
“Do you know what time it is?” Tommy asked.
“Mace and I were up until about five this morning,” I said, coffeepot poised to pour as I glanced over my shoulder. “What time is it?”
“Ten-thirty. How did it go telling the parents?” he asked.
“Really good. Mace’s parents appeared to have known for a long time, only waiting for Mace to address it. Linda’s always comfortable and easy to be around.” I finally tipped the pot to fill my cup.
“You pretold them, correct?” I shoved the pot back on the burner and lifted a finger to my lips. That was a secret.
“Yeah. They were good to Mace. He needed the love,” I said, bringing the hot brew to my lips, blowing on the surface to keep from burning my lips.
“Boss, you’ve got to stop trying to control everything,” Tommy said, his fingers raised above the keyboard.
He knew me well, probably the only irreplaceable person on my team. I didn’t like his summation of my personality, but he also wasn’t wrong.
“This Mace’s stronger than you give him credit for,” Tommy continued. “But, as your personal assistant that handles all of your life, I think I’d be the first person you told that you’re gay.”
This was where Tommy shined. He could lay down the law while teasing the moment.
“You knew,” I said, taking another sip of the coffee. “How many men did you help out of my house over the years?”
“Hey, I don’t judge. They could have been there because you guys played poker the night before.” He couldn’t even hide the grin at his preposterous words. “Texas Hold ’em’s real. Is it hard on you that I’m straight? You can’t have all this?”
“You’re ridiculous,” I said, appreciative for the lift in my mood again. “Why’re you here?”
“A couple of reasons. One, you have to return to filming. They’ve handled whatever caused the delay and fines begin today. You were supposed to stay close,” he explained, his fingers still poised to type. Frozen in place.
“I have a family bereavement clause,” I said, trying my best to find a way to stay.
“You don’t need me to tell you that you’re full of shit. You know you are,” Tommy said. “My hope is, if I stay here, you’ll be more comfortable leaving.”
He wasn’t wrong, and my appreciation leaped forward. I managed to keep it inside. “Why else are you here?”
The truth came when he turned the laptop my direction.
A picture of Mace took most of the screen.
It wasn’t an incriminating shot, only him, standing with his hands on his hips, looking with concern at something outside the camera’s angle.
Honestly it was a really good image. It captured his facial features well.
He wore a ball cap backward and sunglasses. The guy was just handsome.
“They’re asking for a million in Bitcoin.”
What? My brain exploded, fragments launching every direction before zooming back together again.
“For what? They’d likely get a few thousand dollars for the pictures on the market.
” I discarded my coffee cup on the counter and tried to wrap my brain around a million in Bitcoin.
“Hell, post the fucking pictures. Screw it. Let’s get ahead of this.
Do it on my terms. And I want every motherfucker on this property investigated. This has to be an inside job.”
“Drones are a problem,” Tommy said. I’d thought about that option.
A drone was likely used in many of these pictures, but the twelve to fifteen employees in my day-to-day life knew I was protective of Mace.
Whoever caused this drama aimed their arrow at me.
A million in Bitcoin. Hell, I’d shout it to the heavens and back that I was gay and Mace was my partner. Fuck them.
I went for one of the windows, staring out at the patio and the pasture beyond. My new herd roamed in the distance. Willow was out there with them. Sometimes I wondered if she thought she was one of the herd.
Nothing else penetrated as my brain locked on to finding out who my problem was. If I identified them, this would all come to an end.
Dammit.
“I need to talk to Mace first, but I refuse to be blackmailed. I say we leak the pictures they sent. Have public relations twist the narrative to one of love and truth. Fuck them.” My mind raced over the possible repercussions of such an action.
My middle America viewership was going to have a problem with this, but I honestly didn’t care.
That had changed inside me.
The man I wanted to be after meeting Mace was locking in place. I wanted access to a traditional life. The growing family we embraced last night was a major step toward a normal existence.
“I agree with that decision,” Tommy said. “Why’re we hiding? But Steve doesn’t agree. He wants more time.”
“Why?” I clipped out, fighting the burst of anger that erupted. Fuck Steve too.
“He’s working something for you behind the scenes that we aren’t privy to yet,” Tommy explained.
“What’s he working on?” I asked with accusation. Any new projects or roles were off the table. I planned to give Austin the best of who I was an actor. I only achieved that with study and discipline. Steve had been made very clear that I wanted nothing new for at least the next few years.
“My guess is the remake of The Lord of the Rings,” Tommy said.
Oh yeah. They’d been scouting me hard over the last few months.
“I’m not doing that. What’s wrong with him?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. I finally glanced at Tommy.
He didn’t answer.
Dammit.
“Look, Slade, your reputation’s taking a serious hit. Backing out of projects, having to pay advances back. Your attitude’s shit. Not being there to film…” Tommy sat back, splaying his hands.
Hmm. I cinched my arms tighter. Tommy wasn’t wrong—again—but if I followed Austin’s advice, time would heal those wounds I caused.
I refused to give props to the people behind the disastrous photos. I refused to be beaten.
“This is salacious. You know what’s going to happen,” Tommy added. “However it lands, it’ll be a lot to deal with.”
The happiness in my heart died along with my hopes and dreams.
“My private life’s my own,” I said defensively.
“Sure. If you lived in the 1970s. Definitely not present day. You also have to factor in Breezy. You two appear to be dating exclusively. This’ll make you a liar, or cheater, or whatever.”
Fuck.
Silence held between us again as my mind churned through the new concerns and stared out the window.
“Can I make it financially on the series Austin has for me?”
“Depends on how the first one does. Is middle America ready for two gay cowboys?”
No, they weren’t. It had eventually worked out for Austin, but it took several years for him to get back on his feet again.
“How long does my money last?” I asked, looking over my shoulder.
“Awhile. You can’t live like this forever. You have an expensive staff. I’m waiting for my merit raise now…” He was aiming for humor to stave off my moody brooding but the request landed flat.
What did I do now?
It wouldn’t be awful to let much of my team go… The simplicity of a life without the Hollywood juggernaut constantly churning at my back meant something special.
“Have they identified Mace?” I asked.
“Yes. They know about his incriminating legal record, but you know about that, don’t you?” Tommy asked.
My silence seemed to answer his question.
“Huh. So, it’s true.” Tommy finally dropped his hands in his lap. He was losing some of his let’s solve this problem demeanor. “It’ll be hard to contain the narrative of the accident since so many people died. He’s nice-looking in the rugged cowboy way. I’ll give you that.”
Tommy couldn’t have done anything more to spark my anger, and I came quickly to Mace’s defense.