Even then, it was a gradual realization. In fact, it wasn’t until he and Helena were staring at the monitor, watching the playback of Grayson’s screen test, that he noticed the particular way Grayson gesticulated as he talked, the way he tossed his head to knock his hair out of his eyes, the resonant quality of his voice. Well, also that ass in those pants. He stared at the monitor and suddenly recognized the feeling. It wasn’t just that Grayson was good-looking; Nolan wasattractedto him.
That was bad news if they were going to work together, although if Nolan was doing the math right, there was also a fifteen-year age gap that was a pretty big impediment. Nolan had no desire to date a twenty-five-year-old. What kind of terrible cliché was that anyway?
He sighed.
“The kid’s good, no?” said Helena.
“Yeah, he’s great. I mean, he’s an infant, but the camera loves him. He’s so inexperienced, though….”
“That’s the point. Garrett and I decided we wanted someone to work with you who was young and had fresh ideas. I love you, honey, but your recent work has been a little uninspired.”
Nolan balked, although Helena was right. The last collection of home goods he’d designed had been very beige. There was a place for beige, of course, but even he could tell he was playing it too safe.
“I can do this on my own,” Nolan said.
“I know. And you’re definitely the star. The families that have applied for the show all addressed their audition videos to you. You’re the one they’re going to scream about when you turn up on their doorstep. I just think we need some new blood too, and this is an excellent opportunity for an up-and-coming designer. And I should tell you, this kid idolizes you. He almost passed out when he walked into the conference room earlier. Garrett said he wouldn’t shut up about you at their first meetings. This kid wants the job, and I think he’d be good at it.”
Nolan sighed. “All right. I can probably teach him some things.”
Helena laughed. “There you go.”
They reconvened in the conference room a half hour later. Garrett was all smiles, which meant he wanted this kid for the show. Nolan didn’t know Garrett very well, but in the three months they’d spent developingResidential Rehab, Nolan had figured out his facial expressions.
“I think I’ve talked Nolan into it,” Helena said as they sat down.
“Really?” said Grayson.
“I… sure.” Nolan sighed. “Let’s do it.”
The kid shot out of his seat and jumped. “Oh my God. Thank you so much. I can’t…. I’m so grateful. I promise you will not regret this.”
Nolan already regretted it a little, but he nodded and stood, intending to shake Grayson’s hand.
Grayson gave him a hug instead. It surprised Nolan; he was shocked by how warm and friendly it felt, puzzled by the fact that the first man he’d been attracted to in over a year was now pressed against him, and he gave the kid a quick squeeze and then pulled away.
“Sorry,” Grayson said. “I got excited.”
“It’s all right,” Nolan said.
Helena clapped once. “This is so great. I’m excited to start filming.”
But suddenly Nolan was nervous as hell.
Chapter Three
GRAYSON’S FIRSTtask as cohost—holy cow!—ofResidential Rehabwas to watch the audition tapes of the families who had applied to be on the show. He and Nolan had two tasks: pick families that would look good on TV and who could talk to a camera without fidgeting too much, and pick families that seemed like they could genuinely use help.
He and Nolan sat in a largely empty room in the high-rise owned by the Restoration Channel. Eventually the room would be their studio set, where they’d film the two of them making design decisions together, but for now it was an echo-y room with white walls and scarred wood floors. He and Nolan sat beside each other on an old, uncomfortable prop sofa, across from a TV. Nolan controlled the video from a tablet.
Grayson’s heart pounded, and it took everything in him to pretend that this was all totally normal and he wasn’t sitting next toNolan Hamlin.Nolan is just a regular guy, Grayson tried to tell himself. Sure, he was handsome, but so were hundreds of other men in New York. Hell, last week Grayson had talked to an impossibly handsome guy at a bar and had held it together just fine. He and Nolan were coworkers now—he needed to get used to him.
Coworkers. Regular guy. Sure, that was totally believable.
“All right, here’s the first family,” said Nolan, clearly oblivious to Grayson’s inner turmoil.
Trying to look like he was taking this seriously, Grayson sat poised on the edge of the sofa, a clipboard on his lap and a pen in his hand, ready to take notes.
The video started with a middle-aged couple on screen. “Hi. I’m Carol and this is my husband, George. Recently, we inherited my father’s old house, and we decided that since it was paid for and we were renting, it was the perfect opportunity to become homeowners. But as soon as we got to the house, we realized it was in rough shape. Come with me.”
