Inside the library, however, flames crackled invitingly in the fireplace, giving the entire room a sense of warmthand welcome. The amber glow reflected over the surface of the glass coffee table, bathing the sitting area with its plush sofa and chairs in a circle of cozy light. The setting might have even been considered romantic if not for the third man seated across from him and Cameron.
Mr. Talon Andrews, the golden child of Platinum360 Public Relations.
Asher didn’t think he’d ever met anyone so polished and put together, not even Cameron. Every strand of Talon’s glossy, dark hair had been neatly coiffed into a trendy pompadour that accentuated his high cheekbones and square jaw. His fair complexion was indicative of someone who didn’t spend much time outdoors, and though he had to be in his thirties, his skin was utterly flawless, almost artificially so.
When they shook, Asher recognized the soft, pampered hands of a man who had never engaged in physical labor. A quick glance down indeed showed clean, manicured nails and neat, trimmed cuticles.
The ash-gray suit he wore was impeccably tailored, not to mention outrageously expensive, and Asher was pretty sure the diamond cufflinks were the real deal. The overhead lights gleamed off Talon’s black-and-silver wingtips, and Asher could literally see his reflection in the shiny leather.
“Coffee?”
Whether it was because of Cameron’s southern upbringing, or it was just something he did to help ease his nerves, he’d spent most of the morning flitting around the kitchen. He’d prepared coffee, tea, and a large batch of rich, velvety hot cocoa with homemade whipped cream. When he didn’t have anything else to do, he had gone around checking paper napkins, wooden drink stirrers, and the variety of sweeteners and creams, restocking as necessary.
He had even ordered half a dozen large boxes of donuts and pastries from a local bakery, which he’d asked Oz to pick up when Asher had refused to let him leave the house. He’d then kept up a careful rotation, bringing out another box when one had emptied. At noon, he’d started the entire process over, making fresh coffee and another fragrant pot of hot chocolate.
Asher expected the marriage proposals from the security guys to start any time now.
“There’s half-and-half or steamed milk. Sugar or no-calorie sweetener.” As he spoke, Cameron pointed out the different condiments on the bamboo tray he’d placed in the center of the coffee table. “I also brought cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.”
Asher turned away to hide his smile.
“Just black is fine, thank you,” Talon answered, accepting the cherry-red coffee mug Cameron passed to him. “You really didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
Asher had told him the same thing, but Cameron had just waved him away with a chaste kiss and one of his signature smiles Asher never could resist.
“Oh, it wasn’t any trouble.” Cameron passed another cup to Asher, then took his own and settled back onto the sofa beside him. “How was your trip to Chicago? Did you manage to save the day?”
Talon adjusted his silk tie, the fabric the same vibrant color of teal as his eyes. “I did, actually. Musicians can be—” His mouth turned up on one side. “—challenging.”
Which sounded like a nice way of saying they could be a pain in the ass. Asher knew actors, directors, producers, publishers, and even a few models. He didn’t know any famous musicians, though. Hopefully, he’d have a chance to rectify that on the set of the next Marshall Kane movie since the plot involved the murder of a rising country music star.
“I noticed you have quite a few security personnel in place.” Talon placed his coffee mug on the side table next to his chair without drinking from it. “I think it would be a good idea to keep them on for the next few days at the very least.”
Since that had been Asher’s plan anyway, he simply nodded.
“If you have any appointments, it would be best to postpone them,” Talon continued.
Asher nodded again, but Cameron sat forward and cleared his throat.
“There’s a cleaning company scheduled for Monday morning.” He waved his hand in a vague motion toward the library doors. “To do a deep clean after the party.”
“It’s best that you cancel.” Talon’s gaze slid from Cameron to Asher. “It won’t be like this forever,” he added, his tone threaded with practiced patience. “As cynical as it might sound, right now, it’s best not to trust anyone.”
Conceding that the guy was probably right, Asher clasped his hands together between his knees and sighed. “Okay, I’ll call the company later.”
“I can do it.” Cameron was already on his feet and pulling his cell phone from his back pocket. “I don’t know if they’re open today, but I can leave a message with their answering service.”
Asher frowned. “Cameron.”
In response, he simply tapped his cell phone against his palm and took another step toward the door. “Go ahead and get started. I’ll just be a minute.”
Knowing he wouldn’t win the argument, Asher dipped his head. “Thanks, Cam.”
If Talon found anything odd about the interaction, he didn’t show it. Hell, his expression was almost eerie in its neutrality as he bent to retrieve a tablet and a black notebook from his coffee-colored messenger bag. Aftertucking the tablet between the chair and his hip, he opened the leather-bound notebook and flipped to a page in the middle.
He looked at Asher expectantly. “While Mr. Stone is out of the room, I thought we could get a few of the more…sensitive questions out of the way.”
Instinctively, Asher glanced toward the library doors. “Such as?”
