Chapter 12
The Mountain View resort was a pleasant surprise for Thomas. While the outside was rustic, the interior was elegant without looking at all out of place in the mountains. While they waited for the maître d’ to lead them to their table, Thomas took a moment to admire the dining room decor, which featured locally produced art and had illumination which shifted in ever changing colors. But any thoughts about the art were driven away as he looked out the room-spanning windows at the view of the sun sinking down toward the peaks of the western mountains, which were cloaked in intense autumn shades of red, gold, and orange against a sky shading from pale blue to dark violet.
He absently thanked the maître d’ as he was handed a menu. “This is the most incredible view I’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “The view from the Parkway was fantastic, but wow, can you imagine seeingthisevery day?”
“I grew up around here, so yeah, I can,” Rhys said with a playful wink. “It never gets old, though.”
“I bet. I think… no, IknowI’m jealous.” Thomas grinned at him. “Makes it hard to think about going back to the flat and dusty plains of New Mexico, you know?”
“New Mexico has its own kind of beauty, and I like it out there, but this is still home,” Rhys said, gazing out the window with a faraway look in his eyes. “I’m glad you like it here,” he added, snapping his attention back to Thomas. “Some people find it claustrophobic.”
“I felt a little closed in at first,” Thomas admitted. “But now I think it’s gorgeous.” He continued to watch the sunset, not looking away until the last rays had faded from the sky, then he sighed with pleasure. “If the food here is as good as the floor show, I’m in for a treat.”
“It is,” Rhys said with a decisive nod. “I heard the founding chef used to work at a Michelin starred restaurant in New York.”
Thomas opened his neglected menu and was impressed with the variety of items, all of which, a small paragraph inside stated, were produced with locally sourced ingredients. “I think I’ll have to indulge in wine to go with dinner, instead of a beer.” He peered over his menu at Rhys. “What do you recommend? I’m thinking the pork chops with pine nuts sounds good.”
“In my experience, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu,” Rhys said. “I haven’t had anything here that I didn’t like. But I’m going to stick to my favorite. Mountain trout with steamed vegetables.”
Thomas widened his eyes. “Would you be averse to sharing?”
“If I say I am, you’ll just work me over with those big blue eyes of yours, so I’ll save myself the trouble and give in to my fate now,” Rhys said dryly.
Thomas couldn’t help it. He laughed and shook his head. “You know me too well, not that I’m complaining.”
When the waiter returned, he was happy to take their food and drink orders. Thomas ordered a glass of wine, but Rhys requested a double bourbon. The waiter also brought a basket of assorted breads that smelled so delicious Thomas couldn’t resist sampling each kind.
“I hope all this good food isn’t going to go straight to my waist. My role in that indie film next month is an impoverished medical student, so I don’t think they’d appreciate me rolling onto set.”
Rhys seemed intent on tearing a piece of bread into little bits, and he cleared his throat. “I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about,” he said gruffly. “You look fine.”
While Thomas was pleased that Rhys approved, he thought it was time to push the envelope a bit. “Thanks, but I do worry. You know how acting is. The competition is so fierce. You’d tell me if you thought I was starting to look stocky, wouldn’t you?”
Rhys cleared his throat again, and a faint hint of pink stained his cheeks. “I mean, you look fine now, but I think you’d look good even if you gained some weight.” He looked up at last and met Thomas’s gaze. “Don’t get caught up in all that body image bullshit. I know this industry is appearance-driven, but I’d hate to see you get all messed up about how you look.”
Thomas reached across the table to clasp Rhys’s hand and give it a squeeze. “I appreciate it. I try to stay healthy, but there are definitely realities in this business I have to keep in mind, too. My work is all I have at the moment.”
Rhys studied Thomas, a slight frown creasing his brow. “Why is that?” he asked at last. “You’re young and attractive, but I haven’t known you to date anyone since we met. You don’t work every day of the year. You could find someone if you wanted to.”
For a long moment Thomas didn’t answer. He couldn’t answer truthfully without scaring Rhys away. What could he say, when he wanted Rhys and no one else?
“It’s not that easy,” he said at last. “First, it’s hard to be sure if someone wants to be withmeor be with someone on a hit show. Second, you know how it is with filming. The crazy schedules and the long days make it hard to meet anyone. And finally… I’ve been interested in someone for quite a while, but he doesn’t feel the same way.”
Rhys’s eyebrows climbed, and there was a flash of surprise in his eyes. “Are you sure he’s gay? Because if he is, I have no idea why he wouldn’t be interested.”
Thomas gave him a lopsided smile. Oh, if Rhys only knew! “I’m positive he’s gay. As to why he’s not interested… it’s complicated, and I’m not yet at the point where I’m ready to give up and move on.”
“I’m sorry.” Rhys offered a sympathetic smile. “For what it’s worth, I think any guy would be lucky to have you.”
“Thanks.” Thomas picked up his water glass and drank to keep himself from blurting out that Rhysdidhave him. “Enough about my lack of a love life. Do you mind if I ask a nosy question?”
Rhys looked curious and a little wary at that, but before he could reply, the waiter returned with their drinks, and Rhys picked up his bourbon and took a sip.
“Sure,” he said. “Go ahead.”
Knowing he might be stepping on a landmine, Thomas drew in a deep breath. “You don’t have any photos of Andy on display in your house. I was wondering why.”
Rhys went still, but his expression was pensive rather than angry. After a moment, he lifted his glass and drained it, and then he signaled to the waiter for another.
