“Thank you. I’m Thomas Monroe when I’m not chasing the undead. And that fine fellow over there is Rhys Sutton, our stunt coordinator… and my boyfriend.” Thomas knew he didn’t have to add that qualifier, but hewantedto. For whatever brief time they had, Rhys was his, and he liked how it felt to claim Rhys.
Caleb glanced over at Rhys, appearing impressed. “My husband is the executive chef here,” he said.
Thomas pulled out his wallet so he could retrieve his driver’s license and a credit card. “Your husband is the one who has the Michelin star? That’s impressive.”
Thomas could practically see Caleb’s chest puffing up with pride as he entered Thomas’s information into the resort’s reservation system. “He is,” Caleb said. “He started his career in New York. He’s an amazing chef.”
“We were very impressed with our meal,” Thomas said. It was true, even if he hadn’t been able to do justice to his. “Though Rhys was a little too impressed with the bourbon, I think. He’s not usually much of a drinker, and we came here on his motorcycle, so we’re stuck without much in the way of supplies. Do you have a gift shop where I could get us a couple of toothbrushes and a razor for Rhys?”
“I tell you what,” Caleb said as he skirted around to Thomas’s side of the desk and handed back both the license and credit card. “Why don’t I get someone to show Mr. Sutton to your room, and you and I can visit the gift shop, and we’ll put together a bag of whatever you need on the house.”
“That’s a very generous offer.” Thomas glanced over at Rhys again, having mixed feelings about someone else helping Rhys. “But I should probably be the one to shoulder the load, so to speak.”
“Would you be more comfortable if I had someone sit with him while we’re in the gift shop?” Caleb asked, offering a key card to Thomas. It was plain white with the resort logo in an elegant black script on one side.
“I think that might work,” Thomas replied. “Let me tell Rhys what’s going on, all right?”
“Of course,” Caleb said. “I’ll be right back.”
Thomas watched as Caleb headed toward the lounge area. He returned to the loveseat where Rhys had sprawled out and made himself comfortable.
“You look right at home, but I managed to get us a room. The owner of the resort is a fan of the show. He’s getting someone to keep an eye on you for a few minutes while I go to the gift shop and grab us a couple of toothbrushes. Is there anything else you think you’ll need?”
“Mm… toothbrush, toothpaste, maybe some deodorant if we want to take a shower,” Rhys said, his eyes half-lidded as if he were almost asleep.
Thomas wasn’t sure his heart or his libido would be able to survive being in a room where Rhys was taking a shower right on the other side of a thin door. His mind conjured up all kinds of images that were far too appealing, and he drew in a breath, forcing himself to remain focused. “Sure. I’ll see if they have any pajamas or shorts, too.”
Rhys tilted his head back and gave Thomas a beatific smile. “Perfect.”
That smile gave Thomas a wistful pang. He leaned down and kissed Rhys on the forehead. “You be good and don’t move, and I’ll be right back.”
“Kay.” Rhys closed his eyes and released a quiet sigh as he settled in.
Caleb approached with a young woman wearing a plain black blouse and pants with a bar apron. “This is Sarah,” he said, gesturing to the woman, who waved. “She’ll keep an eye on Mr. Sutton for you.”
Thomas smiled. “Thanks, Sarah, I appreciate it. Don’t be surprised if he falls asleep. This won’t take long.”
“It’s no problem,” Sarah said, offering a reassuring smile as she sat down at the other end of the loveseat.
“Right this way to the gift shop, Mr. Monroe,” Caleb said, gesturing toward the back of the lobby.
Thomas cast one last look at Rhys, then fell into step with Caleb. “I really appreciate this. But I’m happy to pay for everything. It was kind of you to offer to give it to us.”
“Consider it more of a repayment or a thank you instead of a gift,” Caleb said. “Plague Zhas given me a lot of pleasure and entertainment, so I’m happy to do something nice for the actor who plays my favorite character in return.”
“Well, in that case, I suppose it would be churlish to refuse. Eli is your favorite? I’m glad to hear it. If you’d like an autograph, I’d be happy to give you one.”
Caleb’s face lit up with excitement, and he nodded eagerly. “I’d love one! I’ve got season one on Blu-Ray. Maybe you could sign the cover?”
“Absolutely.” Thomas was more than happy to take care of a fan, especially since Caleb had been so helpful. “I can sign for anyone else, too. I don’t know if Sarah is a fan, but she’s doing us a solid.”
Caleb seemed lost in thought for a moment. “I have a better idea. You’ve got some of those eight by ten pictures that you sign for fans, right? Not right now,” he added quickly. “I know you’re on vacation. But if you could sign one of those and mail it back to the resort, I could get it framed and hang it in the lobby somewhere. If you don’t mind, that is. But it would be nice to say we’ve had a celebrity stay at the resort, and I’m definitely not the onlyPlague Zfan who works here. We always have a gab session the morning after a new episode airs.”
“Absolutely. But I’ll sign your DVD too, if you’d like.”
“Thanks!” Caleb said, beaming. “I’ll have it at the front desk so you can sign it when you check out.”
Once in the gift shop, Caleb retrieved a large bag from behind the counter and loaded it up with toiletries, a couple of packages of boxer shorts, two of the resort t-shirts, and two plush white robes with the resort logo embroidered on them.
