Sunday morning came too quickly.And tooloudly, thanks to Wes’s hotel neighbors down the hall, who seemedto be having a really fucking good time until six in the morning.Emphasis on the fucking.
Much as he hated the disturbance to hissleep, Wes was both aroused and envious.The noise-fest did nothelp his morning hard-on.Neither did thinking of his dark-eyedwriting partner and imagining what he would sound like in the samescenario.Stop thinking about Ryker!
Before he gave in to his baser instinctsagain, he remembered Ryker’s request and grabbed his laptop.First,he contacted Mac and got Ryker’s address.Then he started his“homework.”Surprisingly, the words flowed out of him this morning.Before he knew it, over an hour had passed and he’d written justover seven hundred words, then jotted down some ideas aboutpotential plots for their series.New York City’s energetic vibeswere rubbing off on him already.
Speaking of rubbing off, his mind wanderedback to the shower last night.No, focus.
Needing a distraction that would energizehim for his live interview at eleven, Wes threw on his running gearand headed for the elevator.The hotel had a fully equipped gymthat was usually empty at eight on a Sunday morning, so a run onthe treadmill was in order.
Wes glanced down to the end of the longhallway and noticed a man leaving Grey’s room.
Probably room service.Wait—no hoteluniform.Probably a business meeting.Wes walked a few stepscloser to get a better look at the man.
Blond, slim, wearing a white shirt thatlooked two sizes too big.Wes couldn’t make out the man’s face fromthis distance, but his profile looked familiar.
Before Wes could move or say anything, theman rushed off to the elevator and was gone.None of my businessanyway.
Two hours later, Wes was back in his room,freshly showered and enjoying his first coffee when his phone rang:Grey.
“Hey, bud, hold on.”He gulped down the restof his brew.“I’m just having coffee, but I still need to getdressed.I’ll drop by your suite in ten minutes.”
Grey cleared his throat.“Sure.How did yousleep?”
“Not much, but that’s hotels for you.Atleast some people on this floor had sexy fun last night.Or Ishould say early this morning.Fuck, they were loud.Did they wakeyou up, too?”Wes asked, and Grey coughed on the other end of theline.“You all right, Grey?I hope you haven’t caught a bug.”
More throat clearing from Grey.“No, justallergies.You know the way it is this time of year.Okay, well,see you soon,” he said, then hung up.
Once Wes was ready, he knocked on Grey’sdoor and they headed off for a quick brunch and then theinterview.
His spot onWeekend New Yorkwasbetter than Wes had expected.The anchor, Haley Sanders, wasprofessional and charming, drawing her audience in with funnyquestions and quips.Wes couldn’t remember the last time he’d feltso relaxed in an interview.Not that it was a hardship—he lovedpeople, and talking about his work helping other writers find theirvoice was rewarding.At least, it had been for the past severalyears.Funny he should be in a position now to need his own advicesince his creative mojo was on hiatus.
Haley led into the final questions.“So tellme, Wes, now thatMy 90-Day Novelis a bestseller, what’snext on your list?Are you going to go back to writing fiction?I,for one, am a huge fan of your Darren Fields mysteries, and I’mdying to know—pun intended—” She paused as the audience laughed.“—if we’re going to see any further books.I won’t give too muchaway in case some of our audience hasn’t read it yet, but in thelast book, Darren faced an unresolved personal conflict.”
Wes smiled.“As you know, Haley, New YorkCity is my first stop on a tour across the US forMy 90-DayNovel,and then it’s back home to Toronto for a much-neededrest.We’ll see what happens in a few months.I’ve been mulling newideas, so I’ll have to get back to you.But I appreciate all thelove for my mysteries.They were a joy to write, and I hope a joyto read.”
“Indeed.Rumor has it that you’re workingwith another well-known author on a new series.Any truth to that?And if so, what kind of series?”Haley asked.
How the hell had she gotten ahold of thatinformation?Good thing Wes was a pro at improvising.
“Rumors are just that.You don’t believeeverything you read about me in the tabloids, do you, Haley?”Weslaughed and put on his best-selling grin.
“Well, I’ve read some pretty spicy thingsabout you, so I hope so.Speaking of which, you were photographedentering a nightclub this weekend with New York City’s mosteligible gay socialite, Mac Duran.Are you two an item?”she asked,leaning forward in anticipation of his response.
Ah, now Wes realized how she’d made thesupposition about his new project.Wes smiled at the audience.“Like I said, don’t believe everything you read.Well, my books arethe exception.”He paused to let the low ripple of audiencelaughter flow over him.“I know lots of people, and I like tosocialize.And I certainly don’t hide my sexuality, but some thingsstill should remain private.”
Wes hoped that would put an end to a line ofquestioning that was starting to make him uncomfortable.
Haley turned back to Wes.“Well, it’s beengreat having you here, Wes, and we look forward to your next book.Come back and visit us again when you’re in town.”Haley quicklyturned and smiled at the audience.“I hope all of you have enjoyedtoday’s guests.Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!Take care, New York.”And with that, the cameras turned off and thelights dimmed.
Haley touched Wes’s arm.“Great job, Wes.Ihope you didn’t mind the personal question.You know how it is inthis business.Everyone’s vying for the latest juicy piece ofnews.”
“Of course, Haley.No harm, no foul.Thankyou again.”He shook Haley’s hand and set out for the exit.
No, he didn’t mind.He was used to it.Hejust hoped his potential new writing partner wouldn’t mindeither.
Chapter Nine
Ryker
