“Oh, yes, let’s do that.” Without hesitation, Collin broke free of Martin’s hold to link his arm with Curtis. The two men led the way, while Martin and Andrew followed. Again it was funny to see how the people in front of them parted like the Red Sea for Moses.
“You have an interesting effect on people,” Andrew muttered.
Martin grinned. “I know. I’m in the security business, so it comes with the job. And now that I have Collin, it’s even more useful. Those vultures would eat him alive.”
Before Andrew could comment on that, Haroon Mirza, the artist, approached Curtis again with his agent in tow. He greeted Collin with a warm smile and offered to give him a tour, all under the watchful and more-than-sour expression of the agent.
“What’s gotten her panties in a knot? She looks like she wants to kill somebody.”
Andrew leaned a little closer to Martin, to make sure they couldn’t be overheard. Martin did the same when he answered. “Well, given the chance, she probably would sink her claws into Curtis and rip his heart out. None of the agents in the scene like that he’s taking care of Collin’s business.”
“Why not? He’s a gallery owner.”
Martin nodded. “Yes, exactly. A gallery owner, not an agent. But I don’t trust anybody else with Collin, and now the other agents are afraid Curtis might expand into agent work.”
“Is that a possibility?” Andrew didn’t know much about owning a gallery, but he was sure Curtis couldn’t complain about a lack of work.
Martin just snorted. “No, surely not. Curtis is probably the most capable businessman I know, apart from another friend of mine, but I know for sure he neither has the time nor drive to start another venture. Just the galleries are keeping him busy like hell, and Collin is in high demand. Managing him is like a second full-time job, and yet he pulls it off with apparent ease. They’re all just jealous.”
Andrew didn’t respond to that. He was still chewing on the plural of gallery. It seemed his date was a lot higher up the food chain than he’d originally thought. His brief internet research had been focused on getting the address of his gallery in Miami and on finding some general information to help him get the man back. He had to give Curtis credit, though, for not even remotely seeming like a too-rich-to-care snob.
The tour took about half an hour, and by the end of it, Andrew was ready to leave the world of art behind for the day. Curtis said his goodbyes to Haroon Mirza, seemingly oblivious to the daggers his agent was throwing at him. With lots of nods and smiles in every direction, they made their way out of the museum.
“Where have you parked?” Martin turned to Andrew, as if he had already read their dynamic, which Andrew still hoped to establish.
“We walked here from Curtis’s gallery.”
“Ah, a good idea. Do you have plans for the evening? Collin and I will be at Whisper.”
Andrew swallowed. Of course friends of Curtis would be at the most exclusive club in the city. Before he could come up with an answer that was elusive without being impolite, Curtis saved him. “We don’t know yet, Martin. Andrew has promised to feed me, and after that, we’ll see. We both have to work tomorrow, so don’t get your hopes up.”
Laughing, Martin patted Andrew’s shoulder. “No problem. I have to work tomorrow as well. But Leeland has the early night shift today and Collin wanted to see him.”
Curtis nodded gracefully. “I understand. We’ll see if we’re in the mood.”
“Even if you’re not in the mood”—Martin waggled his eyebrows—“you can still show Andrew around. No pressure, though.”
“Thank you.” Andrew shook Martin’s hand and nodded at Collin, who embraced Curtis before he snuggled back under Martin’s arm. The scary-looking Dom herded Collin toward a black Escalade whose lights greeted them when Martin took out the key from his pocket and pressed one of the buttons. Andrew took Curtis’s hand to lead him back to the gallery. They walked in silence for a few moments. “Martin seems nice.”
Curtis snorted. “You don’t have to be polite about it. It’s his job to be scary.”
“Yes, he said something about being in the security business. I can see that working well for him.”
The dry humor in Andrew’s voice had Curtis chuckling. “It certainly does. He runs his own firm, together with his twin sister.” He turned serious. “Thank you for this, Andrew. I know this isn’t exactly your scene.”
Andrew squeezed Curtis’s hand, enjoyed the shiver that ran through both of them. “Well, I had a lot to make up for, and it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought. To be honest, meeting Martin and Collin stressed me more than all those entitled rich people who wanted to show off their financial prowess to you.”
“You did well, Andrew. In case you’re worried, Collin isn’t able to hold a grudge if his life depended on it, and Martin invited you to Whisper, which he wouldn’t have done if he didn’t like you.”
Andrew’s eyes grew big. “Him asking us over was his way of showing his approval?”
A smile bloomed on Curtis’s face. “Yes. You passed with flying colors. But we really don’t have to go tonight. You promised to feed me, remember?”
“Oh yes, I do. And I’m a man of my word. We need the car, though. The diner I want to take you to is close to Little Havana.”
“I can’t wait.”
Chapter 10
