Gray nodded, clearly relieved. “Great. Because I don’t know shit about celebrity news. Not even what those weird sex rumors are about.” He paused, winced, and slapped his palm against his forehead. “Shit, sorry, I shouldn’t have said that either.”
Finally, Jameson’s mask slipped all the way off, and he let out a quick, light laugh. It was a laugh that came from how awkward he felt, having the sex rumors brought up by someone as hot as Gray was, but it was also like when Gray had jumped on the car.
He just looked so… cute. His face was scrunched up, and his tough act had shattered, leaving someone much more approachable behind.
“It’s fine,” he said again, holding his wine over his mouth while he composed himself. “I guess this is a good opportunity to let you know none of the rumors are true.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see a bunch of women bodybuilders show up,” Gray replied.
Jameson laughed. “That’s one of my favorites. I supposedly have a muscle madam!”
“They just make up whatever they want?”
Jameson shrugged. “There was a world championship women’s bodybuilding competition in town. We stayed at the same hotel. I don’t know where the part about bench-pressing me came from. Creative imaginations, I guess.”
They stared at each for a minute, then both laughed.
“None of my business anyway,” Gray said. “I’m not here to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Jameson felt himself flush, thinking about Gray’s nose and all the places it didn’t belong. “Yes,” he said, then cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
“I broke up with my boyfriend a month ago,” Gray continued, then took another drink from his beer. “So you don’t need to worry about me having anyone over. I’ll make sure your privacy is my priority while I’m working here. I understand that’s the most important part of the job.”
“Oh,” Jameson replied, then nodded. He was somehow both surprised and not surprised to hear that Gray was gay, and to have him mention it so casually. “Well, according to the contract, of course you can have visitors, and you’ll get regular time off…” He shook his head. “Sorry you and your boyfriend broke up, though.”
“It’s chill,” Gray said, although he blinked quickly a couple of times and looked awkward. “It’s not like we were engaged or anything. We just didn’t work out.” He threw back the rest of his beer, then set the empty mug on the coffee table. “Anyway, no reason to bore you with that story. I should probably get out of here, anyway. Let you get to your evening.”
Jameson was surprised to have Gray call the conversation, but he stood with a nod. “Sure. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your first night here.”
They stood a couple of feet apart from each other, and Jameson wished he could step through his persona and take Gray in a friendly hug. To even touch his shoulder, just for a minute, would have felt heavenly, Jameson thought. He battled the urge to share more about his life, to let something slip about the music or even the makeup, if it might lure Gray into staying a little longer.
It just felt so nice to sit there together, talking.
“My friend will stop by tomorrow,” Jameson said, and they both started to cross toward the door. “And some of the house staff will be through during the day. Just let me know if you need anything. I’ll be around.”
“Right.” Gray took his jacket from the hook by the door, then shrugged it on. “Thanks again for the beer, Justin.” He brushed his thumb across his beard, sparking one more surge of lust in Jameson.
“Jameson,” he replied quickly, before he could stop himself.
“Jameson?”
“Justin Jameson Sweet is my full name. But you can call me Jameson.”
“Jameson,” Gray repeated, then nodded his head back. “See you soon.”
Jameson slid the door closed, then leaned against the wall. He pulled in a slow breath, then let it out with a whistle.
“Thank god for Dee,” he muttered. Because right then, Jameson needed his best friend to talk to some sense into him before he spilled all his secrets to the hot stranger, walking through his backyard and looking almost like he belonged there.
Gray
The next day,one thing was obvious to Gray: Justin Sweet was gay.
Or rather, Jameson was gay.
It wasn’t something Gray had ever picked up on before. In all the movies and television shows, the guy seemed like he was straight as a goddamn arrow. Gray himself knew what it was like to be a gay man who didn’t fit the stereotypes, and he usually recognized men like him the second he saw them.
But it wasn’t until the night before, something about the way he and Jameson had met eyes, that Gray realized it. Jameson was putting on an act, and part of that act was to keep secret his sexuality.
