Jack Read online

  “You should go after him, you know. I think he likes you. And he’s so cute and sexy, that’s got to account for something. I know you enjoyed your ‘time’ with him today.”

  “Oh God,” Jack groaned and crossed his arms over his face. “I don’t care if we’re twins, or that you’re not even really here—we are not having that discussion.” Jack lowered his arms and opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling as Jill’s voice faded from his head. Sometimes he wished he could prolong these “conversations” indefinitely, keep her with him always. But he wasn’t so far gone that he didn’t know that the sound of her voice was just a memory, and her words right here, right now…were just his own thoughts disguised as Jill. She was gone, for real. And simply “knowing” how she would respond to something didn’t bring her back.

  “Don’t hide away, Jack. It will break my heart.”

  Some of the last words she had actually spoken to him were the words he didn’t want to hear.

  7 “The Wakeup Call”

  THE dream held him in its grip. Some distant part of his mind was telling him to resist, to wake up, but he let it take him instead. Even within the dream, his eyes were closed. He couldn’t see the face of the man touching him, but he knew who it was, recognized the feel of his hands. Lips brushed softly against his mouth, fingertips trailed down his cheeks. Jack responded to the kiss, wanting more, aching for it in a way that should have frightened him but merely filled him with excitement.

  “Jack.” Garrett whispered his name as if savoring the flavor of it.

  “Mmm,” Jack moaned low and sought out another kiss. The man’s lips weren’t far away, still right there, hovering so close to his mouth. “Kiss me again…” he begged softly, hardly more than a whisper.

  The lips moved away from his mouth, drifted across his cheek and murmured in his ear, “Ask me again when you’re awake.”

  Jack’s brow creased, and he started to beg him once more—when a slight shake of his arm nudged him from the dream. He flinched with a start and opened his eyes—which widened as he found Garrett sitting on the edge of his bed, a smile playing across his lips.

  “Morning, sleeping beauty.” He held up a large Starbucks to-go cup. “Got your go juice.” Jack realized he was still lying on top of the blankets in his boxers when Garrett lightly smacked his bare thigh. “Up and at ’em.” His eyes slid down to the prominent tent in Jack’s shorts, and he smirked. “Well, at ’em, anyway. I see you’re already up.”

  Jack grabbed the edge of the blanket and covered himself, face warming.

  “Pleasant dreams?”

  His throat suddenly dry, Jack shifted anxiously; had that dream been “all” dream? He could still feel Garrett’s kiss on his lips. Had the man actually…? Jack cleared his throat. “What’re you doing here?” he mumbled and avoided Garrett’s direct stare. “How’d you get in?”

  “The window,” Garrett said, answering his second question first. “It was open. I assumed that meant come on in.”

  Jack looked at the window. It wasn’t his habit to leave the window open all night, especially in the city. But last night he had been exhausted and dropped off without remembering to close it.

  “By the way.” Garrett smacked his leg again. “Not a good idea to leave your window open while you sleep. You might wake up to a sex-crazed maniac in your room.”

  Jack looked at him dryly. “Clearly.”

  Garrett chuckled. “Well, there you go.”

  “What are you doing here?” Jack asked again and rubbed his eyes, glancing at the digital clock on the nightstand. He squinted, eyes hazy from sleep. “At seven thirty in the morning?”

  “Gideon wants you to be there at nine thirty instead of ten,” he replied, as if that was answer enough, when in fact it was no answer at all.

  “Yeah…” Jack frowned. To his dismay, the erection straining the thin fabric of his shorts wasn’t backing off. Considering how up close and personal he and Garrett had already been, Jack wasn’t sure why a mere hard-on should make him feel self-conscious with Garrett. But it did, and he kept the blanket pulled over his lap rather than crawling out of bed. “But why are you here…and this early? Why didn’t Gideon just call me?”

  Garrett shrugged and smiled. “I was coming into town anyway; told him I would stop by and grab you.”

  Grab him? Jack shivered then cursed himself for it and exhaled slowly. “Okay. Tell Gideon I’ll be there by nine thirty.” His head sagged into the pillow and he crammed the heels of his palms into his eyes and rubbed fiercely.

  “I’m in no rush,” Garrett said and set the coffee on Jack’s nightstand. “Go on and shower, dress, primp, whatever you do to make yourself so sexy. I’ll wait.”

  Jack groaned. “I don’t need a chaperone. And I have my own car. I don’t need you to grab me.”

  His breath caught sharply when Garrett leaned over him, hands planted on either side of his body, face close to Jack’s. “Yes, but do you want me to?” An insanely sexy, inviting smile slid across Garrett’s lips.

  Jack tried to breathe normal, but his pulse refused to cooperate with Garrett’s breath warming his face. A faint aroma of hazelnut coffee drifted up his nostrils. He fought to retain his composure but found it to be an all-out battle as Garrett shifted a little and his side brushed Jack’s crotch. His rock-hard cock jumped. What the fuck was wrong with him?

  “Are you this annoying to everyone?” Jack rasped and cringed at the tremor in his voice.

  “Just those I like,” Garrett admitted. He remained where he was, preventing Jack’s escape.

  “Then I could do with you liking me a little less.” Jack’s lips tightened and rubbed slowly. A soft chuckle rolled up Garrett’s throat as his gaze jumped from Jack’s eyes to his mouth. Jack instantly ceased moving his lips.

  “You know,” Garrett murmured, smiling. “You are the most kissable guy I have met in a long time.”

  Jack swallowed and discreetly attempted to scoot back from the man. “You kiss guys all the time,” Jack reminded.

  “That’s on the job,” Garrett said. “I’m talking real-life kissing.”

  How would he know how Jack kissed in “real life”? The dream crept back in and the lingering sensation of Garrett’s lips on his mouth after Jack had awakened. Had Garrett kissed him in his sleep? Jack immediately shoved the notion away; it implied much more than he was willing to consider.

  “You know what I find sexy as hell?” Garrett’s mouth lingered way too close and Jack’s lips were starting to sizzle with anticipation of the kiss that he was certain was imminent. “A man with morning wood.” Garrett’s hand grazed ever so lightly over the blanket lying across Jack’s lap. He didn’t clutch him or handle him at all. The slight brush of his palm was more like an invitation that he was waiting for Jack to accept.

  It was the glaring reality that he wanted to accept that spurred Jack into action. He hurriedly shoved past Garrett and crawled out of bed, walking quickly to the bathroom.

  “You are totally fucking sexy first thing in the morning, you know that?” Garrett mused. Jack closed the bathroom door without a reply.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “Oh my God.” Jill burst with laughter and hugged her gut, bending forward in bed. “You’re just messing with me, right?” She choked on a couple more laughs, tears trickling out. She wiped her face and cleared her throat. “You are not going to be a porn star.”

  “Yes, I am.” Jack grinned and gave a perfunctory nod.

  “Oh shit.” Jill shook her head and laughed again. “Mom and Dad are going to blow a gasket. You know that, right?”

  Jack shrugged. “So? They’re already ashamed of me. Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.”

  “Well, if it’s any consolation.” Jill patted his hand. “I would gladly be your gay twin brother and get ostracized with you.”

  “Thanks.” Jack smirked. “That’s awfully selfless of you.”

  “Yes, I know.” She sighed and touched her heart. “But t
hat’s me, the sacrificial sister.”

  Shaking his head, Jack chuckled then looked at her soberly. “So, what do you really think of me doing this?”

  Jill gazed at him, eyes warm, soft. “First of all, I think you should do whatever makes you happy.” She squeezed his hand. “I want you to be happy, Jack. Really happy.” She smiled. “And second, who knows…maybe you will fall for one of the boys you get jiggy with.”

  “Oh Lord.” Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head. “No way.”

  “Why not?” Jill asked. “And the best part is, you get to test them out in the sack first without feeling like a slut with a bunch of one-night stands.”

  Jack groaned and laughed quietly. “You really are the devil on my arm.”

  She winked. “Told ya.”

  “Yeah, well, at any rate, I’m not doing this as some twisted way of looking for love.”

  “I know.” Jill’s voice softened, sadness drifting into her eyes. “You’re doing it to run away from any such possibility.”

  “What’re you talking about?” Jack asked with a tone that implied innocence but knew what she was saying—and knew she was right.

  Jill looked at him. “Jack, don’t let this thing with Aaron cause you to shut yourself off from love. Sometimes things just don’t work out. He wasn’t the one.”

  A crushing ache clenched his heart. “He lied, Jill,” Jack whispered, throat tight. “He said he was in love, but he wasn’t. He walked away when he was needed the most.”

  “Some people lie, Jack,” she murmured.

  He leaned forward and lowered his eyes as they began to sting. “I know.”

  Jill touched his head, slid her fingers through his hair. “And some don’t. Love is worth the risk.”

  Jack shook his head. “I don’t agree.”

  “Someday, little brother,” Jill whispered. “You will.”

  Jack straightened up. His gaze drifted around the hospital room, lingering on the equipment—its only purpose, to prolong his sister’s life. His eyes came back to Jill; pale skin, gaunt features…sad eyes.

  Someday, little brother…you will.

  He shook his head and whispered thickly, “No, I won’t.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Garrett was stretched out comfortably on Jack’s bed, arms tucked under his head. He looked at Jack when he emerged from the bathroom wearing a towel around his waist. Garrett loosened his arms and pushed up on his elbows, surveying Jack more thoroughly. He smiled. “Can I borrow your towel? I’m starting to sweat.”

  Jack shook his head. “Why are you still here?”

  “I told you I was going to wait for you.” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up.

  “I was hoping you were lying.”

  Garrett grinned and touched his left hand to his heart while he held up his right. “I never lie.”

  “Yeah,” Jack grunted. “Sure.”

  “I’m as honest as the day is long. Ask anyone.”

  “Anyone?” Jack wondered. “Even Lucas?”

  “Ah, fuck Lucas,” he chuffed.

  Jack smiled dryly. “That is the plan.”

  “Touché.” Garrett twisted and sat on the corner of the bed and watched Jack walk around to the other side, tug his bag from under the bed and unzip the top main flap. “Are you living here?”

  “Temporarily.” Jack retrieved a clean shirt, jeans, and briefs.

  “Well fuck that,” Garrett said. “Why waste money on a motel when you have a perfectly good room waiting for you out at Gideon’s place? Saves you gas money as well, because you’re already at work.” He grinned. “You can even sleep in.”

  Jack sighed. “I could have slept in here as well, if someone hadn’t woken me up.”

  “Ah, come on, you were thrilled to see me. Admit it.”

  “No,” Jack stated but had to fight back the smile that tried to claim his lips. This guy was everything he needed to avoid, he wasn’t about to admit that the mere thought of him sent his pulse through the roof. He wasn’t even comfortable admitting that to himself.

  “That’s okay.” Garrett winked. “You already told me without a single word.”

  Jack shot him a sidelong, narrow glance and noticed the man’s gaze lingering on the towel. “You’re delusional,” he muttered. But of course, his previous erection had been entirely Garrett’s doing—dream or not.

  “Shall we test that?” Garrett leaned his way, supporting himself on one arm, eyebrows raised.

  “No.” Jack went to set the bag on the floor again when Garrett grabbed the strap. “What’re you doing?”

  “Come on, Jack,” Garrett pressed, “stay with us at Gideon’s, you’ll have a blast.” He stood up. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

  Jack stared at him. “You just met me yesterday, and you’re already asking me to move in?” He shook his head, this time unable to resist a small smile. “You don’t let any grass grow under your feet, do you?”

  “If I did, then I would have to mow it.”

  Jack frowned then shook his head again. “What does that even mean?”

  “I don’t know.” Garrett grinned. “But it sounded good. Come on, get dressed, grab your shit, let’s blow this joint.”

  “I didn’t say I was moving out there,” Jack pointed out.

  Garrett chuckled. “Of course, you are.”

  “What makes you so certain?”

  Garrett stepped behind Jack and slipped his arms around his body, then very casually drew Jack back against him, his pelvis snug on Jack’s ass. His heart rate went crazy and there was no way Garrett missed the tremor that rushed through him. The towel wasn’t an effective barrier and Jack was instantly aware of Garrett’s arousal. The man’s lips moved across Jack’s shoulder. “You like having me around, that’s what makes me so certain.”

  Jack swallowed twice, struggling to dislodge the knot in his throat, his breath becoming labored. “What’re you doing?” he asked with a rasp.

  “Nothing you’re opposed to,” Garrett murmured. He caressed Jack’s chest and stomach, fingertips tracing the pattern of the star-like tattoos then lightly pinching and twisting Jack’s stiff nipples, causing his breath to hitch and body to flinch. His warm, strong hands rubbed down Jack’s abdomen to where the towel hung on his hips. Garrett ran his fingertips barely under the line of the towel, back and forth. Jack’s stomach quivered and jerked, his erection coming back full force. He tensed, waiting for Garrett to strip away the towel and throw him down on the bed.

  Why are you just standing there? Make him stop! Are you really this weak and spineless?

  Jack shuddered. Garrett made no bold moves that would instigate a wild fuck session, and Jack hated that his body was screaming for him to do just that.

  “Stop…” Jack trembled, voice barely audible and lacking both strength and conviction. Garrett had to know he wouldn’t truly resist if the man decided to take him.

  Garrett’s hands hesitated then drew back to grip Jack’s hips. “As you wish,” he murmured and kissed the curve of Jack’s shoulder. “Remember, nine thirty.” He stepped back enough to lightly smack Jack’s ass. “Don’t be late, baby.”

  He was walking out the door when Jack turned around. A pleasant heat, left behind by Garrett’s hand, warmed Jack’s butt cheek.

  8 “The Conquest”

  THE circular drive had been laid in cobblestone, the shrubbery along the front lawn neatly trimmed. A myriad of colorful flowers added a warm, welcoming aura. Though the place had originally been an inn, Gideon’s touch had transformed it into a structure reminiscent of a small mansion or manor house.

  Halfway around the circular drive, Jack veered off into a small parking area and guided the old Mustang into an empty spot at the end next to a sporty yellow convertible. Jack climbed out of the Mustang and squinted as the bright sun glanced off the fluorescent yellow paint of the sports car. One would have to wear sunglasses just to drive the damn thing. How it avoided causing accidents out on the highway w
as a mystery to Jack.

  It was just a little after nine when he looked at his watch. Don’t be late, baby. A little tickle zinged through his stomach. Going on day two and already he was becoming accustomed to Garrett calling him baby. Surely the guy was just messing around though. It wasn’t as if Garrett was “sweet” on him after just one scene together. Garrett was a professional; he wouldn’t make the rookie mistake of falling for a co-star.

  So, lighten up already. The guy isn’t “after” you. You’re not in any danger of getting caught up in a relationship. If you want to be one of them, you have to give as good as you get. If they play with you—play right back.

  Sounded good. Where was the harm in that? Garrett likely toyed with him the way he did because he found it amusing that Jack got so nervous about it. He just needed to play along, blend in.

  The interior entrance of the place had the look and feel of a posh hotel, though the areas he had toured yesterday with Garrett hadn’t felt so formal. For the most part, the place just seemed like one immense private home. He supposed that’s all it really was. Sure, there were the studio rooms and such, but Gideon’s boys clearly did not view all of this as merely a workplace establishment. For Jack, it was quickly becoming an oasis amidst the dry, barren world outside. With the loss of Jill, all the color and life had drained from the world. He put up a convincing front that he was fine, but the truth was—since her death—all he saw was gray.

  Until yesterday—until he stepped into Gideon’s private little world—the colors started coming, one after another, like the strokes of a paintbrush on canvas. His scene with Garrett had brought on an explosion of colors—some of which he hadn’t even known existed. Why it was all affecting him this way, Jack hadn’t a clue. But he didn’t want it to stop. He needed the “colors” if he hoped to live his life as Jill had wanted him to.

  Jack paused just inside the large foyer. There was no sign of anyone. He reached inside the front pocket of his pants and took out the red paper heart. He unfolded it and smiled at the inscribed words: Make someone happy.