Drawing Closer by Jane Davitt Read Free Book Online

Gray took a deep breath and let it hiss out between gritted teeth, "Oh, fuck . Carl--"
    "Right here, buddy, right here."
    Drawing Closer - 32
    He was grateful for the solid warmth of Carl beside him, his arm thrown across Gray's shoulders.
    Not so grateful when Charles turned, saw him, smiled as if he couldn't help it -- God, he felt that
    smile, felt it slam into him and take his breath away -- and then saw Carl.
    Watching Charles' smile fade and being too far away to explain who Carl was -- and what he
    wasn't -- was hell. Then the man with him touched Charles' arm, not even bothering to look over
    at Gray, and the two of them were hidden by a couple walking in front of Gray and missing when
    the couple had passed by.
    Gray moaned and stepped forward, shaking off Carl's arm. "Oh, this is just too fucking much. He
    comes here with a fucking date ? What's he trying to do to me?"
    "If it drives you crazy, I think we can safely say mission accomplished," Carl said. "Will you calm down? Please? You're here to sell your stuff, not get misty-eyed over someone who, for the
    twentieth time, isn't fucking interested. Let it go."
    "Go. Yeah. Good idea." Gray spun on his heel and headed toward the door. Carl grabbed at him
    again. Okay, he was going to have bruises if this kept up.
    "You're supposed to be here. Making nice to people."
    All the artistic temperament in the world -- and Gray had plenty -- didn't excuse acting like an
    asshole, and Gray rarely traded on the tortured artist card. Sometimes, though, it came in handy.
    With a wide sweep of his arm he pointed at the paintings hung and beautifully lit on the pristine,
    off-white walls. "They're for sale. I'm not." And then, cranking up to full-on diva and not caring, he ground out, "I want to be alone, Carl, okay?"
    "No." Carl's face was flushed now and he looked stubborn as hell. "Alone to do what?"
    "Christ! Sob, scream, punch a wall -- how the fuck do I know?"
    A large hand came out and held his. "Not that last one. Promise me? Or I'll tag along."
    Right. Artists didn't get to punch walls. Might make holding a brush difficult. He gave Carl a
    grudging nod. "Won't. I promise. Now can I just go? Because I'm losing it here, and it won't be
    pretty if I do."
    "Sure." Carl cocked his head. "Want me to go flirt with your boss?"
    "She's not my boss, and why the hell would you want to?"
    Carl shrugged. "I don't. You're the one with a kink for the over-forties brigade, not me. Just
    thought--"
    Drawing Closer - 33
    "He's thirty-two, for fuck's sake. Alise is pushing fifty." Gray shook his head, desperate to leave.
    "Whatever. Do whatever, just -- leave me alone, okay? No coming back to my place tonight,
    because I really need some space."
    Hurt darkened Carl's eyes. "Hey, just trying to help get her off your back. Or didn't you notice
    the way she's glaring at you?"
    No. He hadn't noticed anything since he saw Charles.
    Blindly pushing past people, he made for the door that led to the bathrooms, knowing there was
    an exit there, too. The chatter and buzz from the showroom cut off abruptly as the door closed
    behind him and he sighed, taking a shaky breath and pushing back his hair. He'd meant to get it
    cut because it was driving him crazy the way it kept falling into his eyes, but it'd been a good
    intention lost in the excitement of preparing for his first exhibition.
    He'd taken three steps toward the exit when the door to the men's bathroom opened and the man
    who'd been with Charles stepped out.
    "Oh, it's you, is it?" He had a rumble of a voice, deep and soft, with a muted echo of an English accent flavoring it. "Young Lochinvar."
    "What?" Gray hesitated, automatically trying to place the reference. "Sir Walter Scott. What ?"
    "Or was it Lancelot? Never mind; you probably had to be there," the man said. "I was favorably impressed by your location of a certain book, that's all, but now that we've met you don't look all
    that heroic to me, I have to say."
    "There wasn't anything