“How about helping Kaiden haul the art pieces?” Dylan asked. “Carefully, ‘cause they’re like super important.”
“Fundraiser and all.” Rus nodded.
They weren’t just bidding on art pieces but that was the forefront of the event.
Rus meandered, making his way to the back of the gallery, and Dylan determined that tonight he’d ask Rus out. As friends. A chance to at least get to know him outside of manual labor. After all, if he didn’t make some type of a move, he’d likely never see Rus again.
Dylan couldn’t tell if he had a crush on Rus because he was like some kind of hot, vengeful, bisexual punk who jumped out of a 1980s rock ‘n roll poster or because he actually liked Rus’ personality. And he couldn’t determine if this was a crush, simple lust, or merely admiration. That was always Dylan’s difficulty when it came to feelings. Since hopping into bed came easily for Dylan, he ran off a lot of potential friends over the years. Casual sex rarely stayed casual when someone caught feelings. Unfortunately, it was never Dylan who had them for longer than a fun roll between the sheets.
That was the main reason Dylan had pressed the brakes around Kaiden, realizing Kaiden didn’t seem all that into Dylan. Since he didn’t want to ruin another potential friendship with casual sex, he sort of friend-zoned himself.
Now, he just needed to figure out if he wanted to be friends with Rus or bang his brains out. Or the strangest of all…go on a date.
“Jeez, you look like you’re about to puke.”
Dylan nearly jumped out of his own skin, startled by Kaiden’s arrival. Honestly, Kaiden had the quietest footsteps in the world, and somehow, he always took Dylan by surprise.
“No, I don’t,” Dylan protested, feeling a bit queasy by his own determined declaration to ask Rus out.
Unfortunately, Kaiden knew Dylan quite well, and if he stayed, he’d press him for answers. Dylan didn’t really date. He didn’t really flirt either. It’d been years since he put even the slightest investment of interest or pursuit into a crush. And if he explained that to Kaiden, he’d have to explain a lot more. This was too long of a conversation to have considering all the work Dylan still had to complete.
So, Dylan rushed off to make his way through the insurmountable checklist he’d taken on for the fundraiser and waved Kaiden off to show Rus which paintings needed to be set up.
Chapter Two
Slayer’sBrush filled up quickly, much to Dylan’s dismay. Sure, a packed event meant a great fundraiser; however, the cramped guests quickly turned sour as they bumped elbows with others in attendance. Kaiden couldn’t let such a pretty face frown the entire night, so he set out to find his boss.
Alison wore a tight red dress, stealing focus from the artwork as she talked up the venue. She was a big, busty, bold woman who rarely took the sidelines. It was what kept her expensive art boutique in high demand. Unlike Kaiden, who sucked in a sharp breath at the pinch of his corset vest, Alison didn’t care about tightening her waist or hiding her gut. She was a very curvy woman with long blonde hair down to her waist.
“Pardon me.” Kaiden squeezed through the small crowd, smiling because pretense mattered to Alison more than anything.
Times were always good, even when they were terrible.
“What do you need, darling?” Alison asked, smiling.
Oh, damn. He’d already gotten a darling. She must’ve been in a mood.
“Things are a little tight here.” Kaiden rolled his green eyes around the venue, discreetly nodding. “I was thinking since the back room is a bit bare, we could—”
“Absolutely impossible.” Alison held up a hand. “People come here for elegance, not messy storage rooms.”
“People also come here to breathe in art and mystique.” Kaiden brushed up against his boss, letting his chest hit hers. “Elegance is lost when we’re bumping butts.”
Alison glowered, her blue eyes appearing all the icier.
“Unless it’s the fun kind of butt bumping.” Kaiden winked. “Come on, we throw a few decorations up, make it an exclusive tonight-only experience. Behind the scenes. Sneak peek at some upcoming events. Artists no one else has had the privilege to view.”
Alison’s frown softened, considering. She was a smart woman, smarter than Kaiden, so he knew not to play her so much as play to her ego. If he could convince her this was her idea, she’d gladly take the credit and toss in a few more ideas to turn the makeshift extra space into a success.
“Fine. There’s a few pieces in my office,” Alison said. “Carefully put them up and make sure the back room is actually clean.”
“Will do.” Kaiden gave her a tiny salute, much to Alison’s annoyance.
With that settled, Kaiden took off to Alison’s office to find a few suitable pieces to put on display. Grabbing two smaller portraits, he made his way down a hallway leading to the back alley of the art boutique. If he cut through the crowd to the storage room, he’d never hear the end of it from Alison.
Outside, plastered against the wall, was Rus, who wore a wrinkled dress shirt, baggy slacks, and scuffed dress shoes. Christ, he was a rough sight. Smoke trickled from his mouth, almost artistically, creating a landscape silhouette. Well, at least that was what Kaiden envisioned, seeing mountains with each puff Rus took from his cigarette.
The stench of the smoke nearly gagged Kaiden; he could never grasp why anyone in this day and age would smoke cigarettes, especially when there were much nicer alternatives. The blueberry-flavored vape in his pocket weighed all the heavier as he considered pausing for a puff or two of his own.
