Page 10 of Blown

“I can’t help it if I’m good,” he said, glancing at Rafe with tired eyes. “I’ve worked fucking hard my entire life to get where I am. Glassblowing was all I had.”

“But you want more,” Rafe said. It was obvious. Everyone at their level wanted more, even though they were already among the best.

“Of course, I do,” Jake said, staring hard at Rafe. “That’s why I came over here. I can grow more and do more in the UK than I can in the US right now. This is where I want to be.”

“And you’ve no qualms at all about using me to get what you want,” Rafe said. He had to fight the well of sullen feelings that sprung up in him, like he was some teenage boy, bitter because the guy he had a crush on only wanted him because he had the right group of friends.

“I can give you something you need, too,” Jake said, his eyes suddenly sparkling with intensity. His already flushed face splotched redder, and he seemed to dance on the balls of his feet, like he couldn’t keep still.

The shift was strange but intriguing. The prickles that always seemed to form on the back of Rafe’s neck when Jake was, well, being Jake were back.

“You think you have something I need so much that I’ll marry you and help you commit fraud to get a visa and become a citizen of my country?” he asked, frowning.

“Yes,” Jake said with complete confidence. “I can put your name on the map.”

Rafe’s frown deepened. “What do you mean?”

Jake took in a sharp, shallow breath and swayed a little, like he was so full of kinetic energy he might burst. “We’ll work together, here, in your hot shop,” he said. “I’ll teach you everything I know and you can teach me, too. We’ll inspire each other, and we’ll both improve and grow.”

“That still sounds like you’re helping yourself more than me,” Rafe said, then couldn’t resist adding, “As usual.”

“But wait, there’s more,” Jake rushed on, taking a step forward.

Rafe let out a tight laugh. “Are you selling me something?” he asked. “You sound like an American television commercial.”

“I mean it,” Jake said, his eyes almost glazing, he was so intent on something. “I…I can introduce you to some of the top names in the glass world. I’m…I’m friends with Hélène Rénard.”

Rafe froze, his heart pounding against his ribs. Hélène Rénard was the number one most influential artist in the glass world at that moment. Her exhibits drew crowds. Her pieces sold for millions of dollars. Museums were falling all over themselves to make her their artist-in-residence. Working with her had launched the careers of some of the art world’s current stars.

“Hélène only takes on apprentices once every couple years,” Jake went on. “I happen to know that she’s looking for someone to join her studio for a season. If you let me stay here and if you marry me so I can set up permanent residence in the UK on a spousal visa, then I’ll convince Hélène to take you on this winter.”

Rafe couldn’t breathe for a second. His mind reeled. Jake couldn’t possibly have that sort of influence. How did he know Hélène Rénard anyhow?

Then again, Jake got around. When they were in Corning, he had entertained everyone with the stories of his glass travels, from Tokyo to Murano to Los Angeles. He had exactly the sort of winning personality that made him fearless in approaching great artists and charming enough to win them over. More than once, he’d bragged about who he knew and how much they loved him. And not everyone knew about Hélène Rénard’s habit of taking apprentices now and then.

“You could really do that for me?” he asked, frustrated that his voice was hoarse with anticipation. “You could get me an apprenticeship with Hélène Rénard?”

Jake smiled. “Would I lie to you about something like that?”

The voice at the back of Rafe’s head said, “Yes!”

Jake stepped closer to him, putting a hand on Rafe’s arm. “What do you say? You marry me, I get a visa, you get an apprenticeship with Hélène Rénard, and maybe we even have a little fun along the way.” He winked.

Rafe blew out a breath. That shouldn’t have been the clincher. In fact, that should have put him off entirely. It was irritating that the prospect of sex with Jake on top of everything else was too good to pass up. He’d been having a dry spell since coming back to Hawthorne House, and he was more than ready for that to be over.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ll consider it.”

“That’s all I ask,” Jake said with a smile. He clapped his hands together and said, “Great! Let’s blow!”

Rafe shook his head as they moved to gather supplies for another project. He hoped he wouldn’t regret this.

FOUR

Baby steps.Rafe was willing to consider the idea of marriage for a visa. It was a baby step. He hadn’t said yes, but they were moving forward.

“Let’s do something fun today,” he told Rafe as the two of them finished breakfast in Rafe’s flat, one floor up from where Jake was staying.

It was Saturday, three days after Jake had arrived, and although he’d finally adjusted to UK time, he hadn’t had a chance to go grocery shopping yet. Fortunately, Rafe and the rest of the Hawthornes had been willing to feed him until he could go out to forage for supplies.

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