Page 4 of No Reservations

When I woke next, the sun was sinking over the western edge of the lake. My back ached, my neck muscles were as tight as bridge cables, and my eyes felt grainy. “Enough,” I grumbled as I got up and padded to the bathroom.

Halfway through splashing water over my face, my stomach growled. It had been a while since lunch. I considered room service for a second before dismissing the thought and heading for my shoes. I wasn’t going to become a shut-in just because some content creator wanted to make a name for himself.

The path to the inn lay shrouded in shadows, but decorative lanterns amid the low tree branches illuminated the way well enough without disturbing the atmosphere. The inn itself gleamed white from multiple exterior lights. I stepped into the lobby, avoided any casual glances from the few men scattered around, and headed for the restaurant.

The very obliging manager, Tomas, nodded to me as I passed. He had been in the meeting with Carter and Finn when I first arrived. Sometimes it felt ridiculous to take such steps whenever I traveled unofficially, but people could recognize me. Brooke thought it a good idea to notify them of the potential for curious attention.

I never bothered in big hotels, which is where I usually stayed. They had built in security of a different type that was used to celebrities. Eclipse 6 had graduated from sleeping in their tour bus quite a while ago, and I definitely appreciated the benefits of penthouse suites rather than local motels with RV parking out back. They might have a security detail of their own in some of the busier or less gay-friendly locations, but their manager didn’t warrant the same attention. At least, I didn’t until this whole rumor started.

Why the Halcyon Inn owners agreed to let me stay anyway, I did not know. They certainly weren’t hurting for business. Maybe they were truly as welcoming as all the reviews and articles said. Whatever the reason, I was grateful for it.

The restaurant looked as comfortable and classy as the rest of the inn. The host, a young man with perfect smoky shadow over his black-lined eyes, led me to a small table near the window. I settled with the menu and glanced out at the soft lighting on the deck and, farther across the lawn, the wooden dock that stretched out into the water. Glowing lanterns illuminated the ripples around the support pillars and the pine branches swaying far overhead.

My eyes slipped closed, and I sucked in a deep breath. I would relax as soon as I got some food in me. The menu held enough intriguing options to whet my already keen appetite. Chicken and mushrooms, maybe, or should I get a steak?

The whispers and subtle glances from a young couple two tables away started just after the server took my order. They could be talking about anything, I told myself. They were probably making secret plans for fun later on. When their glances in my direction got longer, I couldn’t pretend anymore.

One of the men slipped his phone out of his pocket, pointed it in my direction near his elbow, and snapped a photo.

My jaw clenched so tightly I feared for my dental work. I knew this might happen. It was a mistake coming to the restaurant. I took another sip of wine and glanced around the room while avoiding the gaze of the interested couple. Was anyone else paying undue attention to me?

On the far side of the room, two other men looked over. The little blond shot me a smile when our eyes connected but looked away again after a couple of seconds. His dining partner tapped his hand and mumbled something to draw his attention.

Damnit, why couldn’t people just leave me alone? I managed a pop band. I wasn’t a superstar myself. There was nothing glamorous about booking hotel rooms, convincing hot-blooded diva boys to get signed NDAs from their hook-ups, and making sure they avoided excess drinking, drugs, and any other criminal activity.

The usual sharp ache in my shoulders and back intensified as the diners with the phone looked over. They abandoned any pretense of secrecy and openly stared at me.

My meal arrived, and I was just about to ask the waiter to please box it up for me instead, when the young man with the phone turned all the way around to look at me. “Hey, are you Cole Gilliam?” At least he kept his voice relatively low.

I hated the question. Sometimes I daydreamed about making up strange names and pretending to be someone else, but who knows what would happen to my reputation if that got out on the gossip sites.Cole Gilliam’s Secret Identity!I opened my mouth, but he continued before I had a chance to say anything.

“You are. You’re him.” He shot a look at his friend and stood up. “What are you doing here? Is it true what they say about you online, that you’re straight and just pretending?” He shook his head and picked up his phone for another picture. “That’s really messed up.”

I fought to keep a placid look on my face. It was much easier to lose people’s attention if I didn’t give them a show. “No, it’s not true. I’m on vacation. Please let me eat in peace.”

The man shook his head, and the other guy at the table stood up next to him. “You can’t go around lying about your sexuality. I mean, it’s not some shortcut to being cool.” They shared a look as if the comment scored some kind of point for their side of the argument.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but another man entered the restaurant and walked up behind them. “Excuse me, please. Can I just sneak through here?”

The newcomer peered around my pair of attackers, caught my eye, and flashed me a brilliant, broad, gorgeous smile before looking back at them.

Something about that smile ticked my heart rate up and made my brain go offline. Looking back on the moment later, I have no clue how my mind came up with such a ludicrous plan. I stood up and stretched out my hand. “Hey, baby,” I said. “I’m glad you could make it.”

His brown eyes widened and his plush lips fell open. He cast a shocked look over my shoulder, perhaps at the other diners who had noticed me before, and then met my gaze again. Hismouth closed and then opened again as if he was about to say something sane rather than whatever had just come out of my mouth.

The two men with the phones and the unpleasant questions spun around to stare at him.

Seizing my only opportunity, I mouthedPLEASEat him as emphatically as I could, eyes wide and hands raised in classic begging position. The realization of my pure foolishness began to sink in, but, before I could try to play the whole thing off as a joke, he blinked and flashed his brilliant smile again.

“Hiya, handsome,” he said and eased around the two men blocking his path. “Couldn’t wait to order, huh?” He sank into the chair across from me, his back to the two men watching, and shot me another wide-eyed look.

What the hell was I doing? I took a deep breath and shrugged. A twinge shot through my shoulder and up my neck. “Um, yes. I was very hungry. What do you want? Anything.” At least I could thank the man for playing along by buying him a great dinner. Who was I kidding? I’d have to do a lot more to make up for such a ridiculous imposition.

“Anything I want, huh? You sure know how to treat a man.” He picked up the menu and hid behind it, but not before flashing a wide-eyed look at the two guys at the far table.

They were undoubtedly the ones he was coming to eat with before I waylaid him. The man with the phone took yet another picture before the two of them sat back down to finish their meals and whisper together.

I waved over the server. My dining companion ordered the chicken and mushrooms. Then we sat there, staring at each other across the expanse of white linen.

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