Page 13 of Beau Pair
“That’s not what I meant,” I tell Dolly, and look back at her.
There’s absolutely no reason to make a fool of myself in front of Elsie’s mother by salivating over daddy dearest.
Dolly turns to me and waits for my explanation.
“It’s just, I haven’t been able to design anything since I moved here, so I feel like I’m starting to lose my mojo.”
Dolly sips her wine with a sympathetic smile and reaches her hand across the table to pat mine.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Wait ‘til you start looking after Elsie. It’s crazy, but it’s when I change her diapers or run her bath that inspiration hits me right in the head and I don’t know what to do with it,” she says, and I feel like I’ve won her over without realizing.
“Are you an artist, too?” I ask.
“Dolly is an author,” Gordon says.
“Yes,” she agrees, and I pick up my glass of fresh lemonade and take a gulp. “Of lesbian romance.”
I choke even though I don’t mean to.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what she does.
Zoe writes lesbian romance, too, and that’s why I choke. Because what the hell are the chances?
But how do I explain that without sounding weird?
“That sounds interesting,” I manage to say when I clear my throat and can breathe again. “I’ll look them up.”
“Good luck finding them,” Gordon says.
“Why?” I ask.
Dolly punches Gordon’s shoulder and he laughs.
“He’s just saying that because they’re published under a pseudonym.”
“Oh, that’s okay then. I understand if you don’t want to tell me. Some things are too personal,” I say as I look from her to Gordon.
If only they knew what has gone through my head this week living with Gordon, they’d kick me right out.
“Don’t be silly. I’m open about it. It’s my full-time job. I write under the name Lacey Storm,” she says, and I choke again.
Not because the name is familiar. Not because Zoe will go mental when I tell her. But because she’s Lacey-fucking-Storm, and I’m the one who’s starstruck now.
There’s not a soul on this planet that doesn’t know Lacey Storm. She’s a legend of romance.
No, scratch that. She’s a legend in the book world.
And even though I’m not a bookworm like Zoe is, evenI’veread her books. Especially when I was having a hard time at school and didn’t think I could ever be happy being a gay man.
Her books had given me courage and strength when I needed to be myself. And her books made me discover gay romance books with characters just like me.
“Are you okay?” she asks, and I realize I haven’t said a word in ages.
I smile at her and nod.
“I’ve got so many books for you to sign,” I tell her, and she laughs. “And a friend to introduce you to.”
“Well, it’ll be a pleasure to meet them. And I can sign any book, any time.”
“How about now?” I ask, and Dolly glances at Gordon.
I’ve fucked it up, haven’t I? I’m being weird, immature, and spontaneous. A bad combo for an au pair.
“I like this one. We should keep him,” she tells him, and I manage to take a breath of relief.
Between my favorite author and my hunky boss-slash-teacher, this is going to be a lot of breathlessness to handle. I hope I don’t make an even bigger fool of myself.
Oh, who am I kidding?
I probably will. I just hope I don’t fuck it all up in the process.
