Page 52 of The Devil's Detail
“Yep, sounds like my nephew. He tells it like it is.” He’s grinning ear to ear.
“He’s his daddy’s boy.” We both chuckle.
My agent walks into the room, and I could throttle him. He’s got his phone in one hand, and is waving at me. I see Jackson start to laugh.
“Is that to get rid of me, or is it real?” he asks coyly.
“Real. There’s no way I’d be getting rid of you, baby. Believe me.” I don’t take my eyes from his. Poor Freddie, and whatever he came in to tell me, is all but forgotten.
He clears his throat, and touches my shoulder. “You need to take this Carter.” Freddie is dead serious. I know whatever is going to be revealed will be important.
“I’ll go.” Jackson smirks up at Freddie, who is still in the shot. “Come home when you can. Or FaceTime me when you’re alone.” He fuckin’ winks at me. And I can’t speak.
I think I’m gonna spend the next period of my life going gloriously mute.
34
Jackson
He must hopon the next plane home, as I’m meeting a client in the Daisy Cafe the next day when Carter calls and says he’s home and can we meet.
I call Evie as soon as I’ve hung up the phone. “He’s back in LA, and on his way to meet me at the Daisy Cafe.” I can hear the panic in my own voice. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m a forty-one-year-old man. Loads of relationships behind me, in all shapes and sizes. And I’ve already said yes to him.
“Chill, brother. It’s just coffee. What can happen at the Daisy Cafe?” she asks with a laugh in her voice. “It’s certainly a venue for excitement. I might talk Kell and Xan into a date night there. Should be fun, if you’re anything to go by.”
“Stop taking the piss. What should I do, though? He wants to date, not have sex. I’ve never dated a man.” I hear the groan in her voice. As if I’m a five-year-old.
“Well look, it’s just a drink of coffee. I’m sure whatever the gender, it doesn’t matter. A get-to-know-you chat is just that. A clear-the-air chat is also just that.”
“You, better than anyone, know that is not true. You went for a clear-the-air chat with Kell and look what happened to you.” My voice is rising in a bit of panic. It’s a good job I’m on my own, the client having gone to the toilets. “Look, I better go. This guy is coming back and I’ll just hang here and wait for Carter. How hard can that be? I’ll just have to contain myself til we get home.”
“You’re supposed to be taking it slowly. No funny business on a first date, Jackson. Don’t you know the rules?” She’s serious about it.
“Rules, shmules. I’ll follow your rules, Kitten. I.e., no fucking rules. See you tomorrow, baby sis.”
“Jacks—” I cut her off, laughing, and declining all the ring backs she does as my latest client comes back out to sit at the table.
I’m just agreeing to terms with Ron, my latest sign-up, when Carter rocks up, looking a million dollars and every inch a fucking movie star. I have to try and not let my jaw go slack as he confidently strides in. He is on it.
Cocky, gunslinger stride, straight out of one of his western movies. Every eye in the small café zeroes in on him, and he isn’t even trying. I can tell the moment they realise who it is. They were initially just looking at him, as his charisma hits them before reality. The noise level goes up. It’s a reaction I’m well familiar with. It’s the same with my brothers-in-law and my nephews, although my nephews are usually followed by screams.
I wonder what he’s going to do. I wonder whatI’mgoing to do. But I find myself pushing out of my seat to greet him. Ron, the client I’m just signing up, is staring up at Carter and me as we stand nose to nose in the tiny café.
“Hey, Jackson. Good to see you, sugar.” Carter’s standard greeting.
His hand comes out to be shook, but I can see his eyes roving over every inch of my face. I shake his hand. But caress my thumb slightly over his skin.
His eyes widen, but he still manages to calmly say, “Shall I join you? Or are you still talkin’ business.” He then looks at Ron. “Hey, I’m Carter.” He holds out his hand to Ron, who also has gone for the slack-jawed and wide-eyed look. Clearly the celebrity status has rubbed off on him. He’s looking starstruck, and slightly bewildered.
“C- Car- Carter Maywood. Wow. Um, I’m Ron. Please, sit with us. We just finished up.” Ron stumbles out his polite invitation, and I smile and tilt my head at Carter, encouraging him to accept.
I can see that Carter doesn’t need asking twice, but puts on a good show of trying not to intrude.
“I don’t want to impose, honey. I have some business to attend to with Jackson, but I can wait my turn. He’s a popular guy. You’re in safe hands with whatever you need him for.” He blasts Ron with his movie star smile.
And I now see the difference. When I compare this smile to the one I watched bloom on his face the other day on FaceTime to me, the contrast is stark. It’s like night and day. I feel the hairs lift on my arms as I think about it.
I catch Carter watching me and do a double take, giving him a come and fuck me look as I hold his stare. He’s struggling to keep a coherent conversation going with Ron as he sits next to me. And when he pushes his muscular thigh into mine, I practically sigh.
