Page 124 of The Texas Sterling Collection
Wyl leaned in close. “I bet none of those magazine guys are as handsome in the buff as you.”
“You keep thinking that,” Rod chuckled, taking his handful of cards to the register to pay out.
Copies ofThe Advocatelay on the counter. The cashier did a double-take, eyes widening, and a big smile appeared. “Hey, wait a minute. Aren’t you the two guys on the magazine cover?”
“Busted,” Wyl whispered.
Rod nodded at the clerk. “Yes.”
The cashier batted his eyelashes at Wyl. “Sign the cover, and the cards are on the house.”
Noticing the attention directed at him, heat rose from Wyl’s neck to his cheeks. “Rod, let’s sign the cover and get out of here,” he whispered.
The clerk put a copy ofThe Advocateon the counter, and they both signed their likeness while the clerk put the cards in a bag and handed them to Rod.
“Thanks.” Wyl tugged Rod out of the bookstore as Rod yelled his breathyThanksto the clerk.
“Hey, what’s the rush?” Rod asked as they hurried down the sidewalk, away from the store.
“The clerk was batting eyes at me, and I didn’t like it,” Wyl said.
“Wyl, did no one ever hit on you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Hit on. Ogled. Leered at. Asked out.Want to come up to my room and see my etchings?” Rod made his best Groucho Marx impression, fluttering his eyebrows and flicking an imaginary cigar.
“No. I’ve had exactly two gay experiences. One was Dusty, and you know how that turned out. The other is you, and I don’t recall you doing any of those things.”
“I didn’t have to leer at you. You attacked me, remember?” Rod laughed.
Wyl rolled his eyes. “I didn’t attack you, I simply wrapped my arms around you, and you attached my mouth to your lips, remember?” Wyl waggled his eyebrows.
“It doesn’t matter how it happened. You’re a celebrity now and a damn fine-looking man.”
“I don’t mind when people look at us together, but he was flirting with me with you standing right there.”
“Who are you, and what happened to the guy who was saying words likeyoung fellera few minutes ago? You sure didn’t mind flirting then.” Rod laughed.
“I know, but that kid wasn’t batting his eyes at me. The clerk in the store was definitely interested.”
Rod stopped walking and tugged Wyl’s arm to face him. “Relax, babe. You’re a sex symbol.”
“What?” Wyl stared at Rod, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
“Yep. The real American status symbol for a sexy cowboy. I’m glad you’remysexy cowboy.”
Wyl grabbed Rod’s hand and held on tight, looking furtively side-to-side. “Don’t let them get me.”
“Them? This isn’t a science fiction movie.” Rod laughed. “We’re on the cover of a gay magazine as a married couple. Nobody is going toget you. You’re mine, and the entire world knows it.”
Wyl took a deep breath and relaxed his iron grip on Rod’s hand. “You’re right. I’m being paranoid.”
“Look at your left hand,” Rod commanded.
Wyl held up his left hand.
“What do you see?”
