Page 77 of Baxter's Right-Hand Man

I couldn’t say no. It had been a small production for Raul to switch cars at the Vanity Fair party and escape undetected, but I showed up.

Hell, I even brought Oscar-shaped chocolate statues.

“I can’t believe you called outcinqon the red carpet.”

I sucked Lo’s tongue, pressing tender kisses along his jaw as I released him. “You saw that?”

He snickered. “Of course I did. You made Mr. Gowan’s night.”

“You mean I didn’t have to come here?”

He pinched my arm. “No, but I’m glad you did. Give him ten minutes, and I’ll wake Enid up and have her take over. He’s going to freak out. You look…amazing. That tux should thank you for allowing it to grace your sexy self.”

I grinned, tugging his elbow before he pulled out of my arms. “Thanks. You look pretty hot too.”

Lo glanced down at his electric blue see-through shirt and form-fitted black trouser ensemble as if surprised. “I know, right? I may or may not be wearing lace bits too. Shall we?”

I stared after him with my mouth open, willing my dick to behave as I followed him through the dining area and into the living room.

Jasper gasped. “Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Who could this dashing man be, dah-ling? Is it Mr. Hollywood?”

“Hi, there, Jasper. I was on my way home and thought I’d stop by. I brought you a little something.” I set the chocolate statue on the game table and gestured at his burgundy cravat. “Love that tie.”

“Th-thank you, but it’s a cravat…as you well know.” He sat a little taller in his chair, his fingers shaking as he adjusted his oxygen tube. “I-I can’t believe you’re here. You must have better places to be.”

“Than here? Nah.”

Jasper smoothed the silky fabric, shifting his sharp gaze between Lorenzo and me. My heart dropped when his bottom lip trembled. I flashed a panicky look at Lo, who smiled serenely and dragged out a chair.

“Sit here, Pierce. I’ll get the game.”

Not quite what I had in mind and this would certainly take more than ten minutes, but Scrabble was the right call. It was the great equalizer.

Within five minutes, Jasper seemed like himself again. His voice was stronger, and his hands weren’t shaking quite as noticeably. In between turns, he asked about my night. Who did I sit next to? Was this comedian funny in person? Was that actor an asshole? What was the energy like? What did it feel like to walk a red carpet? And who was that woman?

“Tell me about your date. She looked gorgeous.” Jasper pointed at the letters he’d painstakingly arranged on a double-word square. “Twenty points for me.”

“Twenty?” I squinted at the board and growled before I tackled his questions. “I don’t know much about her. We didn’t really talk.”

“How is that possible?” Lo asked.

I shrugged. “There isn’t much downtime. Just a lot of photos.”

“Hmm. Yet they all say you’re enchanted by her,” the old man rasped. “I heard something about a June wedding.”

“Yeah, right,” I huffed sarcastically. “By the way, my letters suck.”

Lo dropped a twenty-two-point word, wiggling in his seat as he chose new tiles. “Feel free to trade. You’ll miss a turn, but it’s early still.”

I scowled. “That’s not fair.”

“Those are the rules,” Lo teased.

“Hmph.” I traded all seven letters and folded my arms like a petulant child.

Jasper’s chuckle sounded painful. “Now I know I’m being nosy, but I’m old so I can get away with it. What would the world say if Pierce Allen showed up at the Academy Awards with a man?”

“Nothing. I’m an out and proud bi man,” I replied.