Page 25 of Total Creative Control
“I’m heading out. Do you need anything before I go?” He hoped the fact that he already had his jacket on, messenger bag slung across his body, would be a hint. Not that Lewis was particularly adept at taking hints.
“Oh.” Lewis frowned, and those two perfectly symmetrical little creases that Aaron found annoyingly sexy appeared between his dark brows. “I don’t think so,” he said vaguely. “What time is it?”
“Six. I emailed you the amended notes on Ryan’s script and the updated pitch forLeeches: USA. Also, there’s a chicken salad sandwich in the fridge, in case you’re staying late. I put your name on it, so Ray won’t ‘accidentally’ snag it.”
“Great. Thanks.” Lewis swung his feet off the desk and sat up, reaching one hand behind him to rub at that niggly bit between his neck and shoulder. Aaron had noticed earlier it was bothering him again.
“I’ll sort you out an appointment with Amanda for your neck for Monday.”
Lewis’s sudden grateful smile made Aaron’s stomach turn over—it really wasn’t fair that he looked that good smilingandfrowning.
“Thanks,” Lewis said gruffly. After a pause, he added, “Um, listen, I appreciate you giving up your weekend. I really am glad you’re coming; it’ll be so much easier with you there.”
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s work. It’s not like I won’t get paid extra, right?”
“Right.” Lewis nodded firmly. “Exactly. It’s work.”
But he looked tired and rumpled, and for some stupid reason, Aaron suddenly wished he could take that last comment back. Which was ridiculous because Lewis had already mentioned overtime pay, and it wasn’t as though he would imagine Aaron was going to Safehaven with him just to help him out. He wouldn’t evenwantthat; their relationship was strictly professional, after all.
Just then, Lewis groaned and rolled his neck. “This fucking shoulder,” he muttered irritably.
The movement drew Aaron’s attention to his strong throat, his broad shoulders, the tight fit of his shirt across his chest. He was gripped by a sudden, visceral desire to cross the office and put his hands on Lewis’s tense shoulders, to feel their powerful contours beneath his palms, and to lean down until his mouth touched the dark scruff on his jaw, his lush lips…
Shit.
Jolting himself out of the daydream, cheeks hot, he croaked, “Well, I’ll be off then.”
After an awkward pause, where Lewis looked like he might be about to say more, but didn’t, Aaron added, “See you tomorrow. Car’s booked. It’s picking me up first. Should get to yours for seven-thirty. Oh, and don’t forget to call Mason tonight.”
Lewis grimaced. “Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow. Casual dress, by the way. Charlie wants us to be our authentic fucking selves.”
“What if my authentic fucking self wants to wear a suit? Or a top hat and tails?”
Lewis grinned, dimples flashing, as sudden and transformative as the sun burning through storm clouds. “You want to wear a top hat and tails,” he said, “knock yourself out. I wouldn’t mind seeing that.”
And Aaron’s foolish heart tripped over itself, just like it always did when they skirted those invisible lines they’d drawn in the sand. “Maybe next time,” he said. “My top hat’s at the dry cleaners.”
They said goodnight after that, and Aaron headed out of the office smiling at the exchange. Coaxing a grin out of Lewis always felt like a triumph.
Unfortunately, he found Jason lurking by the lifts, jacket on and waiting for him with a look on his face that suggested he meant business. Aaron smiled, bracing himself, and no sooner had the lift doors shuddered shut behind them than Jason said, “You donothave to go to Safehaven. Lewis Hunter does not own your weekends.”
Aaron sighed. In truth, weekend workingwaspart of his job. Granted, this was the first time it had ever been outside the office, but wherever it was, he’d get paid—well paid—for it. The other truth, one he’d never admit to Jason, or even to Janvi, was that he enjoyed being in Lewis’s orbit, enjoyed seeing him in action, and being part of that action. Being needed by someone as vibrant and alive as Lewis Hunter was addictive. It madehimfeel alive, too.
He said, “I honestly don’t mind.”
“I thought you had plans.”
Hedidhave plans. But those plans were mostly to finish postingWe Are All Creatures of the Night, to catch up on replying to the comments on the earlier chapters, and then to start work on the new idea circling his brain:what if Faolán got a boyfriend?A normal, human boyfriend. An all-around nice guy who was good for him. What would Skye do then? Admit his feelings? Scare off the boyfriend? Or decide that Faolán was better off without him, better off with a normal life and out of the fight? Of course, Faolán would never be better off without Skye, and the nice-guy boyfriend might turn out to be hired by the Family to—
“Toni wouldn’t pressurise you into giving up your time like that.” Jason jabbed the ground floor button. “She’s agreatboss. A great mentor. And she thinks you have potential as a script writer.”
Aaron shook his head, smiling.Everyone loves a trier. “Yeah, you’ve mentioned that once or twenty times,” he said. “Just like I’ve mentioned I’m happy working for Lewis. Anyway, I’ve never been to Safehaven. I kind of want to see whether it lives up to the hype. Or, down to it.”
Jason wavered. “Itisan experience,” he conceded. “And the food is… memorable.” Then, in a softer tone, he said, “Hey, by the way, I’m really sorry about you and Colin. I thought you guys were golden.”
Golden? Hardly, although Aaron supposed he’d worked hard to make it appear so. Especially at work, especially in front of Lewis. He said, “Thanks, but it’s fine. It was kind of mutual.”
“Kind of?”