Nine if Logan arrived from his audition on time.
He took a flute from Nico’s tray and gulped.
Nico chuckled. “You’re doing fine, Alexander. More people will show.” His gaze darted over Alexander’s shoulder and his mouth parted. A laugh danced out of his mouth. “Take a deep breath, brother, and turn around.”
Alexander whisked around and his chest seized. Ten, fifteen, twenty-five, forty people. The most elegantly dressed crowd was walking inside, many familiar from Logan’s moving-in party. Beautiful men and women, a couple of nicely dressed teenagers.
Alexander’s clients beamed, and the lively crowd mingled with ease and delight around the gallery.
Alexander’s throat tightened and his eyes burned. He could not stop smiling.
Logan.
Alexander closed his eyes and basked in the warmth firing his chest. When he reopened, his gaze caught on the most beautiful face of all.
A handsome grin. A tall, broad body in a deluxe navy suit and silver tie, leaning against the gallery doorjamb. Between them, a sea of guests, shifting and laughing and full of wonder.
Their gazes caught and held, and Logan pulled out his phone.
Alexander’s pocket buzzed.
Logan: You and your gallery look amazing.
* * *
Alexander: You gave up your audition for me?
* * *
Logan: You gave up your house.
* * *
Alexander: But getting that part, proving to yourself you can do it, you needed that.
Logan typed and looked up at Alexander.
Logan: I needed to be here more.
* * *
Alexander: Can we talk?
* * *
Logan: After.
Alexander nodded; Logan’s smile blasted into him.
“Nico,” Alexander said, catching his passing brother but not taking his eyes off Logan. “We’re going to need another few cases of bubbly.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
LOGAN
* * *
The opening was a success.
When the party died down, well past midnight, Logan helped Nico and Luci clean up while Alexander finished paperwork on a big sale.
The purchaser left, bidding them goodnight, and Logan abandoned Nico and Luci and snuck to Alexander’s office.
Alexander sat in his desk chair, pulling at his tie and popping a button. He looked wrecked from a night of socializing. Wrecked, and delighted.
He stared at the bouquet of giant daises and shook his head, the purest joy on his face.
Logan’s heart danced. He straightened, and Alexander jerked at the sudden movement. He leaped from his chair, regal and disheveled. Only Alexander could pull that off. “Logan.”
“Did I interrupt something?”
Alexander adjusted his watch, and those blue eyes on that immeasurably beautiful face fastened on him. Logan felt it like a feather to sensitive skin. “Thank you.”
“You did all the hard work.”
“You know what I mean.”
Logan pushed his hands into his suit pockets. “You’re welcome.”
Alexander nodded. “My speech wasn’t too long? Too boring?”
“It held my attention, and that’s saying something.”
Alexander laughed nervously. Logan perched on the desk. “Callum is putting me on the payroll.”
“Sorry?”
“He’s making my contributions at Paragon an official position. A Girl Friday kind of thing, I suppose. Except, Boy Friday. It was never about the money, but the recognition feels good. I’ll still audition for acting gigs on the weekends.”
“Will you still meet me here with afternoon coffees?”
Logan fondled the end of Alexander’s silky tie. “Yes.”
Alexander let out a breath. “Good.”
Logan’s throat grew tight. “I know we’re just friends right now, but . . .”
Delicate slashes of red hit Alexander’s cheekbones. “Friends have sleepovers . . .”
“Is that so?”
Alexander grabbed his keys. “I have it on good authority.”
Logan drove to Nico’s behind Alexander. They started up the stairs too eagerly, puffing by the fifth floor.
“Should we risk the elevator?” Logan asked, using all his control not to haul Alexander into his arms.
Alexander eyed the rectangular metal beast outside the stairwell and gulped. When he looked back at Logan, his gaze was apprehensive but trusting.
“Yes, okay.”
They squirreled inside the enclosed space and Logan mirrored Alexander, clutching the doors as the elevator wobbled its way to their floor.
The doors squealed open and Alexander bolted out of there.
Inside, a lone lamp splayed gentle light from the living room, just enough to give the room color and texture. Logan breathed in the woodiness of the apartment and the faint trace of dust.
Alexander slipped his shoes in the shelf, and Logan stayed right where he was, heart racing.
His palms suctioned slickly onto the door panels.
Alexander threw him a questioning look. “Coming in?”
“Interview me,” Logan said.
Alexander’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“You never got a chance. As many questions as you like. Interview me.”
“To be my roommate again?”
“To be your boyfriend again.”
Logan pushed off the door and stepped up to Alexander, eye to eye. “I know it seems fast, but I agree with Luci. Love doesn’t