Double Act

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Emerson looked around the interior of the limo. He’d never been in one before. When his brother had been married, they’d had the ceremony in a barn. Not fitting with the theme to show up in a limousine. Emerson’s sister had tied the knot in Las Vegas, but since the wedding had been at the hotel, they had no reason to ride in a limo then, either.

It looked just like in the movies, leather seats stretching the whole length on both sides. A television—flat screen and large—was inlaid in the far wall. A mini fridge. Tinted windows.

“God,” Sean said, getting settled next to Emerson. His fingers loosened their grip on Emerson, but didn’t release completely. “What a mess. I can’t believe this had to happen today of all days. I mean, no one really plans for emergencies, that’s sort of the norm, but you always think they’ll never happen to you. I’m so lucky that you came along.”

He took a breath, then went right on. “And they always find you, the paparazzi. It’s like there’s nowhere I can go that I don’t get recognized by someone. Somebody at the scene probably posted a picture on Twitter. Logically, that was the closest hospital. Sometimes I feel like they know where I’m going before I do.”

Emerson shrugged. “I’ve never had that problem so I can’t relate.”

Sean slid in closer, touching their hips and thighs. He rested his head on Emerson’s shoulder.

Sean Stirling. That name doesn’t ring a bell. But he has to be someone really famous.

“You’re my hero,” Sean said softly, his breath tickling Emerson’s ear. “You wanna come back to my place?”

Emerson pulled away slightly so he could look Sean in the eyes. Not only was the guy a major manipulator, but apparently he was a s*x fiend.

“No, thanks. I really just need to get home to my dog. If you drop me off at the next corner, I’ll get a cab.”

“No way. We’ll take you there. It’s the least we can do.”

“Uh, okay.”

Emerson gave his address and Sean reached for a phone hidden in the recess of the wall.

“Hiya, Jake. We’re going to drop my new friend off at his house.” Sean repeated the address. “And I’m fine,” he added before hanging up. To Emerson, he said, “My manager is gonna kill me. She hates it when I bring sudden attention like this without warning her. As if I planned to almost become roadkill.” He settled his head on Emerson again. “So, tell me what you do?”

The guitar tattoo maybe pointed at a musician? But Sean’s voice was kind of monotone, with no real inflection. Besides his laugh. He’d make a lousy singer.

“I work for Olympus Cruise Line.”

“Oh, as a ship captain?”

Emerson chuckled. “No. As a customer service representative. Basically I help old people schedule their cruises. And listen to them talk about their grandkids. And let them b***h about whatever the hell’s pissed them off that day.”

“You spend all your time on the phone. Sounds boring.”

“It’s not bad. There’s plenty of room for advancement within the company. I can easily move up the corporate ladder.”

Emerson had his whole life planned out. He hadn’t exactly wanted to sell cruise ship packages, but the company paid well, and did offer perks and promotions. Thirty years climbing through the ranks and he could retire to Virginia Beach.

“A salaryman,” Sean said.

“What?”

“That’s what they call it in Japan. Salaryman.”

“Okay, sure.” He glanced over at Sean. Maybe the bump had been worse than Emerson thought.

Sean snuggled in closer. “How many cruise packages did you sell today?”

“Three.”

“And you make commission?”

“A bit.”

“I bet you drive a hard bargain. Next time I’m in the market for a cruise, I’ll know where to go.”

Emerson laughed. Sean had a strange sense of humor. Or perhaps it really was the head injury making him talk like this.

Before long, they pulled up in front of Emerson’s building.

“So, this is me,” Emerson said, untangling himself from Sean. He scooched to the door and it opened before he could grasp the handle.

Jake peered in, a professional smile on his lips.

“Thank you,” Emerson said. Outside he leaned over to say goodbye to Sean and saw the other man exiting, too.

“Don’t worry, I won’t force my way in. I’ll just walk you to the door.”

It seemed silly, as the door was only a few feet from the road.

When they got there, Sean’s green eyes turned somber. “I wanted you to know I am truly grateful to you. When I think of how many different ways that could have played out…” He shivered. “But, it turned out the best possible way. And I owe it all to you.”

Emerson shrugged off the compliment. “Like I said. It’s not a big deal. I’m sure anyone else would have done it, too.”

“That corner was full of people. No one else even gave me a second look.”

“Well, I—”

And then Sean’s mouth was on his, lips dry, but gentle. It wasn’t passionate, or frantic, but slow and lazy. A soft breeze through an open window. A ripple on a pond. Emerson’s eyes closed and his lips accepted the heat Sean offered. Then, Sean was pulling away, the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

“I’ll see you around,” Sean said, then walked back to the limo. At the door he turned and waved. Then he climbed in and shut it with an echoing thud.

Emerson watched the limo pull away. He stood there even after it had rounded the far corner.

The man had just kissed him. What kind of person did that?

A rich celebrity, that’s who. A man who did what he wanted, when he wanted.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Emerson went to the front door and opened it up with his key. The elevator broke a few days ago so he took the stairs to the fifth floor. As he climbed, his mind turned over the day’s strange events. Emerson had done a good deed, potentially saved a man from death. He should feel proud, or something. Instead, he just felt confused. Sean had fogged his mind with a simple brush of his lips.

At his door, he put his key inside the lock, the loud yapping already coming from the other side. When he pushed the door inward, a long puff of brown and white collided with his legs, jumping and scratching and barking.

Emerson patted Ninotchka’s furry head and nudged her back into the studio apartment. She ran at his heels as he took off his shoes, jacket, and scarf. She followed him to the left wall, which barely counted as a kitchen. He used the remote on the counter to turn on the small television, then he got out her can of dog food from the fridge. As he pulled out a spoon to scoop her dinner, the news on the TV caught his attention.

“We’ve just received word that Sean Stirling was taken to a local hospital after nearly being hit by a car. We have footage of a good Samaritan pushing Mr. Stirling out of the way of an oncoming truck.”

There, on the screen was Emerson and Sean.