Double Act Read online

“Yes, Doc,” Sean answered, sending his flirty charm at the new man.

  God, Emerson wanted to roll his eyes.

  “And how are you feeling?” the doctor asked, smirking slightly.

  “Better now, thanks to the excellent care Carol gave me.”

  Emerson wondered who Carol was, but then saw the nurse beam happily. He spied a nametag on her uniform.

  Manipulator.

  “Good work, Carol. I’ll take it from here.”

  Carol frowned, but nodded. She shuffled to the door with a sad look over her shoulder. Once the door was closed behind her, the doctor sank onto a stool and came closer.

  “My name is Dr. Fields, Mr. Stirling. I hope she wasn’t too interested in you.”

  “No, Doc. She was very attentive and professional.”

  “Glad to hear it. Now, can you tell me the details of the accident?”

  “Emerson will have to give them. It’s all a bit fuzzy to me.”

  The doctor’s dark eyes turned to Emerson. Under that penetrating gaze, he tried to recall more information. The man looked like he wouldn’t be satisfied with what he told Carol.

  “Sean was crossing 40th Street and he slipped. When the light changed, he hadn’t gotten to his feet. A truck came toward him and didn’t seem to be stopping. I dove at him, and we rolled to the opposite side of the street. Actually,” he said with a mirthless laugh, “I think we’re lucky something wasn’t coming from the opposite direction. I never even glanced that way.”

  “Lucky indeed,” the doctor said. He pulled a pair of gloves onto his hands, then shone a light into Sean’s eyes. He must have liked what he saw because he moved on quickly and began to prod at Sean’s forehead. “Looks like a nasty bump, but nothing too serious.” He pulled back. “I’ll get this cleaned up and we’ll get you discharged shortly.”

  “Oh, thank God. I really appreciate this, Dr. Fields.”

  “You’re welcome, Mr. Stirling.”

  The doctor wiped the gash and applied a sterile pad. The cut wasn’t too deep, only bleeding profusely because it was a head wound. With a long strip of gauze, Dr. Fields wrapped the cleaned skin. He stood up with a smile, pulling off his gloves.

  “You might be sore, so take acetaminophen if you need it.”

  “Thank you,” Sean repeated.

  The doctor nodded, then left.

  They were alone.

  Sean turned his shimmering green gaze to Emerson. “You really did save my life, you know. How can I ever repay you?”

  “It was nothing. I’m just glad you’re okay.” The tension was too much, so Emerson looked away and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly six. “I should probably be heading home now.”

  “Rushing home to your wife?” Sean asked innocently.

  “No.”

  “A husband, perhaps?”

  Emerson snorted. “No. I need to get home to feed my dog.”

  “Please stay until they let me go? I really don’t want to be here alone. This place gives me the creeps.”

  “Uh…”

  A phone rang, and Emerson instinctively reached at his jacket pocket. But it wasn’t his ringtone.

  Sean pulled a cell phone out of his pants pocket and stared at the screen. “Jesus,” he whispered, then pressed the button. “Hi, Jake. Listen…Listen…No, I’m fine. Will you just…”

  He was silent for several minutes as the voice went on and on.

  Sean growled in frustration. “Jake, yes! They’re discharging me right now. Please, just bring the car.”

  He sighed, then hung up. His eyes glanced at Emerson again. “Sorry about that. So, my ride’s on its way. Can you stay with me till then?”

  Against his better judgement, Emerson nodded. He didn’t want to admit that he’d been taken in by Sean’s pretty eyes, so he told himself it was the right thing to do. Ninotchka would be fine for a while longer.

  Sean still gripped Emerson’s hand. Now, Sean’s thumb began to caress the skin gently.

  “So,” Sean said casually, “do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?”

  “Uh, no. Not currently.”

  “Are you in the market for one? A boyfriend, I mean.”

  Emerson chuckled. It was an interesting way to inquire after Emerson’s sexual orientation. “Yes, a boyfriend sounds nice.”

  Sean made an interested noise, like he’d just found a new toy. “Well, I happen to be in the market for one, too.”

  “Good for you.”

  Sean’s eyes widened suddenly. “You…you don’t know who I am.” It hadn’t come out as a question, but as a declaration.

  Emerson studied his face. “Should I?”

  A mirth-filled bark left Sean’s mouth. It quickly morphed into a fit. He laughed until he was crying, then he clutched his head.

  “Oh, this keeps getting better and better.”

  The door suddenly opened and the stern nurse was back. She had a wheelchair and wasted no time getting Sean situated into it. With him seated and comfortable, she handed him discharge papers to sign. He reluctantly let go of Emerson’s hand to hold the pen. He put down his name with a flourish then gave them back to her.

  “Are you ready?” she asked, as if they were getting ready to go into war.

  “Yup,” Sean answered, just as soberly. He snatched Emerson’s hand again.

  The nurse, Becca her nametag read, wheeled Sean through the hallway and into the main lobby. There was a flash, and for a moment, Emerson thought it was lighting from a storm outside. Then it happened again. And again. And again.

  People surged around them in a wave of bodies. They pressed up against him, trying to get at Sean. Cameras clicked. People shouted questions at them, holding microphones in their faces. Emerson squeezed Sean’s hand and got the pressure returned.

  Suddenly, a man in a sharp business suit was there, pushing the people back. He helped them get through the crowd. When they finally made it outside, Emerson wasn’t surprised to see a limo waiting for them. The suited man gripped Sean’s forearm and got him to his feet. Sean pulled Emerson along with him into the back seat. The door shut behind them with a loud thud, and the noise of the crowd cut off.

  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 sex fiend.

  “No, thanks. I really just need to get home to my dog. If you drop me off at the n
ext 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 bitch 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.

  Chapter 4

  Sean followed Jake into the limo, hardly even paying attention to the rundown exterior of Emerson’s building. The guy lived in Manhattan, so he wasn’t doing too bad, despite the lackluster decor of the apartment. His suit had also been of good quality.

  Shit! It might have gotten dirty, or torn, from the rescue operation!

  Sean determined he’d pay for the dry cleaning, or the cost of a new suit.

  He plopped himself onto the seat, then turned around to watch Emerson as they drove away. Once they rounded the corner, he faced Jake. Rachel—their driver—took the next right and headed deeper into the city.

  “Macie’s been calling me like crazy,” Jake told him. “Check your phone.”

  Sean pulled it from his pocket and saw that he had five missed calls. “I put it on silent after you called. I didn’t want to be interrupted.”

  “Right,” Jake said, clearly exasperated. “Just call her.”

  Pushing Macie’s picture on his phone, Sean rubbed at the bump on his head. How amazing that it was the worst of his injuries. When thinking of the possible outcomes, of hurting his hands…A tremor ran through his body. It had been close.

  The phone rang once before it was picked up.

  “I’m okay,” he said without preamble.

  “Jesus,” Macie said, “why didn’t you answer your goddamn phone?”

  “I was on a date.”

  “And do most dates send you to the hospital?”

  “You know it’s no fun unless someone gets hurt.”

  “Seriously, Sean, you’re alone for five minutes and this is what happens? You should have gone back to the shoot when I told you to.”

  “And I told you I needed a breather.”

  “A breather that almost killed you.”

  “Just chill, all right? It could have—could have been bad. But it wasn’t!”

  She ignored him, sticking to the hard truth. “And now we need to do damage control. I’ve already seen tweets reporting you’re dead.”

  “I don’t care.”

  There was silence for a moment, probably Macie floundering for how to respond. “I’m sorry. What?”

  “I don’t care about any of it. I just met the dreamiest guy.”

  That was the understatement of the century. On the surface, he had looked like the typical businessman—suit, tie, loafers. But those brown eyes were sharp enough to cut diamonds. Sean felt like he might swoon.

  Also, Emerson had pushed a complete stranger out of harm’s way. Sean had expected the other man to recognize him, but when he didn’t, it proved Emerson had acted out of decency and a kind heart. No thoughts of rewards or being in the spotlight.

  “The guy who left the hospital with you?” Macie asked, bring Sean back to the present.

 
“Pictures already circulating?” Damn, that was fast, even for paparazzi. “Yeah, he’s the one who pushed me out of the way of the car. Macie, he saved my fucking life.”

  “Wow.” That was a compliment coming from her. She never had anything nice to say.

  “I’m in love.”

  “Oh, come on. Let’s not do this again. We’re still dealing with the aftermath of Carl. I don’t want to have to go through that again.”

  “He’s not like Carl. Emerson didn’t even have a clue who I was. Macie, he’s the one.”

  She groaned. “I wasn’t hired to be your babysitter, Sean. So why do I feel like I always need to change your diaper?”

  “That’s a bit harsh.”

  “Listen, I’m going to say this once and be done with it. Be careful.”

  “I hate being careful.”

  She pushed on as if he hadn’t spoken. “Life is good now, but it won’t always be. You need to be mindful of what could happen. Plan for the future.”

  “I’ve got a lawyer who deals with all that stuff, earnings and taxes and savings. I pay him so I don’t have to be mindful.”

  “You’re too trusting, and you let people abuse that.”

  “I do not,” he argued, even though he knew she was right. “Besides, Emerson’s different.”

  She wasn’t buying it. “Yeah, yeah. So, ask Jake how we can spin this. We need to hop on the ball quickly.” She paused. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m floating in the clouds.”

  “Oh God, you do have it bad.”

  “Hey, if I give you his name, can you get me some information on him?”

  She hesitated only a second. “Sure.”

  Chapter 5

  Emerson watched the news story with his mouth open. The anchor offered vague details without relating information about the incident. It was “allegedly this” and “allegedly that.” But they played a cell phone video of Emerson pushing Sean out of the way. The video looped, over and over and over. When he viewed it from the outside, as a watcher, it looked unreal.

  The footage caught him diving for Sean, but where he remembered his hands thrusting Sean out of the way, the video showed something different. In actuality, Emerson’s arms encircled Sean, pulling him into Emerson’s chest. Then they fell sideways and rolled. No wonder Sean was nearly unharmed. It was Emerson who took the brunt of the fall. From this perspective, he did look like a fucking hero.