The Artist and the Actor – 41

 

 

"Oh my God, you live," the waitress said to Shane when he and Colin were seated at a table in the restaurant early Thursday afternoon.

 

He looked up at her, trying to figure out why she'd said that, and then got it. "Jamie, right? You still remember me after all this time?"

 

"Shane, you have to be kidding. I never forget a handsome man." She managed to give him a quick hug, even though he was seated, and then handed him and Colin menus. "Coffee or what?" she asked them.

 

"Coffee for me," Shane replied. "I have to work tonight."

 

"You mean you're back permanently? Are you and Colin, umm…?" She paused, glancing between them.

 

"I'm with the show at the Buell," Shane told her. "As for the other thing you sort of asked, we're working on it."

 

Jamie frowned. "The Buell's for traveling shows."

 

"Yep. I'm here for a bit over three weeks, at this point, before we move on."

 

"Then how can you and Colin…?"

 

Colin chuckled. "You might try finishing a sentence. If things work out, he's coming back after the run of the show."

"They had better work out. You two are perfect for each other," she replied adamantly. "Okay, I've babbled enough. I'll be right back with your coffees. I mean, you want some, too, right Colin?"

 

He agreed that he did and she left.

 

"There you go," Shane said, smiling. "She thinks we belong together, so obviously we do."

 

"I'm not disputing it," Colin protested.

 

"Hadn't better."

 

They opened their menus, and for the moment were silent while they decided what to order. When Jamie returned and set down their coffees, Shane ordered the Italian Campanelle. Colin opted for the Tuscan Lasagna. When she asked, they told her they would pass on an appetizer.

 

"Don't want to ruin my appetite," Shane said, rating him a laugh from Jaime before she went to place their orders.

 

"Have you heard anything from Detective Randall?" Shane asked.

 

"Nothing. Of course catching whoever murdered Logan will undoubtedly be as hard as it was to find Kenny's killer, meaning it's not going to happen."

 

"I have a feeling you're right, but you never know. He could be closing in on the killer as we speak."

The Artist and the Actor – 40

 

 

If a smile could light a room, Shane's would have. "You're serious?"

 

Hedging his bets, Colin replied, "I think so. As much as we can between now and when you leave. I guess, after that, we'll have to put things on hold until you're free to come back?" He voiced it as a question even though he knew the answer.

 

"It won't be for a while." Shane embraced him, gazing directly into Colin's eyes. "I will return, though, now that I know for certain you want me to."

 

"I do," Colin murmured. He touched Shane's face, tracing the line of his mouth. He replaced his fingers with his lips, kissing him gently; unbelievably relieved when Shane returned it—not that he doubted that he would, but…

 

Easing back, Shane said, "We're going to take it slow, as if we've just met."

 

"We should," Colin agreed. "I'm going to make you a promise, too. I won't spend every waking moment in the studio when I'm in the throes of painting. I'll set specific times for it but—" he tapped Shane's nose, "—you have to make certain I hold to them."

 

Shane smirked. "And drag you out, kicking and screaming if you don't want to quit?"

 

"Don't get carried away," Colin retorted. "Come in, let me know it's time to stop, and give me a few minutes to finish what I'm doing and wind down."

 

"I can handle that." Cupping Colin's face with his hands, Shane said, "I'll make a promise, too. You are and will be the only man in my life from this moment on. No matter how upset I get, and we both know that being human we will have arguments, I won't betray your trust. Never again."

 

"I believe you," Colin replied softly, leaning in, intending to kiss him.

 

Shane held up his hand to stop him. "One question. Why the change of heart?"

 

"I grew up?" Colin said with a wry grin. "That's part of it, I suppose. Mainly, though, I didn't realize I missed you until I saw you again at the gallery."

 

"Could have fooled me."

 

"I know. I didn't want to believe it myself." Colin rested one hand on Shane's thigh. "I doubt I'd have done anything about it if you hadn't called me about the new murder…and come over."

 

"At which point you pushed me away, again."

 

Colin nodded. "It didn't stop you from pushing back, which opened my eyes to the fact I still cared for you. So, I had to make a decision. Is my compulsive focus on my art worth losing you?" He kissed Shane, murmuring against his lips, "It's not."

 

"Thank God," Shane replied before he deepened the kiss. He pulled away, breathless, moments later. "If we keep this up I'll forget about not trying to seduce you."

 

Colin grinned. "I think you already have, so I'll be the strong one and say that I'd better get out of here before you succeed."

 

"Would that be so bad?"

 

"Yeah, it would. One step at a time until we know we can make things work this time around." Colin stood, took Shane's hands, and pulled him to his feet. "Do we want to do lunch again tomorrow?"

 

"I can't. It's Wednesday and we've got a matinee. I'm free Thursday and Friday, during the day, and then we've got matinees Saturday and Sunday."

 

"Let's plan on Thursday, then? Do you ever get a full day off?"

 

"Mondays," Shane replied.

 

"Great. I'll fix dinner for us next Monday, rather than eating out."

 

"Sounds good."

 

By then, they were at the door. "What restaurant, Thursday?" Colin asked.

 

"The Italian one near the house. If I recall, it had great food."

 

"It still does. Around one?"

 

Shane agreed, they shared one more kiss, and Colin left. As he waited for the elevator, he was smiling. This time we're going to make it work if it kills me.

 

The Artist and the Actor – 39

 

"Not bad," Colin commented, looking around Shane's the room.

 

"My home away from home and affordable since it's a residence hotel. The fact I can cook in here saves on eating out, which helps." As he talked, Shane went to the mini-bar. "Beer, liquor, a soft drink?"

 

"Beer's fine, and before you ask, I'm sticking to just one. I have to drive home."

 

"You won't let me ply you with alcohol so I can—"

 

"No seducing, remember?" Colin tempered his words with a smile.

 

"Yeah, yeah." Shane took out two beers, popped the lids, and handed one to Colin. "Have a seat." He gestured to the sofa opposite the large-screen TV. "I get every channel under the sun, I think, if you want to watch something."

 

Colin took off his suit jacket, toed off his shoes, and sat. Swiveling, he pulled his feet up, then wrapped one arm around his knees while taking a long pull on his beer. "We've done the movie thing for this week; I'm not into talk shows or sports reruns. I just want to relax."

 

"Works for me," Shane replied, settling with a sigh at the other end of the sofa.

 

"Tired?"

 

"Not really. More like coming down from the show. It always takes something out of me, even though I'm only a lowly chorus member this time around."

 

"Are you ever one of the leads?" Colin asked, remembering that he had been once or twice when he'd worked at a local theater while they were together.

 

"No. I've had supporting roles, with other companies. This time, I was hired because the guy I'm replacing broke his foot." Shane chuckled. "It's hard to dance when that happens."

 

"No kidding. Turn, spin, clunk when the cast hits the floor."

 

Laughing, Shane replied, "That's about it." He set his beer down on the side table. "Are you sitting that way to make sure I keep my distance?"

 

"Not really," Colin told him, wondering if subconsciously he was. Hesitantly, he lowered his feet to the floor, patting the space beside him.

 

Shane slid over, leaning against Colin's shoulder. "Better."

 

"Debatable," Colin replied as a wave of desire washed over him.

 

"Like old times."

 

"Perhaps…"

 

"We used to sit together like this while we watched TV, or read. Remember?" Shane said.

 

"No. I mean, yeah, we did and I do, but perhaps it's time to forget the past and…" Colin took a deep breath. "I can't believe I'm going to say this. Start over?"

The Artist and the Actor – 38

 

Shane smiled when he came into the theater lobby, half an hour after the show's final curtain call. Colin was seated on one of the benches, his nose buried in a book.

 

"You took my advice," he said, dropping down on the bench beside Colin.

 

"Yep, and a good thing, too. It gave me something to do." Closing the paperback, he stuck it in his pocket.

 

"So, what did you think?"

 

"It's a pretty good book," Colin replied without blinking an eye. He grinned. "I loved the show. I probably missed a few salient points, though, as my concentration was on a certain chorus member whenever he was on stage."

 

"You'd better mean me," Shane said, feigning a worried frown.

 

"Well, now that you mention it, the blond guy was…" Colin laughed. "Of course I meant you." He gave Shane a swift hug. "Do you want to stop for coffee or a drink before you go back to your hotel?"

 

"We could, or I have a mini-bar in my room." Shane waited on tenterhooks to see what Colin's response would be.

 

"I…" Colin worried his lip between his teeth as he studied Shane. Then, with a nod, he replied, "What the hell, why not?"

 

Resisting his immediate response—"Such enthusiasm, not."—Shane smiled as he stood, waited for Colin to join him, and they left the theater.

 

"Nice night for a walk," Colin said.

 

Shane chuckled. "You make it sound as if we were going miles, not two blocks. We could take the long way, to the end of the Mall and back."

 

"If you want." Colin didn't sound averse to the idea.

 

Taking Colin's hand, Shane replied, "Relax. We're not going to do anything more than have a drink together without a lot of boisterous people around. I'm not planning on seducing you, I promise."

 

"Well, damn." Colin grinned as he said it, but the flash of relief belied his words.

 

It made Shane resolve to act like the perfect gentleman once they were in his room, as much as he might have wished otherwise. If I push, he'll run. He hasn't decided if he wants us to start over. He's getting close, I think, but…yeah. Take it slow and easy.

The Artist and the Actor – 37

 

 

"I got you a ticket for the show tonight." Shane took out his wallet, handing the ticket to Colin. "It's about time you saw, again, what I do for a living. It's been a long time since your have."

 

"I, well…all right, I guess." Colin looked down at what he was wearing. "I'll have to stop at home after I drop you off and change."

 

Shane smiled in relief, wisecracking, "You don't need to change. I like you just the way you are."

 

"Smartass," Colin muttered. He checked the ticket. "Okay, I should be able to make it back in time. Getting you there, though... It is rush hour."

 

"Then let's get a move on."

 

They race-walked from the mall exit to where Colin had parked the car two blocks away. From there, it was a case of making it down First Avenue, with more than a few swearwords at other drivers. When they reached the Performing Arts Complex, Shane had Colin pull up on Champa Street so that he could go in through the stage door of the theater. Before he closed the car door, he leaned in to say, "You'd better not stand me up."

 

Colin pressed one hand to his chest. "I won't, but where will me meet afterward?"

 

"In the lobby. It'll take me a while to get out of costume, so bring a book." Shane grinned, closed the door, and disappeared inside the building.

 

As he made his way to the dressing rooms, Olivia joined him.

 

"You look like the cat that swallowed the canary," she said, linking her arm with his. "Things are working out with you and, umm, Colin?"

 

"Yes, Colin, and I think so. At least we're talking without arguing. We've eaten out, twice, and went to a movie this afternoon, and tonight he's coming to see the show." Shane crossed his fingers, hoping Colin wouldn't get home, take one look at whatever painting he was working on, and forget everything except getting back to it.

 

"Great! When do I get to meet him?"

 

"Well…"

 

She grinned. "It's okay. When you're ready, and he is, will be just fine. Remember, we leave in less than four weeks so…"

 

"Got it." They split up when they reached the chorus dressing rooms. Convincing him to meet some of my friends in the company may be a no-go, knowing him. But who knows? For sure, he didn't.

 

* * * *

 

Although he didn't know it, Shane had been partly right in his assessment of what would happen when Colin arrived at the house. The first thing he did was go up to the studio. He stared at the painting he'd had to abandon earlier in the day, picked up a brush, and uncovered the palette. Then, with a muttered, "Nope, not doing it," he set the brush down, turned, and went to his bedroom to change for the second time in less than half a day.

 

When he finished, he was wearing slacks and a shirt that he usually reserved for an opening at the gallery. "Suit jacket or vest?" He debated for less than a minute before selecting the navy jacket that went with the slacks. "The things I do for him," he grumbled. "Now I have to wear a tie. Shane, you owe me big." He realized he was reversing what he'd promised his ex, as an apology for being late to pick him up for lunch. "I guess we're even?" That amused him.

 

Once he'd checked himself in the mirror and ran a comb through his hair, he put his wallet and phone in his pockets, grabbed his keys from the dresser, and, when he got downstairs, picked up the paperback he'd been reading, stuffing it in a pocket, too. A few minutes later he was on his way downtown to the theater.