A Model Escort

by Amanda Meuwissen

  Even when Owen’s face scrunched, he looked endearing. “I don’t think of it like that. They’re all pretty down to earth.”

  Cal and Owen sat to enjoy more of the wine and a slice of bread, taking up the same seats as their first evening. “Don’t get too comfortable with that being the case. They’re rare breeds. A lot more people in their positions would be ruthless.”

  “I know.” Owen nodded. “That’s why I came here instead of staying in Middleton.”

  “Your past company had some villainous characters in it?”

  There came that shadow over Owen’s features again. “My ex. He took a lot of my ideas for his own, said they’d have more luck being accepted if they came from him since he was CTO. Which isn’t entirely a lie,” he added in a rush, maybe used to defending the man. “That did give the ideas more clout, but it took me a long time to recognize how much he was using me.”

  Cal burned with curiosity to press for more—a CTO in Middleton, a clear asshole, a man closer in age to Cal most likely—but the way Owen’s shoulders drew up said he didn’t want to be reminded of the past.

  “You know what they say?” Cal raised his glass for a toast, and Owen brought his forward to clink. “The best revenge is living well.”

  Owen glowed as if he still didn’t believe how well he was living.

  The oven timer dinged, and Owen took in a deep breath. “That smells so good. I’m starved.”

  “Ah, ah, ah.” Cal rose to follow him from the table. “It needs to rest before we dish up.”

  “For real?” Owen looked so crestfallen. He lived his life at breakneck pace, while Cal preferred to slow things down. “I was that kid who ruined pans of brownies because I couldn’t wait for anything to ‘rest.’”

  “I never would have guessed,” Cal teased. “Patience, Owen. All things in due time.”

  They settled in the kitchen after removing the pan from the oven, facing each other.

  “Speaking of time,” Owen said, “I knew it was only a matter of time before I started getting invites to bigger events. When Adam and I were talking, he invited me to this fundraiser in a couple weeks, a chance to hobnob with the right people and bring the different sides of my work together. I really should have a date.” Bashful in the span of seconds, he glanced down at his twiddling thumbs. “I’m terrible in situations like that, so someone who can help me navigate being, you know… normal would be really appreciated. Would you come with me? Is that okay, or do we need to keep things more private—”

  “I’d be delighted to accompany you, Owen,” Cal said, having expected this eventually and unable to deny how eager he’d been. “Well timed for our shopping trip. How many suits do you own?”

  “Like full suits? Coz it’s more like blazers, and I don’t really like ties….”

  This young man was in desperate need of spit and polish. “You’ve been invited by Adam Walker to a fundraiser. You’re going to need to wear a tie. Maybe even black tie?”

  “Not black tie,” Owen assured him. “I figured I could get away with—”

  “You still need a tie,” Cal scolded. “We’ll find something comfortable for you. I bet you’ve never had a suit tailored to your measurements before. You want to impress these people, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll help you do just that in something you’ll love, I promise. But I should warn you.” Cal hated to bring this up, but he owed Owen the truth.

  “Warn me?”

  “I tend to avoid these types of events because there is the chance some of my other clients might be in attendance. Now,” he continued when he saw the concern enter Owen’s face, “you signed the same forms they did, they know not to call attention to me or what I do, and I wouldn’t expect any of them to, but if they see us together, they will make assumptions.”

  “Oh.” Owen relaxed. “I don’t care about that. Unless you do?” And he went right back to worried.

  “I’m quite comfortable with who I am,” Cal said.

  “I never would have guessed,” Owen mocked back, then chuckled to himself before looking at Cal sheepishly. “I know you can’t answer this, but… you don’t have Adam or Wesley as clients, do you?”

  “No. I can tell you plainly, that to my knowledge, no one you’re working with is a client of mine. But that doesn’t mean a fundraiser for Walker Tech won’t come with familiar faces.”

  “I get it. Not that I’m worried, but how do you keep your clients anonymous anyway? You know my real name. I assume you know everyone’s real names.”

  “I don’t refer to them as that in mixed company. We use codenames for clients.”

  “You do?” Owen perked up. “Like what?”

  Clearly, he had playing spy on the brain, but Cal didn’t want to embarrass him by admitting he’d dubbed him “Scarlet” because of his blush. “I have one I call Narcissus.”

  “Narcissus?” Owen fell into giddy laughter. “That full of himself?”

  Usually Cal didn’t discuss clients with anyone outside of Rhys, but Owen’s curiosity was harmless by comparison. “He has a mirror on the bedroom ceiling.”

  “He does?” Owen flushed with color, though the way his eyes darted down Cal’s body proved he wasn’t completely without interest.

  “Then there’s The Godfather,” Cal said.

  “Like… he’s with the mob?”

  “She is the daughter of a very cutthroat businessman, but I don’t believe he has actual mafia ties. I certainly hope he doesn’t.” If Asher Morris was a mob boss in disguise and ever found out Cal was hired by his daughter for biweekly romps in the bedroom, he’d have his head on a chopping block in hours.

  “She?” Owen asked, kicking at the kitchen floor with one of his sock-clad feet.

  This always came up when Cal had a new client; they wondered if he had a “type” since he populated both sides of the Nick of Time website, but the things most people had a preference for didn’t mean as much to him. As long as he felt drawn in, anyone could catch his interest.

  “I tend to see more men than women, but I equally enjoy anyone’s company. Does that bother you?”

  “No.” Owen was quick to answer. “Sorry, I shouldn’t ask about other clients.”

  Jealous. Mildly maybe, but it was there. Many clients got jealous, but it stirred something different in Cal seeing it in Owen.

  Daring to take a risk, he pushed forward and slid his hands overtop Owen’s on the island counter, eliciting a gasp from the timid young man.

  “When I’m with you, you are all I think about. I promise,” Cal said and gently lifted Owen’s hands to tug him toward the stovetop. “Now come on. Get the plates. I wouldn’t want to torture you any further waiting for your hard-earned meal.”

  A giggle passed Owen’s lips, his blush still on his cheeks as Cal’s gamble paid off. Not that he wanted to push Owen for anything physical, but he hoped to get him more comfortable accepting what he offered even if that never went further than a cuddle.

  What Cal couldn’t admit yet was that when he’d been with other clients the past few days, often his thoughts had strayed to Owen.

  THE lasagna tasted amazing, and it was a meal Owen could replicate, though there was something far more enjoyable about having made it with Cal. He wasn’t filled with the same anxieties he’d experienced the first night they saw each other. If Cal was going to be put off by first impressions, he would have run for the hills and never returned.

  Still, Owen wasn’t sure how to segue from finishing another meal together to cuddling without sounding like a complete dork.

  Um, can we undress now?

  Urg.

  A crack of thunder, almost loud enough to rattle the walls, made Owen jump and drew his attention to the windows and just how dark the clouds had become. He’d caught flickers of lightning a few times during dinner, but now he could see the storm in full swing, one of those impressive displays of sparring lightning shooting from one cloud to another in an endless
dance.

  “Afraid of storms?” Cal asked.

  “I love storms,” Owen said. Then with a surge of adrenaline, he leaped from his chair to pull Cal from the table and hurried them toward the balcony door. Cal had such an amazing, deep laugh. “Quick, before it starts to rain! I have a great view from here. Look.” He pointed to the gap in the cityscape between the lights of Nye Industries and Walker Tech, where there was nothing but sky and flash after flash of lightning sparkling in the dark. “These are my favorite kinds of storms. Isn’t it beautiful?”

  Owen was so transfixed watching the skyline, he didn’t feel Cal’s gaze on him until he heard “Breathtaking” and realized Cal wasn’t looking at the storm.

  The heat filling Owen’s face made it impossible to acknowledge the comment. When he dared sneak a peek, Cal had turned forward again, his face lit intermittently by bursts of light.

  They stood on the balcony awhile, taking in the storm, the natural lightshow in the middle of a glowing city, quiet but content in each other’s company—until another rumble of thunder heralded the start of the rain showers and they ducked back inside.

  It made Owen giggle when Cal reached to take his glasses from him since they were speckled with raindrops. He took them back and set them on the end table rather than wipe them clean.

  “Can we… umm….”

  “Owen,” Cal said, low and quiet, “you don’t have to be nervous to ask for anything you want.”

  That just made Owen shiver harder. He focused on Cal’s features, softened without his prescription. “Can we undress like last time but stay out here and lay on the sofa to watch the storm?”

  The way Cal looked at Owen made him certain the other man wanted to undress him himself, but even if Cal was merely talented at playing a role and making Owen feel wanted, he knew he’d lose his nerve if he allowed that. So, he smiled when Cal nodded and backed toward the sofa to undress on his own. Cal didn’t do as much of a striptease this time, but when he was down to his underwear, he lay back and beckoned for Owen to join him.

  Pleasantly crushed between Cal and the inside of the sofa as he lay half on top of him, Owen settled into the snug contact to watch the lightning dance between the clouds.

  “Thank you for this,” he said.

  “You don’t need to thank me. This is what I’m here for.”

  “This isn’t what you normally do though, right?”

  “True. I don’t have other clients like you.” Cal hugged Owen closer, fingers trailing up his arm in soothing motions.

  “So… thank you,” Owen said again.

  “You’re welcome.”

  It was only later, when they’d dressed and Cal was leaving, that Owen realized he’d never asked what codename Cal had given him.

  CAL’S schedule remained tight the next two weeks, but he always made time for Owen. When he took on a regular, he was only obligated to see them once a week. Some he saw closer to once a month per their own requests, but Owen asked for him frequently, and even when Cal had something else going on, he tried to accommodate Owen first.

  It wasn’t charity or pity. Seeing Owen more often was smart business and relaxing for Cal in ways no other client could provide. It was self-care as much as for Owen’s benefit. Cal also enjoyed a challenge, and Owen’s wardrobe was certainly that. He’d done well with Dennis, but he needed several more staples to round out his closet, including something stylish for the fundraiser and other upcoming events.

  Cal picked out a burgundy three-piece suit for him that would make heads turn for sure, which Owen had protested until he saw himself in it with the first few pins in place to help it hug his frame.

  “Are you sure? This isn’t too… flashy? What will you wear?”

  “Something more muted. You’re the belle of the ball, Owen. The point is to make you stand out, and I’m merely an accessory.”

  “That’s not very nice.”

  “It’s not about nice. It’s about playing the crowd. Trust me. A little drama will make a more lasting impression.”

  Owen would be wearing his new glasses as well: a gold pair like he’d wanted that was more fitting for fancy nights out.

  Most evenings Cal spent in Owen’s company they stayed in and made dinner. A few times Cal took Owen out—though Owen always paid. Occasionally they looked through Owen’s furniture magazine or new ones Cal brought over so he could finish decking out his apartment with artwork and accents.

  There was one larger piece Cal had pointed out that Owen immediately purchased, an impressive print with bold swaths of color, mostly blue and silver in the center with purple and red along the edges. “Like a snowstorm in a forest fire,” Owen had said.

  He had a good eye when he trusted himself to use it, but it warmed Cal how easily Owen took to his suggestions without shying from letting him know when he didn’t like something.

  The print was the centerpiece of Owen’s living room wall now.

  Whenever they were together, every meeting always ended with clothes shed and close contact snuggled on the bed or sofa. Never more than that, but there was never an encounter without it. Owen hadn’t cried since the first night, but he clung to Cal sometimes like he couldn’t anchor himself without him. Cal had to be careful not to become a crutch Owen wouldn’t be able to move on from.

  The fundraiser was swiftly approaching, which would help get Owen’s feet wet to better ease into his new life, but it also put them in the public eye together. Assuming Owen would be nervous over this, Cal prepared the perfect cover if he didn’t want to pass him off as his boyfriend.

  “My publicist?”

  “I’ll be playing that role to some extent anyway, and no one will bat an eye.”

  “What if people think I’m dating my publicist?”

  “No one will bat an eye at that either,” Cal said. “They’ll think you audacious. Then they’ll meet you and fall for your charms. Your good work will only bolster their impressions after that.”

  Given how in demand Owen was and how much he was worth, he needed a publicist anyway. Who better than Cal, who knew exactly how to handle these sorts of people? He even took it upon himself to help Owen schedule interviews, answer emails, scan local media for press mentions they weren’t expecting, and craft a social media presence, since Owen had only ever used Facebook and only for personal matters.

  Cal had blocked off his schedule for the fundraiser the moment Owen invited him, but he’d been considering clearing the day after as well in case the evening ran long. Lara had called him into the office to rearrange his scheduling anyway, so he planned to see if Narcissus would be willing to push things back a day this week.

  Before he could make the request, however, Lara handed him dismissal papers.

  “Narcissus is removing himself from the roster? What for?”

  She shrugged from where she sat behind her desk. “He and his ex are giving it another go. He sends his best. Left you a hefty bonus for the short notice. Shall I get you back in the catalog to fill the slot?”

  “No,” Cal said before he realized how quickly the response left him. Giving himself a moment to consider what he was thinking, he distracted himself by signing the forms.

  “No?” Lara pressed.

  “I’ve been extra spent lately. Scarlet is a demanding client.” Cal hadn’t told Lara or anyone outside of Rhys what he and Owen got up to when they met, but she couldn’t deny his full schedule lately.

  “Demanding, huh?” She eyed him when he handed the forms back to her like she could read between every line he ever used. “And he looks so unassuming in that selfie.”

  “I never kiss and tell,” Cal said, considering he and Owen had never kissed. “Send him a note so he knows I’m free the day after the fundraiser.”

  “In case he wants you to spend the night?”

  Cal hadn’t considered that, but now that Lara had mentioned it, he wondered. “Make the offer, but don’t push if he doesn’t bite. I’m sure Dick won’t mind me reducing
my client load given the number of days Scarlet’s been booking me.”

  “Your call, Calvin.”

  Technically Cal had the space to add another client, but the idea of adding anyone new didn’t sit well with him, and he always went with his gut.

  If Owen took advantage of his more open schedule, Cal certainly wouldn’t mind.

  OWEN had been sleeping restlessly for days. He was so excited for the fundraiser, mostly to get the first of these events out of the way, though he was thankful Cal would be with him.

  His work had been paying off with his side project for Adam, enough that they planned to bring the idea to Keri at the event, sort of like a friendly ambush, which seemed like a normal occurrence for the head of Walker Tech. From then on things were going to pick up as the police program went live soon too.

  Grinning at his newest email, Owen wondered if he should agree to book Cal to stay the night after the fundraiser. He’d need decompression time, and Cal’s arms were the ideal place to accomplish that. It wasn’t that much extra to keep him until morning. Owen knew how to budget his time with Cal so it was hardly a detriment to his finances.

  He worried about his self-control sometimes when Cal was wrapped around him. It was easy to forget that he wasn’t allowed to kiss. Well, he was. He could have. He could change the nature of their time together with a single request. But that would ruin everything. The next time Owen kissed someone, he didn’t want it to be business, even if Cal was a good friend and the most alluring man Owen had ever had in his bed.

  Maybe their relationship wasn’t only business to Cal, but Owen knew better than to get his hopes up. Cal was a temporary balm to ease the wounds he’d suffered, not a permanent solution to his loneliness.

  He was midsentence typing a response to Cal’s handler that yes, he would keep Cal through the night, when another email populated. Wondering if it might be an update from the agency, he clicked on the new message without finishing his draft.