Read Online Chase of a Lifetime by Ryan Field - Free Book Online Page A

lips were a little numb. Len wore a
tight black polo shirt, beige slacks, and his thick hair was still damp from
the shower. “I’m fine,” he said. “I wasn’t waiting long.” He didn’t mention
anything about the gay weekend event business or the nosy desk clerk.
    After a moment of hesitation, Len sat down
in a chair across from him and said, “I could sure use a drink.” He smiled.
“You look nice. But then you always look nice.”
    Jim ignored the compliment. He lifted his
arm and made an attempt to catch the waiter’s attention, but the waiter
continued walking without noticing him.
    Len lifted his arm and said, “Waiter,” and
the waiter walked up to the table immediately. “I’ll have a vodka martini.”
    When the waiter left, Len smiled and said,
“You should take a few deep breaths. You look as if you’re ready to pass out.”
    Jim took a gulp of cold vodka and said, “I’m
fine, Mr. Mayfield.” His lips were tingling now. He had to be careful. He
didn’t want to get drunk.
    “Please call me Len.”
    “All right, Len.”
    Len adjusted his position and leaned
forward. “Did you get a room?”
    “Ah well, not yet. I was waiting for you?”
    “I’ll get the room. I’ll take care of
everything. Don’t worry.”
    Jim exhaled and released an exaggerated sigh.
“Oh, thank you. I’m so glad.” The last thing he wanted to do was deal with the desk
clerk again. He would avoid him as much as possible from now on. That guy knew
he was up to something and he didn’t feel like explaining himself to anyone.
    The waiter brought Len a martini. For the
next fifteen minutes, they made small talk about the weather, a new car Len was
thinking of buying, and about the potted plants in the hotel. Len sat back with
a smug expression and smiled a lot, sipping his drink. Jim looked down at the
table and tried hard to keep his voice from cracking.
    Before Len finished his martini, he stood up
and said, “I’m going to get a room.”
    Jim stood up and said, “I’ll wait outside
the hotel.”
    “Why?”
    “So no one thinks we’re going up together. I
think the desk clerk is on to us. And who knows who we might run into. You call
me when you have the room and I’ll meet you up there.” There had to be some
kind of a plan. Even though Len had mentioned he was only with his wife for the
sake of appearances, and that they did have an agreement where they could see
other people, Jim didn’t want anyone he knew to run into them and get the wrong
idea. The thought of running into someone from high school and having to
explain all this to Cain was something Jim didn’t want to think about. And the
insufferable desk clerk was working on Jim’s last gay nerve.
    Len smiled. “I guess that’s a good idea.
Always best to be safe.”
    Jim tipped his head sideways. “You don’t
seem nervous at all. I’m ready to pass out.”
    Len gazed into his eyes and shrugged his
shoulders. “That’s because I can’t stop thinking about how lucky I am right
now.”
    “Lucky?” Jim felt dirty and naughty.
    “I’m with the best looking most adorable man
in the hotel,” Len said. “And I’m going to go upstairs with him in a few
minutes to make love to him.”
    Jim almost smiled. If he hadn’t been so
nervous he might have laughed. The best he could do was nod and say, “Well,
thank you for saying that. It was nice.” This was something he’d needed to
hear. And not because of his ego, because he wanted to know there was an
emotional connection.
    When Jim had to pass by the front desk, he
noticed the desk clerk stare at him again. He was starting to get annoyed now,
so he flung the clerk a glance, looked into his eyes, and stopped dead in his
tracks. He saw Len walk up to the counter and reach into his back pocket for
his wallet. He thought about the compliment Len had just given him and he
smiled. In a move so bold he almost tripped again, Jim turned around, walked over
to where Len was standing, and stepped right