Felix rolled his eyes. “Oh for heaven’s sake, Leo.” He looked at Aud. “He’d love to pose for you. If I have to, I’ll deliver him bound and gagged.”
Smiling at the image that popped into his head, Aud pulled out a couple of business cards and handed one to each of them. “Here’s my card. I’m in the gallery most days from ten to three or four. If I’m not there, my assistant, Heather Ramsey, can find me. I’d rather work after hours or on Sunday, my day off. But we can sort something out, I’m sure.” Stop babbling. You sound like a nervous schoolboy.
Leo looked at the card. “Okay. I’ll stop by next week. It might be fun.” He slipped the card into his front pants pocket. “It was a great class.”
“Glad you liked it.” Aud gave him his sexiest smile, keeping his lips open and easy without showing too much tooth.
Turning quickly as heat rose in his cheeks, Leo gestured for his friends to follow him from the room. “Good night, Mr. Sorenson. See you soon.”
I hope so. “Good night, Leo.” Aud quickly finished gathering up the art supplies, then left the library as it was closing for the night. A light, happy feeling filled him as he climbed into the Jeep and headed home. Although he had no idea if he’d see Leo again, he had hopes. Something about the man grabbed his attention like no one had in several years.
3
LEO PULLED his warm turkey sandwich out of the microwave and returned to his table in the breakroom. Felix stared at him. “Well?”
“Well what?” Leo sat and tried not to look annoyed. Felix had been going on and on since they’d left the library the previous night.
“Are you going to go pose for Aud? It would be the closest thing you’ve had to a date in months.” Felix opened his bag of chips.
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t know? How could you not know? My God, Leo. One of the hottest guys we’ve seen in forever asks to draw your head, and you don’t know if you’re going to go?” Felix sighed dramatically. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” He reached over and snatched Leo’s wrist as if feeling for a pulse. “That’s it. You’ve finally succumbed to the horrors of our life in the call center and become a zombie. But that doesn’t explain the pulse.”
Leo yanked his arm back. “Look. You know how horrible my luck with guys is. The way things go for me, he’s probably some kind of serial killer who uses his victims’ bodily fluids to make art and then sells it for millions after the smell fades.”
“Being a wee bit of a drama queen, aren’t you?” Felix popped a couple of chips in his mouth. “Look, he’s hot. He’s got his own art gallery. He expressed an interest in you, and most of all, he’s hot.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for another doomed date.” Leo took a swig of his water.
“If he’d been interested in sketching me, I’d have let him do it last night,” Felix said. “In fact, I would’ve let him do anything he wanted to me last night.”
“Which is why you’ve had even fewer relationships than I have. When was the last time you had a second date with anyone? You go all-out on the first date, actually…. When was the last time you had a date and it wasn’t just some guy you met on Prowler or whichever app you’re using this week?”
Felix wrinkled his brow and looked offended. “Maybe I’m just more than most guys are looking for. Maybe I just haven’t found one worthy of me. Besides, you’re not going to sidetrack me with this. We’re talking about your love life, or lack thereof, not mine. If you want to make sure he’s legit, we can go by the gallery tonight after work. Even if he’s not there, we can ask his assistant about him, and that can help you make up your mind.”
Leo didn’t want to admit how much he wanted to find out that Aud was for real. The man looked like someone descended from on high. But he was so nervous. Most of his relationships ended badly. Geez, I haven’t even been out on a date with the guy. And I’m already thinking long-term. I’m pathetic. “You’re not going to let this go until I say yes, are you?”
“Nope.” Felix flashed a triumphant smile. “I’ll nag you all the way home, and then tomorrow when I pick you up, I’ll nag you some more. I’ll even nag you every time we have any free moments between calls, to the point that you’ll be wanting us to get so busy we don’t take breaks. You’re going to go see this guy and pose for him. If nothing sparks during the posing, then I’ll let you off the hook. Besides, I expect details. Lots of details. Guys like this don’t wander into your life on—”
“Okay,” Leo interrupted him. “Just stop. We’ll go. We can go this afternoon if I can get off the phones in time.”
“Good. I’ll make sure you don’t get a long call at the last minute.”
“How?”
“Don’t ask questions that you don’t want answers to.” Felix wadded up his chip bag and somehow managed to toss it into the garbage can without getting out of his seat.