“Thank you!” Colt grinned at him and took the glass. He drank a healthy sip, then hummed, deep in his throat. “Ain’t that nice? Y’all all having fun?”
“I am. Will you be done here soon?”Are you going to come out and talk to me?
“You done with me here, Miss Susan?”
“You’ve been an amazing help, Colt. Thank you, but we have it handled from here.”
“Okay, then. Holler if you need me.” He looked down at himself. “I’m gon’ jump in the shower and all. I’m filthy.”
“Probably a good idea.” He smiled at Colt. “Take your wine with you, loosen up a little.”
“I’ll see you back down here in a while and see all your company. Go eat shrimp. You like them.” Colt waved and disappeared out the back stairs.
Go eat shrimp. He could do that. If he could manage to not get into it with Danny, who was hovering over them.
“Your new boyfriend made these, huh?”
Oh, good grief. “He did. And he’s not new.”
“Newer than me.”
“Mm. Better in bed than you too.” He grinned to soften that a little.
“Butthead. He’s a good cook. No one’s seen him around in weeks. We thought he was gone.”
We? Theater folk did love their gossip. He nodded. “He’s in high demand, and he’s been working a lot. It’s all good. Better that we’re not in each other’s back pockets all the time, right?”
That sounded good.
“Right on.” Danny shot him an arch look. “Are you keeping him in the kitchen with the staff, or does he get to come out to play with us?”
“He just went up to shower, asshole. And he liked the idea when I asked him if he would cook. He’s not hired help.” Oh. That came out defensive, dammit. Colt wouldn’t think of it like that. Would he?
“Whoa.” Danny’s hands went up. “Kyle, I was just screwing with you. He’s one hell of a cook. The shrimp are stunning.”
“Sorry. Low blood sugar. You know I haven’t eaten a thing yet?” Low blood sugar. Please. He felt like someone had lifted a screen and behind it he suddenly was able to see reality.
Not now. He was hosting a party. He’d talk with Colt later and they’d fix it. He reached for a shrimp, tasting it. “Oh. Oh, wow.”
“Keeping this one?”
“Shut up. Yes.” Yes. If it was up to him, yes. But the dawning realization that some of the best parts of what they were together had already fallen apart was starting to make him doubt.
“Good deal. Tell him the food is worth paying for.” Danny gave him a wink.
“You are such an ass, Danny.” To be honest, he’d kind of been the ass. It wasn’t a big tragedy, but Danny probably deserved better.
“Kyle!”
He could tell it was getting into the drinking part of the evening as a handful of the younger dancers came over to gush about his house.
“You have a hot tub!”
“Did you guys see the glass ceiling in there?”
“I swear, Kyle, that studio is amazing.”
“Please tell me you didn’t go in.” He’d locked the door. There was a window in it, but he was pretty sure he’d locked it up. A giant open studio room was better than an orgy to a bunch of tipsy dancers.