Max propped the case for his acoustic against the couch. He raised an eyebrow at Jeff, then noticed Carter sitting at the desk, broken foot propped up on the overturned garbage can, gently swiveling back and forth as he waited for someone to take him off Hold.
Joe rolled his eyes at Trix. “I told you.”
Carter took his foot down and turned his full attention to his phone. “Hey, is this Seanna Clarke?…. Hi, this is Carter Rhodes from Great Bear Lake. I’m wondering if you’ve got data on….”
Jeff made a “keep it down” gesture and lowered his voice. “I know I said we’d write today, but are we going to do it here? We don’t have a drum kit in the hotel, for starters. And Carter’s here.”
“Thank you,” Carter said. “I appreciate it.” He ended the call. “Uh. Hi again.”
“Right,” said Max. “Real jobs.”
With an eloquent eye roll, Carter closed his laptop. “At least nobody makes up lies about me joining an underground sex club in order to get a reaction photo.” He paused and reconsidered. “Or they didn’t until last night.”
Jeff had just gotten off the phone with his publicist a few minutes before Trix knocked on the door.
“Well, you’re officially famous now,” Joe said. “Congratulations, I guess.”
Carter made a face.
“It could be worse,” Joe went on. “When Sarah and I started dating—”
Oh God, no. “Carter doesn’t need to hear that story,” Jeff interrupted.
“Sarah would probably be embarrassed anyway,” Trix agreed, backing him up. “So, you know… maybe don’t.”
“Anyway,” Jeff cut in, “this is kind of Carter’s place? For doing work?” As in the whole reason Jeff upgraded the suite—okay, apart from the romantic gesture—was to accommodate him. They weren’t just going to kick him out.
But Carter smiled and tucked his laptop into his bag. “It’s okay. There’s a business center downstairs with complementary coffee and everything. You can’t exactly bring a guitar down there.”
“We could work in another room,” Joe pointed out. “We have three of them.”
“Nah,” Carter said easily as he gestured at the window and, therefore, the mountains and the water visible through the late morning fog. “Kinda sick of the view anyway.” He’d confessed the previous night over dinner that he found it hard to concentrate on anything except how gorgeous it was. Jeff couldn’t wait to bring him back sometime when he could actually enjoy it properly—hiking, kayaking. God, maybe they’d even camp. Jeff could survive for two days without hot water.
Probably.
“Are you sure—”
Carter cut Jeff off with a kiss on the cheek. He was getting pretty good at moving around with the cast on. “I’m not the only one who has to work,” he said. “I’ll be fine. Text me if you’re getting lunch?”
Jeff nodded wordlessly, his ears hot for no reason he could name.
Then Carter collected his scooter and wheeled himself out.
As soon as the door shut, Trix dropped into an armchair, giggling. “Oh my God, Jeff.”
“Wow,” said Max. “I thought she was exaggerating. But no. You really do have it that bad.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Jeff grumbled. He collected his guitar and comp book from the bedroom and made his way back to the sitting area.
“I think it’s nice,” Joe offered. “However, I am never sitting anywhere near the two of you on a plane again—”
“Jeff!” That was Trix, actually scandalized, but smiling.
“It wasn’t my idea!” Jeff blurted.
Max threw his head back and howled, slapping his knee. “Oh my God. I never thought I’d see the day you met your match, but Carter hasallof your numbers.”
“You’re the worst.” He tossed the comp book on the table. “Does anyone else have a comment to make about my boyfriend, or can we get to work now?”
