The meeting with his lawyer dragged depressingly over the one hour it was scheduled for and Luke was late by the time he entered the change room. He placed his wallet on the top shelf of his open locker and quickly typed a text message to his friend Maddie.
"Smashed up the Dodge. Met a man."
He pondered whether he should include the latter, realizing 'met a man' implied an actual chance at a future. But he pressed send instead, deciding he'd give his friend something to wonder about. He knew how invested she was in his love life; non-existent as it currently was.
Placing the phone next to his wallet, he proceeded to change into his riding gear; smiling at his reflection in the mirror.
This was the real Luke. The world of horses was one he?d grown up in. It was a world he truly understood inside and out; not to mention a place where he could find some sense of control.
He noticed how his riding jacket hung just a little too loosely. He frowned. It was clear the stress of Damien?s trial and incarceration was showing visibly now.
Shaking off the bad thoughts, Luke grabbed his notes and headed out to the arena to meet his first student. He?d been teaching disadvantaged kids and teens how to ride ever since he?d first stumbled upon the stables hidden within a forest on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
It was unpaid charity work, much to Damian?s disgust. But Luke relished in the feeling of satisfaction he received from the smiles on the kids' faces when they finally got a handle on the horses. He felt at peace.
Luke sent his first student, Ben,on a few laps of the arena. The boy was doing well and looked confident atop the beautiful grey. Luke jotted down a few notes on the boy's technique and style; although there was very little left to criticize. Ben had come a long way from the shy child Luke remembered.
It was late afternoon by the time Luke finished with his last session and got back into his car. Checking his cell, he discovered the usual ream of messages from people he didn't want to talk to; lawyers, agents, debt collectors. Mixed in the pile were a few desperate text messages from Maddie.
Adjusting his hands free, Luke rang her number before pulling out into the road.
"You had an accident?" she blurted without saying hello. "Are you okay?"
She laughed as Luke explained how he wasn't actually in the car at the time of the crash.
"I love you, Luke," she replied. "But remind me to never loan you my car!"
"Sounds like you'd get on the guy who came to view the car this morning. He also seemed to think I'm an accident waiting to happen."
"I'm sure you were able to win him over with your usual charm and wit, honey."
"Not so sure," Luke replied as he indicated to turn right. "He was pretty pissed actually."
"I bet!" she exclaimed. "Drove all the way out there for nothing!"
Luke eyed himself in the rear-view mirror. He looked sad. "I don't think he liked me very much."
"Please!" Maddie scoffed. "Everybody likes you! That's how you're so good at squeezing money out of them for that foundation of yours. Don't be so hard on yourself, Luke."
Luke sighed. "I think I may have stumbled onto the exception in that department. This one was? I don't know? different."
"And?"
"And, I think I like him," Luke groaned as he voiced what he already knew.
Maddie was silent; testament to what she thought of Luke's usual taste in men.
"I know!" Luke responded to her silence as though she'd voiced her thoughts.
"Does this one earn an actual living?" she asked.
"Maddie, come on!" Luke exclaimed.
"Well?" she replied. "That last one of yours lived in a one-room hovel?"
"Sky was an artist," Luke interrupted in defense of his ex-boyfriend.
"An artist! Yeah, that's for sure! A con-artist with a talent of living off of you! I'm so pleased you saw the light before he drew you even further into his web of uselessness. Is Sky even his real name? Who the hell is called Sky?"
"Okay, okay! Harsh much?"
"So, did you get a number for Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome?" Maddie asked, steering the conversation back to the matter at hand.
Luke bitterly laughed. "No hope of that! I doubt the guy ever wants to see me again."
"Oh, Luke..."
"Besides," he interrupted, not wanting her sympathy. "I've not got time to date. In fact, I'm just on my way to the Hotel St. James as we speak?"
"Oh yes! For the fundraiser tonight!" Maddie excitedly exclaimed. "God, but I wish I'd known Carol was going to get Noah Mayer to attend before I booked this trip to Chicago! What I wouldn't do to meet him!"
"Well he can't be that big a deal if I've never even heard of him," Luke responded.
"Luke! He's only the biggest name amongst Hollywood directors at the moment! Where the hell have you been?"
"In a courtroom, Maddie!"
"Right, sorry," Maddie sheepishly replied.
"No," Luke softened, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped. My problems aren't your fault and I shouldn't take my frustrations out on you."
"That's okay," she replied. "What are friends for?"
Luke smiled. "Not sure what I'd do without you, Mads."
"I'm not sure either. That's why it's left to me to make sure you look presentable tonight! So I'm telling you now to dress smart and fix your hair. Noah Mayer just happens to be gorgeous! And, reportedly gay..."
"The way I'm going today, I doubt that will make much difference! I'm sure to annoy him in some way, " Luke responded dejectedly.
"Well you're lucky to get him. He doesn't do interviews often and is usually quite monosyllabic."
Great! Means I'll have to do all the talking!
"But I hear he has quite a reputation on the dating front," Maddie continued.
"Please!" Luke scoffed. "If he hardly talks, I don't see how that can be possible."
"I don't think much talking is involved..." Maddie's voice had turned distinctly playful. "Better watch he doesn't take advantage of you."
Luke rolled his eyes. "I think I'm safe. You forget I've had enough years of exposure to Damian's skills."
"Not all men are rogues, Luke."
"No, you married the only one that isn't!" It was said with fondness. Luke was genuinely pleased that Maddie had found happiness and a family life.
"All I'm saying is that Mayer has been known to play the field. You may not be feeling it at the moment, but you are quite the charmer Luke. And I just want you to have your wits about you with this one."
"I'll keep that in mind," Luke smiled, turning into the hotel parking garage. "I'm here. Talk to you later."
"Okay, bye for now. Love you."
The phone clicked off just as Luke drove up in front of the hotel. He was running late. He exited the convertible only to be brought up short by the sight of a familiar grey Porsche parked right outside the hotel entrance. He felt the adrenaline in his body spike almost instantly. His heart pounded.
He jumped as a car horn blared from behind him; realizing he was standing right in the flow of traffic. He moved out of the way, already amazed at the luck that would bring the stranger here of all places.
All Luke had to do now, was meet Noah Mayer, shake his hand, have a few pictures taken; and then he could scan the hotel to find the beautiful stranger. He'd apologize and offer to buy him a drink. And then...
...then what?
Still, he couldn't help feeling excited about the chance to interact with the stranger again.
...
Luke Snyder was late.
Noah had been apologetically ushered from one important dignitary to the next, as the Foundation staff tried to cover for their figure head. But the absence of Mr. Snyder was all too obvious.
This was a new kind of scenario for people jumped at the chance to meet him, arriving early. He wasn't sure how he felt about being...
... stood up?
Still, he couldn't deny this was a charity he was happy to support. He'd been a kid with a dream once. If he could inspire a youngster like himself, then that was a reason to be there. Luke Snyder, or no Luke Snyder.
He was about to be steered toward yet another group of eager patrons, when he saw him.
The blonde from that morning was dressed in a tuxedo and standing in the doorway as he spoke with one of the Foundation organizers. His head was slightly tilted, exposing that smooth jaw-line and the muscles in his neck. Noah hadn't stopped thinking about those fawn eyes since he'd left the guy up on the highway.
Noah found himself powerless to look away.
Is he here for the fundraiser?
Surely that would be too much of a coincidence.
Or is he on a date?
The muscles tightened throughout his body as he cast a judgmental glance across the bar area, looking for somebody who might be waiting for their other half to arrive. But nobody had made a move toward the blonde, although his presence had drawn a lot of attention.
For the first time since the last Academy Awards, Noah felt that same rush of tense nervousness. Noah watched as the young man scanned the room, pushing back a rogue bang with that gesture Noah remembered from this morning.
Their eyes met.
There were a million reasons why Noah felt he should turn away, ignore the man. They waved themselves in front of him like a bunch of red warning flags. Yet, as those long-lashed eyes blinked in his direction, Noah knew he wasn't going anywhere.