Hoaley Ill-Manored by Declan Sands Page A

think it’s going to be spectacular.”
    “Agree. Oh, and Tim Smith will be here later
today to start work on that copper ceiling.”
    Maddy grinned. “I can’t wait to see that
when it’s restored.”
    He tapped her on the nose, feeling much more
chipper with liquid and food in his belly. In fact, Adam was
feeling better about the whole project and he realized it was
probably because his personal life had taken a turn for the
better.
    Much better.
    Right on cue, a horn honked and everyone
turned to look at the road. Dirk came up beside him and Adam felt
his lover stiffen at the sight coming toward them. A small,
fire-engine red car sped down the road. The top was down on the
two-seater convertible and a handsome face wearing dark sunglasses
and a dazzling smile showed behind the windshield.
    A thick mop of dark hair blew in the wind as
the driver lifted a hand and waved.
    “Shit.”
    Adam turned to Dirk, the first flutter of
unease tightening his gut. “You know him?”
    Dirk slid Adam a nervous glance. “Yeah. I
know him. That’s Franklin Spence.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

    Franklin Spence reeked of Hollywood. From
his perfect, white teeth to his smooth, sun-kissed skin, to the
magic haircut that looked flawless even after it had been blowing
in the wind for a few hours on the highway.
    Adam hated the man. H-A-T-E-D him.
    They’d returned to the house and were
holding court with Spence in the living room of the manor. Adam and
Dirk had thrown their shirts back on, but they were still damp and
crusty from their efforts on the tree.
    Adam would have excused himself to go
shower, but he was afraid to leave Dirk and Franklin Spence alone
together in the living room for any length of time. He didn’t trust
the smooth-voiced, hot-eyed producer any more than he trusted the
coyotes from the night before.
    Watching him work his magic on everyone in
the house, Adam thought Franklin Spence was a lot like those
coyotes. The man was a predator. Mindlessly pursuing his next meal
of money, power, or sex, and Adam couldn’t get it out of his head
that Dirk had spent a lot of time with him.
    Adam suppressed a shiver. He was drawn out
of his discomforting thoughts when Spence draped an arm around him.
Adam blinked in surprise, fighting the urge to step away. He was
well aware that he was sweaty, filthy, and stunk to high heaven.
Franklin Spence, who smelled like Clive Christian No1 Cologne and
wore pristine white from head to toe, didn’t even seem to notice
Adam’s eau de construction dude scent and couture. “I can’t believe
I’m finally meeting the infamous, Adam Hoale.”
    Spence’s pretty blue eyes sparkled merrily
and Adam got the feeling his name was the source of many jokes in
Hollyweird.
    Adam slid Dirk a look but Dirk seemed
unwilling to meet it. The unease that had slipped down Adam’s spine
when Spence arrived grew. “That’s me.” As casually as he could, he
stepped out of Spence’s grasp. “And I can’t believe I’m finally
meeting the guy who dominates all those Hollywood gossip rags.”
    Spence’s flawless eyebrows lifted in a look
of surprise that could have been scripted it was so perfect. “You
read those rags? I’m surprised a man like you would lower
yourself.” Spence shook his head.
    “He doesn’t. I do. I just fill him in on the
important parts.” Maddy threw Adam a supportive smile as she
entered the room bearing a tray with coffee and the last of the
donuts from that morning’s elegant repast. “Adam thinks everything
in Hollywood is silly.”
    Adam appreciated Maddy’s support, but on the
heels of her statement he was unable to meet Dirk’s gaze. They both
knew he did read those magazines, and despite his knowledge
of Dirk as a good and loving man, there was a small part of Adam
that didn’t completely trust his lover. And that part couldn’t help
believing the stuff in those rags implying that Dirk and Spence
were a bit friendlier than they should have been. It was the basis
of