Chapter 6

MATTHEW KNEWsomething was wrong; he could just feel it.

"What are you talking about?"

The distress and anger in Lucas's tone had Matthew on his feet. He peeked into the other room where Lucas paced the floor.

"Stop this right now. You don't get to talk to me that way. You understand?" Damn, the command in his voice was stunning. "That's better." Lucas continued pacing until he saw Matthew; then he motioned him over.

"What's going on?"

Lucas pulled the phone from his ear. "It's my agent. He's pissed because of the social media crap." He returned to the call. "None of it is that bad. The stalker from last year has snaked his way back to the surface, and he seems to be here. I have security." He listened once again, and some of the tension slipped from him. Still, Matthew was concerned. "The man in the pictures with me is a close friend from high school. … We dated back then. … Yes, he has kids." Lucas rolled his eyes. "Sometimes you can be such an ass, you know that?" He began pacing again. "This isn't just going to go away even if I come back, I hope you understand."

Matthew took Lucas's hand and just held it as Lucas listened to whatever his agent said.

"This isn't my imagination, so either help, or I can find someone who will." Damn, he was angry. "Good. Get the publicist on it if you feel it's necessary, but you keep Matthew and his family out of it. Do you hear me? Good. I'll call you in a few days." Lucas hung up.

"What in the heck was that about?" Matthew asked. "And what did he want with me and the kids?"

"There are apparently some stories circulating about the stalker, and there have been pictures online of you and me, so the entertainment press is having a speculative field day. Leon got his panties in a wad over it. His suggestion was to use the story as a way to promote my next movie. I put an end to that. I won't have you going through that."

"I see," Matthew said, relieved and pleased that Lucas would stand up for him that way. "I take it Leon…."

"Would sell his mother for good publicity or a movie deal. Leon is a good agent, but he's not the best human being." Lucas groaned as he lowered himself into a chair.

"And those are the kind of people you surround yourself with?" Matthew asked. "No wonder you're unhappy." He was willing to bet that these people tugged and pulled Lucas in a million different directions in order to get him to do what they wanted him to do. "I am glad you told this Leon character where to get off. That was pretty awesome."

Lucas smiled. "It was, wasn't it? Leon didn't know quite what to do when I let him have it. I don't think I've ever done that before. Maybe I need to do it more often. He seemed cowed after that."

Matthew checked the time and was surprised at how late it had gotten. "I need to get the kids home and to bed."

Lucas shoved his phone into his pocket. "Thank you for bringing me tonight. It was fun, and the guys were really great."

"Even with the drama?" Matthew asked.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "If you want to see drama, try spending eight weeks on a movie set. I've seen one of my costars chuck an iPad out of his trailer door because he couldn't get the music he chose to stop. Then there was the time that I was in a movie with a married couple who decided that they were going to split up in the middle of shooting. When the cameras were rolling, they were perfect, and as soon as the director said cut, the claws came out and they were cutting each other to ribbons. A drunk guy trying to sneak into a stable just doesn't measure up." He leaned closer. "I'm pretty resilient." Even Lucas's breath smelled perfect.

"I always knew I liked that about you," Matthew whispered.

Lucas nodded, closing the distance between them. He had been an amazing kisser in high school, and he had only gotten more proficient. It made Matthew wonder who he had been kissing, but then Lucan slid his hands over his cheeks, drawing him closer, deepening the sensation, and Matthew forgot about anything other than that single moment.

"Uncle Daddy and Mr. Lucas are kissing again," Brianna said.

Matthew refused to have his actions dictated by a seven-year-old, so he kissed Lucas once more before backing away.

"What have I told you?" Matthew scolded, and she looked appropriately chastised before leaving the room. "I need to get them home before they get overtired and have a meltdown."

"Sure. And I need to call my aunt and get details for the fundraiser. I also need to check in with a number of other people to make sure that plans haven't changed again." Lucas sighed, and the color drained from his cheeks. "To tell the truth, I'm not looking forward to going back. It's going to mean months of work with very little time off."

"I see." Matthew was starting to wonder why Lucas felt he needed to work this hard. His movies did very well, and he was famous and loved. People came to his movies because he was in them, which meant he had a huge fan base of his own. Still, it wasn't his decision to question.

Matthew got the kids together and thanked Geoff, Eli, and Adelle for everything. Then he got the kids into the van and said good night to Lucas before driving home.

"Are you going to marry Mr. Lucas?" Gregory asked.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because you keep kissing him." Gregory was the thinker of the group.

Matthew didn't have an answer off the top of his head. "I don't think so. But Lucas and I like each other. Is that okay?"

"Yes. If you get married, I don't wanna be ring bearer. Carl can do that." Suddenly each of the kids had an opinion on what they wanted to be in a fantasy wedding sometime in the future.

"None of you has to be the flower girl or anything else you don't want to in my make-believe wedding that hasn't happened yet and probably isn't going to." He pulled into the drive and helped the kids out of the van. He had just gotten them inside when his phone rang with a strange number. "Hello?" He half expected it to be a telemarketer.

"It's Rachel."

"Hey."

"The hotel is overrun with reporters, and they all want to talk to Lucas. It seems someone called all the stations and told them Lucas was going to be making some sort of big announcement tonight. Now the parking lot is full, and I need to get him out of here."

"Then bring him to the house. You know where to park so no one sees the car, and make sure you aren't followed. I'll leave the front door unlocked because I'm going to put the kids to bed."

"We'll be quiet," Rachel promised and ended the call.

Matthew followed the kids inside and herded them down to the bedrooms. He helped Carl get undressed and into his pajamas. Then they brushed their teeth before he zoomed Carl into his bed. He shared a room with Brianna, and the two older boys each had their own room. Soon he was going to have to figure out a way to give Brianna her own room as well, but he had a year or so, he hoped.

"I love you both," he said gently, tucking them in and giving good-night kisses before making sure the night light was on. Then he turned off the overhead light, hesitating before closing the door. This was supposed to be Eden and Jack's job. They should have been the ones putting their kids to bed and saying good-nights. He turned away and then said good night to Gregory and Will before returning to the living room.

Lucas sat on the sofa, waiting for him. "Rachel is outside checking the perimeter."

"I didn't even hear you come in." He was a bit surprised, but then again, he had been intent on the kids. "Everyone is in bed, and hopefully they'll stay that way." He sat down, closing his eyes. "I'm so damned tired I can't stand it, and yet if I were to go to bed, I'd end up staying awake for hours."

Rachel came inside, closed the door, and locked it. "Everything is quiet. I called the hotel, and they said that they cleared everyone away."

"That's good, but obviously everyone knows where you're staying now, so it's going to be mobbed even more. Before it was social media, but this evening, the news teams had to report something, so they put the hotel and the fact that you were staying there on every damned station." Lucas was uptight as hell, and Matthew couldn't blame him. The entire situation was surreal as far as Matthew was concerned. "Is it so hard to ask for a little privacy? What are we going to do?"

"I'm working on it," Rachel said. "I'll figure it out in the morning. I already have a call in to the office for some additional help."

Lucas sat back and was quiet for a while. "What is this guy's end game? What does he want? Most stalkers are trying to get close to me. They want to meet me or to be a part of my life in some way. This guy is very different."

Matthew sat next to him. "How so?" He didn't understand any of this.

"Well, a lot of stars pick up a stalker. Their usual reason is they think that they should be friends, lovers, or they want someone important in their lives. It's often more of a nuisance than anything else. They show up to each appearance and try their best to be seen and get attention. Those are the most benign of them. There are the ones who take it too far and try to break into the house or try to get onto a movie set. They cross the line, and that's what my stalker did last year. He tried to get access to the studio on multiple occasions and made it to my quarters once. We didn't see him, but he left a note. It was then that I hired Rachel for the first time."

"What did you do?" Matthew asked Rachel, his mind starting to churn with ideas.

"I made a show of staying with Lucas, letting everyone know that they would have to go through me to get to him. After a week, the incidents stopped. I stayed on for a while, but nothing more happened. We figured he got discouraged and…." She shook her head. "When we looked into the incident where someone got to your trailer, the security footage was wonky, but we did get some. It didn't show much." She was already on her feet. "I'm going to have a copy of that sent over. Maybe someone from Matthew's pictures and that footage will match up—who knows? We had pretty much discounted its usefulness, so I bet no one thought of it."

"Don't call tonight," Matthew said. "Take care of it in the morning." He was already tired and had had enough excitement to last a while. "No one knows where you are, and the car is out of sight." He turned to Lucas. "Just try to relax, okay?"

Matthew got up and went to the linen closet. He returned with a couple of light blankets and a pillow for Rachel, which he placed on the far end of the couch.

"Lucas can stay here. I'll probably be up most of the night," Rachel said.

Matthew shook his head lightly and held out his hand. Lucas took it a little absently. "Lucas is going to be staying with me." He got up and led Lucas quietly down the hall, leaving Rachel alone in the living room.

"Are you sure about this?" Lucas asked once Matthew had closed the bedroom door.

"The kids are asleep in the next rooms, and they could come in because of a nightmare or because they need a drink of water at just about any time." He needed to make sure Lucas knew the reality of the situation. "Go get cleaned up, and I'll meet you back in here." He let Lucas use the master bath, and he cleaned up in the hall bathroom, making sure that the kids' mess was taken care of.

When he returned to the bedroom, he found Lucas under the covers, bare shoulders showing from under the light blanket. Damn, he was more beautiful and attractive than he had been in high school. Matthew got undressed to his boxers and slipped under the covers.

"Do you have any idea how many people would give their eye teeth to be where I am right now?" Matthew asked as he settled next to Lucas, sliding his hand over his chest.

"And do you have any idea how much I'm only interested in one particular person being with me?" Lucas asked, rolling onto his side to face him. Matthew swallowed hard as Lucas slipped his hand around the back of his neck before drawing him into a mind-stopping kiss. Damn, the man didn't just know how to kiss—he seemed to be able to use his lips to stop time and make Matthew's brain short-circuit.

Right up front, Matthew knew this was a bad idea. But as Lucas pressed him back, his weight and heat surrounding him, Matthew's reluctance evaporated like fog in the sun. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't been with anyone in two years and he was so desperate that he would have said yes to just about anyone. No, that wasn't true. This had nothing to do with that and everything to do with the fact that Lucas was in his bed. Matthew had dreamed of this moment, and Lucas didn't disappoint him.

The energy that surrounded them was almost too much for Matthew to take. And Lucas was hot. Not like Michigan hot, but in-the-movies California hot, and that was saying a lot. "Is this okay?"

"Uh-huh," Matthew said before he could think of anything else, because it was more than okay—it was shout-it-from-the-rooftops amazing. Lucas's hands roamed, and his lips tugged on Matthew's, driving him out of his mind. Okay, so maybe it had just been too damned long, but at the moment it didn't matter, especially when Lucas slipped down under the blankets. Matthew's boxers slid down his legs, and then Lucas took him to absolute heaven.

"Lucas," he whispered. The last thing he wanted was for any of the kids to wake up, and yet this was too amazing to stop. He also wanted to see Lucas, and this felt like hiding. Matthew yanked the covers away and groaned softly as Lucas took him all the way, sliding his hands up Matthew's chest, tweaking his nipples just hard enough to send a jolt of energy surging up his spine. He whimpered as Lucas backed away and brought their lips together once again. "If you stop now…," Matthew whispered, his mind reeling.

Lucas got out of bed, and Matthew's mouth hung open, because he was getting up and Matthew wanted to scream. But Lucas put a chair in front of the door to keep it from opening. Then he turned around, giving Matthew a show of Lucas Reardon in all his amazing glory. Half the world would give anything to have Lucas like this as he closed the distance to the bed before climbing back in.

"Now it's just you and me, like it should have been all along," Lucas said, straddling Matthew. He held his arms as he gazed at him like the world didn't exist other than with him. "It was always you. I want you to know that."

"How can it be?" Matthew asked. "There are…."

Lucas sat back, and Matthew couldn't look away, even as his own insecurities and worries sprang to the front of his mind. "Who am I?" Lucas asked.

"Excuse me?" Matthew whispered.

Lucas huffed. "Tell me who I am, please. Just tell me."

"You're Lucas… the guy I went to high school with. The man I…." Matthew paused. "You're the first person I loved. It was you who showed me that I was worthy of being loved." And he had missed that when Lucas left. "You're the man who left a hole in my heart that's still there. The one who can make me smile with that goofy look you have when you think you've done something amazing." Lucas smirked. "Yeah, that one. And you're the one I wish…." Matthew stopped himself, because nothing could come of those old wishes. The ones where he wished Lucas had stayed or that Matthew had gone with him. Those were high school wishes and completely impractical. "It doesn't matter."

Lucas touched his lips. "Yes, it does, because I have those same wishes." He leaned down, kissing Matthew so deeply he wasn't surprised when his feet tingled.

"But…," Matthew breathed. "That was a long time ago, and things change. Everyone changes."

"Of course they do," Lucas said. "But you still see me. That hasn't changed. You always saw me even when my parents and the other kids at school didn't. I was the theater geek, the kid who could sing and dance. You didn't care about any of that." He stroked Matthew's cheek. "And you still don't. You saw me for me back in high school, and…." Lucas's voice broke.

"I still see you. I always have," Matthew said as Lucas lifted his legs and spread them with his knees. Lucas reached to the bedside table, tore open the packet he snatched up, and within seconds, Matthew breathed deeply, groaning as Lucas slid slowly into his body.

"And I see you," Lucas whispered, his breath tingling against Matthew's lips. "I always did."

"No one else did." In school, Matthew was largely invisible. He wasn't nearly as outgoing as Lucas, and yet, just like right now, Lucas always seemed to see him and knew just what he needed and how to make him feel like the center of the universe.

The first time he and Lucas had done this, it had been… well, maybe to say it was a fumbling mess would be generous. But they learned together, and as their connection deepened, so did the passion. This time, the years slipped away and the two of them were like teenagers again. There weren't any children, no years of loneliness and longing, and Lucas was here with Matthew, looking into his eyes, transporting him, if only for a little while, to a place where he could be the center of attention.

"I missed this so much," Matthew whispered, and Lucas ran his hands down Matthew's chest, touching him, making Matthew ache for more. This was not about something as basic as fucking… and he had had that. This was a connection, through Lucas's eyes, hands, and the rest of him.

"How long has it been since someone touched you like this?" Lucas simply held him in his eyes and in his hands. There was no other way to describe it.

"I guess since you," Matthew admitted, arching his back as Lucas kissed him hard. His entire body was on fire, and Matthew went with it, letting the heat and passion take over. There was no need to hold on or try to control things. This was Lucas, and he could give himself over. That was what he did, until the white heat got to be too much and he tumbled over the cliff into a release that stole his breath. But what amazed him was the way Lucas held him through it, as well as afterward, once the chair had been returned to its place and the quiet of the night surrounded them. It felt like Lucas would never let him go, and he could have that, at least for a night.

LUCAS WASstill asleep when Matthew heard Carl talking to Brianna. He got up and pulled on pants and a T-shirt before leaving the room. Carl sat up in bed and then climbed out. He was always his morning boy, waking up with a smile. Carl hurried to him for a hug while his sister growled and rolled over, pulling her covers along with her. When he took Carl to the kitchen, he found Will and Gregory in the living room, watching television with the volume on low.

"Can we have french toast?" Gregory asked.

"Sure," Matthew said, looking at the pile of perfectly folded bedding. Rachel was nowhere to be found, and he wondered where she went. "Was Miss Rachel here when you got up?"

"No, Uncle Daddy." Gregory got up and hurried to the kitchen table. He came back with a paper that flapped as he walked. He handed it to Matthew and sat back down so he didn't miss anything important.

Rachel had left a note saying that she was returning to the hotel and would be back soon. She didn't give any additional information, but at least he knew where she was and he could tell Lucas when he got up.

"Carl, go get your sister up."

Carl shook his head. "She hit me last time."

"I'll do it," Will said and left the room. "Brianna, it's time to get up before I eat all the bacon." He didn't even enter the bedroom.

Brianna bounded out three seconds later, looking like she was ready for a fight. "Don't you eat my bacon," she said, stomping into the kitchen. "Where is it?"

"I haven't made breakfast yet."

Brianna glared at Will, who shrugged. "It got you out of bed."

She sighed as though the weight of the male world rested on her shoulders, but Matthew had to give Will credit for knowing his sister so well. "All of you get dressed, and I'll make french toast and bacon. But you need to be quiet, because Lucas is still sleeping." He turned off the TV and headed to the kitchen while the kids trooped off to dress.

Matthew wasn't sure how quiet they were, but he got everything for breakfast ready and got the bacon in the oven before checking on Lucas. The jumbled bedding was pooled around his legs, with the most amazing ass on full display. Matthew went inside and closed the door before sitting on the edge of the bed. He couldn't help patting that perfect bubble butt. "The kids are up, Rachel is out taking care of whatever it is she needs to, and I'm about to finish breakfast."

"Okay." He rolled over, and Matthew leaned across and kissed him. A knock sounded on the door, and Lucas grabbed for the bedding to pull it up.

"I'll be out in a minute," Matthew called.

"Let me get up and dressed and I'll come out to try to help." Lucas kissed him before climbing out of bed. "I slept better last night than I have in months." He pulled on his clothes, and Matthew left the room, making sure there were no little eyes to peek inside.

After returning to the kitchen, he started making the french toast while Will got out the toppings.

There was a knock on the back door, and Matthew let Rachel inside. She seemed a little frazzled, and Matthew had her sit at the table and got her some coffee, along with a mug for Lucas when he joined them. "The hotel was a madhouse, but I checked us out and managed to get the luggage. Leon called and demanded that I get you back to Hollywood, but I knew you had commitments, so I went ahead and rented a house. It's in Haven's name, and he's taking the luggage there."

"I see," Lucas said in a tone that said he didn't mind.

"We'll get you over there later today and make sure no one is aware of where you are. It should be fine."

"That's good, but the benefit is tonight, and everyone knows that I'll be there."

"Haven and I will also go, as will two additional security people who will arrive in a few hours. They flew into Grand Rapids and are driving up. Haven is taking the lead on the event security, and I will be leading your personal security."

"Can we go to the party?" Brianna asked. "We can dance." She started humming and broke into her best dance moves. Will turned on music, and all the kids started dancing.

"I know you can, but this is a grown-up party. We can have our own party here."

Lucas cleared his throat. "I was hoping you'd go with me," he said. "I need a plus one, but with all the excitement, I…." He sighed.

"I don't know if I can. I've taken some time off work because of the funeral, but I have to go in this afternoon for a while to check on things. Adelle said that she would watch the kids for me." He picked up his phone and sent her a message. Adelle came right back to say that she would be happy to look after the kids and put them to bed for him. Matthew swallowed hard and thanked her.

I'll be there right after lunch, and you can go on to work, she messaged, and Matthew put his phone back in his pocket, made up the last of the french toast, and got the rest of breakfast on the table.

Matthew sat quietly while the others ate. So much was changing around him, and he wasn't sure how to handle it. He was going out with Lucas, and they were going to be seen together in public. The biggest thing was that he was going to get a night out on his own. An adult night out. He could count on both hands the number of those he'd had in the past few years, and almost all of them involved poker at Geoff's. "I just need to know what I should wear," he told Lucas, and received a smile as bright as the sun.

"WHAT DOyou think?" he asked Adelle and the kids after he got home from work. "Is this the right tie?"

Brianna groaned. "No, Uncle Daddy. Wear the gray one."

Adelle smiled and nodded. "She has a good eye."

Matthew returned to his bedroom to change ties and put on his dress shoes. He hoped his suit didn't look too out of style or shabby. Still, this was what he had, and he got his tie on and checked that the rest of him was right. Then he left the room and looked out the front window. Lucas hadn't arrived yet.

"You all need to be good for Adelle, okay?" he told his four munchkins. "Do what she says and go to bed at nine. All of you. Will, you can read if you like, but you need to be in bed. There's pizza in there for you to heat up, and—"

"I got everything," Adelle said gently. "Don't you worry about nothin'. I made cookies and some of my famous macaroni and cheese. It's already in the oven heating up. You and Mr. Lucas go out and have fun." She approached him with those huge brown eyes of hers that seemed to see everything. Robbie always said that growing up in Mississippi, where she had been the housekeeper and his main champion, he could never keep any secrets from her no matter what. She straightened Matthew's tie and fussed with his collar.

Lights shone across the front of the house. "I love you all," he said before opening the door. Carl hurried over to give him a hug, and then Matthew stepped out into the night. A limousine waited in the driveway. Lucas got out, looking incredible in his fitted suit and red tie. He smiled, and Matthew kissed him before getting inside. Rachel sat up front next to the driver, and once they were both seated, he backed up the huge car and they were off toward town.

"This isn't keeping a low profile."

"Yeah, well, we figured that we'd make a heck of an entrance, and then the driver would drop us off where Rachel parked the car so we could head on back to Muskegon. We've already put out a story that I'll be heading back to LA, so hopefully people will follow the car and leave us alone."

"We can only hope."

Lucas shrugged and then leaned closer. "You look amazing."

"No, I don't. I look like some country bumpkin in a suit next to you." He couldn't get over how Lucas's clothes hugged his body in all the exact right ways.

"You do not. You look amazing." Lucas gently touched his chin to lift his gaze. "Part of this is attitude. I have seen guys in jeans and a T-shirt, both of which were two sizes too big, who looked stunning because they carried it off. It's all about standing tall and wearing the clothes. Remember that. There will be people who want your attention and want to ask you questions."

"What should I say?" God, he was starting to get anxious.

"Whatever you want to. You can answer or not answer. But just be genuine and walk in there like you own the damned place."

"You do that. I don't know if I can."

Lucas kissed him hard, pressing Matthew against the leather upholstery. "I'm nervous too, but I never let it show. Remember, you own the place. Confidence and strength are attractive and exude power. And when you feel neither, just fake it till you make it."

Matthew nodded. It was only one night. He could keep it together. Lucas's aunt would be there, as would a number of other people he would know. At least that was likely, so there would be plenty of people for him to talk to.

They pulled up in front of the Marshall. A group of patrons had taken over the hall a decade earlier and restored and transformed it into the premiere event space in the area. Matthew peered out the window to where a group had gathered. They clapped, and the energy outside ramped up. The driver got out and came around to open the door. Then Lucas got out to applause and cheers from the crowd. He waved, and then Matthew climbed out and did the same.

Lucas gently held his arm as they walked toward the front doors. People did indeed shout questions, mostly to Lucas, and Matthew smiled and did as Lucas told him, standing straight and tall.

"Are you and Lucas dating?" someone asked. Matthew ignored the question as they got closer to the doors.

"Is Lucas paying you to come with him tonight?" someone else yelled, the question causing a buzz through the crowd.

"Of course not. Lucas and I are old friends." He smiled as people took pictures of the two of them.

"Matthew was my first boyfriend in high school. We reconnected a few days ago," Lucas said easily from next to him, smiling for the cameras, but as soon as Lucas caught his gaze, the smile shifted, and the cameras snapped wildly. Lucas leaned closer, his lips parting, and Matthew thought he might kiss him. Instead, he stayed still for a few seconds. "Always leave them wanting more."

Matthew laughed gently, and then they went inside. "Why did you do that?"

"Because they'll see whatever they want to, so if we give them something, they'll write about that. This way, we gave them something, but it's what we control." He took Matthew's hand.

"Okay," Matthew said as Lucas's aunt glided across the floor in a dark blue floor-length gown.

"Lucas. Thank you for coming." She hugged him gently. "Everyone is here, and we have the local press and radio station. We sold every ticket, thanks to you and that interview you did."

"Where do you want us?"

"I have places at a table for you up front." She led the way, and Matthew kept a hold on Lucas's arm, not willing to let him go. He didn't know how things like this worked, but he wasn't going to be left behind. "Dinner will be served shortly, and then there'll be dancing. Be sure to look over the silent auction table. I was hoping you might say a few words after the hospital president makes his appeal."

"Of course," Lucas agreed. "If that's what you want."

She was so excited. "A lot of these people bought tickets for the chance to see you."

Matthew could tell that Lucas wasn't thrilled. His smile was still bright, but Matthew knew it was pasted on. "I brought something for the auction." He reached into an inside suit pocket and pulled out an envelope. "I have a letter signed by me, as well as one of the pendants that I wore in the flashback scene from Superboy."

"You were always so sweet." She stroked his cheek and he squeezed Lucas's arm. Rose then hurried away as the hair on the back of Matthew's neck stood up. He turned around to check out what was behind him but saw nothing. Still, an uneasy feeling crept over him, and he wasn't sure why.

"We should sit down," Lucas said, taking his place.

Matthew sat next to him. "Hello, I'm—" He was about to introduce himself when a man interrupted him.

"My wife here is such a fan." He grinned, and the woman next to the guy in his midforties began gushing with the force of a fire hose. Lucas smiled and listened to her go on.

"Chopped liver," Matthew continued to himself as everyone's attention focused on Lucas.

"This is Matthew," Lucas interrupted, squeezing Matthew's hand. "He's a dear friend. He and I went to high school together." For a second, the smile warmed.

"So what was it like to be able to fly?" one of the other people asked as though what they saw on the screen was real. Matthew did his best to let it go without rolling his eyes. They weren't interested in him—or Lucas, for that matter. Only the illusions perpetuated by Hollywood, and who was he to break their fantasy bubbles?

The unease swept through him once more, and Matthew leaned close to Lucas. "I think your stalker is here. I keep feeling like someone is stepping on my grave. I don't see anyone acting weird, but this feeling won't go away."

Lucas nodded and squeezed his hand once more, this time harder as his gaze shifted slightly. Matthew followed it and saw the person Lucas did. He stood off to the side, phone in hand, which wasn't unusual, but his attention was riveted on Lucas rather than on the plate in front of him… or the person next to him, who seemed to be trying to get his attention.

"Would you like a picture with Lucas?" Matthew interrupted and pulled out his camera. "Why don't you lean close?" He got up and in a second snapped a group picture, as well as one of the intense man across the room. "If you give me your numbers…," he prompted, and texted everyone the picture. He also sent the one of the man to Rachel and got a quick response.

Excellent. Send any more you get of anyone you think is suspicious. I'm watching too, but I can't get as close.

I will, Matthew sent and slipped his phone back in his pocket. Then he ate the salad in front of him. It was decent but not great. He noticed that Lucas picked at his, eating very little, spending most of his time talking and listening.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Aunt Rose said, using a microphone. "I want to welcome you all to this evening's pediatrics department benefit." Polite applause followed. "We hope you enjoy dinner and the dancing to follow. The silent auction tables are in the back of the room, so please visit and bid often. All proceeds are for charity, and as a special treat, Lucas Reardon, who is with us tonight, has agreed to auction off the first dance of the evening. That's right, ladies—and gentlemen—who are interested, the highest bidder will have a spotlight dance with Lucas, so bid high and bid often. Enjoy the evening."

"Did you really agree?" Matthew asked, and Lucas shrugged.

"I honestly don't remember." He didn't seem upset, and there had definitely been a stir, with a number of people heading to the auction tables.

The servers took away the salad plates, while others fanned through the room with what looked like either chicken or fish, neither of which looked particularly great. Lucas's fish seemed like it was drowning in some sort of white sauce, and Matthew wondered if the poor thing should simply have been buried at sea. His own chicken was reasonably moist and not rubbery, if bland. Still, he was hungry, so he ate and listened as Lucas told a few stories about life on the set.

"What about something juicy?" the gushing lady asked. "I'd like a little gossip."

Lucas leaned over the table. "If I did that, then what kind of costar would I be? Your coworkers wouldn't like you talking behind their back, would they?" He said it with a smile, a wink, and a dose of charm, and she sat back.

"Quite right," she said, as though Lucas had gone up in her estimation rather than putting her in her place.

They talked through dinner, and Matthew did his best to keep up, but the conversation didn't really interest him. Once plates were gathered and dessert served, Matthew ate a few bites. Lucas ignored it. Then the head of the hospital got up to talk about the good work the donations gathered this evening would do. Finally Aunt Rose introduced Lucas, who walked onto the small stage to heavy applause.

"Good evening. You'll all be very happy to know that I won't be speaking for very long. This is a cause close to my heart. When I was eight, I broke my arm when I was visiting Aunt Rose. She took me to this hospital, our hospital, and they fixed me up so well that I was able to fly… in the movies, anyway." That got a laugh, and Lucas flashed a bright smile. Matthew knew that this was the performer in Lucas rather than the real him. His posture and his expressions were different. No one else would likely know, but he did. "This medical center provides lifegiving care to everyone in the area, and to its children in need, it's a lifesaver. Please give what you can." He stepped from behind the podium, a vision under the lights. "And please be sure to bid on the first dance, which I'm told will close in ten minutes." Lucas flashed another smile before descending the steps.

"You were really good."

Lucas leaned close. "I hate doing those sorts of things. I'm fine with a script, but if I have to speak off the cuff…."

"Fake it till you make it," Matthew handed back to him.

Lucas flashed a genuine smile this time. "Leave it to you to throw my own advice in my face."

"It's better than a glass of water. Now go ahead and circulate a little. Let people see you and meet you. I'm going to get us a drink, and I'll be sure to find you."

Lucas headed off toward some of the farther-away tables, saying hello and shaking a few hands. Matthew headed to the bar, where he waited in a group of a dozen or so people.

"Are you Lucas Reardon's date?" a male voice growled from behind him.

Matthew turned and came face-to-face with the man from earlier.

"Yes," he answered plainly before turning away, trying to keep from shaking. The man was scruffy up close, like he hadn't shaved recently. His beard wasn't even, and his breath smelled as though he had been drinking for hours. His cheeks seemed sunken, probably from the loss of a lot of weight, and his eyes were hollow. The scent of alcohol oozed out of his pores. His suit hung on him, like it was a couple of sizes too big. Everything about him seemed off. Matthew pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Rachel.

"You know that isn't right," the scruffy man said.

Matthew tensed, wondering if he was in for some kind of homophobic rant. "What?" he asked, whirling around. "I really don't think your opinion really matters, do you?" He'd be damned if he was going to let some idiot get under his skin.

"He should be with someone better than you. Someone who really cares for him." The look in those hollow eyes was pure hatred, and it sent a chill up Matthew's spine. "You should stay away from him." He turned and began walking toward the table where Lucas stood.

Rachel made her way through the crowd, and Matthew caught her eye and pointed to the man approaching Lucas. She turned and made a beeline for him, but the creep saw her and headed for the door. Rachel went after him, talking into her radio, and Matthew joined Lucas, who looked up from his conversation. "This is Matthew." Lucas took his arm. "I thought you were getting drinks." He was completely oblivious to the incident and that Rachel was trying to get the man Matthew figured was the stalker. "Is everything okay?"

Now it was Matthew's turn to put on the smile. "It's great. I'll be right back." He returned to the bar line and got Lucas one of his dry martinis and a beer for himself. He returned and handed Lucas his drink.

"Thank you." Lucas leaned against him as he continued talking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to announce our first silent auction winner," Aunt Rose said, getting everyone's attention. Lucas downed his drink and went to join her. Matthew stood in front. "The winner is Anita Holden, who bid two thousand dollars." Everyone applauded, and Anita came forward. The music began, and Lucas glided her around the floor like she was a contestant on a dancing show. Anita looked great, but it was Lucas who held Matthew's attention.

The song ended, and Lucas danced with her a second time. Matthew took pictures for her as everyone in the room watched. When the second number ended, Matthew got pictures of them together and sent them to Anita, who was thrilled to get them.

"May I have the next dance?" a woman asked.

Lucas seemed about ready to accept, but then he said, "I promised to dance with my date." He swept Matthew into his arms and out onto the dance floor. Other couples joined them, but Matthew barely realized they were there. "Do you dance much?" Lucas asked.

"Just with the kids. I've been teaching Will to dance. Eden loved it growing up. She took a few years of ballet when she was a girl and some other dance classes later. It was important to her, so I want her kids to experience that. Brianna is really good, and she'll start ballet soon." When the music slowed, Matthew rested his head on Lucas's shoulder. There was something intimate and gentle about dancing. A silent heart-to-heart communication.

"And her Uncle Daddy is a good dancer as well." Lucas held him close, his arms around Matthew's waist. Part of him wondered if dancing with a man was going to cause trouble. This was a small tourist town in Michigan, and these people were not used to this sort of thing.

"Are people watching us?" Matthew whispered.

Lucas met his gaze. "I have no idea. The only person I'm looking at is you." They swayed in a circle, surrounded by other couples, and Matthew let his worries go, at least for now. He was here with Lucas in his arms, and that was his dream come true. When the song ended and another began, Lucas stayed where he was, and they kept dancing until Matthew lost all track of time.

LATER INthe evening, after Lucas's silent auction item had been awarded, they quietly left the party and got into the limousine, where Rachel was waiting.

"He got away," Rachel said as though she were swearing.

"I got a picture of him. Did you get it?" Matthew asked.

"I did and forwarded it to the team. Hopefully they can identify him. That was smart thinking, using the pretense of taking the group picture to get him on film, so to speak." She pulled out her phone and went to texting.

"Did you have a good time?" Lucas asked.

"I did. It was a fun evening." The best part was the dancing and the fact that Lucas had put everyone else off after he had done his duty. "Especially…." He swallowed, suddenly shy in front of Rachel. What he wanted to say was for Lucas's ears only.

"I know. It was nice having some time together. Everyone was good and happy that I took time for them, and they were so nice to give us space as well. I rarely get that."

Matthew slid closer, leaning against Lucas and closing his eyes, enjoying the ride.

As they approached the house, lights shone out front. "What the hell?" Rachel swore as the car pulled to a stop. "You all remain here, keep the doors locked, and do not get out." She jumped out and raced down the road like the hounds of hell were after her. Matthew watched as she waved her arms and began to yell. He couldn't hear what she was saying, but her tone was clear enough. Matthew cracked the window.

"You all need to get out of here now." She had her phone out. "Yes. I need the police, right away. I have trespassers that need to be taken in." Rachel was like a whirlwind as she spoke on the phone.

"We're the press," a man said.

Rachel got right in his space just before ending her call with the police. "You are on private property, trampling all over everything. That's destruction of property, and we will subpoena the film of everyone here as part of the charges as evidence. Do you understand me? I know plenty of people, and not the locals either. Let me call the federal district judge and we'll see what he says." Damn, she was something else. She got on the phone again, and apparently the reporters' phones started to ring.

They started getting into their vans and pulling away from the house as flashers appeared just up the road. The vans all stopped, and Rachel paused at the limousine.

"Let me handle this," she said.

"Okay. And I'll press any charges needed, so go after them with my blessing." The kids had to be scared out of their wits by now.

"Let's go while Rachel has everyone distracted," Lucas told the driver. They pulled into the driveway, and Matthew hurried inside.

The kids were supposed to be in bed, but all of them were in the living room, wired to their teeth, except Carl, who was in bed like he was supposed to be. "Okay, guys. The excitement is over and everyone is gone. Did you brush your teeth and everything?" Matthew was determined not to make a huge deal about this in front of them. If he did, he'd never get them to bed.

Lucas came in and got hugs from each of them. Then Matthew ushered all of them down the hall. They went right to bed. Now that everything was over, they were wiped out.

"Thanks, Adelle. I had no idea…," Matthew said.

"They showed up around half an hour before you got home. They knocked on the door and woke up the young'uns. I gave them what for, and they backed away from the house. I was fixing to call, but I had my hands full, and then you all got here. I didn't know what those people were gonna do." She was clearly rattled.

"You did right. Making sure the kids were safe and inside was the proper thing." Clearly the ruse of Lucas returning to LA hadn't held up.

She shook her head. "Those reporters were asking questions about you and Mr. Lucas. I told them to mind their own business and that their mamas would be ashamed of them for acting that way." She crossed her arms, and Matthew hugged her. "What's that fer?"

"Putting them in their place," Matthew said.

"Would you like to be the head of my press corps? I could use you in Hollywood. I swear all the reporters would be too afraid of you to get too close."

She waved her hand. "Go away with you." Adelle was clearly pleased at what Lucas said.

"If you want a ride home, the driver will take you," Lucas offered, and she thanked him and gathered her things.

"In that?" she asked, pointing toward the front.

"You ever ride in a limo?" Lucas asked. When Adelle shook her head, he grinned. "Then tell the driver you have the munchies and want to go into town. There's nothing like taking one of those through the McDonald's drive-through. Just don't keep the driver out too late." Lucas held the door, and Adelle peered outside before heading out. Lucas left with her and returned a few minutes later.

Lights flashed on the back side of the curtains as the limousine backed out of the drive. "What are we going to do? You know the reporters are going to be back one way or another, and I can't keep the kids inside all the time in case they show up."

Lucas nodded. "Let's get with Rachel when she returns and we'll figure it out. I promise." He was right there, heat washing off him as Lucas tugged Matthew to him. "I'm not going to leave you to deal with this on your own." He pulled Matthew into a hug. "We'll find the answer together."