3. Chapter 3

The driveway into the compound where Gage was staying was long and curvy. We stopped briefly at a guard outpost before Ray drove us deeper into the woods. It took a while before the actual house came into view. The estate was two stories in one section with a low-pitch roof. Three other sections were built on either end and one behind the central piece. It was an odd structure but it blended nicely into the surrounding woodlands. The trees were thick with a mixture of oak, maple, and a few birch scattered about, along with groves of pine. I could see a couple of worn hiking trails down to dirt and grass that curled around the larger trees. I briefly imagined Gage out there clearing his head while taking a walk on one of the paths. The place was perfect for doing something like that.

Ray finally parked our rental car beside a shiny, black Land Rover not too far from the steps into the house. Off to the side of the driveway I could also see an older model forest green Jeep. We grabbed our bags from the backseat and walked toward the entrance which also accessed an enormous wrap-around deck. Beyond that and through the trees, there was a lake sparkling in the sun below an embankment.

Ray opened a side door for us to enter the house before I had a chance to investigate the view further and I followed him inside. We stepped into the kitchen which was rustic in design, similar to a Rocky Mountain lodge with square beams exposed in the ceiling and wide pine floor boards beneath our feet. A large rectangular table sat in a corner with long bench seats on either side that all looked handmade. Same could be said about the cabinets that lined most of the walls that didn't have expansive windows to enjoy the majestic landscape. It was kind of like stepping back in time, except for the fact the appliances were brand new. It was a comfortable space and I immediately felt at home.

Ray set down his bags on the kitchen floor and I did the same, when strains of muted music filtered to us from somewhere deeper in the house.

"Bahda-bahda-boom-tang, I love your lip ring…" a rough male voice sang to accompany the unplugged riffs of an electric guitar. "Magic booty… la-la-la, makes me want to plant my flag…"

Ray followed the sound with me close behind him. He finally stopped moving at the entrance to what appeared to be a family room where Gage stood with his back to us with messy, shoulder-length, walnut brown hair with golden highlights, and headphones covering one ear while the other pressed into his neck on the opposite side.

The other detail which was impossible to miss?

Gage was completely naked, except for the guitar that hung around his neck which he was playing.

I flinched when I saw his muscled shoulders made more obvious from the window light shadowing each tight ridge, and the appealing curve of his back with two glorious dimples on each side of his lower spine. His back tapered to a set of narrow hips and chiseled ass cheeks that had my heart launching into my throat. Ray's hand grabbed my forearm and I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the masculine beauty before me to shift my focus to him. Once our eyes met, Ray sternly shook his head.

"Do not react," he whispered.

"Wh-what?" I stammered.

Ray waved me back into the kitchen. "Gage is testing you," he said quietly. "He's trying to get a reaction, so don't play into it. Ignore the obvious and do not so much as lift an eyebrow. As far as we're concerned, he's wearing a ski jacket and a pair of wool winter pants."

"Did you know he was planning to do this?" I asked incredulously.

"Hell no, but I should have warned you it was a possibility, since he's not one for wearing a lot of clothing when he stays here," Ray babbled. "He claims it has something to do with nature and wanting to feel ‘at one' with the trees and earth or some bullshit. I honestly don't care what his reasons are as long as he writes goddamn music while he's here."

"A warning definitely would have been beneficial," I said and rolled my eyes.

"Come on, let me introduce you," Ray said.

"When he's like… that?" I questioned. "Shouldn't he put some clothes on first?"

"I agree, it would be more appropriate if he got dressed, but calling attention to his lack of attire will only make him feel as if he won this little contest and he'll wear less in the future—if that's even possible," Ray said and shrugged. "Trust me."

He pointed in the direction of the music and began to move while I stepped in behind him.

"Moon in the sky…pie in the face…watch me fall from grace," Gage sang his non-sensical phrases like he was performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

"That's sure to be your next number one hit," Ray said with sarcasm as he stepped directly into Gage's line of vision and set his hands on his hips.

I was relieved to see Gage visibly jump at the sight of Ray, kind of like a child who was caught doing something naughty. I hung back at a safe distance so as not to hear verbatim what they were saying and waited for Ray to bring me into their verbal exchange.

"You said next week," Gage said in a slightly raised voice, then he glanced over his bare shoulder at me standing about ten feet away. The eye contact we shared was so brief I couldn't even call it an acknowledgment of my presence before his head snapped back to Ray.

"Yes, I told you next week—and when did I tell you that?" Ray questioned.

"I don't remember," Gage scoffed, then lifted the guitar over his head and turned his hips enough to set the instrument onto a nearby couch. Which meant there was nothing covering his—oh, sweet motherfucking glory hole of luck!

"It was last week," Ray continued to scold Gage, "and that means today is the beginning of what?" Ray asked.

"Fuck off, Ray!" Gage said. "You've made your point. Let me go throw on some pants, for fuck's sake, and I'll meet whomever this is in a couple of minutes."

I was hoping Gage would simply slip from the room and return with himself completely covered up in about nine—or twelve layers of clothing, but damn it, my luck sucked sometimes. Instead of a swift exit, Gage chose to spin around to face me—full-on frontal, without so much as a fig leaf to conceal the big phallic elephant standing in the damn room with us, and then he smiled at me. He flashed the coyest fucking smile I could imagine which told me he really was testing me and his exhibitionist game was all for show. No way was I complaining about the show because—wow, he was a male specimen to behold.

His facial expression could have been a taunt, though. Although I'm not certain that was the case. He was probably just being polite—a good host as it were to his unanticipated company. A ‘best of a bad situation' kind of thing—right?

"Sorry about this," he said directly to me with his hands resting low on his hips. The placement of his bent arms and angled fingers were set in such a way that they only served to create a giant arrowhead pointing south-central to his groin. For a second I wondered if Gage was doing that on purpose, as well. "Clearly, I wasn't expecting company today but I'll go put something on. One sec."

What the ever-loving hell? He obviously had no qualms or hang-ups about his naked body, and why should he when he looked like that sans clothing? And really, how could I be expected not to react to that? I might've been there in a professional capacity but I certainly wasn't blind—or dead.

"Yes, it's fine—everything is fine," I stammered to his delicious retreating form. I watched the slight jiggle to his perfect ass and those dimples—gahh! I wanted to lick both divots and watch my tongue leave wet trails all over his butt cheeks. When he was finally out of sight, I grabbed at my neck to try and loosen the knot of my tie that was suddenly choking the life out of me, only to realize I wasn't wearing one.

I closed my eyes and pulled in a couple of deep breaths to collect myself and rein in my shock and awe—there was so much awe. I began rationalizing in my head what I saw to make peace with it and shrug it off but nothing was working. All I knew is I needed to be fully composed by the time Gage returned.

It's just a dick, I said to myself. A very nice and thick dick even while flaccid. But it was still just a dick. Every man had one but, motherfucking mercy, ninety percent of men would sell both kidneys and possibly a lung to have that swinging between their legs. Gage might've been testing me but it felt more like the entire universe was scrutinizing my reaction. This wasn't fair and for the first time since I signed the contract for this job, I questioned if I'd made the right decision.

A moment later, Ray came to stand beside me and elbowed me in the ribs to get my attention. "Your execution of ignoring the obvious wasn't perfect but you handled yourself better than I expected. You being a gay man, I'm sure he's tempting."

I was so shell-shocked I couldn't make my brain work enough to form actual words and all too quickly Gage was walking back into the room. His chest was still bare but his bottom half was covered with a pair of sheer white, linen lounge pants that sat so low on his hips the top edge of his neatly trimmed pubic hair was visible above the waistband. My eyes dropped another couple of inches lower and I noticed the fabric did absolutely nothing to hide his appendage.

I am so fucked—and not in the good way.

"Sorry for the delay," Gage said. "So tell me, Ray, who is the new hire?"

"This is Cain Bennington, your new assistant," Ray said.

I had no doubt my face was still flushed but I extended my hand for Gage to shake hoping he wouldn't notice. I saw him hesitate and then I remembered how some musicians frowned upon this kind of introduction because of the harm that could be done to their fingers if the shake was too firm. I quickly curled my fingers into my palm to make a fist for him to bump instead. He grinned and his whole face lit up as he tapped my knuckles with his. Then he walked across the room to the couch and picked up his guitar to set back into the stand near the fireplace.

"You guys want to have a seat?" Gage asked and motioned to the empty couch. "I can grab us some drinks or food if you're hungry."

"Water is good," Ray said. "Grab some bottles for us while you're in there, Gage."

Ray and I both took seats on the couch. I fidgeted like a kid and undid another button on my shirt in a lame attempt to give me more air. I was being ridiculous. I knew that and apparently Ray knew it, too, because I could feel his stare on the side of my flushed face.

Why the hell is it so damn hot in here?Then I saw the curtains billowing in front of the open double French doors that led out to a deck of some sort sending all kinds of fresh air flowing into the room that my overheated body couldn't feel in the least. My brain was short-circuiting. That had to be the cause of my hyperventilating and obscene sweating. Great first impression, you unprofessional dumbass.

"You okay?" Ray asked softly.

"Never better," I lied.

Wonderful.Now Ray was second-guessing hiring me. Could this meeting possibly go any worse?

Gage returned to the room and handed us each a cold bottle of water then took a seat across from us and set an ankle on top of the opposite knee. My eyes landed on his bare foot and. . . five perfectly shaped toes. Goddamn it. Even his feet are sexy.

"So, Cain is it?" Gage asked me.

"Yes, that's correct," I answered, my attention snapping up to meet his eyes. Gage held my gaze and was silent, as if sizing me up. I was sure it was nothing more than a tick of time but it felt like an hour—a very long, agonizing hour.

"Bennington, like Chester, from Linkin Park?" he continued.

"Yes, but no relation—that I know of," I replied.

Another beat of time passed and beads of sweat began to pop on my forehead.

"And you're gay?" he asked.

I nearly choked on the gulp of water I had chosen to drink at that particular moment and in order to save myself from further embarrassment by hacking up a lung, I sprayed what was in my mouth across the coffee table in a fine mist to coat the magazines displayed there. I must have looked like a whale—an enormous Sperm Whale, breaching the water seeking air. I wiped my wet chin with the back of my hand and attempted to dry the coffee table with a handkerchief I had stuffed in my suit coat pocket.

"W-what?" I asked Gage and coughed to fully clear my airway. I continued to sop up the moisture on the table before finally giving up. The damage was already done—to my fragile ego and then some. If Gage didn't fire me today it would be a miracle.

"You can't ask him a question like that," Ray cut in. "There are actual laws against it."

"What makes you think I'm gay?" I asked Gage.

"Because when I went to get dressed I glanced back and saw you checking out my ass," Gage said with a devilish grin.

I had to get this meeting—and myself—back on track. I squared my shoulders and met his unyielding gaze. This was likely another test from my new boss and it was of utmost importance for me to let him see a glimpse of my character and who I was as a man. If he had a problem with my sexuality, my employment would end the same day it began.

"Yes, I'm a gay man, but looking at anyone's ass is more about human nature, not necessarily gender specific based on a person's sexual identity," I answered and Gage nodded in agreement. "Does me being gay bother you or change how you believe I'll be able to do the job?"

"No, absolutely not," Gage said. "I was just pointing out an observation."

"Well, knock the crap off, rocker-boy," Ray said with firmness. "Cain is over-qualified to do this job and the fact he's gay is a bonus, considering your track record with previous female PAs. Maybe this time you'll manage to keep your hands to yourself and allow him to actually do what we hired him to do."

"I have no problems with Cain being gay or him working for me," Gage said.

Thank hell.

"Are you finished with your ridiculous tests?" Ray asked. "Done with trying to shock or scare Cain enough to send him running for the main road on foot?"

"Umm, Ray. I don't scare off easily and I don't have a problem with him testing me—if he feels the need to do so," I expressed. "I know I can do this job, so he can say or do whatever he wants but it won't deter me from the duties you outlined during our last meeting and while on the plane."

"Very good answer," Ray said and then turned his attention to Gage. "Then on that note, I'm going to leave you two alone to get more acquainted." Ray stood up from the couch. "Cain will be starting his official duties tomorrow."

"Where the hell are you going?" Gage questioned.

"I have a meeting in the city that will take me a couple of days—" Ray explained.

"A couple of days?" Gage cut him off to complain.

"No more than four, tops," Ray confirmed. "In my absence, you and Cain are going to spend the time going over your upcoming schedule. He'll detail how he's going to handle your media events and your social presence in general while also getting to know your daily habits as well."

Well, this was a turn of events I hadn't expected.Ray never mentioned he'd be dumping my ass in a secluded retreat with the human likeness of the Statue of David. I exhaled slowly and stood with Ray. I could more than handle this change of plan and it would be good to develop a sharper understanding on what made Gage, well, Gage. But I thought I'd at least have Ray as a buffer for the first twenty-four hours. Whatever. I was determined to make this work. No matter what.

"See you when you get back," Gage grumbled and stepped over to his guitar sitting in the stand to sling it back around his neck.

I approached Ray and walked with him to the door. "Is this another test?" I asked him.

Ray chuckled. "No, I really do have a meeting in New York City," he explained. "I wasn't sure I'd be able to fit it in on this trip but since you two seem to be hitting it off, I feel comfortable leaving you alone with him for a few days."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked and grimaced at my stupid remark.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Ray asked with a lifted brow. "He's not aggressive or violent, so your safety isn't in question, and he's straight as an arrow which means you won't have to sleep with one eye open to fend off any sexual advances from him either. I'm very confident a few days of unsupervised time together is going to help build a work bond. By the time I get back you'll know more about Gage Tennison than you probably ever wanted to."

I hated the mirth I saw in Ray's eyes but there was no way I was backing down from the challenge this job presented. I followed Ray outside to where he'd parked the rental car and watched him toss his bags into the back seat.

"On the off chance you need to run errands in town—or maybe just need to escape for a bit, the keys to the green Jeep are in the ignition. The Land Rover is Gage's rental, so leave that one alone," Ray explained. "And, if you have questions that Gage can't answer for you, feel free to call my cell."

I nodded at Ray and watched him slip into the driver's seat.

"Use this time wisely," Ray said. "Keep reading through the files and the thumb drive I gave to you, ask him questions about his life and what he wants from you, and so on. You know the drill. You've done this several other times, so I know you'll make it work."

"Absolutely," I said with confidence I didn't necessarily feel.

"Good, then I'll see you in a couple of days," Ray said.

I watched Ray turn the rental car around in the driveway and the cloud of dust that followed him as he drove toward the main road. Then I glanced back at the house and felt my shoulders slouch in resignation. It wasn't about whether or not I thought I wasn't capable of doing this job. I knew for sure I was. It was working directly with Gage for days on end in a massive house that suddenly appeared to be no bigger than a camping trailer.

"I am a professional. I am a professional," I whispered the affirmation to myself as I walked to the kitchen door. Maybe after I said that phrase a hundred more times I might actually believe it.