Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison
“I WANT them to look like a Christmas tree, Thorne. You do know what one looks like, don’t ya?” The bark of Mr. Colin Bickerson’s Irish brogue carried across the store, unconcerned with the numerous customers that might have overheard. Cris muttered “Yes, sir,” and turned his back on the obnoxious man, his lip curling in a sneer as he mimicked his boss’s words. No sooner had he finished than Mr. Bickerson’s next words came across like a slap upside the head. “Get it right, Thorne, or you’ll have no more work to do here.”
CRIS climbed to the top of the rickety metal ladder, having stacked the boxes past head-height over the past hour. His boss’s declaration of his potential termination still rang in his ears and grated on his nerves, reminding him that there were other avenues of employment and he really needed to start seeking them. Stacking the small boxes in such an array was tedious and futile, considering any customers that selected one would most likely choose from the center of the display 2
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison instead of the top, thereby destroying everything he’d set up. The fact that Mr. Bickerson had stated he wanted it seven feet tall and round – not a half-display against an endcap – was only going to increase the peril Cris perceived to be inevitable. He wished he could quit, that he wasn’t dependent on this job for the meager wages it provided. He was a University graduate after all and he should be beyond this. Well, at least that was the hogwash they fed you prior to graduating anyway. But this was only temporary ... or so he kept telling himself in the hope that maybe he’d actually begin to believe it. He was sick and tired of being threatened by the ignorant Irishman, whose only goal in Cris’s short tenure had been to get into his pants. Proudly, Cris could claim he had not succeeded. Though he was afraid it would end up happening nonetheless if accidents kept occurring around the store, raising Mr. Bickerson’s expenses. He couldn’t help it; Mr. Bickerson made him abnormally jumpy. There was only so much that could be deducted from one’s paycheck before ‘other measures’ for repayment were taken. Initially, Cris had thought nothing of the playful innuendos tossed at him whenever he came in to work. He was naïve enough at the time to simply shrug them off with a blushing smile. It hadn’t taken him long to realize that Mr. Bickerson was serious in his attentions and Cris had no choice but to clear up any misconceptions, which led to an
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison argument and the initial threat of termination. Cris had been walking on eggshells ever since. He had just put the last box on the very top of the display and was stepping down the ladder when catastrophe struck. He felt the knee he was shifting off of get bumped forward, throwing his balance askew and tossing him sideways. As if in detached slow motion, he saw himself pitching over into his newly created display of expensive star-shaped lights. There was no time to scream or even hope nearby customers could get out of the way; Cris headed face first to the floor with only a yelp of surprise escaping from his lips. When the commotion around him settled, he felt an arm gently grasp his elbow and he instinctively cringed, fearing Mr. Bickerson’s wrath. Instead, a soft but worried male voice apologized profusely and asked if he was all right. Looking up in dazed amazement that he hadn’t been pierced by the glass from the lights, Cris was caught by the grey gaze of one of the customers crouching down beside him. He almost thought he’d died and gone to heaven; but that was before the furious voice of hell penetrated his haze. “Thorne!” Mr. Bickerson bellowed, pushing through the throng of customers gathered to investigate the disturbance. Cris cringed as his boss came into view. The stranger was still holding on to his elbow, he realized, and a quick glance found the man eyeing his enraged boss with disdain.
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison “What the hell happened here?” It was more exclamation than question and Cris opened his mouth to reply, only to be interrupted by the stranger, his voice quiet in sharp contrast to Mr. Bickerson’s roar. “It’s my fault. I bumped into him as he was coming down from the ladder. He had nowhere to fall except sideways. You should really –” “Are you injured, Thorne?” There was no trace of actual sympathy in Mr. Bickerson’s voice as he interrupted the customer’s sentence. “Leave it to you to make me have to file an incident report after you’ve destroyed my store.” “As I was saying,” the grey-eyed man began again, this time louder and with more force, “you should hope that he hasn’t been hurt by this mishap, otherwise it could get costly for you, not only in Worker’s Compensation claims, but legal fees as well.” The word ‘legal’ caught Mr. Bickerson’s attention. “Are you a lawyer?” Skepticism colored his words, but also a modicum of respect. Cris felt the man’s grip tighten on his elbow as he spoke. “Yes. Now I suggest you ask your clerk – Mr. Thorne – if he requires any medical care and then send him home for the day after such a terrible, traumatizing accident.” From his place on the floor, Cris couldn’t help but look up and admire the air of authority the stranger projected. The man had yet to move from his side and Cris was thankful for the buffer zone between him and his boss. 5
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison Mr. Bickerson leaned forward, bending over Cris’s prone form. “Do you require an ambulance, Mr. Thorne?” he asked, his clipped brogue dripping with the honeyed affectation of sincerity. Cris shook his head, his throat scratchy with fear as he rasped, “No, sir.” “Good.” He stood up sharply and looked once at the stranger, then back to Cris again, his voice hard and unyielding. “Then get the hell out of my store! You’re fired!” Cris’s head fell forward onto his hand. This was just great. Fucking wonderful. He’d been saving for his mom’s Christmas present and was still far short of having enough money to get her what she deserved. Now it seemed as though he’d disappoint her yet again. He was becoming weary of fate’s disparaging dealings in his life. Feeling a gentle tug on his arm, he lifted his head to see the stranger still beside him, asking if he could help him up. Cris nodded, the sound of broken glass crunching beneath him making him wince as he shifted his weight onto his knees and feet. He noticed the man giving him a cursory inspection as he brushed himself off and remembered his words about being an attorney. Oh great, an ambulance chaser, his mouth quirked at the thought. His fears seemed justified when the man asked if he was going to be okay. “Yeah, I’m fine, thanks.” Just lost my precious job that paid shit wages, but yeah, I’ll manage,
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison thank you very much. It was all he could do to keep from snorting aloud at the thought. “If I can help you –” “Really, I have no further need of your legal services. I appreciate your concern, but I have to go now. Thanks again.” Cris smiled with what he hoped resembled sincere gratitude, but was certain fell short of the mark.
PULLING his coat tightly around him and tucking the stray cluster of hair back into his ponytail, Cris pocketed his final measly paycheck and braced himself for the cold air. The late afternoon sun, now making its decline to meet the horizon, provided little warmth. He turned right out of the main entrance and followed the sidewalk to the corner, waiting for the pedestrian signal to change so he could cross. As he stood there, his mind strayed back to the stranger with the beautiful eyes who had held his arm so tenderly after he’d fallen. It burned him slightly to think that it was quite likely all an act put on to get a new client. When he considered that the scene might have been perpetrated solely for that purpose only served to anger him further. The nerve of some people! The white glare of the ‘Walk’ light cut through the darkening gloom and Cris stepped off the curb as a voice called out for him. “Mr. Thorne! Mr. Thorne, please! Wait!” 7
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison He turned briefly to see the lawyer, arms laden with brown paper bags, making his way hurriedly towards him. “Shit, I don’t have time for this,” Cris mumbled and crossed the street just as the light changed back to red. The sound of cars blaring horns and angry shouts yanked his attention back the direction he’d come. Apparently the attorney was in desperate need to reach him and had crossed against the light. In the congested traffic of the pre-Christmas rush it was amazing he’d made it across in one piece. The man made it to Cris’s side, breathless and frazzled from running through the crisp December winds. “Are you insane? You could have been killed crossing traffic like that!” The man blushed, casting a nervous glance around him briefly before turning back to look at the young man. “Yeah, sorry. I – um – I was wondering if you’d like to get a cup of coffee?” Cris couldn’t suppress a grin at the flustered appearance of the man before him. It was in complete contrast to the composed, businesslike figure he’d projected in the store. “Really, I have no intention of suing Mr. Bickerson. He was well within his rights to fire me. Though I’m not usually such a fuck-up; he just brought out the worst in me.” The other man chuckled and Cris looked at him, puzzled. “I’ll keep that in mind. And I’m sorry you got fired. I wanted to tell you that I’m not a lawyer.” 8
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison “But you said –” “I know. Again, I’m sorry. Types like your ex-boss only respond to the word money in all its various forms. I figured if he thought there was a possibility of him getting sued that he’d go easier on you, so I lied and told him I was an attorney. I’m just a bumbling artist.” The silver eyes looked blue in the streetlight as the man smiled almost bashfully. Cris shivered, but whether it was from the cold air blowing through his coat or the thrill he got from the gentle smile, he couldn’t decide. He took a quick inventory of the man’s features and determined him to be handsome in an unassuming way. But his eyes ... his eyes intrigued Cris more than he’d have ever thought possible. “So, can I entice you into that coffee? You look like you could use something to warm you up a bit.” Cris realized the man was still holding an armload of packages and smiled. “And I imagine your arms are tired from holding those bags so tightly. Yeah, coffee sounds good.” Turning up the street they had just crossed, they made their introductions. Cris said the artist’s name several times in his mind, the sound of it soothing and erotic: Logan Walters. Something flickered in the back of his mind that it was oddly familiar as well.
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison LOGAN held the door open for Cristian, his mind caressing the lyrical quality of the dark-haired man’s name repeatedly as they made their way into the warmth of a small diner. A tall, curvy woman with long black hair opened her arms and rushed towards them calling out “Cris!” excitedly. Cris embraced her fully and when she stepped back she gave him a quick once-over. “Where have you been? You should stop in more. We’ve missed your smile around here, you know.” “Yeah, I know. Sorry, Lin. May be coming in looking for a job soon.” Lin grabbed two menus and motioned for them to follow her. “Oh no! Has that bastard Colin been after you again?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “I swear, that man needs to be flogged. No one should treat their employees like that.” She stopped in front of a corner booth and motioned them to sit. Placing their menus on the table she informed them that Daniel would be right over to take their order. Logan piled his bags into the seat beside him and opened his menu, scanning the contents. It only took a second to notice that Cris had not. “Know what you want already?” “You asked me out for coffee.” The older man watched Cris fidget with his watch. It was an inexpensive and practical timepiece, one Logan surmised was probably worn solely for working. “True, but 10
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison that cold air made me realize I skipped lunch trying to get my shopping done and I’m a tad hungry. After the trouble I caused, a meal wouldn’t be out of line, would it?” He raised an eyebrow, hoping that Cristian would say yes. He wanted to spend more time with the unassuming man. There was something very inviting about his personality. Cris shook his head. “No, that would be great. Thanks.” Normally he wouldn’t have taken a man he’d just met up on an offer like that, but he pushed aside his pride. He was thoroughly enjoying listening to the other man talk. There was a husky rasp to his voice that was the promise of bedroom fantasies born to light. Logan went back to his menu as Daniel approached. “Cris! Lookin’ good, man.” Daniel gave him a slap on the shoulder and a heartfelt smile. “What can I get you two gents today?” “Cheeseburger – hold the onions – and fries; water to drink,” Cris said, looking to Logan. “Make mine the same,” Logan said, setting his menu aside and smiling politely up at Daniel. “Be back in a blink!” Daniel said and was gone. Both men sat quietly looking at their hands, the tables around them, the ceiling, anything to keep from looking directly at each other and confronting the uneasy silence. Logan had only looked into Cris’s eyes twice – okay, three times – and he already knew that he could stare into them 11
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison for days. Bottomless brown depths, as dark and lustrous as the hair that the young man kept pulled back from his face with a rubber band. Finally, a comment Lin had made struck Logan. “So, from what Lin said, perhaps you should have an attorney after all.” Logan smiled to lighten his words, but Cris’s slight frown wiped it from his face. “No use now. Bastard had it in for me since I first turned him down several months ago. Besides, I don’t have the money to fight him. I’m barely making ends meet as it is.” The last words were mumbled, but Logan heard them nonetheless. Now he felt like even more of a heel for being so clumsy that Cris lost his job. It didn’t matter that he’d paid for the entire display that Cris’s fall had demolished, he still had sentenced a man to walk home unemployed. In any economic time that wasn’t a good thing. What if he had a family to support? Logan looked at the smooth olive-toned fingers and saw no ring. Maybe.... He was about to propose a solution to the man’s problem when their burgers arrived. The smell of the seasoned beef had them digging in without further comment.
DANIEL came and took their plates, once again casting them back into an uncomfortable silence. Logan decided to turn to a subject he found somewhat safe: family. 12
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison “From your accent, I’d say you’re not from around here. Do you have any family nearby?” Cris looked up from where his hands were clasped atop the table. He really thought he’d lost all traces of his British accent by now, having been in the United States for years. “My mum is here.” His voice was quiet, small ... as if thinking about her hurt him. “She’s okay, isn’t she?” Logan didn’t know Cris’s story, but he was beginning to feel like he’d completely ruined his life. “Yeah,” he responded quickly. “Yeah, physically she’s fine. She’s just not going to be pleased I’ve lost yet another job.” Cris watched Logan’s shoulders slump at the news and realized he didn’t want to see this man hurting for what had been bound to happen to him sooner or later. “Honestly, you did me a favor this evening.” Logan looked at him with disbelief and took a sip of water. “No, seriously. I’d have had to quit anyway, what with Colin trying to get in my pants all the time.” The idea of that gruff Irishman’s hands on Cris riled something in Logan’s stomach, something he couldn’t dismiss as indigestion. He wanted to protect Cris, there was no denying it. Long, dark lashes hid the molasses-colored eyes and Logan reached across the table, clasping Cristian’s hands 13
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison within his own. It was only three days until Christmas. Maybe he could do something to help the younger man out. He had a feeling Cristian wouldn’t take charity, and that was fine; he’d let the handsome man before him earn his money. He’d already scored a niche in Logan’s heart and it was worth any cost to keep Cris around a bit longer. “I have a project that I’m not going to be able to complete on time by myself,” Logan began, gauging the other man’s reaction closely. “It would take a couple days to finish, but I’d be more than willing to pay you for your assistance.” It was on the tip of Cristian’s tongue to say ‘yes’ without even hearing Logan’s proposition. Something about the sandy-haired man urged him to say whatever was necessary to be able to spend more time in his comforting presence. He’d never encountered a man that set him so at ease. Meeting Logan’s eyes – silver-blue now – he asked, “What did you have in mind?” Logan smiled, “Help me decorate my house for Christmas.” Cristian grinned, his head tilting to the side. “Surely that isn’t something that requires more than one person.” “I have a very large house.” Logan’s thumb stroked the back of Cristian’s hand, causing the Brit to look down. He hadn’t even seen Logan reach for it. Heat seemed to radiate from that small spot of contact straight up his arm and into his heart before flowing
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison into the rest of his body and to places best left unmentioned in their current surroundings. Logan wasn’t prepared for the electricity that came from Cristian’s fingertips returning the caress on his hands. It surged through him like wildfire, his heart leaping at the charge. Cris’s gaze was appraising, with a hint of humor and something else Logan couldn’t quite ascertain. “So where do you live?” The question would have seemed forward under other circumstances. “So that’s a ‘yes’?” Logan’s heart hammered, anticipation of having the younger man around for three days making him slightly giddy. When Cristian nodded, he almost cheered out loud. “Up the road a couple miles. Just outside of town.” Regretfully, Cris pulled his hand free of Logan’s grasp. “Then we better get a move on so I can see what I’m in for.” He had no desire to go back to his empty one-room apartment, truth be told, so Logan’s offer had been a blessing. And maybe now he could afford the present he’d wanted to get for his mother, though he doubted Logan would pay him anywhere near what that print cost.
“THIS belongs to you?” Cris’s eyes widened into saucers at the two-story southern mansion gracing his vision as the Jeep Cherokee pulled into the long drive.
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison Logan blushed again, his smile crooked on his lips. “Ostentatious, isn’t it? Have a few successful paintings and everyone thinks you should live high on the hog. But it helps my conscience that it was built by locals, thereby helping the economy here.” Cristian couldn’t help but think there must have been more than just a few successful paintings. The house was the total opposite of the vehicle in which they rode; the Jeep was well-used and a bit rusty in spots, carrying the normal dents and dings from average use. He imagined the house would be ornate, with a grand sweeping staircase on one side of the entryway and chandeliers hanging low from the high, vaulted ceilings. Paintings of landscapes and historical figures would cover the walls. Logan parked and led the way to the front door, his arms once again full of bags, but this time he had help carrying the excess that the store had loaded in the Jeep during his time at the diner with Cristian. “Welcome to my home.” He gave the door a light shove and followed the dark head inside. Cristian gaped when he walked in. He had been completely wrong in his assumptions. Oh, there was indeed a grand sweeping staircase, but the walls were plain. It wasn’t a chandelier that hung from the ceiling, but a large modern lamp fixture. The only decoration on the wall along the stairs was a large American flag. What could have been a resplendent foyer was only sparsely decorated with a folding chair. 16
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison Logan watched Cris make his way deeper into the foyer and then turn to the right. He didn’t mind if Cristian wanted to take the rest of the night merely investigating the house. There were far more rooms than he’d ever use, and it was nice to have another person around to talk to. He wasn’t a hermit, but most people turned him off. The commercialism of the holidays always made him want to hide, which only served to compound his self-imposed solitude. Whatever had motivated him to go shopping this afternoon, he was glad of it. Cristian wandered into a living room with a large but still cozy fireplace along the far wall. There were more furnishings in here than in the foyer, but he knew if the rest of the house was decorated in the same sparse manner – and he believed it probably was – there was going to be more than a couple of days’ work here. “Lo’, you expect me to help you bring all of this grand space up to proper holiday cheer code in time for Christmas?” “I’d like us to try.” He purposely ignored Cristian’s use of the informal nickname. He liked the sound of it. No one felt at ease enough around him to lighten up and be themselves. Cristian didn’t seem to have that problem and it thrilled Logan to no end. The young man walked over to the front window and looked out at the ranch-style fence surrounding the property. Turning back towards his host, he smiled. “Guess we’d better get started then.”
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison THEY had started with the living room, setting up the large artificial tree in the empty corner at the back side of the room. Cris had persuaded Logan to move it to the front window, citing that there was little point in having a tree if no one could see it. Logan refrained from pointing out that as far as they were from the main road no one was likely to see it anyway. They talked of wishes and family traditions, Cris becoming very animated the longer he was allowed to ramble. Logan learned he had a beautiful laugh, one that seemed to start at his toes and flow forth in waves. His face hurt simply from smiling so much. The fire that Logan had lit soon after they’d begun decorating had warmed the room enough to be comfortable as they worked, and he watched surreptitiously as Cristian stripped off his knit sweater leaving only a thin, white cotton t-shirt on his lithe frame. His body responded to the sight and Logan made a quick excuse of forgetting something in the Jeep to cool himself down. He’s going to think you’re an absolute pervert if you don’t calm your raging hormones, Walters!, he admonished himself. Cristian was glad for the break. He’d seen Logan looking at him and a fire had lit in his belly at the idea the other man was interested. He liked that Logan listened to him, even encouraging him to talk. He loved to hear Logan laugh, and his smile was brilliant and full of life and sincerity. Cris could talk to him for hours, or just sit and
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison look into his eyes. He’d figured out that they changed color based on the lighting or what the man was wearing. Logan soon returned, his composure once more intact. He found Cristian tangled amidst a long strand of lights, the same lights he had tackled at the hardware store. Cris felt his presence when he entered the room. “You just had to buy these damned things, didn’t you?” Logan shrugged when Cris turned to look at him, his frustrated posture making the older man grin. “Paid for them; would have been a waste to trash them all. There’s only so much I’d do for that Irish idiot.” But nothing I wouldn’t do for you, he finished silently, startling himself with the thought. “You bought the whole display? Why?” “I was the cause of them getting broken in the first place. It only seemed right. If I’d have known what a cad Colin was to you, I’d have had second thoughts.” Cris’s heart melted a bit. At the rate things were progressing, he’d be in love before the night was through. Logan came forward to help unwind him from the lights. The scent of his aftershave was soft and spicy; Cristian didn’t know how he’d missed it before. Lightly he asked, “So, do you take in every waif that crosses your path?” Logan didn’t look up from the strand he was unknotting. “Only the ones with dark hair and eyes, and smiles that light up a room.” He flickered his eyes up briefly 19
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison when he heard Cristian’s breath catch, and the tears shining unshed in the younger man’s eyes were almost his undoing. He winked, hoping to lighten the mood, and lifted the mess off over Cristian’s shoulders. “How about we take a break? I’ll make some hot chocolate and we can relax in front of the fire for a bit.” Cristian nodded, not trusting his voice to produce anything more than a squeak, and moved towards the fireplace rubbing his arms. He wasn’t cold in the least, but goosebumps were prickling his skin anyway.
AS Logan stoked the logs, Cris sipped his cocoa, his long legs wrapped in the ratty afghan from the back of the couch. His eyes traveled from the darkness of the window to the fireplace to his host, but he couldn’t keep them fixed anywhere for long. Whether he was more dazzled by the brilliance of the flickering flames or the equal intensity of the handsome man sitting on the hearth, Cris hesitated to guess. The fact was that this was very much like his old home back in England. Not the size of the house – his had been much smaller – but the warmth radiating within it. He could relax here. His host was welcoming, gracious almost to a fault, and beautiful to boot. He could easily get used to this. Logan was enjoying the feel of the fire burning into his back, vying for dominance with the fire raging in his loins. 20
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison He’d claimed the spot there simply because he knew if he sat beside Cristian he’d never be able to keep his hands to himself. Every fiber of his being wanted to pull the rubber band off the younger man’s hair and run his fingers through the strands. He was certain they would feel like corn silk. Silhouetted by the fire’s flames, he could watch Cristian openly and marvel at the beauty of the man folded within the old afghan. He really should have thrown that thing away and gotten a new one ages ago, but the vision of Cristian snuggling deeper into it as he set his mug on the floor and rested his head on the arm of the couch made him glad he hadn’t. If the young man felt comfortable enough with it to sleep, it still held value. He wasn’t sure he could throw it out now anyway. Once Cristian had finished his work and gone, Logan knew the tattered blanket would become his sleeping companion for many nights to come. Minutes later, Logan heard soft snores signaling the young man had indeed fallen asleep. He waited a bit longer until he was sure his movements wouldn’t wake his companion before rising and taking their mugs back to the kitchen. Upon his return, Cristian remained undisturbed. Retrieving another blanket from the closet in the foyer, Logan covered Cris’s lower half with it and looked around the room at the work they’d done in just a few hours. A tear slid down his cheek. This was what his life had been missing. Color. Humanity. Turning from the room bathed in the warm glow of firelight, he made his way
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison upstairs to a cold and empty bed. Tomorrow would be a long and busy day.
THE fingers of soft daylight poked under his eyelids as Cristian stirred on the couch. Confused at first, he looked around the room and smiled as his memory returned. They had accomplished a lot last night; the room had taken on a whole new feeling. The spirit of the season seemed to glow from the walls and every light, piece of tinsel, and garland hung. They still had a little bit more to do in the living room before they moved to other parts of the house, but he was pleased with what they’d done so far. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep on Logan’s couch, but he felt better after a decent night’s rest. After a long, lazy stretch, he pulled off the covers and folded them, laying them in a neat pile at the end of the sofa. The house was completely silent as he made his way back to the foyer, with the exception of a soft ticking that Cris could hear somewhere in the distance. He made his way up the staircase intent on finding a bathroom. The first door opened into a huge walk-in closet. The next to what Cris guessed was a spare bedroom. The third door Cris had to shove a bit, his insatiable curiosity getting the better of him when he saw an easel through the gap he’d created. This was Logan’s studio, and Cris wanted to see what his style of painting was.
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison The first piece he approached leaned against the wall, a likeness of the estate. It had a softness and muted quality that Cris found very appealing. There was a painting behind it and he pulled the portrait of the house forward to reveal a creation of.... Well, he wasn’t exactly sure what it was, to be honest. It was dramatic and bold, assaulting the eyes in comparison to the previous painting. Logan was definitely not a conventional artist, bound to only one style of work. Resting them back against the wall, he moved on to the next group. The first was of a horse’s head. It was a beautiful Paint, with eyes that seemed to look right through you. Cris had to restrain himself from touching it to see if the muzzle would be soft. It was plain to see Logan loved this horse and Cris wondered if the animal resided here on the grounds. He hadn’t ridden a horse since he was young, and never in the Western style that was preferred in America. Maybe he would have reason to investigate the grounds later, with Logan at his side. The idea of spending time on a horse with Logan warmed him. The painting behind the horse was framed, and Cris wondered why it would be here and not hanging in the house somewhere or perhaps for sale at a gallery. When he looked at it, he gasped. It was the painting his mother had wanted a print of for Christmas. The same one that he’d promised to get for her and that, having now lost his job, he was not going to attain anytime soon. Tears welled in his eyes as he moved the horse’s image aside so he could stare at the painting of the mountain 23
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison range, wishing with all his heart for a miracle. His eyes took in the purples and blues of the snowcapped mountains, the foreground a frosted white field of winter wheat. A small brook traveled over the landscape near the side, and it was then that he caught the signature: Logan Walters. His hand drew back as if he’d been bitten. Surely the artist he was helping couldn’t be the same man that had created this? Looking to the horse, he found the same scrawl along the bottom edge. Shit. Logan Walters was one of the most respected painters in the northwest. His name should have sounded klaxons in Cris’s mind when he’d heard it yesterday, but he realized he’d never gotten farther than the man’s eyes when they’d first met. Maybe if he did a good job, Logan would pay him enough that he could afford a different print for his mom. “Thought it might be you in here.” Logan had come out of his bedroom, showered and dressed to begin his day and had seen the door to the studio open. He wasn’t quite sure how Cristian had managed to get it open since he kept boxes and canvases stacked against it, using the bathroom entrance to gain access instead, but the inquisitive young man had obviously persevered until he was inside. Cris jumped, swiping the fallen tears off his cheeks quickly. “Um, hi,” his voice was gravelly from lack of use. “I didn’t mean to disturb anything; I was just curious when I saw the easel. I wanted to see what you painted. I’m sorry.”
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison Logan saw the quick movement to wipe away the wetness from his spot in the doorway and wondered what had moved the normally happy young man to such disturbance. The soft British accent rambling on was charming to the artist’s ears, and imagining that voice gruff from sleep as dawn slipped in through the window each morning sent his body into alert mode. Best think of other things, like finding out why your guest was upset, he scolded himself, willing his body to calm. “You didn’t bother anything in here. Everything is finished except for what’s on the easel, and it isn’t even really started yet.” Logan entered the room and turned the easel around, showing Cristian the pale blue canvas. Cris motioned to the paintings scattered about. “You do beautiful work. Why didn’t you tell me you were a renowned painter?” Logan’s face was solemn. “Would it have mattered? Other than maybe stealing the real you away from me. There would have been no benefit in that. I never hid my identity. I got to meet the real Cristian Thorne last night, without pretense, and it has been my pleasure.” “And what about me? Have I seen the real Logan Walters?” Cris couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes, his guilt at even asking the question eating him up inside. “I’ve let you into my home, which is something that very few people can claim. I have shared stories and tales from my youth, and I am, at best, a very private person. I 25
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison don’t share myself openly with the world. So, to answer your question, yes, you have seen the real Logan Walters. If you’d like, you can see even more of my reality....” Cristian’s eyes flicked over to him. “I have to feed the horses; you’re welcome to join me.” He really wanted to. If the horse in the painting was outside in the stables, Cris wanted to see how well the two matched. Running his tongue along his teeth as he debated his choices, he realized he needed to brush them and shower as well. He felt like something of a vagabond, even though he’d gone out many times as a teen in the same clothes he’d had on the day before. He’d noticed Logan’s freshened appearance as soon as the other man had walked into the room. “If it wouldn’t be an inconvenience, I’d really like to shower. I feel scuzzy from working yesterday.” Logan nodded with a smile and pointed at the door to the side which he’d entered through. “Bathroom is there. Spare toothbrush in the drawer. You can borrow a t-shirt and jeans from me, if you’d like. Though the jeans might be a bit big. My bedroom is on the other side of the hall. Just rummage through my dresser until you find something that fits.” Stunned at Logan’s generosity, Cris could only nod. He said thank you as Logan walked past him, heading downstairs and outside to feed the horses.
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison CRIS had stepped out of the shower feeling much more human, the scum on his teeth now a thing of the past. His stomach rumbled as he searched Logan’s dresser for pants, a dark green towel wrapped around his waist. He found a bright red shirt in the first drawer he opened and tossed it on without a second thought. His long hair hung damply in curls down to his shoulders, darkening the fabric as the water droplets soaked in. Rifling deeper, he found a pair of size thirty-two jeans and pulled them out. The knees were torn, but the clincher had been the red paint splatters on the thighs. They matched his t-shirt perfectly. Pulling them on, he buttoned the fly and padded back downstairs barefoot, dirty clothes in hand. The smell of bacon hit him before he’d reached the bottom. Following his nose, he found the kitchen, with Logan turning eggs on a griddle. Logan didn’t turn, but acknowledged presence at the doorway. “Feeling better?”
Cristian’s
“Very much. Thanks.” He moved farther in and realized he still had to do something with his clothes. “Would you happen to have a sack I can put these in?” Logan turned to point to a large door. “In the pantry there … wow.” Cris stopped with his hand on the knob. “Wow?”
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison “I hadn’t seen you with your hair down. I like it.” And I’d love to run my hands through it, he added silently before snapping the thought off. The crotch of his jeans were just starting to loosen after seeing Cristian in the studio and here he was getting ideas again. Cris blushed, his eyes dancing at the compliment, and muttered a thank you as he found a sack. Logan went back to checking the eggs and flipped the bacon. Cris took the initiative to pop some bread set out on the counter into the toaster and soon they were sitting down to a filling breakfast.
AFTER washing the few dirty dishes, they headed back to finish the living room. Cris wanted to string lights around the large picture windows, so Logan went outside to get the ladder. Cris waited patiently, making himself useful by rekindling the fire from last night with the logs nearby. When Logan came in, his hands were empty. Cris grinned impishly. “I think you forgot something.” Logan looked around his feet in mock confusion. “The ladder!” Snapping his fingers he turned back to the doorway. “Well, I have something that needs taken care of first. Come here?” He beckoned the other man over with a quirk of his forefinger. Cris jumped to his feet as Logan disappeared back into the foyer. When he rounded the corner he found Logan standing in front of the staircase, a painting behind him, but 28
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison facing away so he couldn’t see what it was. He saw the frame, however, and instantly recognized it as the painting his mother had wanted. He didn’t know when Logan had gone upstairs to get it, but then realized he’d never heard the front door open and close, either. Logan had only told him he was going outside. Logan moved to lean against the end of the banister and spoke. “I want to give you something, but first I have a question.” He saw the sparkle of unshed tears glistening in Cristian’s eyes, and the stiffening of his posture as he braced himself for the question. “When I found you in the studio this morning, you were crying. Why?” Cris exhaled a sharp laugh, his body relaxing and the tears finally overflowing their rims. “Why? Because I’m a failure. Because a college graduate should be able to get a decent job instead of stocking shelves at the local hardware store. Because I promised my mum a print of yours for Christmas, and with the loss of my job, I barely have enough for the rent, much less to buy her a two hundred dollar framed print of ‘Heaven’s Valley’.” Logan respected Cristian’s honesty, even if it hurt to hear his troubles spoken with such candor. He didn’t think for one minute that Cris was a failure, however. There was still so much about the man he didn’t know, but he hoped that would change. “Okay. So…” he turned the painting around, “If I give this to you as a Christmas gift, are you going to turn it down? If I put the stipulation on it that you can give it to your mother as a gift – from both of us if you’d 29
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison like – and make her the proudest mom in the whole U.S. of A.?” Cris didn’t know whether to nod or shake his head. It was the most generous thing anyone had ever done for him, and he intended to earn every penny the painting was worth if he had to work for Logan indefinitely. He wasn’t about to turn away the offer of making his mother’s Christmas wish come true. Rather than speak his answer he flung himself into Logan’s arms, hugging the older man with all his might. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Logan. She’s going to be thrilled. She’s wanted a copy of this painting since she saw it last year.” Logan’s breath was stolen from him as his arms filled unexpectedly with Cristian. The feeling of the strong, warm body in his grasp sent a frisson of excitement through him. His hands rubbed the muscles along the solid back as he hugged him. He was equally surprised when Cris placed a chaste kiss on his cheek, thanking him again and extricating himself from the embrace. With a gentle taunt to find the ladder this time, Cris went back into the living room. Logan returned shortly thereafter with ladder in hand and set it up in front of the large window. Cristian had straightened out the strand of white star-shaped lights and was ready to climb the ladder when Logan grasped his arm gently. “You sure you want to do this? You don’t have the greatest track record with ladders and lights.”
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison Cris laughed at the teasing remark. “I believe I would have been just fine if a certain artist hadn’t bumped into me as he walked by.” “Blame it on the starving artist…” Logan sighed, shaking his head. Cris chuckled and began pinning the lights around the window. “I hardly think you’re starving.” When his reach became extended he descended and moved the ladder over. He was completely lost in his work. He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed decorating for the holidays, and was happy to have someone to enjoy it with him. Just as he wound the strand around the mistletoe he’d hung last night, he glanced out the window. Thick, fluffy white flakes fell from the sky. It hadn’t snowed more than flurries here in a long time, and Cris was ecstatic to see the real deal for a change. “Lo’, look!” From his spot on the couch where he was stringing popcorn and pinecones into garland, Logan looked up to where Cristian stood halfway up the ladder. “What is it?” Setting aside his project he went to the window, a smile growing on his face. Perfect. The next thing Logan heard was the clatter of metal fighting with bare feet. He looked up in time to see Cristian falling once again, but this time he was there to catch him. How they managed to keep from tumbling to the floor neither one was able to say. Cristian’s laughter at his clumsiness 31
Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison carried throughout the house. So jubilant was it that Logan was soon caught up in it as well. “Mum always said I was an accident waiting to happen,” Cristian smiled as his laughter subsided and he was able to stand fully upright. “You need a keeper,” Logan grinned back, pulling the young man tightly into his arms. It felt so right to have him there, he didn’t want to let go. “Is that an offer?” Bright brown eyes looked deeply into blue. Yes, they were blue today. As crisp as the ocean, and matching the color in the plaid shirt Logan wore. “I have to confess that although there is still another day left to decorate the house, I’d like you to stay around longer. This house has never had the warmth that your presence has brought into it. The laughter that sings from your smile fills me with happiness. That you would stay with me is my Christmas wish.” Cristian cast his eyes up, spying the mistletoe. Leaning in, he sealed his lips to Logan’s, caressing them tenderly as he learned their texture and taste. His hands upon Logan’s face were as soft as feathers as he deepened their kiss, his tongue darting in to tempt and tease before pulling away. Cris opened his eyes as he broke the kiss, smiling at the peaceful expression on Logan’s face. Logan never opened his eyes as he spoke, “Please tell me that was a ‘yes.’”
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison Cristian licked the tip of Logan’s nose, bringing about the reaction he wanted as the artist’s eyes flew open in surprise. “Yes.” Logan caught Cristian’s lips in another kiss before he could change his mind. Who said Christmas wishes didn’t come true? Logan had everything he’d longed for … thanks to a few boxes of star-shaped Christmas lights.
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison
RÉVE GARRISON was born and raised in the western USA,
but drifted eastward until she landed in Tennessee. She has been blessed to travel over much of Europe, but there are still many pushpins marking her travel map. Her writing started off primarily with poetry in grade school before progressing to articles written for the local newspaper in high school. Nowadays, her time in front of the computer is spent more on work than the pleasure of creative writing, but she manages to catch glimpses of her muses from time to time. An avid fan of old cinema (a la Cary Grant) and ice hockey, she plans to take over the world, one letter at a time.
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Catch a Falling Star Reve Garrison
©Copyright Réve Garrison, 2008 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Art by Dan Skinner/Cerberus Inc.
[email protected] Cover Design by Mara McKennen This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America December, 2008
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