Alien in the Family

think it’s Chuckie more than the agency.”
    “Maybe so. So, what’s up?”
    “You, um, indisposed right now?”
    “No, we’re not having sex. Paul’s tired. ACE is really upset and it’s worn Paul out. Why?”
    “I want to go shopping, I want someone whose taste I can trust along with me, and Jeff doesn’t want to go.”
    “Calling in Gay Fashion Support, are we?”
    “You know it.”
    “It’s one of the reasons I know you’re smart. I’ll come up. I don’t want you wandering this place by yourself.”
    “You wandering is okay somehow?”
    He laughed. “I’m a guy.”
    We hung up. “James will be here in a minute.”
    “Well, at least you won’t be by yourself.”
    “You can come if you want to.”
    “Nah. I hate shopping.”
    “I know, you’re male.”
    “James is male, too.”
    “James is a former fashion model. He understands clothes. And the need for clothes. And how to be sure what you buy looks good.”
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah. And if he were straight, you two would already be married. I’m real clear on that.” He gave me a grin. “Happily, he’s not straight.”
    “Or even bi.”
    “There is a God, and sometimes He likes me.”
    There was a knock on the door. Reader was there, not in the usual Armani issue. He was in more casual slacks and a buttoned shirt that was designed to be worn out, not tucked in. He looked great. “Ready, girlfriend?”
    I pointed. “See? See this look? Imagine yourself in it.”
    Martini sighed. “I’m trying. It looks better on James.”
    Reader shrugged. “Jeff, you’ve got the body structure and the looks to pull off just about anything. Even a Speedo.” Martini looked panicked.
    “Um, no Speedo.” He could indeed carry it off, but I didn’t relish the idea of every straight woman and gay man within eyeshot leaping on him. He needed trunks. Long trunks. “I like my men in trunks.” Although tight trunks weren’t out of the question. My mind started having a field day.
    Reader laughed. “Aww, come on, where’s your sense of adventure?”
    “No Speedo,” Martini said emphatically. “But I like where your mind’s gone,” he added to me with a grin.
    Reader shook his head. “Paul can carry it all off, too, not that you’ll ever see it. It’s a cultural thing, babe, so stop worrying about it.”
    I leaned up and gave Martini a kiss. “Okay, I’ll stop. See you in a while. Call me if your parents show up and are upset I’m not here. Call me if anything’s happening. Call me before you hit Chuckie for any reason whatsoever.”
    He laughed and kissed me again. “I’ll call. But figure you have a few hours to kill. Have fun while you can, okay?”
    I grabbed my purse, gave him one last kiss, and then we were out the door.
    Got to the elevator and Reader put his arm around my shoulders. “Alone at last, lover.”

CHAPTER 17

    WE BOTH CRACKED UP. “Yeah, I feel so illicit.” I put my arm around his waist. “Too true. So, where’re we headed?”
    “Oh, show me the shop with that top in it. You never know, maybe I’ll have the guts to wear it.”
    “Will do.” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “Great bridal shops here.”
    “Yeah. And yeah. Help me.”
    Reader flashed his cover-boy grin. “Of course, what are friends for? I’ve been giving it thought already.”
    “You have?”
    “I knew you weren’t. Not enough, anyway.”
    “Teach me, oh very wise one.” We arrived at lobby level and walked out of the elevator. I examined everyone we went past, but no one looked familiar or wrong, not that I had a lot of faith in how I’d determine wrong anyway.
    “I don’t want you in some billowy tent.”
    “What are you, my mother suddenly?”
    “Nope. I’m your Fashion Adviser. And trust me, with your figure, we’re looking for something that doesn’t hide the fact you’ve got curves.”
    “I don’t want to look fat.”
    “You’re not fat. You’re also not a stick. You look like a woman. We want to enhance that. Besides, you’d be amazed at what’s out there. We do want a low neckline, of course.”
    “We do? I’m going to be in some sort of a church.”
    We were in the casino now. It was loud and flashy, bells were ringing, people were making noise, the hustle and bustle was at a decent hum. I smelled smoke and booze and money. It was only Reader’s grip on my shoulders that kept me from wandering to an active craps table. The two guys who’d checked me out earlier were at one and seemed to