Naked Hero - The Journey Away

more, but as I said – I have a conscience, and feel guilty that my presence might have pushed you away. And it’s you that he needs now. Please, don’t punish him because of me. I’ll go if that makes it easier, or I’ll stay and deflect the attention if that’s what you’d prefer. Whatever works best - whatever it takes for you to do the one thing that will make the difference - the one thing that will allow him to beat Gonzales. Openly accept him!”
    Scott gazed at him, his heart racing even faster now having heard what Lee had to say. Curiosity had been satisfied and hope now surged – this did put a different perspective on things. It was still fraught with danger, but perhaps there was a reward that might make it all worthwhile. Porter was certainly making that easier by offering to fall on his sword and disappear from their lives. But that would hardly be gentlemanly, and might raise suspicion as to the ulterior motive if he insisted the man left town. “What time is the practice?” Scott asked, offering a life-line as he bought some more thinking time.
    Lee tempered his excitement and went in for the close. “Twelve o’clock... And if you’re worried about his reaction, then don’t be. He’ll welcome you with open arms, believe me. And please, if you do decide to go, let’s keep this conversation to ourselves.”
    Masking his own excitement, Scott appeared nonplussed. “I’ll think about it.”
    “Don’t take too long,” insisted Lee; then prepared as always he added, “I’ll give you my card. If you could let me know what you decide, then either I’ll arrange to turn up myself and try to lift him somehow, or alternatively I can go and pack.”
    Scott shook his head and declined the offered card, but the gentleman in him still came through. “No need for that. Why don’t we both go?”
    Lee gave him a brief laugh as he returned the card to his pocket. “No. That’s not for Lewis. One or the other… and the best man is you.”

Chapter 42
    Lee maintained his composure until Scott Taylor had left. Only when the American entered the elevator did his expression change and the animosity resurfaced. It had galled him to have said such things to Scott Taylor - tell him that he was the better man. A more successful one, yes! But better, no! That was not something that Lee believed. Better for Lewis, though, Lee was sure that was the case - and essential now if he was to get to the final.
    It was this conviction, above all else, that had caused Lee Porter to decline what he ’d so passionately desired the previous night. The conversation with Fiona had made it crystal clear that he needed to back off so that Scott Taylor could come back into the picture. Once Lewis had got past Alberto Gonzales, then Lee would decide how to play it from there. But one thing was for certain - it would be his head that decided the course of action, just as his head had told him to stay away last night.
    Using his head further, Lee ran over the meeting – the conversation, the expressions, the looks Scott had given him. He added it all to the information he had gleamed and came up with an uncomfortable conclusion that was consistent with his intuition – he might have been married and genuinely liked women, but if that was the case then he swung both ways, at least in the mind if not physically indulging! The realisation that Scott Taylor was attracted to men didn’t please Lee Porter one little bit. It muddied the waters that were already opaque, and made his actions all the harder to bear.
    But then again – on the flip side of the coin - it could help to quieten the discomfort he’d felt on the path he’d chosen to go down with HIM Clothing. There was still a prize to be won if Lee were to forget about emotion and play to his strengths – using cool calculation to take what he could, whilst at the same time relieving that niggling conscience by giving Lewis what he obviously needed as well.
    Scott Taylor!
    Was he really ‘The Best Man’ for Lewis Macleod beyond what he could offer as a coach or mentor? Was the American actually the true ‘Perfect Man’ who could give Lewis his perfect day?
    Plenty fitted. He had wealth and success, so there would be no imbalance there, and Lewis needed a man whom he could respect and look up to, not someone that might be seen as a parasite. They had so much in common with the sport that they shared - that tough master ‘The Tour’ would be a unifying force,