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“Yes, but no,” Dustin said. “We met last night.”
Please God, don’t let him say where or why.
The other man extended his hand. “I’m Phillip. It’s great to have you here.”
“Thanks. I’m excited to be here.” They weren’t making a big deal out of things. Yet. I could pretend this was all perfectly normal. I’d do that until I was required to do otherwise anyway.
“Adrienne, you know where to find me if you need anything,” Daphne said. “Please keep in mind, our rules aren’t lip service. Not that I expect these two to give you any issues.”
“Thank you.”
Phillip pointed me toward my desk, which had the most amazing setup of three giant screens and a high end computer plus drawing tablet that I’d ever seen. He told me my password was on a post-it on the screen and to change it immediately.
When I logged in, he pointed me toward some internal graphic assets and told me to get familiar with the setup, and ask him if I needed anything.
“I’ll do that, thank you.” So far, so good.
“And to address the elephant in the room...” Phillip said.
No. We didn’t have to do this, did we? We could just pretend last night was other people? “Okay?”
“I’m glad you’re continuing to hone your skills, like with last night’s class. I’m a big supporter of that.”
“I’m glad to hear it, since I’m not the real Adrienne. The view last night was so breathtaking, I kidnapped your real new employee and took her place.” I mentally facepalmed even as the words tumbled past my lips. What was wrong with me? “I’m kidding, of course. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...” What? I meant exactly what I’d said, but in a joking way. Not in an I’m here to stare at you because you’re sexy naked kind of way.
“Good. Because we can’t condone kidnapping.” Phillip’s tone was serious and his expression blank.
Dustin looked like he was fighting a smirk. “It’s understandable, though. We are gorgeously irresistible.”
One corner of Phillip’s mouth twitched up, cracking his mask. “That’s a fact. And you won’t work with two better artists in the industry.”
False bravado was a turn-off, but genuine confidence was fucking sexy, and I’d seen art samples coming out of this group, so I knew they were incredible at what they did. Still, I’d swooned enough. I should at least try to play it cool. “Is that so?”
“We’re highly recruited.” Dustin straddled his chair and rested his arms on the back. The pose elongated his toned arms and back, and stretched his T-shirt over lines of definition. Drool. It also tugged up his sleeve, revealing the bottom of a tattoo I recognized immediately. Luna had a similar one of the AcesPlayed logo. That was what they’d been hiding with the oversized bandages last night.
Phillip nodded “But we’ll make you one of us. You’ve got the skill.”
“You just need the right connections,” Dustin said.
Watching the back and forth, the way they played off each other, was fun. No wonder they looked so good in that embrace last night. “Wait. Are you together? You have to be.” Damn it, why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut? Because I was nervous. Lousy excuse, but the only one I had.
Phillip shrugged. “Co-workers. Just like you.”
“Also friends and fuck-buddies,” Dustin added.
He said it so nonchalantly and Phillip didn’t even flinch. Fuck-buddies. As in casual sex? I knew people did that, but I had a hard enough time finding relationship-sex. I couldn’t fathom liking someone well enough to just sleep with them then hang out the next day, though the idea was appealing. I certainly didn’t care for relationships right now. Maybe I could learn? Maybe one of them could teach me?
Definitely inappropriate, and I needed to change the subject before the thought forced its way past my lips. “So you’re saying who I know is more important than talent?” I could take us back to our previous topic. “In other words, your being highly recruited doesn’t mean anything.”
“Talent and making sure it’s recognized mean everything.” Phillip pulled up a seat and rolled closer. “Knowing people makes the rest easier.”
“And after last night, you know more about us than a lot of people.” Dustin winked.
Phillip smirked. “Don’t let him fool you, a lot of people know that side of him.”
If they were going to treat the art class like this, teasing but not embarrassing me, I could deal with that. Especially since they let me move on so easily from my question about their relationship. “But how many of them noticed that birthmark?”
“I doubt very many.” Dustin glanced at the computer screen behind him. “Shit, I need to run to a meeting. If you do any more in-person figure drawing, wait until I’m back.” A hint of seduction slid into his voice.
