The Player by Joe Cosentino

Author:Joe Cosentino [Cosentino, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64405-725-4
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2020-05-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

I RAN down the flight of stairs two at a time and then sprinted across the hallway to apartment 2C. It took a few knocks on the door before Hunter answered wearing a burgundy silk robe. “Is the building on fire?”

Still catching my breath, I said, “Hunter, I need to ask you something.”

“This isn’t a good time.”

“It’s about Alexandria’s murder.”

He started to close the door.

Placing my shoe between the door and the frame, I said, “You told me the fine print in Alexandria’s contract with you gave her the right to all the profits, as well as the ownership of the patent if your exercise machine didn’t make a profit in six months.”

“So?”

“Did Alexandria mention having that same deal with anyone else?”

“Will you leave me alone if I tell you?”

I nodded like a rag doll.

“When I threatened to sue her, Alexandria told me the contract was legally airtight, and she bragged about how she made the same contract with another sucker stupid enough not to read the fine print before signing.”

“Who was it?”

“She didn’t mention his name.”

“Do you know anything about him?”

“Just that he lives in the building.” He pushed the door closed.

I nearly slid down the hallway and then raced up the stairs. After entering my apartment, I hurried back onto the balcony. Leander was still in his living room. Sweaty from his workout, his T-shirt was off, unleashing his incredibly muscular shoulders, pecs, and abs. Spotting me, he offered another wave. I returned the wave and motioned an invitation for him to join me in my apartment. He pointed to his underarms and then his watch, signaling he’d like to shower first and come over shortly. I nodded and left the balcony. After hurrying back to the dining alcove table, I reread Leander’s article. When I was through, I heard a knock at the door. I jumped up, grabbed my cell phone from the end table near the armchairs, placed it behind Aunt Nia’s plant, and pressed the Record button. Then I ran to the entryway, opened the door, and invited Leander inside. He looked sexy in a skintight turquoise tank top and jeans. His auburn hair was combed neatly, and his matching beard was trimmed close to his face. As he shook my hand, the smell of pine soap filled my nostrils. “Thank you for coming.”

“Thank you for inviting me.” He glanced around the apartment. “Nice furnishings.” Spotting the pianola, he grinned. “Here’s the player piano.”

I returned the smile. “A novel invention that became popular in the 1920s. But you know a great deal about inventions, don’t you?”

He spotted his journal on the dining alcove table. “Ah, you read my article.”

Nodding, I replied, “It was really fascinating.”

He chortled. “You’re the first person to tell me that.” Resting a hand on my shoulder, he added, “I had a feeling you were a bright guy.”

“Not really.” I stepped away. “Actually, I’ve been pretty stupid.”

He cocked his head. “How so?”

“I thought you were either a straight guy getting off on a gay guy’s attraction to you, or a closet bisexual flirting with his neighbor.

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