Free Groomzilla by Tere Michaels Page B

conversation while you’re waxing my balls.”
    Lucias tipped his head back and howled.
    Feeling pleased, Daniel settled back in the chair. Was Owen watching? Was he feeling as horny as before?
    “So you do this a lot for them? Make the people on their show look better?” Daniel asked, curious as all hell.
    “Oh yeah. We do the publicity events—parties, red carpet, whatever Owen needs.” His tone on “Owen” was positively fluttery, something Daniel understood.
    “But not the show?”
    “No—they’ve got some folks for that, though we get pulled in for the wedding. So many faces to blot, so many lines to fill,” Lucias stage-whispered. “Craters, actually—a future I don’t want for you.”
    “I will use your products faithfully and stop going out into the sun.”
    “Good boy.” Lucias patted his head. “Oh, and by the way? Owen’s been staring at you like you’re a freaking lobster dinner after a fast.”
    Daniel’s grin threatened to overtake his face. “Don’t tease.”
    “Oh, honey, I am not teasing. If he licks his lips one more time, I may have to go over and apply some balm.” His voice dropped even lower and Daniel ran his tongue over his top lip.
    Slowly.
    “Unless you are offering, put that thing away,” Lucias said, fanning himself dramatically. “And for God’s sake, don’t do that to Owen. He’ll burst into flames.”
    “So I shouldn’t tease?”
    Lucias put his scissors down, then reached for a tall green bottle. He flipped open the cap and poured a bit of gel into his hands. “No, no teasing my boy,” Lucias said without conviction. “None of those runway sashays or flashing him that nice bottom of yours.”
    “That would be terrible,” Daniel murmured as Lucias tousled his hair. “Rude.”
    “He might fall out of that chair onto his knees and do unspeakable things to said bottom,” he said under his breath.
    “Ugh,” Daniel said, except it came out as a near moan.
    Lucias snickered. “Would it be too much to ask for pictures?”

Chapter Twelve
     
     
    SYNDIE HAD already arranged for drinks and snacks to show up; a portable buffet table sat in the hallway outside the bedroom, with pitchers of mimosas, platters of cheese, fruit and crackers, and cookies the size of Owen’s head. He wandered out and filled up a water glass with orange juice and champagne, bypassing the slender flutes. His stomach pinched as he looked over the spread of food, so he took two crackers, then returned to his seat.
    Lucias had Daniel facing the other direction, so as Owen settled down, he caught glimpses of the back of Daniel’s head as Lucias moved around. They were talking in low murmurs while Syndie and Nadine discussed outfits over by the bed, replacing ties and socks over and over again.
    Owen ate his crackers, tilting his head to catch Daniel’s profile as Lucias moved the chair again. He’d started grooming Daniel’s beard, tiny scissors snicking as he leaned in.
    “He’s cute,” Syndie mouthed, catching Owen’s eye.
    “The audience is going to love him,” he answered, not bothering to keep his voice down.
    Lucias wiped Daniel’s face with a towel, then stepped back to look over his handiwork. Owen had known Lucias for a long time and knew he was the right person to find Daniel’s best look without turning him into something else.
    “Time for the big reveal,” Owen called as Syndie and Nadine turned their attention to where Owen’s had been pinned for some time.
    Humming a flourishy tune, Lucias stepped back and let everyone get a full view of Daniel. Gone was the straggly too-long hair; now it was trimmed and neat, parted to the side in a sweep that drew attention to his chocolate brown eyes. His beard and moustache were thin, enough facial hair to accentuate his jaw- and cheekbones nicely.
    And that mouth.
    Owen took a sip of his mimosa, unable to hide his grin.
    “Oh, honey, I’m going to start your fan page now. The girls and boys are going to be head over