About Day and Night: Turquoise
by Chris Owen
39 pages / 10800 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-737-3
Ebook zipped file contains -
html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub
Steve Hughes and Luke Jones know they like each other, but they're not
too sure if their cosplay characters will get along at all. At EscapeCon
Steve becomes Captain Emerson Langdon-Hughes, a military inspired Steampunk
captain. Luke Jones becomes Lucas Pickett, an authority-hating shopkeeper
who will only deal with customers of rank because he wants their money. For
most customers that means a few teasing comments, but for Steve's Captain
there might be something special in store.
When Steve finds a particularly wonderful treasure among Luke's items he's
eager to pay top dollar. Luke, however, won't even discuss the matter,
taking the turquoise cufflinks out of sight and all but kicking Steve out of
the storefront. What's so special about them? And if Captain Langdon-Hughes
can't get along with Lucas Pickett, what does that mean for Steve and Luke?
Sample
When they got to the edge of the room it became very easy to find Luke's
booth. It was, as Ivan predicted, in a corner of the room, and Luke had
clearly paid for two spaces instead of one. He'd brought in portable walls
that were sturdy and not just sheets or curtains hung from a support system,
but were actual constructed pieces with shelving.
"Wow." Ashlyn stopped moving and folded her arms across her middle. "That's
impressive looking, isn't it?"
"It's a store, all right." There was a clear line of sight into the shop,
and Steve could see a young woman pulling items from boxes and filling the
last of the shelf space. "He's got a lot more clothes at his real store,"
Steve added, spotting only one clothing rack.
"Clothes eat available space, and he's got to maximize for his target
clientele at conventions." Ashlyn was using her work voice. Then she shook
her head and laughed, apparently at herself. "Where is he?"
"I'm right here, assuming you're looking for the proprietor." Luke walked up
behind them, holding three paper cups in a neat stack. He was smiling and
wearing his hat, along with a leather vest over his shirt and dark trousers
that were exceedingly full in the leg -- all the better for hiding small
items in. He looked positively roguish and startlingly like any one of many
characters from TV and movies who turned out to be both charming and bad
news. "Lucas Pickett, at your service," he said to Ashlyn, then gave Steve a
broad wink and a leer. "Hello, luv."
Steve grinned, unable to help himself. His belly got warm and fluttery just
looking at Luke. Lucas. He liked them both. "Hello, yourself. This is my
friend Ashlyn. She's going to keep me company while you're busy here this
weekend."
"But only not when you're free, I can already tell." Ashlyn offered her hand
to Luke and made an appreciative sound when he kissed her fingers instead of
shaking. "Oh, very nice."
"I try." Luke gave her a boyish grin and let her go. "Please, feel free to
look around. We're running late, but we're very nearly done with setting up.
That's Eleanor in there; she can help you find any little whimsy you might
be looking for."
Ashlyn nodded and left them, plunging into the shop like she was prepared to
blow her budget. Steve thought she was at least going to try to adhere to
the no spending money on the first night rule, but that never stopped anyone
from extensive window shopping and list making. Luke certainly had the
widest variety of items, and it was well worth the time to browse before the
next day's crowds.
"Oh, hang on," Luke said to Steve. "Don't move." He followed Ashlyn, handed
one of the cups to Eleanor, put a second under a table where it wouldn't be
knocked over and came back out, taking the lid off the third. "Conventions
mean a lot of tea. Hi." He stood close to Steve, their arms brushing.
"Hi." Steve smiled at him, unable not to. "I missed you this week."
"Aw." Luke grinned at him, though, looking pleased. "True Con season will be
worse -- my time gets tangled."
"That's okay -- I have busy times at work, I get it. At least with
conventions I can show up and see you long enough to say hello."
Luke turned to fully face him and gave him a look that was very nearly
smoldering. "I'm hoping for a lot more than a hello, honestly."