cowboy like me [ls]

Ch2: takes one to know one

Harry watched the tennis court being covered up with some tent-like thing. He was sure that the old man leaning against him had mentioned what the thing was called a million times. In a very demeaning tone, of course, the fellow kept complaining about the color and pattern not being according to his liking and how this ruined his life in an unredeemable way. Harry didn't even care what it was called, not like he could ever afford something like that in his life.

The man immediately stopped babbling when Harry put a hand on his shoulder and planted a kiss on his cheek. Phil straightened his collar and sighed peacefully. "So darling, what do you plan on doing when I've moved to Paris?"

Harry knew where this was going. He had met Phil half a year ago and it was the first time in his life that he had not been disgusted with the person he was about to con. All his previous targets were always rich men and women who would be more angry about being stolen from than sad. His heart twisted at the thought of Phil's face spotting neither anger nor humiliation but disappointment when Harry followed his well-laid plan. Out of all the rich men he'd found himself being swirled into, he was the only one who had never spoken of love. He had made it clear that he was only in this for some company. He was a generous lover, Harry would give him that. He was very aware of the huge age difference between them, yet Harry never felt like an object the rich man was parading around. Phil made him feel needed and always asked for his opinion on things (even those things in which both of them knew Harry wasn't knowledgeable at all).

Had he possessed a heart that wasn't rotten to the core, it could've been love.

Phil was left devastated by the untimely demise of his lovely wife five years ago. They both had planned that they'd move to Paris after they turned 65 and spend the rest of their life there. Now, he was moving there alone, with all the memories of them meeting there as teenagers. Harry watched him talk about his wife with such adoration that some part of him felt unsettled and yearned for something he could neither have nor afford to dream about.

When he announced his decision to move, he profusely apologized to Harry for not taking him there with him. Harry just shrugged.

That was the day that he decided that he wouldn't be stealing a single penny from this man.

"I mean, you ought to-" he got distracted by the guests entering the venue. A young lady waved at him and discreetly eyed Harry. She blushed when he flashed her a smile. Phil patted his back and continued, "I'm talking about why don't you find someone to dance with this evening." Harry opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Phil's hand gestures. "I'll be alright. Wouldn't want to bore you with all these people coming to my seat to tell me they'll miss me, only to pitch in the idea of me leaving the Beach House to them," he chuckled. "Go find someone to dance with, if you're lucky enough, you might even find the one you'll dance all your dances with." Harry stood there reeling as Phil walked away after handing him a drink in his hand.

His stupor was broken by a light tap on his shoulder. A man with eyes full of stars greeted him with a sinful smile. He didn't look like the regulars, way too charming for the mundane setting. He extended his hand forward."Dance with me?" He tilted his head seductively and bit his lip in anticipation.

"Dancing in a dangerous game," Harry offered his hand to the magnetic man anyway. His mouth lifted in a smirk as he placed a tender kiss on Harry's hand.

He really thought it was gonna be one of those things

Harry meets Louis' eyes in the crowded room of the soiree he is in with Mrs Matha, and for a moment it felt like cosmic love all over again. The night they met comes floating back to his mind like a film reel. Later that night, they had found themselves sitting by the water, where Louis shyly brushed his fingers with Harry. A week into their love affair they both had confessed the things they did for a living.