Engelbert Trentworthy -- dear God, call him Trent -- is a bit of a slut. Most people don’t take him seriously, and really, neither does he. Trent keeps things simple and doesn’t allow others to get close for reasons he never shares with anyone. Then he meets photographer Elias Lane at the customer service desk where he works.<br><br>Elias is captivated by Trent’s appearance and asks him to be part of a photo shoot. Unfortunately, Trent’s image ends up in a shop window near his job and causes all kinds of havoc. To make it up to him, Elias buys Trent dinner. But when Elias tries to push for more, Trent backs away.<br><br>Somehow, between the coworker who’s harassing Trent for sex and the specter of Trent’s black past, Elias is determined to get Trent to give him a chance, in every possible way.

Paint It, Black

I took care of the last two people in line before calling it a day.


Elias drove us to a Mexican restaurant he said he liked on the other side of town. We ordered margaritas and appetizers before getting into small talk.


“So tell me why you’re a photographer,” I said while sipping my drink. “Was it a childhood dream or something?”


“Nah. I’ve always had a good eye, and I used to paint and draw for a while until I switched to working with a camera. It all just clicked in my head after a few classes. I was hooked. I took some courses, did a few internships, got some big breaks, and now I do what I love.”


“Wow, that’s cool. You do excellent work, which I’m sure you know, but I was impressed.”


“I’m glad you think so. Would you be willing to work with me again, from time to time? You’re very photogenic and so expressive and uninhibited in your movements. It’s sexy. A photographer’s wet dream.”


Chapter 5