Full name~ Lucas Menzano
Height and weight~ Six-foot-two, 170lbs
Eye color~ Gray
Occupation~ Construction and custom carpentry
Place you call Home~ Payson, Arizona
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I can do this. I can totally do this. Shuffling through the dirt and sawdust toward the framed house in what looks to be the beginning stages of construction, I search for Lucas – the man I'm here to interview. There are at least a dozen men working in various areas around the structure. The buzz of circular saws and pops from nail guns slice through the tepid mountain breeze. My once white Converse are now a light shade of tan covered over in dirt. I pat myself on the back once again for not wearing my sexy heels.
“You lost, sweetheart?” The deep voice comes from above. I look up and use my notepad to shield my eyes from the sun to see a man who looks to be in his mid-forties coming down a ladder.
“I think I'm in the right place.” When he settles back on solid ground he moves toward me, massive arms crossed over his chest and a scowl that would peel paint. “I ah...” I check my notepad as if it carries the words my mind won't cough up. “I'm looking for Lucas, is he around?”
The guy nods and motions for me to follow him with a jerk of his chin. With long strides he takes me around the back of the house and I scurry to keep up. It isn't until he stops and steps to the side that I see the man I'm there to meet. Where this man was intimidating for his size, Lucas has the kind of sex-on-legs intimidation that makes me forget how to walk.
He's bent over a workbench, one long, tan and very muscular arm stretched out as he uses a tape measure to do God-knows-what, and really, who cares. The way the sun glints off his sweaty skin makes me wonder what he tastes like.
“Yo! Lucas!” The sound of his name brings his eyes up and I practically stumble backward at the sheer beauty of his face. Strong jaw, full lips, that scar that only intensifies his rugged good-looks, and although his eyes are hidden under his worn out ball cap I know they're gray like storm clouds.
“You have a visitor!” When Lucas's chin tilts in my direction the guy leaves us alone and I take a few steps toward him.
“Lucas? Hi, I uh...I'm Stacey, we talked on the phone?”
“Yeah, I remember.” He wipes his hands on his shirt and then offers me one. When I shake it I marvel at how something so big and callused could communicate such care. Before I can think more on it he releases me.
“Is there somewhere we can sit?”
He nods and sweeps his arm toward two folding chairs in the shade under a trees. I lead the way and pick one while he drops down onto the other. I take my time arranging my notepad while spying on him as he sits. He leans forward with his elbows braced on his knees, then pulls off his hat and runs a hand through a shiny mess of light-brown hair. He rubs the back of his stiff neck, sniffs, clears his throat...then his gaze swings to mine. Oh wow...he's beautiful.
His eyes narrow a little as I stare. He shifts uncomfortably then pops his ball cap back on. “Is everything okay?”
I blink. Then blink again. Then give myself a internal shake because I'm here to do a job and fantasizing about Lucas naked and looking down at me with those eyes is NOT it.
“I'm fine. Let's uh...” I clear my throat. “Let's begin.”
“How did you first approach JB Salsbury about your story?”
“I didn't. She approached me. I avoided her as much as I could but she never gave up, followed me around, and that's how my story came to be.”
~Remind me to hug that woman next time I see her~
“If you could change one thing about your story, what would it be?”
“I don't think it's a secret that my life isn't something to be proud of. I don't like people being able to read about my past and my … mental disorder. I guess if I'd had a choice I'd rather have none of it told. But I didn't have a choice, which I guess is okay. Shy keeps telling me that our story will give hope to others and if that's true I guess I'm good with it being out there. Just uh...don't ask me to read it.”
~Ladies...you thought you wanted to hold him tight and protect him while reading his story...being here face to face and witnessing first hand his uneasiness and vulnerability...it's taking EVERYTHING I HAVE not to jump out of this chair, wrap my arms around this man and never let him go.~
“Can you give us a glimpse of five years AFTER your story ended?”
* small grin * “Yeah, well...Shy and I are married. I built onto the cottage and added a couple rooms – an office for Shy and a bedroom for the baby. * chuckles * It's crazy, but five years after barely being able to take care of myself I'm a husband and a dad. It blows me away.”
~Can you hear that? Yeah, that's the explosion of ovaries all across the world.~
“Do you feel your story is finished or will we possibly get another look?”
“There’s nothing from here on out but happy ever after. I don’t think people would be interested in reading all the gushy love stuff mixed in with the occasional argument over whether or not we should get another dog.”~Did I mention he smells wonderful?~
“What's your idea of the perfect date?”
“I like taking Shy out. Dinner and movie. I know it probably sounds stupid, but living in a small town, when we’re out, people stare and…I don’t know, I kinda like it. It makes me feel like a man to walk around with my beautiful wife on my arm. The whispers and the stares used to bother me, but now they remind me of how lucky I am to have found Shy and by some miracle the fact that she loves me is… *blows out a breath* well…it’s more than I could ever dream of. Being on a date with Shy makes me feel like a normal guy.”
~Oh, ladies. This guy...this gorgeous, sweet, adorable man. Words can't explain how easily he can melt your heart. I wonder if meeting Gage would melt my heart as well....~
“Speaking of normal…is it, I mean, would it be possible to speak with Gage?”
*eyebrows drop low* “Right now?” *gaze darts to the side as if he’s listening to Gage inside his head*
“Yes, if that’s okay with you…er, him, um…please.”
*clears his throat and stares at his folded hands in his lap* “Sure…”
*seconds of loaded silence build and the tension in Lucas’s shoulders dissolve. He rolls his head around on his neck and I hold my breath as heavy-lidded eyes slowly slide up my body to meet my gaze.*
“Gage?”
*scratches the stubble of his cheek* “You wanted to talk?”
~It's him...LADIES IT'S HIM! I am face to fucking face with Gage! I totally felt the shift in the air, the world around us has taken on a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FEEL! Holy shit, I'm shaking!~
“Yes, thank you for being here, I just had a few questions…” *my hands shake with the transformation I just witnessed.*
“Okay, um…can you tell us something about yourself that might shock us?”
*chuckles deep, dark, and spine-chilling* “Are you fuckin’ serious? *there’s a hint of wicked humor in his voice* “You’re talking to the alter-identity of a man who has dissociative identity disorder, ain’t that enough?”
~I am so nervous right now!~
“Of course. You’ve accepted now that you’re…different?”
*slides down in his seat, legs wide, the picture of lazy confidence* “Thanks to my wife I have. She’s done a lot to help me understand Luke and why my presence is required in both their lives. Now that I got a baby coming, they’ll need me more than ever to keep all three of them safe. One thing you’ll learn quick about me, I fuckin’ love my family. I’d do anything to protect them.”
~You guys!! Listening to this dark, sexy man talk about protecting his family...I can't even...~
“You’re going to be a dad, what part of parenting are you most excited about?”
*pulls his hat off, rubs his head, then pops it back on* “I can’t wait to hold my baby. That’s all. I just want to hold the life Shy’s giving me because when the baby is in my arms I know nothing—and I mean NOTHING—will hurt him…or her.”
~Is it hot out here or just me?~
*fanning myself* “Whew…okay, well I need to get going and I know you and Lucas have to get back to work so just a couple more if that’s okay?”
*shrugs* “Whatever.”
“If you were in a room with a group of your #1 fans, what would you say to them?
“I have fans? I’m not the most likable person, I think maybe this question would be better for Luke.”
“No, Gage. You definitely have fans.”
~Am I right, ladies?~
*blinks slowly* “Huh…well, then I guess I’d—fuck. I don’t know. The thought of being around a group of people who look up at me in any way makes me itchy. I’d probably pull back and let Luke take that one.”
“Some say book boyfriends don’t exist, what do you say to that?”
“What the fuck is a book boyfriend?”
*I explain*
“No shit? Women really do that? *rubs his lips with one thick finger* One thing I’ve learned now that I’m married is you never call a woman crazy and you sure as fuck don’t disagree with something she’s passionate about so I say, yeah, book boyfriends are real, although if I ever find out Shy has one I’ll kill him. I share my wife with Luke, and that’s it. No one else, fictional or not.
“For people who have not read your story…let them now why they should.”
“I’m not so sure they should. It’s dark. Gritty. Ain’t all fluff and romance, ya know? I’d say for those who have a weak stomach and a sensitive heart you’ll want to stay away from SPLIT. But… *leans forward grinning* If you’re looking for a mindfuck, what are you waiting for?
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