other distractions as nerves descended. Really? Seriously? Giant cop whom he's working with, flying to Seattle for dinner? Where the hell was this coming from? A potential taste of freedom from Bright Side's stun collar and he was suddenly jetting (okay, using miles for business class) north for wining and dining.
This was so Daisy's territory.
He dialed her cell number, watching Seattle speed by from the backseat.
His knee jiggled nervously.
His palms—sweating.
“Hellllooo—where are you?” Daisy's familiar voice came through the line.
From the loopy trill, she'd started the evening cocktail therapy early.
“Seattle.”
“Well, I wasn't expecting that answer. What's going on? There isn't trouble with the movie, is there?” Panic seeped into her voice; they'd kept things under wraps from Bright Side so far, but nothing was guaranteed in this business, especially secrecy.
“No, no. I just—I was a little blocked, and I thought I would call Detective Shea and…”
Daisy erupted into giggles.
“Why is this funny?” Griffin scowled at his reflection in the cab's window.
“You know, I get he's hot and that whole manly macho thing you find so appealing, but flying to Seattle? That's a hell of a booty call.”
“We're going to talk about the movie. Over dinner.”
“Uh-huuuuuh.”
“We need him on our side, Daisy; we need him on board with this movie, or Ed Kelly will pull out. You know this.” Since he couldn't convince himself, convincing her was not going to happen. But he'd go down with the ship protesting that this wasn't a booty call.
36
Tere Michaels
“I know. But is sleeping with him now a good idea?”
“Oh come on! It's dinner. You met him—I'm guessing he's not a first-date drop-trou sort of—”
“You said date! You said date!”
“I'm hanging up now.”
“Wear a condom, and please be good in the sack—if you suck, he's going to be bitter, and we can't afford that.” She giggled, then hung up in a flurry of kisses.
The cab pulled up in front of the police station, and Griffin smacked his forehead against the window.
No pressure.
Love & Loyalty
37
Chapter Six
Today was Jim Shea's forty-fifth birthday.
The Heterosexual Power Cabal gave him a set of golf clubs, expensive and beautiful, his name stitched on the side of the stylish green bag. It was a thoughtful gift from all of them, clearly discussed and debated and selected with great care.
He managed gruff and appreciative as best he could.
Terry and some senior detectives bought him lunch at their favorite greasy spoon and wouldn't let him pay for his chicken potpie and iced tea.
His father's former secretary, who still handled his calendar, sent a stiffly formal birthday card and check, like Jim was sixteen and at boarding school, and wow, that brought up a lot of memories right there.
He deposited the check, then immediately wrote one twice the amount and stuck it in the mail to Liddy, Ben's wife. He told her to use it for a client who needed legal advice but didn't have the money up front.
Ed Kelly sent him a birthday card with a photograph of a beagle with a birthday hat on the front. Nothing sentimental or sweet inside, just a thanks and Ed's scrawl.
Jim tucked that into his jacket pocket.
The rest of the day was interspersed with a body found floating in the swimming pool of an abandoned house and Jim having to change his pants after a stabbing at a homeless shelter.
Nothing like dead bodies and bodily fluids to bring you back down to reality.
38
Tere Michaels
Then the phone call from Griffin Drake, and Jim was just…caught off guard. Jim was never off guard; he was permanently tense and anticipatory.
But at the right moment (wrong moment?) the screenwriter called, offered to come take Jim for dinner, and Jim said yes, and that was how he was going to spend his forty-fifth birthday.
“Holy shit,” he murmured as Terry gathered up his belongings and stood up to leave.
“Are you sure you
This was so Daisy's territory.
He dialed her cell number, watching Seattle speed by from the backseat.
His knee jiggled nervously.
His palms—sweating.
“Hellllooo—where are you?” Daisy's familiar voice came through the line.
From the loopy trill, she'd started the evening cocktail therapy early.
“Seattle.”
“Well, I wasn't expecting that answer. What's going on? There isn't trouble with the movie, is there?” Panic seeped into her voice; they'd kept things under wraps from Bright Side so far, but nothing was guaranteed in this business, especially secrecy.
“No, no. I just—I was a little blocked, and I thought I would call Detective Shea and…”
Daisy erupted into giggles.
“Why is this funny?” Griffin scowled at his reflection in the cab's window.
“You know, I get he's hot and that whole manly macho thing you find so appealing, but flying to Seattle? That's a hell of a booty call.”
“We're going to talk about the movie. Over dinner.”
“Uh-huuuuuh.”
“We need him on our side, Daisy; we need him on board with this movie, or Ed Kelly will pull out. You know this.” Since he couldn't convince himself, convincing her was not going to happen. But he'd go down with the ship protesting that this wasn't a booty call.
36
Tere Michaels
“I know. But is sleeping with him now a good idea?”
“Oh come on! It's dinner. You met him—I'm guessing he's not a first-date drop-trou sort of—”
“You said date! You said date!”
“I'm hanging up now.”
“Wear a condom, and please be good in the sack—if you suck, he's going to be bitter, and we can't afford that.” She giggled, then hung up in a flurry of kisses.
The cab pulled up in front of the police station, and Griffin smacked his forehead against the window.
No pressure.
Love & Loyalty
37
Chapter Six
Today was Jim Shea's forty-fifth birthday.
The Heterosexual Power Cabal gave him a set of golf clubs, expensive and beautiful, his name stitched on the side of the stylish green bag. It was a thoughtful gift from all of them, clearly discussed and debated and selected with great care.
He managed gruff and appreciative as best he could.
Terry and some senior detectives bought him lunch at their favorite greasy spoon and wouldn't let him pay for his chicken potpie and iced tea.
His father's former secretary, who still handled his calendar, sent a stiffly formal birthday card and check, like Jim was sixteen and at boarding school, and wow, that brought up a lot of memories right there.
He deposited the check, then immediately wrote one twice the amount and stuck it in the mail to Liddy, Ben's wife. He told her to use it for a client who needed legal advice but didn't have the money up front.
Ed Kelly sent him a birthday card with a photograph of a beagle with a birthday hat on the front. Nothing sentimental or sweet inside, just a thanks and Ed's scrawl.
Jim tucked that into his jacket pocket.
The rest of the day was interspersed with a body found floating in the swimming pool of an abandoned house and Jim having to change his pants after a stabbing at a homeless shelter.
Nothing like dead bodies and bodily fluids to bring you back down to reality.
38
Tere Michaels
Then the phone call from Griffin Drake, and Jim was just…caught off guard. Jim was never off guard; he was permanently tense and anticipatory.
But at the right moment (wrong moment?) the screenwriter called, offered to come take Jim for dinner, and Jim said yes, and that was how he was going to spend his forty-fifth birthday.
“Holy shit,” he murmured as Terry gathered up his belongings and stood up to leave.
“Are you sure you
Similar Books
Bad Dreams
Anne Fine
The Passionate Brood
Margaret Campbell Barnes
Fringe Benefits
Sandy James
The Perfect Blend
Allie Pleiter
A Heart for Rebel
Mia Natal
Calico Brides
Darlene Franklin
The Last Exit to Normal
Michael Harmon
Blackbone
George Simpson, Neal Burger
Storms
Carol Ann Harris
Lethal Legend
Kathy Lynn Emerson