Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Brady dried his hands and reached for the phone to text Owen, but there was one more message that had come almost immediately after Owen’s last call. He hoped his cousin hadn’t called Solomon. The last thing he needed was his older brother finding out about his drunken bar rant.
“This message is for Brady Finn from Calvin Grimes. I received an interesting email alert this morning. I’m not sure who sent it, but the subject heading was your name and the link attached led to a video of you in your family’s pub. Your speech was…stirring. And what you said made me think you might finally be ready to go on that date with me. Who wants to live like a monk, right? How about we start tonight with a drink at Tango’s and see what happens? No pressure. I’ll be waiting for your call.”
“What the fuck?” Brady frowned. He was sure he’d rejected Stephen’s persistent yes-man enough times that he’d gotten the message. How had he, of all people, gotten his hands on that link?
“That was me.”
Ken’s voice made him drop his phone in the sink. Brady swore and picked it up again, drying it off on his jeans. “Shit, sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. What was you?”
Ken’s expression was not as relaxed as it should have been for a man who’d just starred in the hottest shower scene Brady had ever witnessed. “Lover boy’s call? I did that. I sent him the link before shutting the video down. I figured he’d see it as a sign and call you.”
It was hard to concentrate when all he could see was an image of Ken’s face mid-orgasm. He’d sent Cal the link on purpose? “You wanted him to ask me out?”
Ken moved closer. “And I want you to call him back and say yes.”
Brady knew he looked as confused as he felt. “No way in hell.”
Ken’s smile was subtle, the relaxing of his shoulders barely visible, but Brady noticed. He liked his answer. “I’m not happy about it either, but this is the job, Finn. Calvin Grimes is the job. At least, your part of it. He’s my way in, and the only way I have to get to him is through you.”
“Hell.” Brady looked at his phone and sighed. How had he found out about Cal’s crush? Had he hacked the suggestive email messages Grimes had sent him during his time working for the senator, or had Tasha spilled the beans? “Did you tell me this last night? Because I can’t see me getting drunk enough to think this was a good idea. Cal Grimes isn’t quite right, Tanaka. He’s like a terrier. If he bites down it could be hard to shake him off.”
“I might have skipped the finer points. You were drunk, remember? But don’t worry. I want you to meet him but I’m not planning on leaving you alone with him. Not for a minute.”
Brady raised one eyebrow. “He might not appreciate the extra company. He’s very…focused.” Disturbingly fixated was more accurate.
“He’ll never know I’m there. But you will.”
That sounded intriguing. “I think I’m recovered enough for you to fill me in now. Why is Grimes my part of the job? Who are you trying to get to? Should we call in Stephen? Are we after a senator?”
“So you’re staying?”
Brady sighed, knowing it was never a question. “For the moment. With Cal involved, I make no promises.”
“Then we’ll start planning after you call Owen. I think that would be—what—the fourth rule of Finn Club?”
He’d been listening at the door. Sneaky and kinky. But then, after today Brady didn’t have room to talk. “Smartass.”
He made the call.
Chapter Three
He should be getting hazard pay or compensation for mental pain and suffering. Ken was going to owe him one for this. A big one.
When his date left their small table to find the harried waiter and order another round, Brady took advantage of the breather, rubbing his temples in an effort to both ease his tension headache and erase the images Calvin Grimes had been trying to tempt him with for the last hour.
To his credit, Cal had managed ten solid minutes of harmless small talk before he started making propositions. He told him about a timeshare he had in the Bahamas. Beautiful beaches, great weather…and wouldn’t Brady like to join him for a private weekend? No pressure. Brady had turned him down gently, reminding him of his red hair and his family’s tendency to boil like lobsters in the sun.
Cal was gracious, moving on to a molecular gastronomy event he’d been invited to in Washington. He wanted to take Brady so they could drink coffee air while eating deconstructed meatloaf with well-connected socialites. They’d have to share a suite at the hotel, of course, but Brady would have his own bed if he chose to use it. With as much calm as he could muster, Brady declined, lying about a sensitive stomach and busy schedule.