When they returned to the office, Duke and Quick were both there and he and Dana quickly filled them in on their assumptions about their white-collar jumper.
Duke sat behind his large, cluttered desk. He looked good in his fitted slacks and blue striped wide-collared shirt. Brian had no doubt Duke’s lover, Vaughan, had picked that shirt for him because the man had incomparable style. “Your duty is to retrieve him and get him into custody. Nothing more. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
“Was that an okay?” Duke signed a backwards okay, making Brian lift one side of his mouth at his boss’s attempt. He signed the correct sign for okay and stood, stretching his long frame. He’d been holed up in his car all day and his body was feeling it.
“If you see this going south, Brian. Let us know. We’ll suit up,” Quick told him.
Brian nodded.
“Yep,” Dana agreed.
They both got up to leave Duke’s office and went to their own desks. Brian hoped it didn’t come to that, because when they all suited up, terrible things happened—to other people.
His phone buzzed on his hip while he pulled up the photos he’d taken of their jumper’s wife. He had a sneaking hunch that Robert Clarkson, or someone, was going to show up there, the only question was: When? Brian looked at his screen and saw it was Sway.
Sway: Hi Brian. Was wondering if you were still up for company tonight? My mom’s nurse was able to stay. I can be there by five-thirty.
Brian didn’t let five seconds go by before he responded, letting Sway know that he was more than still up for it.
Brian: I’ll be waiting.
Brian grinned. He’s not cancelling. He’d wanted to text Sway all day and beg him to show up tonight, to not cancel or say he couldn’t make it. But, he’d held on to his pride and refrained. Brian thought Sway’s reasoning would be how tired he was, because surely after working two shifts almost back-to-back yesterday and an entire shift today had to have him practically dead on his feet, but he was still coming.
“And what’s got you smiling so damn hard over there. I don’t look like that unless Ford says he has something waiting for me at home.” Dana’s voice went low. “If you know what I mean.
“I don’t want to know what you mean. So if you keep talking I’m going to throw this at you.” Brian picked up the first thing he could reach, which ended up being his stapler. But he could hardly keep the happy grin off his face. He’d have Sway all to himself in his home. In his space.
“That must’ve been, Squirt.”
Brian didn’t break eye contact. Dana needed to know that Brian was serious about being with Sway. Oh, hell yes. He was going to date his friend’s little brother who he’d looked after so diligently. “He’s coming over tonight.”
“So much for going slow,” Dana mumbled.
“I’ll give him what he needs.” Which was his attention, and maybe a little rest. Brian wasn’t interested in attacking Sway as soon as he stepped through his front door. No, he was going to show him he had a real man who understood his needs. A man who wasn’t always about getting off. He’d take care of Sway the way he always took care of everyone else. Even before he was able to go out and have a nice time tonight, he’d had to make sure his mom’s care was covered.
“Wonderful,” Dana said sarcastically, turning back to his computer, not liking Brian’s answer.
Brian slapped his hand onto the solid surface of his desk to get Dana’s attention. When he had it he motioned slowly. “He needs my attention. That’s all I plan to give him,” Brian said honestly. All I’m going to give him tonight. Tomorrow might be different. “Some food and company.”
Dana seemed to really like that answer because he scooted his chair closer, “What are you having?”
Brian opened his speech app. “That’s a damn good question. I don’t want to order out, or take him to a crowded restaurant. But all I have is quick meals because I haven’t shopped.” Brian thought again about what was in his cupboards, and fridge. Shit. Not much. “I’ll have to go to the store.”
“I’m gonna clue you in on a huge secret. It’s only for us to know. You can’t share it with anyone and you can’t ever, ever rat me out to your brother,” Dana whispered, looking around conspiratorially. “Your brother thinks I’ve been learning recipes from Quick and Food Network, but really, I’ve been using prepackaged food boxes.”
Brian grimaced. He typed into his phone. “What the hell is a food box? It sounds like it’d have a cheese sandwich, a fruit cup and a bag of stale potato chips in it.”
Dana laughed loudly. “Brian King. I’m getting ready to make you a real king in Sway’s eyes.”
“Well I hope you can do it fast because I need to get going. He said he’ll be at my house by half past five.” Brian was already up, tucking his phone back in his pants pocket and throwing on his dark coat. Dana clapped him on his shoulder on his way past.
“Quick stop at Trader Joe’s and you’ll be set.”
Brian was skeptical, but Dana had never led him astray.
“Bam! Check it out!” Dana yelled, making a few customers turn their heads. “These right here are the dinner boxes. It’s the grocery store knock off of those HelloFresh delivery boxes. I checked. And, the lady that works in the deli said these are just as good.”
Brian stared at the neatly packaged foods. Meals for one or two. A protein, a starch and a vegetable. Brian picked up the one that had two medium-sized, seasoned salmon filets. A bag of perfectly cut up roasted red potatoes, mixed with onions and red peppers. The vacuum sealed bag of fresh string beans were marinated in some type of seasoning as well. Brian’s eyebrows rose when he flipped the bag over to see extremely easy cooking instructions. Literally less than four steps. He pretty much just had to dump them in pans and turn on the stove.
Dana was cheesing as if he’d just unlocked the secret to staying young. He popped Brian in the chest and spread his hands out in front of him like he was showcasing the spread at the Bellagio Buffet in Vegas. “Plenty to choose from, B. The chicken is really good and so are the Enchiladas. So damn easy to make. Ford went on for days about that Lasagna Penne stuff I made on Monday. I can hardly pronounce some of this shit, dude, but I’m telling you, it’s not hard at all. It’s a bachelor’s dream come true, and a dating man’s secret weapon. If Sway saw this when he got to your house …” Dana held up the box and pointed at the picture of the perfectly plated food that’d been cooked flawlessly and positioned on a decorated dining table only seen at The French Room. “He’ll be so impressed.”
Brian shrugged. He could follow four or five directions. Everything was already organized for him. He didn’t have to put any guessing into what sides went best with what meat—well the few canned vegetables that he knew how to prepare. Or especially what seasoning he needed to use to make it edible. They even had a suggested wine for each meal.
Well, I’ll be damned. Dana might be on to something. Brian chose the salmon. He loved fish and he remembered Sway going back and forth on his entree yesterday between the salmon and the pot stickers. Brian was even going to get the wine that was recommended.
“I’m going to get this pork tenderloin for tonight.” Dana rubbed his hand across his chin like he was a meal box connoisseur. “those carrots look a’ight’, huh?”
Brian listened to Dana go on and on about the meals he’d made recently and Ford’s reactions. He had a couple of other patrons at the display case laughing as he described the stunts he had to pull sometimes to keep Ford from finding the packages. Dana even had the audacity to put extra dishes and measuring cups in the sink to make it appear as if he’d really followed a strenuous recipe.
“Okay. I’m not going to do all that. But I think this might work, D. Thanks, bro.” Brian gave Dana a fist bump and headed towards his own car he’d parked right next to Dana’s.
Dana called out to him over the hood of his Chevy. “Good luck. Let me know if you need any cooking help. I’m practically a professional now.”
Brian jerked his head up, his chest vibrating with laughter. “Professional at what… deceit?”
Dana thought about it. “Sure. I’ll take that.” Then he gave a mock-serious scowl. “Remember the code, B. You mustn’t tell a soul. Or you could ruin our good thing.”
Brian gave Dana a look that said he should seek professional help. If you think for one second you’re fooling my brother than you’re the fool, my friend. Brian grinned to himself. He wouldn’t burst Dana’s bubble. Instead, he simply tucked his bags in his back seat and hurried home for his date. His first real one in years.