Chapter 14
“I can’t believe this is happening!” Audrey exclaimed as she hugged the grey V-neck sweater she and Marcy picked for Grant to wear on his date with Bradshaw. Marcy squealed as she spun away from Grant and held up her hand so Audrey could slap it.
“It’s so exciting and Royce is absolutely perfect!” Marcy sang.
“No. None of this means anything. It’s not a real date,” Grant reminded them. “Don’t get your hopes up.” He’d said it a thousand times if it was ten but he didn’t want either of them to be disappointed when everything with the Lees blew over and Agent Bradshaw went back to Hyannis Port or wherever the Dabneys summered. Audrey and Marcy exchanged loaded looks before Marcy leaned forward with the clippers. She trimmed along his jaw then coughed softly as she tilted closer.
“It might not be real but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. I’m sure you’re a little rusty,” she whispered and Grant gasped as he pulled his head away.
“Marcy!”
“Easy!” Audrey laughed then held out a bottle of Tom Ford. “You can finally wear this!” She declared then leaned around Macy so she could give him a reassuring smile. “She’s right, though. Why don’t you look at this as an exciting way to brush up on your technique and work on your game? I don’t think Royce is out of your league but you do, so look at it as a challenge. If you can survive a date with Royce and flirt with him, you can survive a date with anyone, right?” She offered. Grant’s eyes narrowed as he pointed at them.
“I know what you two are up to but it won’t work because I don’t have any game. I never did because I didn’t need it. I’ve never been on a date because I never had to go on one. Chris and I started kissing one day in college and that was it. He was still my best friend and we still did everything together; he was just the love of my life too,” he explained quietly as he picked at the clear nail polish Audrey slathered on his nails.
“Stop!” She rasped as she grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
“It makes them look greasy,” he complained shakily. Marcy sniffled and waved her hand in front of her face.
“Just give yourself a chance to breathe and live for a little bit. We lost Chris and it’s like you died too,” she whispered and Grant nodded.
“It felt like it and I haven’t figured out how to stop feeling like that,” he admitted. Marcy pulled in a reinforcing breath then pushed it out.
“Ok. Then we’ve got nothing to lose, right? Royce isn’t expecting anything and is just in it for a good time. He knows you’re working through some things and that you hate him, so he’ll go easy on you. He’s not going to laugh at you or think it means anything, just relax and try to have fun with this,” Marcy urged as she held his face in her hands.
“I’ll try but don’t forget that this isn’t real,” he said and Audrey grinned.
“I’m spending the night at Ashley’s, so you don’t have a curfew tonight,” she stated then chewed on her lip as she twisted the cuff of her sweatshirt. “I’m sure you’ve got a little more game than you think,” she added then gasped when they heard a brisk tap at the front door. “That’s him!”
“Give us five more minutes!” Marcy ordered as she pointed and Audrey held up her thumb as she slipped around her and through the bathroom door.
“I don’t think you need any game with Royce. He’s really into you,” Marcy said as she inspected her work then nodded in approval. She trimmed Grant’s beard back after she touched up his hair and he felt another beguiling rush of confidence. Grant didn’t want to give into it but there was a wicked voice whispering in his ear. It told him to let go and have just a little fun.
“Don’t get your hopes up. I’m not going to let this get out of hand,” he said but deep down, part of him wished he could.
Chapter 15
“Look at that,” Royce said. His fist shook as it hovered in front of him and his lips twitched into a smile before he knocked. It wasn’t unusual for Royce to feel nervous.
He often found himself in absurd and dangerous situations but this kind of nervous was a pleasant tickle in his chest and butterflies in his stomach. It made his hands shake and there was a faint but steady itch of arousal that delighted Royce as he tapped his knuckle on the door. He sighed as he pushed his hands into his pockets and smiled at the neatly manicured lawns and perfect houses around them. Hopkins Creek was such a sedate and comfortable place to experience something so extraordinary. Royce still couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being guided toward some outcome not entirely related to the Lees. He’d wait until he understood what that purpose was and if it was in his best interests to complain or resist. In the meantime, Royce planned to enjoy the simple delights of the suburbs and his unexpected break from the fast pace and high stakes of domestic and international espionage. At the moment, Bradshaw’s only mission was to settle into his cover with Grant and he was looking forward to it. The door swung open and Audrey’s eyes widened.
“I’m glad you’re a little early!” She hissed as she pulled him inside.
“Why? Is something wrong?” Royce asked as his neck stretched warily.
“No and this is almost perfect,” she said hesitantly as she gestured at him and Royce’s head snapped toward her and he frowned.
“What’s wrong?” He looked down at himself and her teeth dug into her lip.
“It’s a little too perfect. Dad’s confidence is pretty shaky so it would help if you dialed it back to an eight or a seven,” she whispered and Royce nodded in understanding.
“The coat’s too much?” He asked and she waved for him to hurry and take it off.
“It’s a start,” she said as he handed it to her. “Unbutton your collar and roll up the sleeves, I think he likes that,” Audrey instructed and Royce pushed his phone into his pocket and quickly fixed his shirt. “Much better! And you won’t need a jacket for Crawford’s Inn,” she told him then hopped as she reached for his hair and Royce leaned back. “Just make that a little less...” She flailed her hand in front of her forehead.
“I made reservations for Café Bianco,” Royce murmured as he gently brushed his fingers through his hair. He didn’t want to unsettle it too much.
“I’ll let Maria know you changed your plans. Marcy and I agreed that Crawford’s Inn was best and you’ve got reservations for 6:30. It’s more casual and dad loves the banana cheesecake. He says it reminds him of his grandma’s banana pudding,” she explained then looked up and hid Royce’s coat behind her back as Grant rushed down the hall. He coughed as he flailed his hand in front of him.
“Stop spraying me with things!” He said and swatted at Marcy as she followed him.
“Hey, Royce!” Marcy said as she hid a bottle of hairspray behind her back. Royce waved up at her then became a touch breathless as he watched Grant skip down the steps. He looked slightly harried and nervous as his cheeks puffed out, but his eyes were brighter and he smiled at Royce when he reached the bottom of the stairs.