“How could you act like nothing happened?” She demanded as she followed him into the shed. Grant gestured for her to keep it down as he glanced at the Lee’s house.
“Because I don’t know how much I can tell you and I’d really like to forget about the whole thing,” he explained quietly as he put away his tool box then waved for her to follow him.
“Do you know how mortally offended I am that I had to hear about it from Walter?” She complained and Grant hissed as he shut the shed door and headed for the back porch. He had a feeling it was part of Bradshaw’s plan, them being the talk of the town, and it was clearly working.
“I’m sorry. I think I was still in shock and I wasn’t sure how I’d explain,” he stated calmly as he got the kitchen door then stepped inside after her. He waited for it to shut then grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her into the hallway, away from the windows. “He’s a spy, Marcy!” He whispered loudly. “He’s a spy and my neighbors are spies and he’s here to spy on them! That’s why he wanted my number and that’s why he made out with me! He wants me to be his cover!” Grant screamed as quietly as he could and her hand clapped over her mouth.
“Seriously? Which neighbors?” She whispered back excitedly and Grant’s face fell.
“Which neighbors? That’s the least… A spy tried to recruit me and you want to know which neighbors,” he said in disbelief but she raised her brows expectantly. “The Lees,” he muttered as he cocked his chin at their house.
“Oh, my God! I just waved at Sally!” Marcy gasped as she hugged her hand against her chest. Grant rolled his eyes as he shook his head.
“Do not treat the Lees any differently,” he scolded. “There’s no telling what they consider spies these days. The Lees could be perfectly innocent people for all we know.”
“They could also be the bad kind of spies,” she argued and Grant held up his hands.
“Then we definitely better pretend we don’t know and act totally normal. I’m staying out of it and acting like it’s none of my business,” he declared and Marcy’s jaw fell.
“You can’t!”
“Watch me,” he said as he turned and went to the kitchen for a beer. “I’m getting a cooler and getting drunk in the pool.” He had a feeling they’d just scratched the surface as far as Marcy’s questions so he’d need several beers.
“But Olivia said he was spectacular and Walter was sure one of you would be pregnant this morning. He was walking Ferdinand and saw the two of you dry humping on his car,” she said gleefully. Grant stared at the cooler on the pantry floor and wondered if her body would fit.
“I’d still have to get rid of Walter and Olivia…” He murmured to himself and she elbowed him.
“What is wrong with you?” She demanded and he frowned at her.
“Me?”
“Yes! Your country wants you to date what sounds like the world’s sexiest piece of ass and you’re hiding at home, pouting and getting drunk!” Marcy wailed as she reached for his throat and he pushed her hands away.
“I’m not cut out for that and I’m really not interested,” he stated and they jumped as someone knocked on the front door. It was brisk and cheerful and Grant whimpered as he grabbed his forehead. “It’s him! I know it’s him!” He said and she shrieked behind her hands.
“Let me get the door! I have to meet him!” She begged as she tugged at his arm and he shook his head.
“He’ll go away. Just stay quiet.”
“No! I have to see him!” She pleaded. Grant’s nose scrunched as he debated. He had a feeling Bradshaw would find an excuse to meet her soon.
“Fine! But you have to tell him to go away and that I’m not going to change my mind,” he ordered and her lip pushed out.
“Why would I…”
“I mean it!” Grant said as he pointed.
“But…” She started and he pointed harder.
“Tell him I said to go away and leave me alone,” he said and her shoulders sagged.
“Fine,” she muttered then stuck her tongue out at him before she trudged to the door. Grant ran down the hall and hid behind the dining room wall so he could see and hear. “Holy shit,” Marcy breathed as she looked through the peep hole then gave her hair a quick fluff. Grant pulled a face and looked at the mirror over the bar as she opened the door. “Hello!” Marcy said cheerfully and Agent Bradshaw’s smile was brilliant as he removed his sunglasses.
“Hello, Marcy! It’s lovely to finally meet you,” he said as he presented her with a bouquet of roses.
“Oh. Wow.” She blinked down at the flawless pink blooms then up at Bradshaw dazedly. “These are for me?” She asked coyly and Grant’s eyes tightened suspiciously as he crossed his arms over his chest. Bradshaw’s hum was silky and intoxicating as he leaned against the doorframe.
“I had a feeling you’d want to talk to Grant about last night and I was hoping you might help me change his mind,” he drawled.
“How did you know I knew?” She whispered as she stepped closer. “Did you bug the house?” She asked and he chuckled as he tilted toward her conspiratorially.
“I don’t need to bug the house. I knew he’d tell you because he tells you everything,” he whispered loudly and she looked disappointed.
“Oh.”
“The news about last night made it back to the coffee shop while I was there so I figured you’d hear about it and come straight here,” Bradshaw said and Marcy humphed as she hugged the bouquet to her chest.
“We’ve been best friends since kindergarten and I had to hear about it from Walter and Olivia,” she lamented and he hummed knowingly.
“Are you surprised, though? He likes to suffer in silence and keep everything to himself,” Bradshaw pointed out and Marcy gasped.
“You’re good!” She declared and turned as Edgar pawed at the kitchen door. He must have woken up and noticed they’d gone inside without him.
“I’ve been studying Grant for weeks but he’s being stubborn,” Bradshaw confessed and Grant’s jaw fell as his head swung toward the door. Weeks?
“He can be very stubborn and he gets cranky unless you leave him alone and never ever make him talk to lovely men,” she sighed and Bradshaw nodded.
“I’ve noticed. Do me a favor and ask him to have dinner with me tonight,” he said and she groaned.
“I would love that but as his friend, I have to respect his wishes and inform you that he would like you to go away and that he isn’t going to change his mind,” she stated and Grant nodded firmly. “He’s got his mind set on an evening in the pool getting hammered so we’ll be doing that but I’ll see what I can do,” she said and Grant’s jaw fell yet again. Traitor. He’d wait until she wasn’t looking and put a bug in her beer.
“I had a feeling I could count on you,” Bradshaw said as he tapped his brow jauntily. “I’ll see you later, Grant!” He called and Grant’s eyes flicked to the mirror as Bradshaw waved at him.
“Shut the door, Marcy!” Grant ordered as he looked around the wall and she smirked at Bradshaw.