The Henson Brothers: Two Complete Novels Read Online Free Page A

Especially when he wasn't able to do the same. No one could mistake them for brothers. Eric was of a slighter build and lighter complexioned with a serious face that could be intimidating. His gold-rimmed glasses gave him the solemn look of a professor. He looked myopic, but he didn't miss a thing. However, their smiles were the same—broad and a little wicked. He flashed one now. "Don't worry about it. Did you get her number?"
    He shook his head and lifted his beer.
    Eric's smile dimmed. "A last name?"
    He finished his beer and again shook his head.
    "A birth sign?"
    "Nothing."
    Eric stared at him in shock. "You mean you were talking to her all this time and all you found out was that her name was Cassie?"
    Drake sat back in his seat, irritated by his failure. "Yep."
    "The way you two were staring at each other, I thought you were trying to create your own summer heat. What were you two talking about then?"
    "Food."
    Eric kissed his teeth in disgust. "Food? How did you manage to do that?"
    "It just happened naturally."
    Eric swirled his drink, then took a gulp. He looked at his brother as if he were a promising student who'd failed a class. "That's the problem with you. You don't know how to talk to women unless it's related to work."
    Drake raised his hand to signal the waiter to bring him another beer. It would be his third, perhaps his fourth. It didn't matter, because he wasn't driving. "Trust me. When I was talking to her, I wasn't thinking about work."
    "You're hopeless."
    "Wait a minute." He rested his arms on the table and looked at his brother's serious face with a smile tugging on his lips. "When did you become an expert on women, Mr. Casanova? Tell me the last time you had a date."
    Eric adjusted his glasses in consideration. "The last time I've wanted one."
    Drake accepted the beer the waiter handed him with a quick nod and took a healthy swallow. "So that would be in the fifth grade when you gave Margaret a bag of candied hearts."
    Eric grinned, not offended by his brother's teasing. "I think you're confusing things. That was what you gave your date at your senior prom."
    Drake's humor faltered. He hadn't been to the prom or any of the other high school functions. He had wanted to go. He had dreamed of asking Brenda Timmons, taking her to a fancy restaurant, then making out at one of the after-prom parties. He hadn't been able to dream long. He was poor and had to take care of two younger siblings. Whatever money he earned went to them. Nobody expected much from him. Many predicted he would end up a wino. Fortunately, that hadn't been the case. Now he was going to see his old classmates again in two months at his twentieth high school reunion and he would have the chance to prove them wrong.
    Eric banged the table with his glass, awakening Drake from the melancholy mood that had hit him. He shrugged good-naturedly. "Okay, so you made your point. I'm not an expert, but I've had more success than you. It's obvious you need to work on your technique."
    Drake clasped his hands behind his head. "Things were going great," he said, reviewing the moment in his mind. "I honesty don't know where I went wrong. We were both talking about great meals."
    Malcolm leaned forward, feeling safe to join the conversation. "No surprise there. I'm sure she's familiar with every meal around the world. Don't tell her you own a few restaurants. Hell, she'd probably eat you out of business."
    Drake's eyes flashed. "What do you mean by that?"
    Malcolm delicately cleared his throat, not wanting to get on Drake's bad side. It was not a pretty place. "I'm just saying she's a big woman."
    Drake's eyes didn't leave Malcolm's face, like a missile aiming for its target. His voice lowered dangerously. "And your point is?"
    Malcolm's eyes slid away. "I don't have one."
    He let his gaze fall. "I didn't think so."
    Eric hit his brother on the back to ease the tension that hovered over the table.
    "Look, we all miss opportunities. I'm sure there's