Danger, Sweetheart Read Online Free

I think it’d be easier to keep a spare set of clothes and some toiletries here. Ah-ha!”
    â€œWhat?”
    She pointed at him with one hand while zipping her slacks with the other. “You should see the look on your face. I’ve only seen people go pale that fast when the oxygen masks drop.”
    He opened his mouth to
    (lie)
    protest, but she ran right over his words. “’S fine. Really. I was teasing. I know you’re cemented in your bachelor ways.”
    He opened his mouth again.
    â€œNope. Don’t even try that. And don’t go on about how you’re just waiting for the right girl, and maybe that girl could be me—”
    â€œI wouldn’t have used the word ‘girl.’”
    â€œIt’s fine . This—” She gestured, indicating the suite. “What we do? It’s great, really.”
    Two reallys in twenty seconds: it’s not fine (really) and it’s not great (really). He knew the signs.
    â€œIt’s just…”
    You need something more.
    â€œâ€¦ I need something more. And…”
    There’s this guy.
    â€œâ€¦ there’s this woman—oh. You didn’t know? I’m pretty flexible between the sheets.”
    â€œFiguratively and literally,” he managed. Discovering his soon-to-be-former lover was bisexual was not helping his nocturnal penile tumescence . “Why would you wait until now to bring that up?”
    She laughed, bent, gave him a quick kiss. “For a chance to see that look on your face. Hey. You’re great, Blake. This was, too, y’know? But I never go back for seconds.”
    â€œFourteenths,” he couldn’t help pointing out.
    â€œRight. But I want to keep liking you, if not fucking you. So: You don’t pretend you’re going to miss me, and I won’t pretend you can’t fill my spot in your sex suite with one text.” He couldn’t help smiling, at both her astute observations and cheerful bluntness.
    â€œFair enough.” She was fully dressed now and looked clean and pressed and like she’d had a full eight hours, when he knew she hadn’t. “Might not see each other again. But if we do, it’d be great to keep it friendly, okay?”
    â€œYou’re wrong,” Blake replied. At her surprised expression, he added, “I will miss you when you’re gone.”
    â€œAwww.” She bent and gave him another kiss, the last kiss. “But not for long, I bet.”
    On that point, he conceded as she bounded out his door, she was correct. Though it was flattering that she assumed he could pull a companion de la nuit with a single text. He would never text for something like that; he wasn’t a (total) barbarian. A phone call, now—
    His phone rattled on the bedside table and he leaned over to grab it. Glanced at it, then looked again. Keyed in the password, saw the entire text, and thought: shit.

 
    Two
    Too soon, far too soon, he was in a terrible restaurant (French/Japanese/Cuban fusion) sitting across from his terrible twin, Rake.
    â€œNot that I don’t love being treated to your scowling face in the wee hours—”
    â€œIt’s ten thirty in the morning.”
    â€œâ€”but why am I here?” Rake had the ability to use any piece of furniture as a bed, and now he was lounging with no regard for his posture. All Blake could see was a shock of dark blond hair and bloodshot blue eyes. “Is Mom okay? Please say Mom’s okay. A hangover plus Blake plus Mom is just exhausting to think about.” He straightened and rubbed his temples. “My head is still attached to my body, right? It didn’t blow up or anything? My brain feels really explodey.”
    â€œStop making up words, you hungover troglodyte.”
    â€œI will if you will.”
    â€œâ€˜Troglodyte’ is a real word! God, why do I ever reach out to you?”
    â€œDunno. But it makes you nuts, so I don’t