All In: The Blackstone Affair (Book 2)

“Go ahead and pick out the one you like for today,” I told her. Brynne grinned from my wardrobe door and then disappeared back into it.

“Well, I love the purple ones, but I think today we’ll go with this one,” she announced as she emerged with a blue tie in her hand. She sauntered up to me and draped the silk around my neck. “It matches your eyes, and I love the color of your eyes.”

I love when you say the word love in reference to anything about me .

I watched her expression as she worked on knotting my tie, biting just the corner of her luscious, bottom lip in concentration; I was loving her attentions and not loving the fact that she had obviously practiced on somebody else. She had stood right up against some other bloke and tied his tie for him. I knew it. I tried not to envision that it was morning when she performed this service for the cocksucker and that she’d not spent the previous night sucking said cocksucker’s cock. I was such a jealous bastard now. I’d never been jealous with any of the girls I’d dated before, but then again, Brynne was not just a girl to me. Brynne was the girl. My girl.

“I love that you’re here doing this for me,” I told her.

“I am too.” She smiled up at me for an instant before returning to the task at hand.

There was so much more I wanted to say, but I didn’t. Pushing her never worked out, and I’d learned my lesson in that regard, but still it was hard to take things slow. I didn’t want slow with Brynne. I wanted fast and intense and all the time. Thank Christ I didn’t say that aloud.

“What’s your day look like, Miss Bennett?” I asked instead.

“I’m having a lunch meeting with colleagues from the university. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I have to start thinking about getting that work visa, and there could be something in this for me. Like a conservancy appointment at a major London museum.” She finished my tie and patted it. “There. You look very spiffy in your blue tie, Mr. Blackstone.” She held her lips up to mine with her eyes closed.

I kissed her with just the tiniest peck on her puckered lips. She opened her eyes and narrowed them, looking a tad disappointed. “Expecting something more, were you?” I loved teasing her and making her laugh.

She fronted like she didn’t care. “Meh,” she said with a shrug. “Your kisses are . . . passable, I suppose. I can do without.”

I laughed at the expression on her face and tickled her in the side. “It’s a good thing you conserve paintings, my darling, because you can’t lie worth shit.”

She shrieked at the tickling and tried to get away.

I snaked my arms around her and hauled her against me. “No escape for you,” I muttered against her lips.

“What if I don’t want to escape?” she asked against mine.

“That works too,” I answered with a real kiss. I went slow and thorough, enjoying this early morning moment together before we had to go to our jobs. She melted into me so sweetly that I had to remember we both had work and there was no time to take her back to bed now. The nice part was that we would be here at the end of the day again, and I could make good on my very vivid imagination.

I got to kiss her good-bye a few more times before we went our separate ways: waiting at the lifts, in the parking garage up against the Rover, and when I dropped her off at the Rothvale. Such are the benefits of having somebody you want to be with so madly in your life. Again, I am a lucky, lucky man. At least I am smart enough to realize it.

• • •

I went through the front entrance today after parking because I wanted to buy every major US newspaper and have them scoured for any small thing. They’d be crammed with political mudslinging by now, but the full-bore fight between candidates was a ways off yet. Presidential elections were held the beginning of November in the US, so five months more of publicity. I felt a pang of worry and pretty much ignored it. I could not fail in protecting her. I wouldn’t allow a failure.

Muriel grinned at me when I paid for the papers. I tried not to shudder at the sight of her teeth. “There you go, luv,” she said, holding out a stained hand with my change.

I got a look at that grimy hand and decided she needed the change more than I needed to contract a contagion. “Keep it.” I looked into her oddly beautiful green eyes and nodded once. “I’ll be getting all these US papers regular from now on if you want to have them ready,” I offered.

“Oh, you’re a darling, you are. I’ll have ’em. G’day to ye, handsome.” She winked at me and showed a bit more of those horrifying teeth. I tried not to look too close, but I think Muriel could compete with me on beard stubble. Poor thing.

When I got into my office I started on the intel in earnest. I listened to the message of the man who’d called Brynne. I played it several times. American, very matter-of-fact, nonconfrontational, nothing in his inquiry to give anything away about what he might know. “Hi there. This is Greg Denton from the Washington Review. I’m trying to find a Brynne Bennett who attended Union Bay High School, San Francisco . . .”

His message was short and utilitarian, and he left his information for a call back. The history showed he’d only rung her the one time, so there was a very good chance he didn’t know much, or if Brynne was even the right person to contact.

I briefed Frances without giving away specific details, told her to look into this Greg Denton at the Washington Review and also to see what else she could scrub up in the newspapers I’d bought this morning.

I was just sitting back down, eyeballing my desk drawer where the smokes were stashed, when Neil came in.

“You seem rather . . . human . . . this morning, mate.” He sat in the chair and looked me over, a bit of a smirk going on his square jaw.

“Don’t say it,” I warned.

“A’right.” He pulled out his mobile and looked busy with it. “I won’t say I know who stayed over last night. And I definitely won’t say I saw you two snogging while waiting for the lift this morning on security cam—”

“Piss off!”

Neil laughed at me. “Hell, the office is thrilled, mate. We can all breathe again without fear of disembowelment. The boss got his girl back. Praise the gods!” He looked upward and held his hands up. “It’s been a fucked-up couple of weeks—”

“I’d love to see how your miserable arse would do if Elaina suddenly decided she couldn’t stand the sight of you.” I cut him off, offered up a fake grin and waited for the change in attitude. “Which could always happen, you know, as I know all your shameful secrets.”

Worked like a charm. Neil lost the dickhead posturing in about one point five seconds.

“We’re really happy for you, E,” he said quietly. And I know he meant it.

“How’s the military investigation into Lieutenant Oakley going?” I asked, giving in and opening my desk drawer to pull out my lighter and a pack of Djarums.

“He’s been doing very bad things to the people of Iraq and getting away with it, but not sure for how long that’ll stay buried. I think the senator can only be relieved his son is off getting into trouble in Iraq as opposed to anywhere close to his election campaign.”

I grunted in agreement and sucked back my first, sweet inhale. The cloves gave quite a kick, but I was used to it. Now I just let the nicotine do its work and felt guilty for what I was putting into my body. “So he’s career military, you think?” I exhaled away from Neil.

Neil shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

Neil had the keenest instincts of anyone I knew. He wasn’t just an employee, not by a long shot. Neil was much, much more. We’d been boys together, gone off to war, survived that hell to return to England, managing to grow up in the process and start a successful business. I trusted him with my life. Which meant I could trust him with Brynne’s as well. I was glad she liked him, because I had the feeling she would have to be guarded eventually whenever she went out. Brynne would so hate that. But even as much as she loathed the security detail, she’d not take it out on Neil. My girl was far too kind for that sort of thing.

I wasn’t kidding myself either—friend or no, I was really glad Neil already had a woman, and if he’d been single he wouldn’t have been my first choice. He was a good-looking guy.

“Well this is the interesting part. Lieutenant Lance Oakley was stop-lossed just a few weeks after the plane went down. From what I could find out, the US pretty much ceased with stop-loss over a year ago, and only just a mere handful are served now.”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, mate?”

Neil nodded again. “As soon as the senator found out he was the next vice presidential hopeful, he got his only son stop-lossed for another tour in Iraq.”

I clucked my tongue. “Sounds like the senator knows his son very well and figures the further his boy can keep away from the campaign, the better the senator’s chances of being elected.” I leaned back in my chair and puffed on my clove. “Who better to get a stop-loss order than somebody who has political connections. I’m starting to think Senator Oakley rather hopes his son never comes back from Iraq. War hero and all that…looks smashing for patriotism.” I waved my hand for emphasis.

“Precisely where I was going.” Neil eyeballed the ciggie in my fingers. “I thought you were cutting back on those?”

“I am . . . at home.” I stubbed it out into the ashtray. “I won’t smoke around her.” And I am pretty sure Neil was savvy enough to figure out why I wouldn’t. But that was the thing about friends . . . you understood each other, didn’t have to explain ad nauseam about painful shit you wished you could forget but pretty much knew was a part of you down to the marrow in your bones.

• • •

Brynne’s mobile lit up and roused me out of my work. I checked the caller ID. One word—Mom.

Well, this ought to be fun, I thought as I pressed send. “Hello.”

There was a beat of silence, and then a haughty voice. “I’m trying to reach my daughter, and as I know this is her number, to whom am I speaking?”

“Ethan Blackstone, ma’am.”

“Why are you answering my daughter’s phone, Mr. Blackstone?”

“I’m surveilling her old number, Mrs.—? I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.” I wasn’t going to give it to her on a silver platter. Brynne’s mum would have to ask me. Nicely. So far, I wasn’t impressed.

“Exley.” She waited for me to say something, but I didn’t. I play poker and I know how to wait it out. “Why are you surveilling her phone?”

I couldn’t help smiling. We both knew who had won this round. “Yes, well I deal in security, Mrs. Exley. It’s my job. Brynne’s dad hired me to see to her safety once Senator Oakley was being vetted. I’m not going to be coy with you either, ma’am. I know why her safety’s at risk and so do you. I know everything.” Now I paused for effect. “She’s told me what happened to her at the hand of Oakley’s son.”

I heard a sharp inhale and would have paid money to see her face, but alas, I had to use my imagination. “You’re the one who bought her portrait, aren’t you? She told me about you buying her nude photograph and taking her home after. Something you should know about Brynne, Mr. Blackstone, is that she loves to shock me.”

“Is that so? I wouldn’t know about that, Mrs. Exley. Brynne’s never mentioned you to me before last night. I have nothing to compare you against.”

She seemed to ignore my veiled insult and went for the kill. “So you’re in a relationship with my daughter, Mr. Blackstone? I can read between the lines and make assumptions as well as the next person. And Brynne is my only child, and contrary to what she’s told you, I do love my daughter and only want what’s best for her.”

“Ethan, please—and yes, I can unequivocally say that I am in a relationship with Brynne.” I reached for a fresh Djarum and flicked my lighter open. Really? This woman didn’t know who she was playing with. We could go on like this all day and I would still win. “And I do too.”

She was silent a moment and then asked, “You do too what, Mr. Blackstone?”

“Love your daughter and only want what’s best for her. I’ll keep her safe from any danger. She’s my responsibility now.”

Again I could only imagine her rolling her eyes at what I’d just said, and I wondered how my girl put up with all the disapproval from this woman. I caught that she didn’t take me up on the offer of my first name either. It made me sad for Brynne. Especially since I’d longed for my mum my whole life and here was Brynne with a mum censuring her every decision. I would rather have the loving memory of a mother I’d never had than have to put up with this dragon lady for a lifetime.

“Well then, may I please have her new phone number since she didn’t see fit to give it to me herself?” She sounded more like the wounded victim now, and intent upon dismissing me as quickly as possible.

And I was smiling now. I fucking love a winning hand. “Oh please, no, Mrs. Exley, don’t take offense. This all happened very suddenly last evening. Brynne told me something yesterday, and I made the decision that she needed a new mobile number. It’s that simple. She just hasn’t had the time to get in touch with you yet, I am positive that’s why.” It was easy to be magnanimous when you held the better cards.

“You made the decision, Mr. Blackstone?”

“Yes.” Man, my ciggie tasted divine.

“Why are you making those decisions for Brynne?” Mummy had claws, it seemed.

“Because like I said before, Mrs. Exley, I’m going to keep her safe from anyone or anything that tries to hurt her. Anyone . . . or anything.” I inhaled a lung-full of cloves and savored the taste.

She got quiet then. I waited her out, and eventually she gave in. “Brynne’s new number, Mr. Blackstone?”

“Certainly, Mrs. Exley. Tell you what. I’ll text her new number to you from my mobile, and that way you can have mine as well. If you have any concerns about this situation with Brynne or any inquiries into her past from media or otherwise, I’d like you to share with me. Please call me any time.”

Our conversation wound down very quickly after that and I was more than a tad drained once we hung up. My God, she was difficult. Poor Brynne. Poor Tom Bennett. How in the hell had he ever hooked up with her? Could not see how that relationship ever got off the ground, and I didn’t even know what she looked like. I bet she was beautiful, though. Cold, but beautiful.

I texted Brynne’s mum with the new number and a short message: Pleasure chatting you, Mrs. E. –EB—and grinned the whole time I was doing it.

Brynne sent me a text about an hour later: U talked to my mom?! :O

Oh boy. Mummy had already got to her. I hoped I wasn’t in too much trouble. I texted back with: Sry baby. She rang on ur old mobile and not so happy when I picked up :/

Brynne hit me right back: Sorry u had to deal w/ her. I’ll make it up to u. (love emoji)

I had to grin at that. I typed: u gave me 2 (love emojis) ’s!! I accept ur offer, baby . . . and she wasn’t that bad. I figured a white lie wasn’t going to hurt in regards to my girlfriend’s mum. That woman was not nice.

There was a bit of a pause before she responded, but it was worth it when it came through. U made a big impression on her. I’ll tell u later tonight. Have to go to that lunch now. Miss u…baby xxx

I caressed the words on the screen, not wanting to close the message out. She called me baby. She said she missed me. She left me kisses and hearts. I tried not to read too much into it, but still it was hard not to. I just wanted what I wanted and I didn’t want to wait for it a moment longer.

My musings were interrupted when Frances rang in and reminded me I did indeed have a company to run. “I have Ivan Everley on the line for you,” she said on speaker.

I told her to put him through and picked up. “You’re finding trouble again, aren’t you?” I said sarcastically.

“Another death threat came through, E. This time to the World Archery Federation Office. I don’t give a shit about it, but those fools at the Olympic Commission won’t insure a venue for me to announce the competition without some assurance from you. The truly mad are ruling these games I’m telling you and I don’t have time for this bullshit.”

“Don’t I know it. I’ll speak to them, but I think we should meet to go over the schedule so we can get the security nailed down for you,” I told him.

“What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know, lunch? I can have Frances set something up for when you’re free.”

“That should work. I’m really grateful for you, E, or I don’t think I’ll be announcing at the games at all. Your company pulls some influence with those morons running things.”

“Speaking of morons running things . . . Ivan, you’ve just reminded me of something. Aren’t you on the executive board at the National Gallery?”

Ivan snorted. “Yeah, you could say that. Why? And I’ll pretend you didn’t just insult me because I’m magnanimous like that . . . and family.”

“Right, cousin.” I rolled my eyes. “My girlfriend studies art conservation at University of London. She’s American and needs a work visa to stay here indefinitely.”

“Wait. Back your arse up. Did you just say your ‘girlfriend’? The elusive Blackstone is off the market? How is this possible, mate?”

I should have known I’d get harassed the moment I opened my mouth. I laughed a little awkwardly. “I hardly know, but yeah, she’s brilliant at restoring paintings and she really loves what she does. And I really don’t want her visa expiring . . .”

“I hear you, E. I’ll ask. There’s this event coming up at the National, actually. The Mallerton Society—”

“Oh yeah, she told me about that. I’m taking her. She been working on one of Mallerton’s paintings, actually. I know Brynne can explain it much better than me. I’ll introduce her and you’ll see what I mean.”

“I look forward to meeting the American beauty who snatched your cock off the one-night-stand circuit.”

“Please don’t tell her that when you meet her or I’ll have to look the other way at all those charming death threats you receive so regularly from your loyal fans.”

He laughed at me. “You know, E, if you want her here indefinitely all you have to do is marry her and she won’t need a work visa.”

My mind went on over-capacity the second he said the words “marry her,” and I found myself fumbling for another smoke from the desk drawer.

“You did not just say that to me, even though I shouldn’t be surprised, you’re such an ignoramus. You of all people endorsing matrimony—that’s the most hilarious thing I’ve heard all year coming from your mouth, or should I say, your idiot arse.”

My cousin laughed some more at my expense. “Just because my marriage was an immense cock-up doesn’t mean yours will be, E.”

“We’ve definitely reached the end of this conversation, Ivan. I’m hanging up on you now.” I could still hear him laughing when I pulled the receiver away from my ear.