Double Daddy Trouble

Grammy pushed back from the desk. I was bewildered.

“I don’t understand. You haven’t even finished your coffee. Grammy, don’t go like this. We could still spend the morning together.”

I shouldn’t have missed our time together last night. She was feeling lonely and neglected. I had compounded that by making her feel unimportant. It didn’t help that Steve’s press conference was the way she discovered my engagement. I could only imagine how that must have made her feel with the revelation of the safe.

“I’m so sorry I missed last night. Truly. Please stay and talk to me.”

“I have more business to attend to, dear.” She reached up on her tiptoes to kiss me.

I offered my cheek like I always did.

“Is it something I can help you with?” I asked. “Is it at the attorney’s office. I’ll ride with you.”

She stopped at the door. “No. I don’t need your help with this, Nessa. I think I may have found your brother.”

With that she snapped the lock in place and was gone.

I stared at the closed door.

What in the hell was going on?

Twenty-Seven

Vanessa

She couldn’t be serious. Why was Grammy tracking down my brother? Why did it suddenly matter where he was?

I pressed the button on the intercom and called Candy.

“Can you come in here please?”

I was wrapped in a cloud of my grandmother’s perfume.

“Sure.”

Two seconds later, Candy walked in. “Everything ok?” she asked.

“Not really.” I wasn’t going to drag her into the family saga. “I need to have a meeting with Charlie Maine, but not here.”

“Ok?” She looked confused. She tucked the ends of her short hair behind her ear.

“Could you set up a meeting for us away from the office? Maybe downtown?”

“Downtown?”

“Yes, downtown. Somewhere where there is music. There are tons of those places on Sixth Street, right? No sports bars,” I instructed. It was important we weren’t seen in the regular Warriors’ circles.

“Ok got it, boss. I’m on it.”

“Good. Please don’t mention it to anyone in the office. I need this meeting to stay confidential.” If Steve heard about this, I knew he would panic.

“I’m good with secrets.” She smiled like a cat.

Secret seemed to be the word of the day.

The band on stage announced they had written the next three songs. My table was in the corner, out of view from anyone passing by on the sidewalk. I sipped my iced tea, waiting for Charlie Maine to arrive. I knew how lucky I was she had been available today. I didn’t know how there wasn’t another scandal somewhere in the AFA for her to clean up.

But we did have an advantage. She was engaged to Luke Canton’s brother, Linc, and that meant her home base was still Austin. I had a meeting with Linc on my schedule for tomorrow. I assumed it was to discuss Luke’s next steps with the Warriors. He managed his brothers deals and contracts. Part of me was envious they had a functioning sibling relationship. It certainly wasn’t something I could claim.