Eddie: Grime Doesn't Pay (The Brothers Grime Book 2)

by Z. A. Maxfield

  “Someone’s in my backyard again, messing with my things.”

  Christ. This was exactly why he dreaded a call from his dad. “Did you call the police?”

  “I can’t call the police. You know I can’t.”

  “If people are trespassing on your property you have every right—”

  “It’s that bitch next door again. Now she’s got her husband climbing over the fence to take pictures.”

  “Dad, what you need to do is—”

  “I need you to get that lawyer friend of yours to send them another letter. Tell them I’ll sue them for property damage if they get into my things again.”

  “Dad, I already told you. I’m not dating Gary anymore. I can’t just call him for you now.”

  “But I need a lawyer.” His father sighed. “They’ve got the city involved now.”

  “What?” Andrew tensed.

  “The building inspector left a notice that I have to clean my yard or they’ll come back with a warrant to inspect the house.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Never mind. That’s why I need your lawyer friend. Can’t you just call him and–”

  “No, Dad. I can’t just call someone I haven’t seen in six months and ask him for a favor. Things didn’t end well between us, and it would be a bad idea to presume on a friendship that isn’t there.”

  “But I’ve got the city people breathing down my neck now. That bitch next door is organizing a torches-and-pitchforks parade, and they’re all writing letters. They’re calling my place an eyesore and a fire hazard and I don’t know what all, but if they get their way, I’m going to lose the house.”

  “Dad—”

  “It’s no goddamn business of theirs what I keep on my property, and they know it. What they’re complaining about is a legacy, and it’s yours just as much as it’s mine. Are you going to call that lawyer friend of yours to help me out with that or not?”

  Andrew turned away from the theater and leaned his shoulder the wall. “I’ll see what I can do, Dad. I’m not promising anything.”

  Silence stretched out between them. His dad finally said, “You should stop by sometime.”

  Andrew’s heart rebelled. Andrew wasn’t a neat freak by any stretch, but his father’s place made his skin crawl. “Maybe sometime. You could come over to my place anytime.”

  “I can’t. You know that. Every time I leave, that bitch next door has her spies come in. They think I don’t know, but I do.”

  Andrew massaged his temples. He could probably pay Gary to write a letter. That way it wouldn’t be too presumptuous. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thanks, Boston. You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important.”

  “I know.”

  “Love you.”

  “Love you too, Dad.” Andrew disconnected the call. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the cool concrete wall. He was so busy thinking about his father and his father’s predicament he didn’t hear Eddie come up behind him.

  “Problems?”

  “Ongoing.” Andrew inhaled a deep breath of smoky air and let his father’s phone call go for the moment. “I need a rain check. I have to go home and deal with something for my father. I’m sorry to spoil our evening.”

  “That movie was spoiling my evening all by itself.”

  That surprised a laugh out of Andrew. “I know, right? Oh my God. What a crap choice for a first date. I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you. I was afraid I’d have to make small talk about it.” Eddie leaned on the wall opposite him. He was a magnificent leaner.

  Andrew swallowed. “We’ll have to live with film talk when Matt gets out here. He loves Bergman.”

  “I should probably confess, I—”

  Andrew stopped Eddie’s words by placing his fingers over Eddie’s lips. “No confessions tonight.” Maybe he did it just to see how soft Eddie’s lips would feel. How rough his five o’clock shadow felt by comparison. Andrew had wanted to touch Eddie Vasquez—Lucy’s gorgeous Uncle Cha-Cha—for so long, and he finally had the chance. He couldn’t help smoothing his thumb over Eddie’s lower lip.

  Eddie nipped his thumb playfully and stroked it with his tongue. God. Andrew wished he had the time to feel Eddie’s tongue on his quickening cock.

  “We’ll do first date part deux next time, all right?” Andrew asked.

  Eddie’s dark gaze was locked on Andrew’s, his voice hoarse when he said, “Sure.”

  Matt and Graham found them. Graham’s cough sounded like, “Get a room.”

  Eddie turned stiffly.

  “Knock it off.” Matt elbowed Graham hard enough to make him grunt.

  “The movie’s over?” Andrew asked. “We missed the end?”

  “You left right at the good part,” Matt accused.

  “There was a good part?” Eddie pulled his keys from his pocket.

  “There was—” Matt nearly choked. “Are you kidding?”

  “You asked for that.” Andrew tried not to laugh while Matt sputtered with outrage.

  Graham eyed Matt. “I think we should go find a meal that goes with the movie. Something black-and-white that makes me sick to my stomach.”

  Matt glared at him. “Et tu, Graham?”

  “I’ve gone to a lot of movies with you, but that was pretty painful.”

  “There’s a reason it’s a classic,” Matt pointed out.

  “I know that,” Graham said lightly. “It’s just not a first-date film, and Andrew is trying to impress a guy.”

  Andrew waved that away. “Believe me, you two aren’t in my impress-a-guy playbook. I was going to impress him later, but now I have to—”

  “I’m impressed anyway,” Eddie said, much to Andrew’s delight. “I’ve been impressed for months.”

  “Well said.” Matt raised his eyebrow. “I think maybe you two should go eat without us.”

  “I’ve—” Andrew glanced down at the phone he hadn’t yet put away. “I have to make some phone calls, and I have work tomorrow. I need to make it an early night.”

  Eddie’s patient smile made Andrew’s heart slam into his ribs. “I understand. Will you consider letting me take you out another night, maybe this weekend?”

  “Sure.” Andrew could use something to look forward to. “I’d like that.”

  “All right. I’ll take you back to your car, and we’ll plan our second date on the way.” Eddie said a polite good night to Matt and Graham.

  “Good night. I hope we’ll see you again,” said Graham. “We’ll let you pick the movie next time.”

  Matt waved good-bye. “I do not see what was wrong with—”

  “Of course you don’t, honey.” Graham elbowed him again. “Say good night, Matt.”

  Matt frowned. “Good night, Matt.”

  Andrew waved good-bye to his friends and followed Eddie to his car. “They’re really nice once you get to know them.”

  “I’m sure they are.” Eddie keyed the ignition, and they took off. “They seem great. But would it be okay if I said you guys make me feel a little…weird or something?”

  “We made you feel weird?” Andrew asked.

  Eddie met his gaze. “You like book references, right? Here’s one: I felt like an Orc.”

  “An Orc?”

  “You and your friends remind me of Hobbits, and by comparison—”

  Andrew gasped. “You did not just compare me and my friends to Hobbits.”

  “I compared myself to an Orc,” Eddie pointed out.

  Andrew felt the evening slip from his control. “Does that mean we just had the worst first date ever?”

  “I had some fun. I just wanted you to know—”

  “We made you feel like an Orc.” Andrew sighed.

  “Maybe just a little.”

  That had to be bad, right?

  If Eddie feels like an Orc, for God’s sake, that has to be bad.

  Eddie was the furthest thing from an Orc. Andrew was silent for a long time, digesting that.r />
  Andrew realized he’d probably had a hand in making Eddie feel, um, largish. Eddie had a big, hot body, and none of them had been shy about letting him know it. Matt and Graham had felt up his muscles, and Andrew had swung from his arm.

  Andrew covered his face with his hands. “Dear God. I am so sorry.”

  “It’s all good,” Eddie offered gallantly. “Look on the bright side. We have nowhere to go from here but up.”

  They drove until Eddie pulled into the space next to Andrew’s car. It was on the side of the lot in the shadows, but the coffeehouse was just closing, so one or two couples still loitered around talking. He turned to Andrew. “This is the first time I’ve ever been sorry I drive a convertible.”

  “Why?”

  Eddie shifted closer. “I want to kiss you.”

  “I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t.”

  “You’re sure? You said—”

  “I’ve never been surer of anything.” Andrew wrapped his hand around the back of Eddie’s neck and pulled him in. Their lips grazed at first, but Eddie tilted his head and Andrew opened his lips and then…oh, then, they shared more than a kiss. It was an entire expedition into mingling breath and shared space and shuddering sighs.

  Parted lips and tongues and a pulse that beat like thunder in Andrew’s ears.

  Andrew felt Eddie’s absurdly long, dark lashes brush his cheek when they broke apart. A blush flooded Eddie’s cheeks. Andrew wasn’t the only one affected by their kiss. He pressed his hot forehead to Eddie’s.

  Eddie shivered. “I’ve wanted to do that since I dropped Lucy off that first day.”

  “You have?” Why, oh why did my dad have to call tonight, of all nights?

  I’m breathless.

  “And now I don’t want to stop there. You’d better go.”

  “Yeah.” Andrew sighed.

  Why are we stopping again?

  Oh yeah.

  Andrew needed to call Gary, who would not appreciate a late-night phone call from a guy who cut him loose months ago.

  Damn it.

  Andrew let his fingers drift over the scratchy, rough surface of Eddie’s jawline. “Hold that thought for next time, yeah?”

  “Yes.” Eddie’s voice sounded hoarse with desire. “Can I call you?”

  “Anytime.” Andrew meant that. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Eddie could call him anytime.

  Chapter 5

  While he was driving home, Eddie listened to a text from Gabe. He wanted to meet at Steamers, a fresh fish place and oyster bar with live jazz most nights. It was still early enough by their standards, and Eddie was hungry. Steamers served food late, so at a stoplight, he dictated a text for Gabe.

  Order me a platter of grilled oysters as an appetizer. I’ll be there before they’re served.

  Gabe texted back. No texting while driving.

  Eddie dictated, You started it, you clown. I’m on my way.

  Eddie put his phone away and headed for the downtown part of Fullerton where Steamers was located.

  Eddie had lived in Fullerton all his life, but even if he hadn’t, it was a throwback town full of people who liked vintage clothes, old cars, and free-form jazz, so he’d have felt right at home there.

  He parked on the street and fed the meter. On the way in he had to dodge a group of college kids heading for one of the hamburger joints.

  Inside Steamers, the waitress was just setting his order on the table of a big round booth where Jack, Ryan, Dave, and Gabe waited for him.

  “Whoa. Is this an intervention?” he asked, pushing Gabe toward Dave so he could sit. When the waitress glanced at him, he said, “Dirty martini, please.”

  “Got it.” The girl smiled before she walked away.

  Dave eyed him. “Can’t order a beer like a normal guy.”

  “I don’t want a beer.”

  Jack took one of Eddie’s oysters. “So tell me. Why are you dressed like the bastard love child of Sonny Corleone and a cruise-ship gigolo, and how come you’re done so early if you were on a date?”

  Eddie shot Gabe an irritated scowl. “School night. He has work tomorrow.”

  Jack winked at Ryan. “Lucy’s teacher. I told you so. Every time he heads for Lucy’s school, he dresses like he’s going to prom.”

  “Okay, enough,” Eddie told him.

  “What’s this guy like?” asked Ryan. Jack’s new boyfriend never went along with the crowd when they started in on each other. Jack, Eddie, Gabe, and Dave’s years together made them ruthless teases, but Ryan was just feeling his way into the group and he never took the shot.

  “He’s great. He seems to like teaching. He’s super with the kids.”

  Ryan smiled. “What’s his name?”

  “Andrew,” Eddie told them. “B. Andrew Daley, but I don’t know what the B stands for yet.”

  The waitress brought his martini as he dug his tiny fork into a hot oyster. It dripped with parsley and lemon-butter sauce, and when he put it in his mouth, it burst with garlic and briny sweetness.

  “You going out again?” Gabe asked.

  Mouth full, Eddie nodded. When he could talk, he said, “Saturday, I hope. Enough with the teasing though. Do I get in your faces when you date?”

  “All right. Okay,” said Gabe. “We’ll table that for now. Skippy’s two-year anniversary with Grime is in a couple of weeks.” While Eddie was the designated HR guy, Gabe was the one who remembered birthdays and anniversaries and other personal milestones. That was part of what made him a good salesman. “What is two years? Wood shavings or something?”

  “Skippy.” Dave sneered faintly. “Skippy’s trouble.”

  Gabe defended his favorite employee. “He is not. He’s rock solid. He’s never even taken a sick day.”

  “Talk about teacher’s pet.” Dave had never liked Skippy, and he wasn’t shy about sharing that fact.

  Eddie thought their animosity was down to the universal truth that lawmen and outlaws were cut from similar cloth and recognized one another on some subliminal level, but Skippy had become Mr. Clean when he’d met and married his girl, Kelly Ann.

  Every so often even Skippy lamented being on the right side of the law.

  Dave only saw Skippy’s tattoos and the hard eyes that told of a shadier past, so he stayed wary. Dave waited, poised like a cat at a mouse hole, for Skippy to screw up.

  “Skippy’s all right,” Eddie agreed. “But Dave’s right too. We’re lucky he’s with us and not against us.”

  “No one who looks like Skippy should ever be called Skippy,” said Ryan. “He should be called Smaug or Kraken or something terrifying from an opera.”

  “El Muerte.” Gabe shot Dave a sly half smile, and Eddie saw some something playful pass between them. “If it weren’t for the fact he’s straight as a ruler, I’d tap that in a nanosecond.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake,” Dave bit out. “Does no one but me see he’s a punk?”

  “A guy can enjoy the scenery even if he doesn’t get out of the car,” said Gabe.

  Eddie watched them with some surprise. Was something brewing there? Before Ryan came along, Dave and Jack had a thing no one ever talked about. They’d all simply pretended Jack needed a designated driver a lot more than he actually did.

  Dave didn’t want anyone knowing he liked men, and the three of them, Eddie, Gabe, and Jack, had kept his secret since high school. But that was another strike against Skippy as far as Dave was concerned. He’d had Dave figured out within a three-second handshake, and Dave had never been able to intimidate him.

  Skippy’s silence on the matter of Dave’s sexuality was his own, and Dave didn’t trust him to keep it.

  “So. Okay, I’ve been meaning to ask.” Ryan forked an oyster from its shell and cut it neatly into quarters while all four men stared at him.

  “You’re mutilating that oyster, babe,” Jack said gently.

  “What? Just cause I don’t want to choke to death? You three”—Ryan pointed at Dave, Jack, and Gabe—“
went to high school together, and Eddie didn’t?”

  “I did,” Eddie corrected him. “I was a year older.”

  “Ah. That’s why I don’t remember you. I was a freshman when they were seniors.”

  “I’d have graduated by then.”

  “Eddie’s the grand old man,” said Dave.

  “I am the wise one,” said Eddie. “Doesn’t take much.”

  Gabe picked at the label on his beer. “Whenever I think of high school, I am so fucking glad to be past it.”

  Jack raised his bottle, and all four of them lifted their drinks in a toast. “To putting that behind us.”

  “Don’t you find when you get together with people from the past, you fall back into the same mindset?” Ryan asked. “Present company excepted.”

  “Yeah.” Gabe rolled his eyes. “We went to the ten-year class reunion. What a joke.”

  “I didn’t,” Dave said quietly.

  “Yeah. You went surfing so you wouldn’t have to see anyone who remembers you were a ninety-pound weakling back in the day.”

  Dave’s eyes narrowed. “I was surfing the Banzai Pipeline.”

  “I’ll bet you didn’t want to be seen with these three,” Ryan joked. He must have realized he’d hit too close to home for the closeted Dave, because he added. “I wouldn’t be caught dead with the geeks I hung out with in high school.”

  Nice save, thought Eddie. “He wants people to think he’s evolved past assholes like us.”

  “Too bad I haven’t,” Dave said, unmistakably relieved. “Well. Maybe not. You guys have always had my back. I’m grateful. I don’t say it often enough.”

  Gabe cleared his throat. “What are we eating next? I’m starved.”

  Eddie watched the interplay between his friends. Jack and Ryan gave each other a quick nod for reassurance. Dave and Gabe sat with ample space between them, but lately—especially since Ryan had come along and started dating Jack—they gave the appearance they were touching, even if they weren’t.

  Ryan’s relationship with Jack had thrown Dave for a little loop, resulting in a very uncharacteristic three-day alcohol bender. Gabe seemed to sense Dave’s unhappiness and had moved in to offer support. At least that’s all Eddie thought it was.