Read Online BlackJack (A Standish Bay Romance Book 1) by Christine Donovan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christine Donovan
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pertaining to the case. It might be hard, she
mused, since the investigators all lived and worked in Boston, but it was worth
a shot.
Shannon, dressed
in a stunning black cocktail dress, black ballet flats and a black lace wrap,
went down to the lobby to meet her editor. Per usual, Kevin arrived promptly,
impeccably groomed and stylishly dressed as always in a dark gray suit, starchy
white shirt and muted print tie. He stood no taller then she, so she always
wore flats when they dined or went anywhere together. “Kevin, hi.” She kissed
his cheek and hugged him. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” He
stepped back. “Let me look at you.” He winked. “You look positively radiant.” He
looked closer, and his brows suddenly drew. “Your eyes don’t look so good
though, have you been crying?”
Shannon ignored
his query and linked her arm through his. “I’m fine, let’s go.” She wondered if
he’d bring it up again. Knowing Kevin as she did, she didn’t doubt it.
Kevin drove a
small silver BMW sports car made for speed, but speed was impossible to find
this time of day so they drove out of the city heading toward Connecticut at a
snail’s pace. They went to a small bistro just over the border. Shannon gave
him credit, he waited until their wine arrived and after they toasted the
success of her book, “Hot Stones,” to drop the bomb.
Leaning forward
he gave her the look. He had a way of staring at her, making her know he had
some juicy information to tell or information he wanted to know. And in this
case, she’d bet her life on the fact it was information he wanted to know.
“Rumor has it
you were back stage at the BlackJack concert at the Boston Garden and your son
performed with the band.”
He said it in
the nonchalant way Kevin had of pretending he wasn’t interested in something,
when truthfully, he was dying inside with curiosity. Shannon tried to hide her
surprise that he would know this. “The gossip mongers at work?”
Kevin laughed. “No,
the internet.” He raised his eyebrows inquisitively. “So, tell me, is he as
gorgeous as everyone says?”
Playing dumb,
she asked, “Who?”
Kevin grinned. “Come
on Shannon, you know who, Cole Jackson, that’s who.”
Not many people
in the business knew Kevin was gay. Many suspected, but he confided in Shannon
one night after he’d had too much to drink and was depressed over a breakup
with his long-term partner. Since then, they’ve been really close. And
personally, she thought Kevin liked the mystery surrounding his sexual
preference, which stood to reason why he’d never openly come out, so to speak.
“Don’t we have
business to discuss?”
Kevin laughed. “We
already had our business meeting.” He winked at her. “We’re here to discuss our
personal lives as pathetic and nonexistent as they are—or were—if your blushing
is any indication.” He wiggled his brows. “Do tell.”
Shannon took a
sip of her wine. Kevin was one person she could tell anything to. John was
another, although she would never discuss Cole with John ever again. She
ignored the little stab to her heart when she thought about losing John’s
friendship.
Kevin was an
avid listener, so she retold the night’s events.
“So, you slept
with him didn’t you?”
She turned
three shades of pink. “You always could read me like a book.”
Kevin nearly
dropped his wine glass in shock. “Oh God, you did. I was just kidding. Details,
I need details,” he said excitedly as he leaned in closer. “I need lots and
lots of juicy, wet details.”
Her top teeth
bit down on her bottom lip. “Actually I didn’t and not by my choice mind you. I
wanted to. Hell, I threw myself at him. He didn’t want to. His life is a mess
right now, and he’s not prepared for a relationship.”
“I’m sorry. You
could’ve used the sex because you never sleep with anyone,” he clipped. “In
fact, when was the last time you had sex?”
“Kevin, please,
enough,” she
mused, since the investigators all lived and worked in Boston, but it was worth
a shot.
Shannon, dressed
in a stunning black cocktail dress, black ballet flats and a black lace wrap,
went down to the lobby to meet her editor. Per usual, Kevin arrived promptly,
impeccably groomed and stylishly dressed as always in a dark gray suit, starchy
white shirt and muted print tie. He stood no taller then she, so she always
wore flats when they dined or went anywhere together. “Kevin, hi.” She kissed
his cheek and hugged him. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” He
stepped back. “Let me look at you.” He winked. “You look positively radiant.” He
looked closer, and his brows suddenly drew. “Your eyes don’t look so good
though, have you been crying?”
Shannon ignored
his query and linked her arm through his. “I’m fine, let’s go.” She wondered if
he’d bring it up again. Knowing Kevin as she did, she didn’t doubt it.
Kevin drove a
small silver BMW sports car made for speed, but speed was impossible to find
this time of day so they drove out of the city heading toward Connecticut at a
snail’s pace. They went to a small bistro just over the border. Shannon gave
him credit, he waited until their wine arrived and after they toasted the
success of her book, “Hot Stones,” to drop the bomb.
Leaning forward
he gave her the look. He had a way of staring at her, making her know he had
some juicy information to tell or information he wanted to know. And in this
case, she’d bet her life on the fact it was information he wanted to know.
“Rumor has it
you were back stage at the BlackJack concert at the Boston Garden and your son
performed with the band.”
He said it in
the nonchalant way Kevin had of pretending he wasn’t interested in something,
when truthfully, he was dying inside with curiosity. Shannon tried to hide her
surprise that he would know this. “The gossip mongers at work?”
Kevin laughed. “No,
the internet.” He raised his eyebrows inquisitively. “So, tell me, is he as
gorgeous as everyone says?”
Playing dumb,
she asked, “Who?”
Kevin grinned. “Come
on Shannon, you know who, Cole Jackson, that’s who.”
Not many people
in the business knew Kevin was gay. Many suspected, but he confided in Shannon
one night after he’d had too much to drink and was depressed over a breakup
with his long-term partner. Since then, they’ve been really close. And
personally, she thought Kevin liked the mystery surrounding his sexual
preference, which stood to reason why he’d never openly come out, so to speak.
“Don’t we have
business to discuss?”
Kevin laughed. “We
already had our business meeting.” He winked at her. “We’re here to discuss our
personal lives as pathetic and nonexistent as they are—or were—if your blushing
is any indication.” He wiggled his brows. “Do tell.”
Shannon took a
sip of her wine. Kevin was one person she could tell anything to. John was
another, although she would never discuss Cole with John ever again. She
ignored the little stab to her heart when she thought about losing John’s
friendship.
Kevin was an
avid listener, so she retold the night’s events.
“So, you slept
with him didn’t you?”
She turned
three shades of pink. “You always could read me like a book.”
Kevin nearly
dropped his wine glass in shock. “Oh God, you did. I was just kidding. Details,
I need details,” he said excitedly as he leaned in closer. “I need lots and
lots of juicy, wet details.”
Her top teeth
bit down on her bottom lip. “Actually I didn’t and not by my choice mind you. I
wanted to. Hell, I threw myself at him. He didn’t want to. His life is a mess
right now, and he’s not prepared for a relationship.”
“I’m sorry. You
could’ve used the sex because you never sleep with anyone,” he clipped. “In
fact, when was the last time you had sex?”
“Kevin, please,
enough,” she
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