Read Online Candidate: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tracy Ewens
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me in front of the camera so I can smile and, what did you say, use what little I have to impress the voters. What I do in my free time is my business. I’ve agreed to lay low, stay out of trouble. I’m being a very good boy, Kate. Is it time for cookies and milk, yet?”
Grady was kicked back, sleeves rolled, with a taunting smile playing at his lips as he tried to dodge and distract like a teenager. He was annoying, but something about his demeanor made Kate wish she were playful. His ease was enviable.
And then, as if she’d slipped into an alternate universe, she suddenly saw her brother Ethan, “the other brother,” as he was often called, walk by the conference room window in his black cargo pants, black T-shirt, and SWAT vest.
Potentially Playful Kate ran from the building. Guarded and Responsible Kate replaced her in an instant. Grady must have noticed because he turned to look at Ethan, who was now at the glass door with a “funny seeing you here” expression.
As Kate stood and straightened her skirt, she knew in the pit of her stomach that Neil must have told Ethan about her current “project.” Ethan was sent as badass ambassador. Years of living in the smallest testosterone network in the world told her she was right. Oh, this was rich.
“Ethan.” Kate said opening the door. “Why, what are you doing here?”
“Hey, Katie. What? I can’t come say ‘Hi’ to my little sister?”
Kate put her hands on her hips.
Ethan’s smile dropped. “Fine. I’m here making a delivery. I guess the department is donating to the Carousel of Hope Ball. Dad, er, Chief as we call him in the work world, asked me to drop this off,” he said, holding up a large manila envelope. “Anyway, I just happened to walk by and see you with . . .” He was never good at subtlety, so Ethan let himself into the room.
Kate turned to Grady. “Ethan, as I’m sure you already know, this is Grady Malendar.”
Grady stood, smiled a dazzling rehearsed smile, and extended his hand.
“Grady, this is Detective Ethan Flanagan. My brother.”
Grady briefly caught her eye and then shook Ethan’s hand. “Pleasure,” he said effortlessly.
“Likewise,” Ethan said, giving Grady his best cop look. The two men locked eyes and Kate decided this would definitely be added to her most awkward moments list. They could not have been more different.
“Okay, well—” She tried to move things along.
“I voted for your father. Are you helping out on his campaign?” The now overly-friendly Ethan asked.
“Appreciate that. Yes, back on the circus tour. Kate here is helping to make me a more wholesome guy.” Grady laughed, Kate smiled, and Ethan gave a fake laugh she had never heard her entire life. It had more than a hint of crazy.
“I’m sure that’s no easy job, but our Katie’s up to the task. She’s a pro.” Our Katie? What the hell? Was he getting ready to challenge Grady to a dance off? This was ridiculous.
“Eth, um, we’re in the middle of a meeting and you probably have to get back.”
He was still locked on Grady, who was now looking everywhere but at Ethan.
“Ethan?”
“Right. Sorry. I didn’t want to just walk by without saying hello. And, I got to meet your new friend, so that’s nice.”
“Client, my client.”
Ethan looked at her and clearly read the “you’re a dumb ass” look she was sending his way.
“I’ll walk you out.”
Grady was still standing and glancing at his expensive shoes.
“Good to meet you, Grady.” Ethan shook his hand again. Hard.
“It was interesting, Detective.” Grady returned the handshake and returned the glare.
Ethan smirked and walked out. Kate motioned she’d be just be a minute and whirled toward the door fit to be tied.
“What the hell was that? I’m at work, Eth. Save your Neanderthal bullshit for the station, will ya?”
“Did you see his socks?”
“What?”
“His socks. I saw them when he stood up. They’re colorful, with, shapes.
Grady was kicked back, sleeves rolled, with a taunting smile playing at his lips as he tried to dodge and distract like a teenager. He was annoying, but something about his demeanor made Kate wish she were playful. His ease was enviable.
And then, as if she’d slipped into an alternate universe, she suddenly saw her brother Ethan, “the other brother,” as he was often called, walk by the conference room window in his black cargo pants, black T-shirt, and SWAT vest.
Potentially Playful Kate ran from the building. Guarded and Responsible Kate replaced her in an instant. Grady must have noticed because he turned to look at Ethan, who was now at the glass door with a “funny seeing you here” expression.
As Kate stood and straightened her skirt, she knew in the pit of her stomach that Neil must have told Ethan about her current “project.” Ethan was sent as badass ambassador. Years of living in the smallest testosterone network in the world told her she was right. Oh, this was rich.
“Ethan.” Kate said opening the door. “Why, what are you doing here?”
“Hey, Katie. What? I can’t come say ‘Hi’ to my little sister?”
Kate put her hands on her hips.
Ethan’s smile dropped. “Fine. I’m here making a delivery. I guess the department is donating to the Carousel of Hope Ball. Dad, er, Chief as we call him in the work world, asked me to drop this off,” he said, holding up a large manila envelope. “Anyway, I just happened to walk by and see you with . . .” He was never good at subtlety, so Ethan let himself into the room.
Kate turned to Grady. “Ethan, as I’m sure you already know, this is Grady Malendar.”
Grady stood, smiled a dazzling rehearsed smile, and extended his hand.
“Grady, this is Detective Ethan Flanagan. My brother.”
Grady briefly caught her eye and then shook Ethan’s hand. “Pleasure,” he said effortlessly.
“Likewise,” Ethan said, giving Grady his best cop look. The two men locked eyes and Kate decided this would definitely be added to her most awkward moments list. They could not have been more different.
“Okay, well—” She tried to move things along.
“I voted for your father. Are you helping out on his campaign?” The now overly-friendly Ethan asked.
“Appreciate that. Yes, back on the circus tour. Kate here is helping to make me a more wholesome guy.” Grady laughed, Kate smiled, and Ethan gave a fake laugh she had never heard her entire life. It had more than a hint of crazy.
“I’m sure that’s no easy job, but our Katie’s up to the task. She’s a pro.” Our Katie? What the hell? Was he getting ready to challenge Grady to a dance off? This was ridiculous.
“Eth, um, we’re in the middle of a meeting and you probably have to get back.”
He was still locked on Grady, who was now looking everywhere but at Ethan.
“Ethan?”
“Right. Sorry. I didn’t want to just walk by without saying hello. And, I got to meet your new friend, so that’s nice.”
“Client, my client.”
Ethan looked at her and clearly read the “you’re a dumb ass” look she was sending his way.
“I’ll walk you out.”
Grady was still standing and glancing at his expensive shoes.
“Good to meet you, Grady.” Ethan shook his hand again. Hard.
“It was interesting, Detective.” Grady returned the handshake and returned the glare.
Ethan smirked and walked out. Kate motioned she’d be just be a minute and whirled toward the door fit to be tied.
“What the hell was that? I’m at work, Eth. Save your Neanderthal bullshit for the station, will ya?”
“Did you see his socks?”
“What?”
“His socks. I saw them when he stood up. They’re colorful, with, shapes.
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