Swann's Revenge

by Shira Anthony

  “You ride?”

  “I bought a bike when I was in law school.” Dan chuckled. “Total piece of crap. So when I got my first bonus, I bought my dream bike. A Ducati Scrambler Classic. It’s a beauty. I’ve ridden it a grand total of twice.” Dan took a sip of his beer. “Wait a minute…. Are you saying you ride too?”

  The truth was something Graham had always kept to himself, a secret he’d kept, even with Terri. For years, riding had been something he’d done for himself alone. He’d always feared that his passion for the open road would somehow vanish if he shared it, like a prayer or a wish. Riding was too personal, too connected to the heart he kept hidden. Why had he tipped his hand?

  Graham hesitated. The silence between them stretched and grew. He took a swallow of his whisky, allowing himself a moment to feel the burn against his throat. And through it all, Dan waited patiently. He didn’t press the issue. He didn’t speak. Did he understand?

  “When my stepfather died,” Graham said at last, his words propelling him forward as if they had power of their own, “he left me his old Harley.” He gazed down at his glass but saw only his stepfather’s face, the way he’d looked when he’d taught Graham to ride. It had taken Graham five years to get the courage to clean her up and ride her. Claim her as his own.

  He looked up at Dan and smiled. The tears were close too, but he’d never shared those with another soul. “He told me he bought her when he came home from Vietnam.” Bo Swann once told Graham that bike had saved his life just as surely as his war buddies had. Maybe it had done the same for Graham. He wasn’t sure. He only knew that when he rode, he felt safe. Happy.

  Graham realized his face had betrayed his inner thoughts when Dan reached across the small table and put his hand over Graham’s, a tender gesture that had Graham breathing through a strange wave of emotion he couldn’t quite comprehend. For a moment he allowed the sensation to grow. Then the memory of laughter intruded. He pulled his hand away.

  This is the man who hurt you. How could he have so easily forgotten?

  “I really should get going,” Graham said, his words sounding stiff even to his own ears. He flagged down the waiter and slipped a hundred-dollar bill into his hand. “This should take care of it.”

  “Graham, you don’t need to—”

  “Expense account,” Graham lied. “My pleasure. I’ll see you in the morning.” He was on his way out the door a moment later, knowing how abrupt it was but not caring. He’d been an idiot to think socializing with Dan was a good idea.

  Once outside, he leaned on the brick wall, gathering his thoughts and himself. His breaths came in stutters. He reached for the phantom inhaler in his pocket.

  Stop it. He wasn’t Jimmy Zebulon anymore. Graham Swann hadn’t had asthma since he’d left for college.

  His breathing eased and his heart stopped racing. He headed back to his apartment with a cool breeze on his cheeks and his heart back where it belonged—firmly ensconced in logic. Protected. Safe.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I’M granting the plaintiff’s motion to compel,” the judge announced. Graham glanced at Dan and inclined his head. Dan’s crooked smile made his chest tighten.

  “But Your Honor—” the lawyer for the defendant began.

  “Ms. Carroll, I’m not sure how much clearer I can make this. I’ve made my ruling. Your client will turn over the documents to Mr. Parker by the close of business on Friday or you’ll be looking at sanctions.” The judge turned to Dan and added, “It’s been a pleasure, Mr. Parker. I only wish we’d met under better circumstances. Welcome back to North Carolina.”

  “Thank you, Your Honor.” Dan gathered his notes and shoved them into his satchel.

  “What did I tell you,” Terri crowed as she made their way to the front of the courtroom to congratulate Dan. “He’s great, isn’t he?”

  “I never doubted you.” Well, to be fair, Graham had doubted her choice of Dan. But the way Dan had handled the hearing on the TRO and again with the motion to compel had been better than he’d expected. In the courtroom, as in life, Dan Parker’s relaxed personality had been just what was needed. He’d explained the situation clearly, he’d never raised his voice, and from the expression on the judge’s face, she’d been with him all along.

  “Great job,” Terri told Dan. “You two make the perfect good cop, bad cop team.”

  Dan laughed. “Different approaches for different positions,” he said tactfully. “My esteemed colleague here”—he inclined his head to Graham—“has more of the authoritative rumble needed for objections.”

  “I’d never thought of it quite that way,” Graham replied and shook his head.

  “Should we have drinks to celebrate?” Terri asked.

  “I can’t.” Dan glanced at his phone. “I’m supposed to pick Lacey up from the neighbors’ in less than an hour.” He hesitated a moment, then said, “How about you two join us at my place instead? I have some good-looking steaks I picked up at Costco I’m going to have to freeze if I can’t find some takers.”

  “Deal.” Terri grinned and met Graham’s gaze.

  “Sure.” Graham wasn’t particularly, but he had nothing better to do. Between the motion for summary judgment he’d finished working on that afternoon and the hearing, he was in need of a serious brain break.

  “Great.” Dan seemed happy, which gave Graham a measure of reassurance. After his dramatic performance at the restaurant two weeks before and his nothing-but-business approach since, he figured it was time for some damage control. He might not be looking for anything more than a working relationship, but the last thing he wanted to do was chase a good attorney away with his less-than-stellar personality. Besides, it was Friday night, and other than going to Chessie’s in hopes of a quick hookup, he had no plans.

  “Is seven too early?” Terri asked.

  “Lacey’s bedtime is eight thirty, so that’s perfect.” Dan followed Graham out of the courtroom.

  Enough time to change out of his suit and run down the street to pick up some beer before hopping in his car and heading to North Raleigh. He’d also find something for Lacey at the DGX while he was out. He’d seen some coloring books and toys the last time he’d run out of paper towels.

  DAN finished cutting up veggies for a salad when Graham pulled into the driveway. Dan looked longingly at the black Audi R8. He’d seen it inside and out in Wilmington, of course, but he’d had other things on his mind at the time. He’d once dreamed of a car like Graham’s, but a two-seater wasn’t good for carpools or trips to the mountains. Maybe later, once he was sure Graham and Terri would invite him to become a partner, he’d buy what Lacey called a “big-boy car.” For now, grown-up toys could wait.

  He opened the door. “Come on in.”

  Graham wore a pair of well-worn jeans and a green T-shirt that fit like a glove and made his eyes look even more striking. His hair, which he usually wore combed back from his face, now fell in natural waves against his pale skin. As always, he seemed slightly uncomfortable. As Dan had come to know him a bit better, he realized that Graham wasn’t so much uncomfortable around him in particular as he was just generally uncomfortable with people.

  “He’s a bit of a mystery,” Terri had admitted when Dan had asked her about Graham three days before. “He doesn’t talk much about himself.” Still, there was something about Graham that drew Dan to him, even though Dan couldn’t quite figure out what it was. Sure, his classic good looks were appealing, but looks had never mattered much to Dan. Maybe it was the mystery of what made the man tick that appealed. He wondered if once he figured it out, Graham would go back to occupying more normal spaces in his thoughts, instead of the demigod who now occupied the more erotic ones.

  Graham handed Dan a few bags and offered him an awkward smile. Their fingers brushed, and it took all Dan’s self-control to pretend he hadn’t felt the zing of attraction that made his chest tighten.

  “Thank you.” Dan peered inside the bags and found two six-packs.
<
br />   “Sour ale and a nice IPA. I wasn’t sure what you preferred,” Graham explained.

  “I like them both. Would you like one?” Dan asked.

  “I’ll take a Monk’s Café.”

  Dan opened one of the bottles and handed it to Graham, then took one for himself, and put the rest of the beer inside.

  “Daddy, Daddy!” Lacey charged into the kitchen, nearly colliding with Graham. “Are they here yet?”

  Graham caught her and lifted her up in the air. She giggled as he put her gently down again. “I’ve got something for you.” Graham handed her a bag.

  Lacey squealed happily as she pulled out three coloring books, a pack of markers, and a huge box of crayons. “Look, Daddy! Mr. Graham brought me stuff!”

  “Looks like good stuff too,” Dan said.

  “Can I color now?” she asked.

  “As long as you put it away when dinner’s ready,” he told her. “What do you say to Graham?”

  “Thank you, Mr. Graham!” She was already tearing the wrapping off the markers.

  “Terri here yet?” Graham asked.

  “She called and said something came up. She’s not sure she’s going to make it.”

  Graham’s expression darkened, but he said only, “I see.”

  “She said to go ahead with dinner and she’ll try to come later,” Dan added. He hadn’t thought anything of it when Terri had called, but seeing Graham’s reaction, he wondered. Not that he minded having Graham all to himself, but he seemed uncomfortable with it. “Care to join me on the deck?” Dan asked and picked up the plate with steaks and corn.

  “Sure.” Graham glanced at Lacey.

  “She’ll be fine,” Dan reassured him. “And thanks for bringing something for her. That was very thoughtful of you.”

  Graham’s cheeks flushed, but he only nodded and followed him outside after picking up his beer.

  Dan opened the grill and smoke rose upward. “I’ve missed this,” he said. He hadn’t grilled since he and Lacey had moved to North Carolina.

  “I miss my gas grill,” Graham said with a wistful smile. “The condo association only allows electric. It’s just not the same.”

  Dan settled three shucked ears of corn onto the grill. “How do you like your steak?” he asked as he pulled one off the plate.

  “Rare. When I was little, my mother used to tell me I was mountain-lion spawn.” Graham smiled. “I remember discovering steak tartare on my semester abroad in France. Between that and the great fries? Heaven.”

  “It’s not really my thing,” Dan said conciliatorily. “Although tuna tartare or sushi? I’m totally there.”

  “There’s a great sushi place about a block from the office,” Graham said. “Maybe it’s time to rotate that one back in our monthly staff lunches.”

  “I’m in.” Dan set another steak on the grill.

  “Can I help with anything?” Graham asked.

  “Sure. How about snagging a few plates from the cabinet to the left of the stove and three settings of flatware from the drawer beneath it? It’s so nice out tonight, I figured we’d eat out here.”

  “Sounds perfect. Is there somewhere I can wash up?”

  “There’s a bathroom next to the kitchen, down the hallway past the fridge,” Dan explained.

  “I’ll be back in a couple.”

  Dan kept one eye on the steaks and the other on Graham as he walked back inside. Good-looking and helpful around the house. He wondered if there was a magic spell that would keep this Graham around all the time, then chuckled to himself. No one’s perfect. Although when Graham smiled like that, it was easy to forget his flaws.

  Chapter Thirteen

  GRAHAM glanced over Lacey’s shoulder at the rainbow blur she’d added to the outline of a puppy with a big bow around its neck.

  “I like it,” he announced. “What made you go with all those colors?”

  She grinned. “I didn’t know what color I wanted, so I used all of them.”

  “Great choice. The puppy looks happy too.”

  “Yep. He’s very happy.” She extracted a bright yellow marker from the package and began to add circles to the dog’s coat.

  Graham watched her draw for a few minutes, then realized he’d better get a move on or the steaks might be ready before the table was set. He’d just turned to head to the bathroom when he saw a framed photograph on a shelf. Dan and another man, arms around each other. Dan was holding a baby.

  “That’s my daddy Benn,” Lacey said.

  “Oh.” Graham wasn’t sure what to say. He’d been sure Dan was straight. Last Graham heard before moving to Nashville, Dan and some girl were going to get engaged in their senior year. At least that’s what had made the rounds of the rumor mill.

  “He’s an angel,” Lacey added brightly.

  A widower? Terri hadn’t mentioned it, and neither had Dan. And you never asked. The pieces began to fall into place. Dan had never even referred to a woman, wife or girlfriend, in all the time they’d worked together. It had always been Dan picking Lacey up from childcare. Graham hadn’t noticed Lacey at the tri. Was it possible Dan’s mother had been taking care of her? Which probably meant the little woman waiting back at the hotel was actually little. As in four years old.

  Why does it matter? High school was a different world. They were different people now. Besides, the last thing Graham wanted was a relationship, let alone with a colleague.

  “Hey.” Dan’s voice made Graham jump.

  “S-sorry.” Graham schooled his expression. “I got waylaid. First the coloring book, then….” What the hell are you saying?

  Dan picked up the photograph and smiled. “Benn and I adopted Lacey when she was less than a year old,” Dan offered, his voice gentle and warm with emotion. “He died less than a year later. Heart attack. He was fifteen years older than me, but still, I figured we had a bit more time.” Dan sighed.

  “I’m very sorry for your loss,” Graham said, unsure how to respond. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

  “You’re not intruding. But thank you.” Dan pressed his lips together. “We’re doing all right. It’s much better now that my commute is only fifteen minutes. Before, we never had much time during the week.”

  “I’m glad the move’s working out for you both.”

  “We are too.” Dan glanced at Lacey, his eyes glittering. But it wasn’t sadness Graham saw reflected there, it was something Graham recognized immediately: love.

  For a split second, Graham wondered what it might feel like to be the object of that deep emotion. Then he brushed the thought away. “I’m falling down on the job,” he said in an effort to dispel the familiar discomfort that came with thoughts of relationships or, worse, feelings. “Let me wash my hands and I’ll get the table set.”

  Five minutes later Dan piled the steaks and corn onto a platter and headed toward the table. He was carrying the food when Lacey ran onto the deck and into the yard, cutting Dan off so he had to stop in midstride to avoid running her over. Graham caught Dan’s arm just before he fell and rescued the steaks with his other hand. Dan’s shoulder pressed against his chest, but instead of moving sideways to end the contact, Graham hesitated.

  This close, Graham inhaled the subtle scent of Dan’s cologne and noticed the tendrils of hair that clung to the back of his neck. Dan, too, seemed not to feel the need to disengage himself. He waited for Graham to take the lead, as if expecting Graham would.

  “You all right?” Graham asked as the silence stretched.

  Dan nodded and extricated himself. “I might have pulled a muscle,” he said and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not as graceful as I used to be.”

  Graham smiled and set the steaks on the table, hoping the heat in his cheeks wasn’t obvious.

  Lacey sang softly as she moved up and down on a swing hanging from one of the trees. The cicadas buzzed softly and a light breeze ruffled the nearby bushes. A beautiful evening.

  A romantic evening. Long ago Graham had imagined n
ights like this. He’d had fantasies back then, but he’d learned to ignore them over time. Where he’d grown up, women had fantasies about love. Men were supposed to be immune. So he’d hidden his softer side, embarrassed that he felt anything, or worse, hoped for anything. And when he’d realized those fantasies had existed solely for men, he’d suffocated them. Until the day he’d seen Danny help Laurie Stokes back in high school.

  “Ready to eat?” Dan’s voice penetrated the memories, which fled with the onslaught of reality. This wasn’t some teenage fantasy. They were adults and the world was different.

  “Sounds great.” Graham sat.

  “Lacey,” Dan called, “go wash your hands. It’s time for dinner.” Lacey huffed dramatically, hopped off the swing, and ran back into the house.

  Graham gathered himself and reasserted control. He’d do what he always did in situations like this—he’d keep his distance.

  Chapter Fourteen

  DAN loaded up the plates, but he wasn’t thinking about the food—he was thinking of how being so close to Graham felt good. Of how long it had been since he’d let himself feel something other than the familiar numbness when he thought about another man. Another thought echoed in the background—that it was a huge mistake to feel something about a colleague with whom he worked so closely and who held the keys to his future at the law firm. In that moment he didn’t care.

  Maybe it was the soft light from the deck, but Graham appeared more relaxed than when he’d first arrived. Had he felt the same subtle pull of attraction? He certainly had smiled more tonight. But that could just be Lacey casting her spell as she did over so many people. Or maybe being away from work.

  “It’s delicious,” Graham said and met Dan’s gaze. “Thanks for inviting me.” The hint of awkwardness in Graham’s manner was surprisingly endearing.