Strange Bedfellows

by Rob Byrnes

  When someone asked her after the ceremony how she’d come up with the idea for the book, Margaret shrugged and humbly shook her head.

  “I wish I could pretend to have some sort of secret, but the truth is…the plot just came to me out of the blue.”

  Two hundred-twelve days into his first term in Congress, Austin Peebles finally made the national news. On the plus side, that was remarkably soon for a freshman Member of Congress to make headlines.

  On the minus side…

  The New York Times called it “an indiscreet moment.” The Washington Post said it was “a national embarrassment.” The Denver Post wrote that the incident “was cause for Peebles’s immediate resignation.” Drudge had the siren up; Colbert and Stewart amped up the mockery; and even Leno managed to come up with a few passably funny jokes.

  All of which was to say, Austin Peebles unwisely used his damn camera phone again.

  It was another great photo—this time he managed to get the Capitol Dome in the background from the balcony of his hotel room—but people still considered it inappropriate. So much for patriotism.

  Penelope had finally had enough and filed for divorce before Austin even began seriously considering the fallout, let alone the calls for his resignation. He assumed it would all go away, the way these things had always gone away in the past. This time, though, it didn’t.

  His father had enjoyed having his son as a colleague, but he was the person who eventually convinced Austin he’d become a laughingstock and needed to resign. It was a tough thing to have to do to a free-spirited young man like Austin, but Neil Peebles finally decided after twenty-eight years that it was time to crack the whip.

  Catherine Cooper Concannon was unopposed in the special election to fill the vacancy. The public knew the old girl still had another decade or two in her. They’d miss that sweet Austin with his long lashes and seductive smile and bedroom eyes and…mmm…

  But they were happy to have Triple-C back in office, too!

  And Neil Peebles had his desk-mate back!

  Chase was stocking an aisle at the Groc-O-Rama in Elmhurst when Grant appeared, almost knocking over a display of Cheez Whiz as he leaned against the shelf.

  “This better be good.” Chase wasn’t having one of his better days at the supermarket.

  “How do diamonds sound to you?”

  Chase frowned. “If this is your way of proposing, you’re doing it wrong.”

  “Oh God, no!” Grant laughed. Then he saw Chase wasn’t laughing. “I mean, I’d be happy to make an honest man outta you, but…Well, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Most people were afraid of marriage because it was a lifelong commitment. Grant Lambert—a man the government would have been hard-pressed to prove actually existed—feared marriage because there was paperwork involved. “So tell me about these diamonds.”

  Grant tried to smile, but quickly gave up. It was best that way. “I know this guy who just got a job with Major League Baseball…”

  Chase had to admit he didn’t see that curveball coming.

  About the Author

  Rob Byrnes is the author of five previous novels, including the 2006 Lambda Literary Award–winning When the Stars Come Out and 2009 Lammy finalist Straight Lies. His short stories have also appeared in several anthologies, including Fool for Love (2009) and Men of the Mean Streets (2011).

  A native of Upstate New York, Byrnes was born and raised in Rochester and graduated from Union College in Schenectady before moving to Manhattan. He now resides in West New York, New Jersey, with his partner, Brady Allen. Visit him at www.RobByrnes.net.

  Other Rob Byrnes Titles Available Via Amazon

  Holy Rollers

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