Love & Loyalty by Tere Michaels Page A

counter again, unnecessarily. Out of chores and excuses, Griffin grabbed his BlackBerry and headed for the balcony, spreading out on one of the Adirondack chairs Jim had out there.

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    The Seattle skyline and some puffy white clouds against the gray-hued afternoon sky settled his nerves until the phone started ringing and Daisy picked up immediately.
    Christ, he was in so much trouble.
    “Where the hell are you?” she said by way of greeting, and Griffin sighed.
    “Still in Seattle.”
    “ What ?”
    “What what?” he asked, suddenly defensive instead of his planned apologetics. “I'm in Seattle.”
    “With Jim.” Not a question.
    “Yeah, with Jim.”
    “You've been there almost a week—what the hell are you doing?” Her shrill voice had an edge to it, and only someone who'd known her as long as he had would detect the fear under the growing temper tantrum.
    “It's been less than four days, and I'm having a nice time, actually—
    thanks for asking.”
    Silence filled the line and went a few seconds past surprise into something else.
    “What are you two, like a couple or something now?”
    “No!” Griffin sputtered out a laugh. “Seriously, Daisy Mae—it's been like three nights. That's not a relationship, that's a long-ass date. We're just having a good time. No big deal.” Every word was the truth and a big fat lie; Griffin hoped Daisy was too caught up in her own drama to scent that out.
    “Your MO isn't really no big deal, Griff. You went for one night, I was thinking to get laid, shore up the deal, and now this,” she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous quiet. “We've been here before, Griffin, and it didn't end well.”
    Griffin couldn't muster enough balls to call her on the implication that this time it wasn't him whoring for the movie deal.

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    “No, it's not a replay of anything. We're just hanging out, no strings attached.”
    He heard murmurs through the line—Daisy talking to herself. He could sense the precipice, the moment between Daisy going ballistic and Daisy backing down. It could go either way.
    “I'm sorry,” she said finally, her soft “forgive me” voice sweet in his ear. “I just got worried, okay? You're never gone like this without calling me or at least a text. I was concerned.”
    “Well, then I'm sorry too, okay? I just got caught up in writing and this little minivacation,” he murmured, relieved to avoid a fight. “I didn't mean to drop out of sight.”
    “Do you know when you're coming back? I mean, just asking because Claus is having a party at the Four Seasons for Lina Devore…” Her voice trailed off, and Griffin rubbed his eyes under his glasses. Claus's newest mistress, a French actress who had about as much talent as Pepe Le Pew but a hell of a rack—Daisy's newest replacement.
    Sick cycle. Claus loved the roller coaster, Daisy always had a reason not to get off, and Griffin wanted to punch Claus's stupid face in because he couldn't be mad at Daisy.
    “When's the party? I'll make sure I'm back and we'll go together, okay?” he assured her, guilt eating his guts. “Do you have a new dress?” Daisy sighed. “No, not yet. Jules is bringing some things over today.”
    “Send me pictures on my phone. We'll pick out something fantastic. No one will notice the French tickler.”
    “You're mean,” Daisy said, but he heard the lightening of her voice. “I love you. And I really am sorry, Griff. I swear. I was a total brat, but you know, there's just a lot…”
    “Don't apologize, okay? It's partially my fault for being so amazing you can't do without me,” he teased.

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    “That's not even a real joke,” she said.
    “I know; I am amazing. Now go have a soak, and I'll be waiting for cleavage shots.”
    “Love you, Griff.”
    “Love you too, Daisy Mae.”

    * * * * *
After the phone call with Daisy, Griffin sat in apparently the only beam of sunlight in Seattle, conveniently pointed to the