Brad (Threefold #2) Read Free Page B

he knew. That first date had been a series of surprises.
    Becca had turned out to be his newest employee. And born and raised right there, in San Francisco. She’d lied, because he was hot, as she admitted. He’d been unable to take his eyes off her lips while she spoke.
    “My place or yours?” she’d asked him before they were done with their starters.
    He’d spluttered, and gone against every principle he’d been brought up with. “Mine.” It was the first time he’d had sex outside a loving, committed relationship.
    He wouldn’t trade it for this world or the next one.
    “My place or yours?” he asked now with a smile.
    “Mine,” Becca said. “Have to spend some time with Ms. Thing, before she goes cat-ninja on my furniture. Say nine?”
    “I’ll bring dinner.”
    “I’ll provide the entertainment.” She inched to the edge of the bed, and he leaned down for a quick kiss. She’d go back to sleep as soon as he was gone. “And give Colin some time. He needs to process things,” she said.
    “He’s a guy, Becca. We don’t take as long to process as you do.” Blatant lie, because Brad was still processing, and probably would be for a while. He considered sending Colin another quick text, but what could he say this time?
    He shoved his phone in his back pocket, and grabbed his jacket and briefcase. He was dragging his feet. Though he generally felt reluctant to leave Becca in the morning, it had been a while since he felt this miserable. She’d brought a bounce to his step, and a night with her felt like drinking from the fountain of youth. He only wished Colin felt the same way.
    About Brad’s girlfriend.
    And Brad accused Colin of being a sick fuck.
    Maybe he should go spill his guts to Father Aloysius, and leave the whole mess behind. But that would mean no more fun sexy times with Becca either, and he wasn’t willing to lose that.
    “Give him time. And stop calling him.” Becca’s drowsy voice followed him to the front door.
    “I’ll try.” He got out and locked the door behind him. Becca had her own set of keys. He gave it to her their first week together, completely astonishing both her and himself. But that was Becca. She was astonishing, and he was a new man because of her. One unafraid of his flaws and passions.
    Less afraid, in any case.
    He called the elevator, and pulled out his phone for a quick glance at the time. Not to check if Colin had called or texted and he’d somehow missed it.
    Nothing from Colin.
    And it was a little after nine.
    Shit.
    As general manager of the construction company, Brad could make his own schedule, but he liked going in early, to set an example for employees. He didn’t have to work on actual construction, but ‘early’ still meant eight in the morning. Today he wouldn’t make it there before ten.
    And that didn’t account for the traffic he encountered as soon as he pulled out of the underground parking. Not an unusual phenomenon in San Fransisco, but today in particular, he didn’t want to be stuck in his car with his phone.
    Eh. Resistance was futile. He fished his cell out of his pocket, and pressed the side button to light the screen. Still nothing. Colin was such an ass some times. If he regretted what happened or just meant to write it off, he could at least text back to tell Brad to go screw himself. Or to leave him alone. Or something. Brad thought their friendship merited at least that courtesy. Anything but this damned disappearing act.
    But no. Mr. Colin Daniels was treating Brad and Becca as he would a casual hookup. He wrote off all that came before he did, and deleted the girl’s number.
    In this case, Brad’s number, since he didn’t have Becca’s.
    Brad didn’t tell Becca he suspected Colin was blowing them off. He’d rather let her think Colin was freaked out by the magnitude of what they’d done than tell her his best friend had taken what he wanted and had no more use for them.
    His best friend. The man had been his