Page 40 of Perfect Pitch

“She’ll be twenty soon,” Charlie admits. “And despite her background...

“What do you mean, her background?” I cut him off, suddenly suspicious.

“Ahh, nothing. Just, she grew up... well, you should let her tell you.”

Huh. I wonder what the report from Hudson is going to come back with. Still, I feel myself wondering if she’d open up enough to see me again. Deciding to reach out to her before Beckett and Erzulie make their appearance, I abruptly announce, “Got to go, Charlie.”

Smugly, he pokes, “Tell Austyn hi from me,” before he hangs up.

“Old meddling coot,” I mutter.

Kane, proving he was completely listening in, asks, “So, you met someone?”

I groan. “Not you too.”

“It’s not a crime to ask. Besides, as your work husband, I need to know... shit, that hurt!” He rubs his arm where I’ve slugged it.

“We”—I point back and forth between us—“are not work spouses.”

His face is one ladened with fake horror. His hands clasp under his chin and he flutters his eyelashes at me. “But, Mitch, you’re the only one I can talk to about our boss and his fetish with ’90s boy bands.”

I consider that for a second before I add, “I expect extra perks for having to listen to that crap not only from Beckett but you.”

Kane snaps back to normal. “Deal. Now what’s up with the woman?”

After killing time by filling in Kane about Austyn, he remarks, “Sounds nice. You know one of the problems you have as an agent?”

I bristle. “I wasn’t aware of any.”

“Sure. We all have them. Yours is the same as mine.”

“And that is?”

Kane’s smile turns grim as both Beckett and Erzulie step outside. They’re immediately swarmed by other members of our team and a gaggle of photographers. As the mass of people make their way to us, and Beckett decides to give an impromptu interview, causing me to grind my molars, Kane flings out quickly, “This woman wasn’t on your radar and you hate surprises.”

Shocked by his insight, it takes me an extra half second to react by following him into the foray of reporters to drag Beckett and his dinner companion out. After we’ve dropped off Erzulie and have Beckett safely locked down for the night, I ping Trevor asking for Austyn’s number.

I program it in and then send her a quick apology.

Mitch:

I’m sorry for how I behaved at the end of our date last night.

I should inform her who this is, considering there’s more than one English speaking human on this planet who botched the end of their date.

But before I can respond, she texts.

Austyn:

Your brother just told me he gave you my number. What do you want, Mitch?

Mitch:

I hoped the flowers said it.

Austyn:

The flowers were lovely.

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