Page 45 of Doubling Down

Eric sighed.

“I won’t leave the coffee shop. If we have to take the trash, we’ll go together.” Ezra turned to stand in front of Eric, gripping his shirt. “I know you’re worried for me, but this is my job. I already promised to be back today.”

“I don’t want you driving,” Eric said. “I can take you. I need to meet with my team at the casino anyway but—”

“I can pick him up,” Brandon offered.

Eric didn’t like that idea any better. “Uh…”

“Come on,” Brandon said. “This guy wouldn’t know who I am. I’ll pick Brandon up and bring him home after his shift.”

It really was the best plan. “Okay.” Eric would have Dane watch out for the boys. Remi had assigned Dane temporarily to Eric’s team for the duration of his case. They had to bring Joey Collins in.

“What about Annabelle?” Brandon asked.

“Oh, she goes to the program,” Ezra said.

“The program?” Eric asked.

Ezra smiled. “It’s a day care center that Jesse Lambert has for his employees’ children. It’s a state-of-the-art facility and free for us. The teachers and workers are certified, bonded and insured, and background checked. It’s the best program in the city. People work for Lambert Entertainment for the benefits alone.”

The more that Eric heard about Jesse Lambert, the more he was impressed. The man really did have a heart of gold. He put his money where his mouth was, as the saying goes.

“What if she stayed with me today?” Brandon asked.

“I work an eight-hour shift,” Ezra told him.

“I don’t mind,” Brandon replied. “The little one can keep me company and I can take her to pick you up.”

Ezra pressed his lips together as he looked up at Eric. Eric was a fan of the idea but he didn’t want to influence Ezra’s decision. Ezra knew what was best for his little girl.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Ezra asked. “I would feel better with her not being anywhere connected to a Lambert property. Joey worked at the casino for years. Who knows how many friends he had out there?”

“I would feel better keeping Annabelle,” Brandon said.

“Yes,” Eric agreed. Hopefully Eric could find Collins fast and this would all be for nothing.

“I should get ready for work then,” Ezra said.

Eric nodded and let him go. Brandon waited until they heard Ezra’s bedroom door close.

“You really like him?” Brandon asked.

“I think I made that more than obvious this morning,” he teased.

Brandon snorted. “I’ll never recover from that.”

Eric laughed. “I’ve been attracted to him for months. I had to make the case a priority, but I had hoped that I could ask him out once it was wrapped up.”

“Instead, you moved him in.”

He winced. “I’m sorry about that. I couldn’t leave him and Annabelle in that apartment. Sick and alone. This wasn’t in my plans. I’m surprised he’s still here.”

Brandon shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. It feels like he and Annabelle belong here. With us. That it’s the way it was meant to be.”

Eric felt the same way.

“But—” Brandon shifted from one foot to the other.

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