Page 232 of The Texas Sterling Collection
Later that afternoon, James left for his session at Wilde’s, and Glenn placed a call to Garrett Burke.
“Hello?” Garrett answered his cell phone.
“Hi, Garrett, this is Glenn. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”
“Hi, Glenn. Not at all. What’s up?”
“Can you come to brunch tomorrow? I want you to meet my partner, James. I can tell you’re still new to the gay scene, and I thought seeing a committed couple might help ease your transition.”
“Wow, that sounds amazing. I would love to. What time and where?”
“How is ten o’clock?”
“Works for me.”
“Citypoint Apartments in Eyre Square. We’re in 202.”
Garrett made a note of the location. “Thanks, Glenn. I’m looking forward to the visit. Since Fergus died, I don’t have anyone. This is what I needed this weekend.”
“I’m glad you can come. Bring your appetite!”
“Will do. Bye.”
“Bye.” Glenn hung up. What do university students eat?
* * *
At 8:30 Sunday morning, the alarm went off beside the bed. Glenn reached over to the nightstand and punched the snooze button.
James rolled over and looked at his husband through barely open eyes. “Awfully early to be getting up, isn’t it?” His voice was deep from sleep.
“We have Garrett Burke coming for brunch this morning, remember?”
“Oh yes…the case. We’re supposed to be this happily married gay couple, right?”
“Think you can play that part for the morning?”
“Not if I have to get up at the arse-crack of dawn,” James grumbled, rolling over to go back to sleep. Glenn got out of bed and padded to the bathroom.
Two minutes later, the alarm went off again.
“Shite!” James groused, throwing Glenn’s pillow at the offending sound and knocking the alarm clock to the floor. It continued its relentless beeping until James scooted over to Glenn’s side of the bed and silenced it. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and padded to the bathroom.
Glenn was in the shower and peeked around the curtain. “Well, is Mr. Sunshine ready to face his day?” He asked.
Glenn was way too happy for so early on a Sunday. “Feckin’ work until midnight, then feckin’ have to get up at this unholy hour to play host,” James grumbled. He glared at Glenn’s reflection in the mirror.
“I’ll finish in a sec, then you can shower,” Glenn closed the curtain again.
James brushed his teeth, and as he rinsed his mouth, the shower turned off, and the curtain opened.
“This Garrett guy, what do you know about him?” James asked.
Glenn reached for his towel. “He’s a student of MacGowan’s. I checked him out to be sure he didn’t have a record, and he’s clean.” Glenn threw the towel around his back and dried it. “I had MI-6 run a check on his family, and his father is a policeman in Liverpool. The kid has been around law enforcement his entire life.” He stepped out of the tub and continued drying off.
“So, you’re confident he can handle this undercover responsibility?” James shucked his boxers and stepped into the tub.
“O’Brien didn’t know it, but he picked the perfect student for what he wanted.” Glenn wrapped the towel around his waist and moved to the sink to shave.
