Used the hidden key to get inside your place
Max: Says the brother who doesn’t bother calling until he’s on his way and just expects me to be at home waiting for him.
Honestly, he was happy. It had been nearly a month since his brother had visited.
Drake: Good point
Right below that message was a new one from Paloma.
Paloma: I figured out the Thompsons. They’re swingers. I’m 90% sure.
He laughed, getting out of his truck. It wouldn’t surprise him, given some of the things he’d seen in the home.
Max: Why
Paloma: Their new door knocker.
A photo of an upside-down pineapple appeared under the message.
Uh-oh. He laughed under his breath.
Max: You’re right
How do you know about the pineapple
Paloma: Urban Dictionary. How do you know about it?
Instead of answering the question, he typed.
Max: They also asked for a lot of pampas in the garden…
Paloma: So?
Max: Keep googling
“Drake?” he called.
“I’m in the kitchen.”
Taking off his work boots, he cut through the spacious living room, passed the formal dining room with its layer of dust, and through the open repurposed barn doors. Drake sat at the round table. Besides his blue eyes, they didn’t look much like brothers. He took after their mom with blonde hair and slightly thinner lips. Not to mention, he wore a tailor-made suit. Nothing in Max’s closet was custom-made.
Drake was tapping away on his laptop, drinking Max’s last ginger beer. Papers, a laptop, and a portable printer covered every bit of space on the table.
“Dude, make yourself at home,” Max griped, even as his smile widened and they hugged. It had been too long.
“What?” Drake shrugged. “You weren’t home. And it was either get some work done or snoop. I figured I wouldn’t find anything exciting, so I went with work.”
“Says the workaholic.” Max opened the fridge. “How long are you staying?” His phone dinged, and he pulled it from his pocket. Leaning against the counter, he read it.
Paloma: Shit. I have pampas grass and a cute gnome on my back porch
He laughed. The three dots danced on the bottom of his screen. Disappeared. Just as he was about to return his phone to his pocket another text appeared.
Paloma: Why do you know so much about the swinging lifestyle?
This conversation was already veering out of work-appropriate topics. This wasn’t the first time. There’d been nothing sexual, just joking and teasing, but more like flirty friends than acquaintances and work partners. Still…
Max: TV and books
