Based on the man’s expression, Reese had told him he preferred long walks on the beach and quiet dinners by firelight, not the name of the company he worked for.
He held up his hand, tilting it the way a royal lady would when she was expecting to be greeted by a gentleman. “Carl Woods,” he introduced, fluttering his fingers before dropping his hand when Reese didn’t take it. “And who would this be?” he asked, glancing down at Tesha.
As soon as he started to reach for her, Reese said, “She’s working. Please don’t touch.”
Carl’s eyes shot up to Reese face, but even that didn’t deter his interest.
“Do you know Toby?” Brantley asked, trying to ease the awkwardness filling the space faster than the overpowering floral scent of the candles.
Carl glanced his way briefly, then fluttered his lashes at Reese. “Sure. I know Toby.”
Looked like the uncomfortable situations were going to continue coming Reese’s way today. Brantley couldn’t keep from grinning, enjoying the fact Reese was getting hit on.
“Can you tell us the last time he was around here?” Reese inquired, oblivious to the fact this man was all but drooling.
Carl cocked a hip and drummed a finger on his lower lip. “It’s been a while. Six months, maybe. Why do you ask?”
“We think he might be in trouble,” Reese said simply.
“I’ll say.” Carl waved a hand dramatically. “Those goons came by two days ago looking for him.”
The way he referred to them asthosegoonstold Brantley this wasn’t the first time he’d seen them around. “You recognize the men who came lookin’ for him?”
“Do I?” he retorted dramatically as he fluttered a hand. “They came by at least twice a week when Toby was at work.”
“He knew them?” Reese questioned.
“If I had to guess, he did business with them. Or with their boss, anyway.”
Brantley glanced at Reese. He wasn’t sure he liked the way that sounded.
Carl was watching them closely, but his gaze continued to slide over Reese as though he was caressing him with his mind. “I tried asking him about them once, but he shrugged it off. Said they were potential clients.”
Clients? Were they simply coming to collect the money Toby owed? Or was there more to this story than they knew?
Carl’s expression shifted to pleasant, and Brantley saw the salesman morph into place. “Could I interest you in something?” he offered Reese, and Brantley knew it wasn’t an accident that he waved his hand down the front of his body as though offering himself up.
He considered letting Reese handle this one, but there was a good chance this man would never stop calling if Reese gave him his card, so Brantley produced one of his.
“If you happen to see or hear from Toby, would you mind givin’ me a call?” he said as he passed it over.
Carl took the card and skimmed it momentarily before looking up at Reese expectantly. “And you, handsome? You happen to have a card you’re willing to give out?”
Brantley chuckled softly.
Reese, finally recognizing what was going on, cleared his throat. “I don’t.”
“Well, that’s too bad. I happen to have a fragrance here that’s guaranteed to put you in the mood.”
Brantley was turning toward the door when he heard Reese say, “I happen to have someone who handles that rather easily, but thanks.”
“Lucky woman.”
Reese laughed. “Definitely not a woman.”
The smile that formed on Brantley’s mouth was likely going to be planted there for the foreseeable future.
***
