The moment I arrived, I spotted Harry locking up and talking on his cell. I assumed he’d done this to meet me. But the moment he saw me walking up the drive with my arms extended in a gesture reading, What the fuck, dude? his face gave him away.
He cussed into his phone. “Fuck!” At the response on the other line, his brows drew together and he uttered, “Not you, Minnie. I forgot about Quinn. He’s here. We sort of do lunch every Saturday.” I couldn’t hear the reply he was given, but figured it out pretty quickly when he scowled and barked into the phone, “No, not like a date, dipshit!”
I chuckled at his irritation then shrugged. “What’s going on?”
Harry held up a hand and quickly griped, “Hold on, Minnie.” Covering his phone, he muttered, “My sister moved back into town two days ago. I thought I’d go by, check out her apartment, and see what she needed. Help her get settled. Do my brotherly duty, you know?”
I nodded. I understood that. Harry had always been fond of his sister. They had a small family, just Mama Jane, Harry, and Minnie. Since I’d only been a friend of Harry’s for five years and the majority of that time Minnie had been away at college, I didn’t know her well. And when I said well, I meant at all.
I’d met her once, at a Christmas party hosted by their family five years earlier, but since I was caught up in my own bullshit, I’d had so much to drink that most of the night was a blur. The few things I knew about Minnie were that she was shy, short, and chubby. I kind of remembered mousy brown hair and doe eyes, but I wasn’t sure if my mind was playing tricks. She seemed nice, and the way she ribbed her brother meant we’d get along just fine.
My brow furrowed. I suddenly found myself protective of this shy little creature. “Why isn’t she living with your mom?”
Harry scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me?” He shook his head. “Mom would be too damn overprotective of her. What would she do if she wanted to bring home a date or some shit?” He chuckled. “Mom would send him packing.”
My brow continued to furrow. How many men would she be dating? Furthermore, how many would she bring home? That didn’t seem like the behavior of the girl I’d met all those years ago. I hated to butt in, but I felt as the best friend of the brother, I needed to say my piece. If I’d wanted a sister, Minnie would be the closest thing to it. “You’re okay with her bringing men home? How old is she? Are you sure she wouldn’t be better off living with Mama Jane?”
Harry suddenly looked at me like I’d sprouted horns. After a moment, he shook his head and uttered, “Dude, she’s almost twenty-seven. Not much I can do about that. As if I could stop her from dating, she’d chew my ass. And Minnie bites. Hard.”
He lifted the phone to his ear and started talking again. “Hey, can I bring Quinn? If there’s two of us, we can move shit around easier.”
Whatever Harry’s duties were to Minnie, he knew without asking that I’d be there with my metaphorical bells on. After all, Harry was the only family I really had. While he talked to his sister, I checked my cell. The moment I spotted the email icon, anticipation held me to the spot.
To: Quinn@DFT.com
From: Minniemouse1987@outlook.com
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: Setting a date.
Quinn,
Having you clarify that you’re in fact not a serial killer is a huge relief. For a moment there, I thought about all the other escorts turned serial killers and decided to stay on the safe side.
Death by lube doesn’t sound like a good way to go.
Also not a serial killer,
Maya
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I could not stop the stupid smile from spreading across my face. She was witty and sarcastic, two of the best qualities in a woman, in my opinion.
It might sound stupid for a person who gets paid for his looks to rate the looks of women at the lower end of the spectrum, but that was just me. I rated humor and intelligent conversation higher than looks. I did this, because I had dated some of the most beautiful women out there and, trust me, looks didn’t make up for lack of a brain.
From the second I received an enquiry from a new client, I knew what type of relationship she wanted. Some were very proper and to the point; others were very laid back and easygoing, but I had never had a client talk to me this way before, as if I were a friend. It set the pace. Without saying the words, she’d told me what she needed.
She needed a friend.
I let out a chuckle. If a friend was what she needed, I found myself in a position to fill that role in a temporary sense.
To: Minniemouse1987@outlook.com
From: Quinn@DFT.com
Subject: Did you make a funny??
Dearest Maya,
Was your extensive sarcasm your way of saying you approve and will allow me the honor of getting to know you a little better?
Also, death by lube would be gross.
Death by vibrating anal plug would be epic though.
Your friendly neighborhood Spiderman,
Killer Quinn
I clicked send as the conversation between Harry and Minnie turned into an argument. I waited and waited and waited for Maya’s reply, but got nothing. Harry yelled, “Fine!” into his cell and shoved it into his pocket.
Looking pissed off, Harry strode to the car, all but stomping his feet. “We’re going to lunch, moron.”
Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
To: Quinn@DFT.com
From: Minniemouse1987@outlook.com
Subject: Why, yes. How nice of you to notice.
Killer Quinn,
Vibrating anal plug? I’m almost too scared to ask…or Google.
And, I suppose, getting to know you may not be a bad thing, especially if you get my quirky sense of humor.
Tell me about yourself.
Maya’s so fly-a
I placed my phone back in my pocket, reminding myself to email when I got home, and made my way to the car.
When Harry called me moron, it was anything but an insult. An insult to your best friend should always be received as a pet name, as it is meant. “What about your sister?”
I couldn’t make out much of what Harry said, but I did hear him utter ‘devil spawn…prayed for a brother…kiss my ass.’ I guessed Minnie didn’t want an overprotective brother ruining her space.
I smiled to myself. Poor thing didn’t know she was getting two.
Chapter Three
Mia
He responded.
I threw myself back on my bed, clutching my phone to my chest, laughing. Not only had Matt Quinn responded, but he’d also flirted a little. Kind of. I think.
Whatever it was I had started, I was not regretting it. A friendship with Quinn would be great. After all, he was my brother’s best friend, and my brother was one of my best friends. It seemed like the natural course to take. I wanted Quinn, for sure. But he served a purpose. I needed his help. When all this was over, we’d look back and laugh. I was sure of it.
Straightening, I sat up on my bed and looked around my neat-but-bare apartment. Oh, damn. It was good to be home.
My mother had called me and left umpteen voice messages, the last one threatening to call the neighborhood watch to start a search that would no doubt end in retrieving my body from a ditch. Mom could be a little overprotective. And when I said a little, I meant a shitload.
The vibration in my hand accompanied by a loud ping let me know I’d received an email. I bit my lip to hide my smile.
What was happening to me? I was turning into a goose.
To: Minniemouse1987@outlook.com
From: Quinn@DFT.com
Subject: I’ll ask the questions around here, missy.
Maya drinks chai-a,
Shucks, lady. I am at your service.
But no, I won’t be telling you about myself… not until you tell me what you need from lil ole Quinn.