on money. Ryan and my father were both forever telling me that I had to get my head in the game, pay attention to the financial and business side of, well, the business. And they were probably right. But, God, it was so boring. I wasn’t great at doing nothing, but I was worse at doing tedious, repetitive things. Maybe I could do something with my degree. What does one do with a degree in Business Communication?
Shoot me now.
“What are you going to school for?” I asked Danny.
“Excuse me?” He looked concerned.
“Not like, why are you going to school. I meant, what’s your major? Just thinking about my useless degree. I hope you’re smarter than I was and you’re going for something marketable.”
“Like what?” Danny asked.
“Fuck if I know,” I said with a laugh. “Something financial.”
He made a face, his nose scrunching up. I pointed the alien at him. “My feelings exactly. So, what is your major?”
“I’m still undecided,” he said. “Just kind of taking classes, see if anything jumps out at me.”
“Sounds like a good idea. Now, if money were no object, what would you do with your life?”
Danny motioned for my alien, so I tossed it to him. Leaning back in the old desk chair, he stared off into the distance while he squeezed it contemplatively. “If I had a fortune, I would open safe places for LGBTQ kids who got kicked out. Make sure they have a place to sleep, food to eat, and some guidance. Just, someone who cares, who can help them, you know.”
“If I had a fortune, I would give it to you to do that.”
“Really?” Danny sat up straight suddenly. “We can? You would do that?”
“Well, I don’t have a fortune,” I tempered. “Yet. But if you know somewhere I can make a donation, I’ll totally do that.”
Danny covered his mouth with his hand. His eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Can we do it soon?”
Why not? “Sure, find me something.” The smile on his face made whatever I would donate worth it.
“Davis, I can’t…I mean. That’s amazing.” His breath caught.
Davis? Whatever. I was feeling generous today. Several orgasms would do that to a man.
Danny blinked and a few tears escaped, slipping down the curve of his cheek. “I’m coming. I’ll be right down.” Wiping his cheeks, he stood up. “Do you mind?” He motioned to the door. “I need to talk to Ridge.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be here.”
“Thanks.” He tossed my alien back to me, and then rushed out, almost knocking over Ryan who was headed in the door.
Ryan raised his eyebrows as he let the door close behind him. “Was it something I said?”
“Nah,” I assured him. “Kids these days, always in a hurry. What’s up?”
He sat in the chair Danny had just vacated, legs spread, rocking back and forth. “So-o-o,” he said in the way he did when he knew something I didn’t. Packing that much tone into a two-letter word was pretty impressive, I’d give him that much.
I made a ‘go on’ gesture. “Just spit it out.”
“I saw Jake at the bank today.”
“And?”
“Symanski saw him as well, and he was surprised. Very surprised.”
I repeated the ‘go on’ gesture.
“Apparently, Mr. Symanski knows him by the name Carson Grieves.”
Oh shit.
I don’t know what Ryan saw in my face, but he rocked forward, resting his elbows on his knees and looking in my eyes.
“He must have him confused with someone else,” I said smoothly. Or at least I hoped I said it smoothly.
“I don’t think so. He seemed positively delighted about it. Says Grieves is a well-known con artist. Wanted for questioning by several law enforcement organizations, apparently.”
Fuck. Damn it. I knew Jake was hiding something but con artist? Jake was a criminal?
“You’re not saying much,” Ryan commented.
“It’s bullshit, that’s what I have to say. Your guy must be mistaken.”
“I don’t think he is.”
“But you have no proof.” If he did, he would be waving it under my nose.
Ryan frowned at me. “Why are you so quick to dismiss it?”
“Why are you so quick to accept it?” Probably the same reason I was. Occam’s razor. It fit.
“Because I don’t trust him.” Ryan leaned back, crossing his arms. “He’s gone all these years, doing something no one knows, and then all of a sudden he shows up now? Just as we’re setting up this deal?” He shook his head. “It’s too coincidental. I bet you anything he’s going to try and get in on it. Maybe even try to scam us.”