Beyond Daring by Kathleen O'Reilly

Author:Kathleen O'Reilly [O'Reilly, Kathleen]
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, General, Fiction - Romance, Romance: Modern, Romance - Contemporary, Public relations, Celebrities
ISBN: 9780373793136
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Published: 2007-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

It was worse.

Jeff picked up his pen, examining its usefulness as an instrument of death. In the end he decided that mere pen-stabbing would be too painless for Mercedes.

He picked up the phone and punched in her cell number.

Voice mail.

“Mercedes, this is Jeff. Got a lead on that Op-Ed for the Times. Call me.”

Then he dialed her apartment.

Answering machine.

“Mercedes, this is Jeff. Guess what? I ran into a guy from, uh, some publishing house. They love your stuff. Call me.”

He called his mother next.

“Mom, have you talked to Mercedes today?”

“No, I haven’t. Not today. I’ve been meaning to call her.”

“Any idea where she is?”

“Probably at home. Have you tried there?”

“Yes, Mom,” answered Jeff, twisting the phone cord and considering the merits of death by strangulation.

“Is it something important? Can I help you with it?”

“No, it’s nothing important I know her birthday is coming up, and I thought I’d ask—”

“Her birthday is in January.”

“That far off? Wow, the short-term memory really goes after thirty.”

“It’s all that alcohol you’re consuming, not your age.”

“Alcohol does not kill brain cells.”

“Well, be careful, and don’t let the cops get involved. Celeste Mahoney’s son got arrested just last week for public intoxication. Very sad. She’s beside herself. I’m going to make some lasagna to take over there on Sunday. Poor Celeste. I don’t want anyone making lasagna for me, Jeff. Capiche?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“I love you, Jeff. Remember, stay out of trouble.”

“Love you, too,” he said and hung up.

The only other option was Andrew, and Jeff had to weigh his fear that Andrew actually read Mercedes’blog and might recognize the parties involved against the steely anger that was wrapped around him like a snake.

Finally he picked up the phone.

“Andrew, yeah, it’s Jeff.”

“Jeff who?”

“Your brother Jeff. Don’t be a smart-ass. Listen, have you talked to Mercedes? I’ve been trying to get in touch with her.”

“You tried her cell?”

Jeff sighed extra heavily so Andrew could hear. “Yeah, I tried the cell. Tried her apartment, too. No luck.”

“What’re you looking for Mercedes for?” Andrew asked, and Jeff could hear that note of interest in his voice. He knew something.

“No reason, I just wanted to chat with her.”

“Surf the Web today, little brother?”

Andrew knew. Jeff decided to play dumb. “I haven’t seen anything. Too busy.”

“The Red Choo Diaries has a great piece of literary erotica on one blond bombshell and her Hamptons’ date last Saturday night. Sounded just like you and Sheldon. We’re running an office pool on the identity of the guy. Odds for you are three–two.”

“How does your office know who I am?”

“I told them.”

Jeff made an obscene gesture at the phone receiver. “Couldn’t be me, I was home alone on Saturday.”

“Don’t lie to me, Jeff. We all know it was you. And it’s only a matter of time before names are revealed, videos pop up on the Internet, and women start throwing vibrators in your direction.”

“I really don’t like you, Andrew.”

“What cums around, gets around.”

“I am not Randy,” he said tightly.

Andrew was laughing too hard to say anything.

“That’s really not funny, Andrew.

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