“You’re damn right, and I made sure that Howard knows it. I can’t control what Weston does, but I made it perfectly clear that Howard was to keep his hands and any other part of him to himself or there would be hell to pay.” She was most definitely her mother’s daughter.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on him.” He did his best brother voice. After all, if Howard did anything to hurt his sister, he was going to have to answer to James. “Maybe I’ll take my handcuffs to the party just in case.”
“Ooooh, kinky,” Daniel said from inside. “I like the way you think.” The motor of the sewing machine hummed, and James just smiled as Holly shook her head, leaving without saying another word. “She seemed happy with the dress so far,” Daniel said as James closed the door. Daniel’s gaze lifted when James stayed by the door. “What are you smiling about?”
“I told my mom to back off. I doubt it will do anything, but I did it nonetheless.”
Daniel got up from the sewing machine and came right over to him. “That’s awesome. I know that was hard for you.”
“It was liberating in a way. Now I want to go out and run a marathon or something.” He was all keyed up.
“You could do that. In fact, I have someone for you to look into.” Daniel lowered his voice, coming even closer. “Apparently Reverend Nutcase is pushing for more financial control of the church. That’s what Holly told me.”
“Huh...” James commented. He really wasn’t interested in getting involved in what was certain to be a complete mess.
“Is that all you have to say?” Daniel asked with an accompanying shiver. “The guy was creepy as hell. And now he wants control of all the church money. That should set off a bunch of alarm bells.”
“It does. But I don’t have any authority here.” James really didn’t want to get involved. “We’re here for just a few days and then we go back to Chicago. I’ll look into the guy,” he agreed. “But there’s only so much I can do, and remember, creepy isn’t a crime.” James had to agree that he hadn’t thought much of the reverend either, but the guy probably just had a big ego and liked being the center of attention. “My mother can’t find out about this or she’ll be mad as a wet hen. You know that.”
Daniel hugged him. “Like I’m going to tell her.” He squeezed him tighter and then Daniel returned to the sewing machine. “I need to get as much of this done as I can before we have to go to the party.” The motor whirred and fabric slipped under the sewing needle. “Believe it or not, I’ve never been to a bachelorette party.”
James was surprised. “Really?”
The motor stopped. “Yeah. Carmen got married a year ago, and we had a shower for her. It was fun.” Daniel leaned over the sewing machine. “You haven’t lived until you’ve been to a party with twenty drag queens all preening to be the one to garner the attention. Talk about catfights. There was so much shade being thrown around, you’d have thought we were having an eclipse.”
“Shade?” James had to ask.
“Bitchy insults,” Daniel explained. “For some of the girls, it’s part of the shtick. I try to stay above all that.” The way Daniel looked up at the ceiling told James that was a bold-faced lie.
“Bullshit.” He grinned and approached the sewing machine, careful not to step on the fabric. “I bet you are an expert on throwing this shade. Don’t forget, I heard you in your dressing room with the other girls before we actually came inside. I wondered if that was normal or if you guys actually hated each other.” He made sure to speak softly. “Ummm... I think you might want to check your makeup.” Daniel paused and grabbed the bag off the dresser nearby, pulling out a mirror.
“Yeah... I don’t grow much of a beard, thank goodness.” Daniel pulled out some makeup and did a quick retouch.
“Doesn’t that hurt your skin?” He tried to think of what it would feel like to wear all that and he couldn’t really imagine it. “I went as the Hulk for Halloween when I was a kid, and the makeup drove me crazy.” He had hated that. The makeup had seemed caked on his skin, and he couldn’t wait to get it off.
“This isn’t like that. What I use are high-end cosmetics, and they help moisturize the skin, rather than lie on the surface and dry it out.” Daniel put the mirror back in the bag and set it aside before returning to work, sewing a seam and holding up the dress. “That looks a lot better. The basic dress is back together, and the size is right. Now I need to do some more work on the bodice.” Daniel set the dress aside, standing and stretching, arms overhead, lithe body growing longer. James’s fingers itched to feel. He wondered what those long muscles would be like under his hands. James had already broken the rules that the two of them had set down. Heck, they both had. He wanted to break them again, but held back.
“Are you hungry? I have no idea what sort of food these parties are going to have.”
“No, thanks. I need to take a few minutes to rest and clear my head before I get back to this. I want it done so Holly can try it on a final time,” Daniel replied and returned to work.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Daniel shrugged. “Keep me company.”
Now, that was something he could manage.
* * *
“I know you’re a cop, but I would never think of you that way first,” Daniel said. They had been talking for almost an hour, and apparently the dress was nearly done.
“Am I that different?” James asked. “Have you met police officers before?”
Daniel released the pedal, stopping the machine. “I’m sure I have, probably multiple times. But the ones I’ve come in contact with weren’t particularly helpful. Some have been downright cruel. Not like you at all.” Daniel stared at him for a few seconds before started the machine once again, sewing a final seam and standing with a smile. “We should get ready for the parties.”
“Nice change of subject?” James commented.
“It’s not a pre-party story.” Daniel placed a suitcase on the bed, rummaging through it. “I know you’re curious, but I don’t want to throw a wet blanket on the evening’s fun. Just let it go. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Daniel pulled out a pair of leggings, a mid-thigh-length skirt, and a blouse. “What do you think?”
“It looks great to me. I was never a real connoisseur of women’s clothing.” He continued staring at the blouse. “I like that color blue on you. It really brings out your eyes.” James opened the closet door, pulling out a white button-down shirt.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” Daniel asked and moved him aside. “This is much better. Don’t be afraid of a little color.”
“I only brought that shirt because Holly gave it to me last Christmas and I thought I’d have it if she asked about it.” James really wasn’t sold on the plum color, but he pulled off his shirt and shrugged the plum one on. “I don’t know...”