Last to Know

By Jon Bradbury

Seven months after the events in The Professor, Danielle Evans is inviting Jeff Humphries back to Los Angeles, to help celebrate the release of her new album. Both have their own expectations of how the week will go. But other events, both large and small, will prove to both of them, that life can never be planned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Feb 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781487401337

Book preview

Seven months after the events in The Professor, Danielle Evans is inviting Jeff Humphries back to Los Angeles, to help celebrate the release of her new album. Both have their own expectations of how the week will go. But other events, both large and small, will prove to both of them that life can never be planned.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Last to Know

Copyright © 2014 Jon Bradbury

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0133-7

Cover art by Latrisha Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc

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Smashwords Edition

Last to Know

By

Jon Bradbury

Dedication

To the incomparable Whitney Houston. We will always love you.

Chapter One

Jeff

I was just coming back from lunch, getting back to my cubicle, sitting down at my desk, and congratulating myself on having done almost everything on my to do list before I left on vacation, when my office phone rang. Great. Jeff Humphries.

A female voice said, Hi, honey!

Instantly I smiled. Hi, Clarice.

Hi, Jeff. You ready to take some time off?

Yes, very much so.

Well, we can’t wait to have you back! If you’re able to talk, I’ve got the details about your train ticket.

I stood up and looked around, wary for anyone nearby. Fortunately the office was empty at the moment, with everyone still at lunch. So I sat back down.

Yeah, I can talk, but not for very long.

I won’t keep you long, honey, I promise! First thing I need to tell you, get dressed and be ready before you leave. You won’t have time to change after you arrive.

Okay.

They should have arrived already, but if they haven’t as of yet, your train ticket will be delivered by messenger.

I spared a glance at an envelope on my desk. Actually, yeah, it’s arrived.

Great! Okay, so, what’s going to happen when you get into town is that you and I will go straight to the Grammy event, where you’ll get to talk to Danielle really quickly before the show. Then you will meet Danielle more formally at the party after the show.

Ah. So I definitely need to be ready when I get there.

Definitely, honey.

You’ve mentioned something about introducing me to some people. I take it we’re also doing that?

Yes, we are. At the after party. It’s going to make a long day for you, but it could also be potentially big if you’re up for it.

Sounds good to me.

Super! I can’t wait to pick you up tomorrow…

You’re going to be my date for the party, I guess?

Yes, she laughed. Why? Is there a problem?

You won’t mind hanging off the arm of an old fart?

"Come on, you’re not that old!"

Thanks, I think.

There’s no other arm I would want to hang from.

I smiled into the phone. Okay.

And besides, there’s going to be a lot of middle-aged men at this party with very young women on their arm.

Where is this party, anyway?

It’s at the Marriott Hotel on Figueroa.

Okay. And where is the concert?

At the Staples Center, honey. Down the street from the hotel.

"Wait a second. You mean the Staples Center? The Staples Center? The one where they have all the LA Lakers games?"

Clarice giggled. Yes, Jeff, that one! Trust me, this is going to be really fun.

Believe me, I trust you. Should I wear a tux?

No, honey, just wear a suit. You don’t have to wear a tie.

Okay. Cool.

So I’ll meet you tomorrow evening at the train station?

Yeah. Definitely. Wouldn’t miss it.

See you then!

Suddenly my computer pinged. I knew what that meant.

Clarice, I need to go. I’m being paged.

Okay, honey. I’ll see you tomorrow!

Yeah. See you tomorrow. Bye, Clarice.

Bye…

I hung up, excited.

Chapter Two

Danielle

Clarice hung up from speaking with Jeff, turned and looked at me. Well, he seems pretty excited to be coming back.

You don’t, though.

No, I’m very excited to see Jeff again. I’m just not excited about having to drive clear across town back to my place, change clothes for the concert, and then drive all the way back here to meet with you, then drive to Union Station to pick him up.

Why didn’t you say something? Get yourself into the fashion room and pick out a dress for tomorrow night. My tour wardrobe just arrived this morning.

Clarice gasped out loud. Are you serious?

Completely serious.

"No, I mean, can I really wear them?"

Of course you can. Why?

Those are for the tour!

I ordered way too many dresses and shoes. There is no way I’ll wear them all. So take some for yourself. I know we wear the same size.

Oh, Danielle, you are too good to me! Thank you!

I laughed indulgently. I wouldn’t go that far. But you’re welcome.

Speaking of tomorrow night…

Yes, Clarice?

I thought I should ask you, how affectionate I should be to Jeff?

Innocently I said, I don’t know what you’re talking about…

Clarice gazed at me steadily. "Danielle. Naomi told me all about how you had sex with Jeff in the pool last summer. She saw the whole thing.