Today’s snippet theme is Humorous. Here is a look at a fun interaction between Reese, my hero and Jermaine, his best friend. It is long so placed it behind a link. Enjoy.
An snippet from Conquering Jazz…
Looking up, he saw Jermaine framed in the doorway. He came forward to sit on the side of Reese’s desk. His grin tipped Reese off that Jermaine was going to ask him to do something he wouldn’t like.
“Whatever it is, the answer is no.”
Jermaine chuckled. “How can you say no, and you don’t even know the question yet?”
“Like this. No. See how easy that was?”
Jermaine gave him a pleading look. Reese laughed, shaking his head. Jermaine put his palm to his head and slid off the desk to the floor. Reese stood, walked around the desk, and saw him lying on the floor on his back. When Jermaine saw Reese, he started laughing. Shaking his head, Reese watched him. The man was crazy.
From his prone position, Jermaine said, “You wound me, buddy. Haven’t I, without question, supported you in anything you needed…?”
Reese leaned back on his desk, getting comfortable as Jermaine tried to guilt him into doing whatever it was that he wanted done. Knowing Jermaine’s usual mode of operation, it could take a while for him to get to the point. Reese listened as his friend expounded on the virtue of his struggle to be a nice, forgiving man, sensitive to others and their needs. He continued on with how no one asked about his needs and wants. If he didn’t know Jermaine so well, Reese would have thought he was serious. Each time Jermaine really wanted something, he would deliver a flowery speech to lull you into submission, or a coma. Jermaine was slick, and if you weren’t careful, you would agree, just out of self defense, before you even heard what he wanted.
Chuckling, Reese thought of the last time Jermaine had talked him into doing him a favor that he lived to regret. He had come into the room and slid across the floor, belting out his own version of what friendship meant, to the beat of Proud Mary.
Reese remembered he had laughed so hard, he had agreed to finish up the negotiations for the Simpson account without knowing it. He would have normally had no problem with it, but he had to go to the Simpson’s chateau to finish it up. Still no problem, except Jermaine had forgotten to mention one tiny detail about Mr. Simpson’s wife, who was prone to show up naked in unsuspecting men’s rooms.
Jermaine hadn’t warned him to be careful, and he’d had a hell of a time running around the room trying to duck her, and then convincing her to leave. He did convince her, eventually, and when he had asked Jermaine about the lack of warning upon his return, Jermaine had laughed his head off, like he was doing now. Reese’s gaze narrowed. Jermaine really was up to something.
Wondering if Jermaine had found out him and Jasmine, Reese watched him closely. He didn’t seem upset as he lay on the ground. Jermaine seemed to be in one of his more playful moods.
He finally wrapped up by saying, “Isn’t it moi who came up with the idea to start this firm, and the one who is the senior partner?”
Reese made a rude snort at that. Jermaine looked at him, trying to act offended, but failing as he laughed. Standing, he leaned next to Reese, throwing his arm around his shoulder.
“My buddy and old friend, I need you to do something for me.”
Watching him, Reese thought, here it comes. He braced to say no.
Jermaine caught him off guard by saying, “Actually, I need two things from you. The first is easy for you to do, but the second is a little more complicated. First, I want you to find out who Jazz’s new man is.”
Jermaine watched Reese intently as he continued speaking. “Uh-uh. Don’t try to act like you don’t know. I tried to reach her over the weekend and she wasn’t home.” He paused, as if waiting for something, before continuing.
“Vincent tried on Sunday to get her to take the girls for him, and she picked up, but cut him off quickly. Jasmine never turns down spending time with her nieces. Then, this week, she cancelled dinner with Jamison. Something is going on and I…we need to know about it. So be a bud and find out for us.”
Reese breathed a sigh of relief that Jermaine didn’t suspect him. Then he frowned. For Jermaine to ask him about this new man, he and his brothers must really be worried. He grinned. He didn’t remember Vincent calling Jasmine while he was there. He wondered what she had said to cause them to come to him.
He shook his head, and from Jermaine’s expression, he knew he was expecting his answer to be no. So why even ask him? Quickly, Reese realized Jermaine had used the first favor as a way to make him feel more inclined to help him out with his second request. Reese got more comfortable, answering while he waited to see what Jermaine would do next.
“You know I can’t do that.” Especially since I’m the new man, he added silently.
“Damn it. I told them you wouldn’t help a brother out.” Jermaine snorted indignantly. “What kind of friend are you, anyway?
“One who doesn’t spy on other friends.”
He laughed. “Fine, but you have to do my second request.”
Reese sat back and stared at him. He was surprised to see Jermaine shift nervously. Jermaine never got nervous.
He finally blurted out what he wanted. “I need you to go to Milan to help Wolfe with the contract negotiations.”
Shocked, Reese watched him closely. “Why? Isn’t Simone with him?”
“She blew up at the meeting.”
Reese couldn’t believe it. Simone Van Court rarely lost her temper. Suddenly remembering another time she did, Reese groaned.
“Damn. How bad is it?”
In disbelief, Reese listened as Jermaine filled him in, “Well, the man didn’t understand what she was saying until she switched to Italian. Then, she…uh… insulted his mother and whole family heritage. It might have gone better if he hadn’t tried to touch her. She put him in the hospital. It’s okay. Wolfe talked them out of pressing charges. The fool was laughing so hard about the whole thing. He wanted Simone to continue negotiations, saying they would agree to whatever he said or he’d tell them she’d put them in the hospital. I need a calmer head there with them before they both end up in jail.”
Reese started to laugh and couldn’t stop. Although the situation was dire, it was funny. He couldn’t believe one woman, who looked so delicate, could cause so much damage. He guessed it came from her having so much family in the military. When he’d first met them, Reese didn’t know, and didn’t want to know, what half of them did. Reese sobered, realizing he’d have to go. Jermaine couldn’t; he was handling a deal for another client.
The timing was lousy. Reese stifled a curse. He didn’t want to leave Jasmine, but he had to, and he hated it.
“When do I leave?”
He ignored Jermaine’s triumphant grin. “Wolfe’s jet has been scheduled for a twelve-thirty take off.” He turned and headed for the door.
Glaring after him, Reese asked, “How did you know I’d go?”
Without stopping, he said, “Because I’m charming.”
Snorting, Reese went to gather his briefcase. He had a lot to do if he was going to make his flight. Most important was to call Jasmine. Swearing at the lousy timing, he headed for the door.
Copyright © McKenna Jeffries, 2008.
All Rights Reserved, Liquid Silver Books.
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