My buzzer sounded. Nice timing, Latham. I hit the intercom button.
'I'll be right down, Latham.'
'Could I come up? These need to get in some water.'
I pressed Talk, unsure of what to say. I really didn't want Latham to have to deal with McGlade.
'Jackie!' Harry yelled. 'Come back to bed!'
I punched McGlade in the ribs, hard. Though I didn't weigh a lot, I was working on my second-degree black belt in tae kwon do, and knew how to hit. McGlade yelped.
'Jack, who was that?'
'Harry McGlade. He's just leaving.'
McGlade pulled a face. 'You promised me thirty seconds!'
'Jack,' Latham sounded flustered. 'We can go out tomorrow, if you've got something going on.'
'No! Come on up.'
I buzzed him in, then jabbed a finger at McGlade's spongy chest.
'You. Out.'
'But you said . . .'
'If you don't leave right now, I promise that I'll dedicate my life to making sure you never get whatever favor it is you want from me.'
McGlade considered it.
'So if I leave, you'll do the favor?'
'I don't even know what the favor is.'
'When would be a good time to discuss it?' Harry dug into his jacket pocket, pulled out a PDA. 'I think I'm free for lunch tomorrow.'
'Fine. Lunch tomorrow. But you have to leave right now.'
I shoved Harry out the door, hurried to the bathroom to check my hair and makeup, and swallowed two aspirin; McGlade never failed to induce a headache.
When the knock came, I did my damnedest to put on a nice smile.
'Hi, Latham.'
Latham stood in my hallway, a dozen roses in his hand and a puzzled look on his face. Standing next to him, arm around his shoulders, was Harry.
'Good news, Jack. We can cancel lunch tomorrow. Your boyfriend invited me to dinner with you guys.'
Latham shrugged.
'He said it was life or death.'
I gave Harry a look I normally reserved for rapists and murderers.
'McGlade . . .'
'I won't stay long. And I'll pay. The best bar and grill in the city is right around the corner.'
'Wait out here,' I told him, tugging Latham into my apartment and closing the door.
Latham looked good. He wore a dark gray suit, a light gray shirt, and a rich blue silk tie. Businessman chic.
'So that's Harry, huh? He's older and fatter than the guy who played him on TV.'
'He's stupider too. Are those for me?'
Latham handed me the roses. I took a compulsory sniff.
'They're gorgeous.'
'You're gorgeous.'
Latham moved in for the kiss, and when his lips touched mine I felt it all the way down to my toes. I had a sudden urge to forget about dinner, and McGlade, and drag Latham into the bedroom. And I might have done just that, if my bed hadn't been covered with cat stains.
'We should put those in some water.' Latham brought the roses into the kitchen, stopping when he saw the mess.
'What happened in here? It looks like Pompeii after Vesuvius.'
'Long story. I'll tell you over a romantic dinner.'
'Jackie!' McGlade pounded on the door. 'What's taking so long? You guys bumping uglies in there?'
Latham laughed. 'Romantic dinner, hmm?'
'My gun's in my purse. Want me to shoot him?'
'Let him pay for dinner first.'
