Brainy and the Beast Read Online Free PDF Page A

that?” Henry sounded honestly curious. I could again picture him, the Jaguar-blue eyes, that thick, straight hair, even the pale skin that was a draw for some reason.
    “Well, Doc, your car is the first giveaway. Even in a town full of Mercedes, yours stands out, since it’s, um, a little…well, old-fashioned. Most of the guys who work at Renton Technologies are buying new cars, not used.” I shrugged, hoping I wasn’t burying myself. “They’re out to show their status at the top of the food chain.”
    “How did you know I worked at Renton?”
    I frowned. “You had your ID badge on when you came here.” I remembered what else marked Henry as a brain. “Oh, and your bow tie is the kicker.”
    “My tie?” Did he sound a little offended?
    “Don’t get me wrong. I like a bow tie as much as the next guy. Course, I usually like ’em with a tux. But, you’ve got to admit, they are a little old-fashioned.” Good thing Henry was a brainiac and out of my league, because I’d sure as hell shot myself in the foot with that.
    Henry made a humming sound. “I hadn’t realized. Perhaps I’ll have to wear my dinner jacket around you.”
    While I was trying to decipher the meaning behind that, I heard another line ringing in the background.
    “Sorry. I’ve got to get that. I’m waiting for a call.”
    “Oh. Sure. I’ll drop off your car by the end of the day on Friday.”
    Henry hung up quickly.
    Maybe I’d imagined the innuendo. But what if I hadn’t? Now I could see him in a James Bondish white jacket and some high-end pants to go with it, plus those shiny shoes. Uh-huh. I could tug that bow tie loose…
    “Boss!” Wilmer waved, catching my attention. He was standing near the side door, one of the equipment sales reps by his side.
    Sighing, I pushed up from my desk. Man, my day job interfered with my fantasy life. “Hold your horses.”
    * * * *
    The guys and I pushed through our work, managing to get everything done just before three on Friday afternoon, except for one rim I was trying to get for an older Cadillac. The owner was fussy and wanted original manufacturer equipment, so I’d had to order it from a supplier in California. When I talked to the car’s owner, though, he was cool.
    “Nick, I don’t like waiting, of course, but since I have to have original parts, I’ll make myself be patient.” Howard was a good guy. Kind of kooky for an oldster, but still, he was a good guy.
    “Sweet. We should get it in on Monday, and we’ll drop the car off by your place in the afternoon.” After I hung up, I typed the drop-off instructions into the computer.
    The last job of the day was about thirty feet from my office. Through the glass I could see the Mercedes, the shop lights reflecting off one of its fintails.
    I moved to the doorway, trying to think. Who should I have drive the car over? Much as I wanted to do it, I’d already been enough of an idiot with Henry. As Jake strolled past, wiping his hands on a paper towel, I gestured. “Where’s Jose?”
    Shrugging, Jake tossed the paper into a nearby trash can. “He left just after lunch for something at his kid’s school, remember?”
    “Oh, yeah.” Sarita had dropped Jose at the train on her way home. “Hey, I need you and Wilmer to take the doc’s car over to his office, okay?” That way, I wouldn’t be tempted to say something stupid if I was standing in front of Henry.
    “Sorry, Nick. Don’t you remember Wilmer and I are getting out of here a little early? We have fantasy football tonight, and there’s a special dinner first. Plus, I’ve got to stop at my kid’s soccer game on the way home.”
    Soccer game. Shit . I thought Grant had said something about soccer last night. When the kid had tried out for the team, I’d been kind of shocked. It sounded so…normal. When he’d made the team, Dad and I had been pretty happy. It would keep Grant busy after school most days with practices and games. He was a goalie on the freshman