Free Men of London 05 - Cross to Bare by Susan Mac Nicol Page A

dressing up like a woman and put on display like that.”
    Brook looked a little taken aback at the reminder. Some of the tension left his body as he ran a hand over his short black hair. “Well, yeah, I might have said that. I’m a pretty old-fashioned guy and you threw me a bit. Doesn’t mean I’d be a dick about someone who did like that sort of thing though. Each to his own and all that.” He scowled. “Is that why you blew me off? Because you thought I’d get all funny about it?”
    Lenny had nothing else to say other than the truth. “Yes.”
    The word hung in the air like a bad smell.
    Brook nodded. “I’m disappointed in you. It might have been a bit of a shock to find out you were”—he waved a hand at Lenny—“Laverne, but it would have been my choice to figure things out. I’m not that much into the cross-dressing thing but—” His jaw clenched. “I really liked you .”
    Lenny’s heart sank at the past tense. “I was going to tell you when we had dinner on Saturday night. I’d made up my mind already that whatever happened, I’d accept it. I really like you too.” If Brook noticed Lenny’s use of the present tense, he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead he leant down to pick up his briefcase. He stood observing Lenny for a moment then inclined his head.
    “I’ll leave the proposal with you to have a look at,” he said quietly. His face was sad. “I’m still interesting in doing business with you as Laverne Debussy-Smith. I think it could be good for us both.”
    Lenny’s throat burned. “But not interested in doing business with me in other ways,” he managed to get out. “Because of this.” He waved down his front and Brook shook his head.
    “Not because of that. First because you broke up with me because you presumed you knew what I’d be like before you even gave us a chance. Then today, you lied to me about who you are. That doesn’t bode well for ‘resuming’ anything, does it?”
    He turned to walk out the door. Lenny took a deep breath.
    Here goes all or nothing.
    “Wait.” Lenny moved around the desk to stand beside Brook. “When I saw you…I’m sorry I tried to pull the wool over your eyes. I panicked.” He raised his hands in frustration. “I didn’t want to tell you like this, here, in front of an employee. I thought if I could hide it for now, it would have been so much better telling you over a glass of wine and a good meal. Please let me still have that chance, with just the two of us. Then you can tell me how you feel about it, and I’ll be fine with whatever you have to say.”
    Lenny held his breath as he waited for Brook’s reply. He held it so long, he felt his chest tighten. When Brook remained stoically silent, Lenny exhaled then added. “And to be clear—at dinner I’ll be Lenny, not Laverne. I don’t wear this persona out of work.” He hastened to qualify that statement with blabber. “Well, unless I’m at a fashion event where everyone expects her of course. Or out on the catwalk, talking to my prima donna models, or doing something else Laverney.” He winced at using that word but it fit. “But weekends and out of work and in bed, of course, although you know that already, I’m all Lenny.”
    He saw the faint turn up of Brook’s mouth at the corners at that last comment and Lenny took heart in that small sign of forgiveness.
    Then Brook nodded and Lenny’s heart gave a thump of relief. “Okay, let’s still meet for dinner. But I’d rather make it dinner at my place than a restaurant. It’s more private and we can talk. Can you come over for eight?”
    Lenny nodded. “Of course. I’ll see you there then.”
    Brook gave a curt nod then his lithe frame disappeared out the door. Once again, Lenny gave a sigh of relief. He’d barely had time to turn to go back to his desk to take another drink from his brandy stash when a fragrantly scented dervish came whirling into the room.
    “Oh—my—God, that was epic—epically bad.”