Only You by Jerry Cole (the top 100 crime novels of all time TXT) 📕

immediately. He didn’t even think about it, feeling an instant desire to make sure he was all right. “Is everything all right, mate?”

“Huh?” the hot Australian looked up to see who had spoken. His eyes were red and his cheeks were puffy. There could be no illusions as to what he was doing. “Oh... yeah. I’m.... fine...”

“I believe you.” Sherman crouched down by the Australian. Up this close, he was even better looking than he had appeared in the club; his lips were thick, his skin was tanned and his eyes were a piercing blue. “I just wanted to see if that street corner was a cozy as it looked?”

“Huh?”

“I’m joking.” Sherman sat down beside the Australian, who didn’t try and move away or act like it even bothered him. If anything, he actually relaxed slightly.

“Right.”

“They robbed you?” Sherman asked.

“Who?”

“The guys you came out here to see – I overheard you a minute ago in the bathroom,” he explained. “They robbed you?”

“Yeah.” His entire body sagged. “They were nice about it though,” he tried for a laugh. “They just took my cash, but left the wallet when I told them it was a gift from my mom. Didn’t try and take my passport either.”

“What friendly guys.”

“Yeah. Even in Amsterdam, the crime is friendly.” The Australian man smiled for a moment and he seemed to relax a little more.

“Ah well,” Sherman clapped his hands together. “Look on the bright side. At least now you have a cool, got robbed in Europe story. And, seeing as no one was here to see it, you can embellish a little when you tell your friends back home."

The Australian man smiled out the side of his mouth. “Oh yea? Like what, they pulled a gun on me?”

“And you fought them off,” Sherman continued seriously. “A spin kick disarmed the gun. A quick punch to your left dropped the other fella. And if it wasn’t for how dark it was, you would have seen the third come up behind you. Seriously, the fact you’re in one piece is a miracle.”

The Australian was outright smiling now, and he’d stopped shaking. “You’re right... it is.”

“And I didn’t see the other guys, but you messed them up good, right? They were limping away, weren’t they?”

“You know it.” He was beaming now, no longer shaking, actually looking like he was having a good time.

Sherman wasn’t sure why, but he felt immediately comfortable around this guy. Maybe it was because he had sensed how relaxed the Australian had become once the two had started talking, it gave him a confidence he hadn’t expected. Or maybe it was just because he was so ridiculously good looking that Sherman never even dreamed the two would hook-up. So why bother worrying?

“Well, come on then.” Sherman slapped at his legs and got to his feet. “Let’s get you home. On the way you can tell me all about it – leave nothing out.”

“Ha!” The hot Australian slapped his legs too and stood. He was taller than Sherman, almost by a foot it felt like. But he had a warmth about him, and seemed to genuinely be warming up to Sherman too. He was probably the first person to not look right through him since he had arrived. “I’m not too far from here.”

“Me either,” Sherman said. “Oh. Dumb. I’m Sherman, by the way – stupid name, I know.” He held his hand out to shake.

“Ha! It’s unique, that’s for sure,” the hot Australian assured him as he took his hand. It was a strong grip. “I’m Bradley. Nice to meet you.”

“You too, Bradley. You too.” And he meant it.

***

When Sherman woke the following morning, he felt more excited than he had in a long time, and there was no trouble in guessing why. He and Bradley had made plans to spend the morning together and God damn, he could not wait.

It was the unexpected nature of the arrangement that had Sherman buzzing as he quickly got himself ready. Bumping into Bradley outside the club was random, actually talking to him was bold, and then walking him back to where he was staying was unlike anything that Sherman could have expected from himself. Nothing happened, of course, and Sherman hadn’t expected it to. They had just talked. But to be fair, even that seemed to undersell it.

Sherman wasn’t a shy guy by any means, but he also wasn’t the type to randomly hit on strange, hot men either. Not that what he was doing was technically ‘hitting on’ Bradley. Perhaps that was why it was so easy and effortless? He knew he didn’t stand a chance, so why bother playing it safe?

When Sherman and Bradley had reached Bradley’s B&B, the hot Australian was noticeably much more relaxed and far more comfortable than he had been outside the club. The two were talking like old friends and Sherman didn’t even think before asking if he’d want to catch up again while here.

“Yes!” Bradley had seemed to cry, although Sherman might have also been exaggerating that slightly in his memory. “I’d love to – what were you thinking?”

“Oh...” Sherman had thought quickly. The next afternoon was when he was first forced to meet up with his tour group, so it was going to have to be something tomorrow morning. “Well... I’ve always wanted to see the Van Gough museum. Apparently, it’s unrivaled in... boredom...” he had finished with a nervous chuckle. What was he thinking, suggesting a museum?

“Sounds good!” Bradley had responded eagerly and immediately. “I need some culture in my life. What did you say his name was – Van Gough? Is this Gough guy a big deal?”

Sherman had smiled at that. “Yeah, he kind of is.”

The Van Gough Museum was a must see highlight for anyone visiting Amsterdam, and to be fair it