THE ACCIDENTAL HUNTER

A cool Manhattan security specialist juggles two tricky assignments and an active love life while trying to expose a traitor in his ranks.

On a highway outside Manhattan, sexy R&B singer and ex-gigolo Night (Night Work, 2003) finds his Explorer surrounded by a phalanx of motorcycles with unidentifiable riders who grab Night and Tandi, his high-strung date. Flashy veteran music manager Ivy Greenwich hires Night’s old friend D Hunter and his fledgling D Security firm to deliver the ransom to Night’s kidnappers and offers him another plum assignment as well: protecting precocious pop princess Bridgette Hayes. At first D finds himself attracted to Bridgette’s elder sister and protector Jen, but eventually, well after they’ve been linked in the tabloids, he does the nasty with the diva. (Despite his closely monitored HIV-positive status, D, who’s quite the player, has an “understanding” with British-Nigerian beauty Emily Anetke, owner of the trendy Downtown club, Emily’s Tea Party.) D adds Mercedez, a scrappy young woman, and Ray Ray, a troubled street kid, to his payroll, but is chagrined to learn that Night’s abductors might have links to one of them—or to Ivy or loyal employee Jeff.

Veteran George writes with pace and panache, providing a glimpse of the high life of an NBA star and a backstage look at a music awards show, and packing his tale with more glitzy characters than a red carpet E! broadcast.