AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No.” Kitt explained that she was seeking information about a man named Jason. “I think he might be the owner’s boyfriend and I came here hoping I’d be able to talk to him. Can you describe Jay, as I believe Lana calls him?”
“You’re not his ex-girlfriend, are you?” Barbara put her hands on her generous hips and narrowed her eyes behind pink-rimmed glasses.
“No. I’ve never met the man and that’s why I need a description. I want to make sure I have the right person before I approach him with some questions.”
Barbara kept looking towards Rob who Kitt saw with dismay was now drinking shots. Wild Turkey?
“You’re not from the IRS or with the police, are you?” Barbara asked. “Is he in trouble?”
“I assure you that I am not.” Kitt pretended not to hear the waitress’s last question.
“Oh, well. What do I care? He’s not the one that signs my paycheques. Funny thing is, he looks a lot like…” She waved her hand towards the table where Kitt had been sitting. “If that guy you’re with had dark hair that curled, I’d swear he was Jason.
“He and Ms. Turner have been on a trip but I understand they’re back in town as of yesterday. They didn’t show up this morning per usual, but if you hang around here long enough, you’re likely to see him for yourself. They’ll come in to lock up. We’re open until midnight but the kitchen closes at ten and sometimes I hear they show up in time to eat a late dinner.”
Rob stood when Kitt approached, downed his shot of Wild Turkey and hustled her out the door. “Why in hell are you so interested in the guy the owner is shacking up with?” he asked when they were on the road. “Are you after him for yourself?”
Kitt sighed. She’d known he was going to be ticked but she’d had to talk to Barbara. And the day waitress had given her a good lead. It was only a little after five o’clock so she couldn’t ask Rob to stay that long. He’d get drunk for sure. “Now, who’s jealous?”
“So I deserve to be.” He waited. “Well?” he demanded.
“I think he’s the man that jilted a…a friend.” She didn’t say whose friend and it was as close as she could come to an explanation. “He took her for quite a bit of money.”
“And what do you plan to do about it, Madame Detective? Ask him for it back or make a citizen’s arrest?”
The ‘detective’ reference startled Kitt and Rob’s smart-mouthed tone got under her skin. Her face burned. Even her ears grew hot. She felt underhanded, not levelling with him about her work. “I will let my…uh…the friend know his whereabouts so she can seek justice.”
Rob had been staring straight ahead, eyes glued to the road, but he turned his head sharply to look at her. Then he burst into laughter.
“I forgot. You’re Ms. Fix-it, caretaker of the underdog. Champion of people’s rights. You were always worrying about me. I thought you were going to take on Principal Yeager if he didn’t expel Crocker for hitting me.” Rob rubbed a finger over the scar by his eye.
Kitt exhaled and grinned. “I should have. A two-day suspension wasn’t punishment enough.” She had been so angry, she’d have taken on Crocker herself if he had gotten off scot-free. A cut in the area of the eye bleeds profusely and she’d cried when she came upon the scene and saw blood pouring down Rob’s cheek.
“Good old Kitt. Remember when you were caught passing a note that someone wrote and took the blame?”
“Do I ever! It was Kathy Mays who wrote it and she was so timid, she’d have died if she got chewed out in class. But I had my regrets when my parents were notified. Dad believed me that I didn’t write it but I got grounded for a week anyway.”
“Turned out she wrote it to you.” Kitt pinched Rob’s arm. “She wanted to take you to the sophomore dance. Ms. Kerrigan wouldn’t believe me that I didn’t write it. She said she knew I had a crush on you. Kathy just signed her initials. K.M.”
“Same as yours. Kitt Maxwell.”
By the time they’d reached the condominiums where Rob lived, laughter and reminiscing had restored his good humour and Kitt was glad. She didn’t want anything to spoil this day. It seemed like she’d been waiting her whole life for Rob to
make love to her.
He unlocked the door and, heart pounding, Kitt looked up into his beautiful eyes and smiled. “I thought this day would never come.”
Chuckling, Rob swooped her into his arms and carried her over the threshold. “It’s here, baby, and ‘coming’ is the name of the game.”
Chapter Six
How long had she waited for this moment? Kitt nuzzled Rob’s neck and giggled happily as Rob set her feet down on the plush carpet.
He waved an arm to encompass his living room. “What do you think?”
Hearing the pride in his voice, she squeezed his arm. “It’s wonderful, Rob. You must love it here.”
She loved the way he’d carried her through the door. She belonged in his arms.
