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Hobbs ignored him. “Then you come strutting over and she opened up like one of those videos where the flower blooms at hyperspeed.”
Rhett shrugged, even though he really liked Hobbs’s metaphor. Sometimes, Hobbs wasn’t a complete idiot. “She’s just familiar with me.” He wondered if Stanzi had really bloomed like a flower. He’d been too busy studying her new look to notice. Coincidentally, Stanzi’s T-shirt sported a bright red poinsettia, surrounded by presents—something like an Ugly Christmas Sweater pattern. It looked too big. Just as he thought it, Stanzi stopped her warm-up to knot the shirt in the back, making it smaller.
“Hey, sugar.” Angie slid her arms around his waist and hugged him from behind. “You’re not mad at me for kicking your ass, are you?”
“You wish. You got one hit.” Rhett grabbed her wrist and pulled her off him. “Look at you. Any excuse to cop a feel.”
“You’re just too sexy to resist.” She rolled her eyes.
“You two enjoy. I’m off to change the redhead’s mind about my pecs.” Hobbs flashed his big grin and gave the whistle he wore around his neck a trill, drawing everybody in for the seven o’clock.
Angie smiled and pushed back her long, dark hair. Her face grew serious. “So, yes on Christmas? Since you aren’t going home? Come out to Ohio and join me and the boys. They’d love to see Uncle Rhett.”
Rhett wished he had lied when she asked about Christmas, but then, with as good a friend as she’d become to Mel, he couldn’t risk her finding out that way. “I have to stick near the gym. Hobbs and Zoe are going out of town. My other two coaches are part-time. They can’t cover all the classes.”
Angie planted her hands on her waist and drew a deep breath through her Roman nose. “We can come here, then. Stay with you. I don’t want you alone. Vic wouldn’t have wanted it, either.”
Times like this Rhett was left to think on the depth of character that Victor Devon had possessed; he hadn’t exactly been a looker, but his widow was the stereotypical raven-haired beauty, complete with inky eyes and smooth, olive skin. She reminded him a lot of Mel, though Mel took after Papa and was a lot shorter. Angie had obviously married Devon for his dance moves and big smile—not to mention, he always had your back. Rhett had never worried about having Victor Devon in his foxhole.
“I’ve got reservations,” Rhett blurted, the panic in him rising so high the words spilled out like they rode the edge of a big wave. “Mama got me this cabin. It’s close enough I won’t miss work and just a couple of days. There’s dinner and a party. The works.”
Angie’s lips parted in surprise. “Really? And you agreed to that?”
Rhett lifted his hands in surrender. “You’ve met Mama. She doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Angie’s face softened into a warm smile. “Your Southern accent only comes out when you talk about your mama.” She reached up and squeezed his shoulder.
“That right?” Rhett flinched a little, but tried to hide it with a forced shrug. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Angie’s smile fell. “I better get going. I’ve got a flight later. As always, it was good to see you. Thanks for letting me pop in here and kick your ass.”
Rhett spread open his arms. “You know when you’re here, I’m all yours. Arlington Cemetery in the morning and Combat at night. You get to cry on me and punch me all in one day.”
“Yeah. C’mere.” She slid into his arms and hugged him tight. After a long embrace, she tilted her chin up. “See you next year, then. But you know my door’s always open.”
Rhett glanced over her head and caught an image of Stanzi, executing three perfect snatches in a row. Hobbs, who was checking her weight before they started the workout, gave a sharp whistle. “Not bad, Red. You say you just started?”
Stanzi caught Rhett’s eye. Her gaze traveled down to Angie, who still had her arms locked around Rhett’s waist. Stanzi quickly turned back to Hobbs. “That’s right.”
Rhett looked down at Angie and gave her a peck on the forehead. “Have a safe flight. And say hi to those boys for me.”
Sunny watched her sister go into Semper Fit around 6:55 p.m. The sky was dark, the gym was bright and the windows were tall, which gave her a good view of what went on inside, even from her car.
The place was packed, and the clientele had a wide range of ages, genders and body types. Sunny got a glimpse or two of Cici’s coaches. One of them was so tall he literally stood out. Some of these people were in such good shape they belonged on the covers of fitness magazines, the tall guy most of all. Sunny wondered if he was Rhett Santos. If he was, that would make him one of Detective Callahan’s closest friends. While Sunny had no doubt he was a good part of the reason Cici was so into this place, it was obvious there was much more that kept her coming back.
Her sister slid in easily and fit like a crayon in a very colorful box. Sunny could feel the vibe all the way out to the parking lot, with the thumping music, sweaty bodies and satisfied smiles.
Once Cici had melted into the background, Sunny drove away. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling. Cici seemed happy, which was good, but Sunny felt guilty about spying. Even the sight of her house and grounds—newly decorated for Christmas, with Pete’s help—didn’t put a smile on her face.
Especially when she saw a strange car in the driveway.
“Now, who could that be?” Sunny sidled up to the blue four-door, older make and model, and peered into the driver’s seat. Her heart leaped into her throat.
“Evening, Sunny.” Detective Sean Callahan greeted her as she stepped out.
“Evening, Detective.” Sunny hugged her arms around her waist. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” The detective wore jeans and a button-down shirt beneath his casual jacket. Maybe that was a good sign. He’d have to be dressed up to arrest her, right?
“Oh, I’m a pleasure now, am I?”
