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Randy’s latest beverage preference. Bones would have a drink waiting for him for a change.
“I just love your accent,” the bartender said with an exaggerated shiver. “Makes everything you say soyummy.”
Her flattery was wasted on him. He already tipped well, and she was getting nothing else despite her telling him when she got off work and how lonely she’d been lately.
Bones’s mobile rang with an unfamiliar number. Not unusual. His people changed their phones frequently, and he had several of them working on finding Don’s secret base of operations. He might now know who the man was, but he hadn’t located him. Yet.
“Have to take this,” Bones said in polite dismissal, ignoring the lingering smile the bartender gave him. “Hallo?”
“Crispin.” Charles’s uppercrust tone managed to convey a mountain’s weight of disappointment into the single word. His aristocratic ancestors would be so proud. “Now, at least, I know you’re still alive. Pity I had to trick you by ringing you from a different number to acquire that knowledge.”
“Don’t be dramatic,” Bones said. “It’s only been a few months since we’ve last spoken.”
“A year,” Charles instantly replied.
Bones sighed.Probably true. “Apologies, but silence better serves our friendship than fighting, which was where this conversation is doubtless headed. Besides, I’m sure Annette gave you a full report about me after you sent her to me in April.”
Charles didn’t bother denying it. All he said was, “I’m in the States now. Just arrived three days ago.”
“Enjoy your visit,” Bones said coolly.
Charles made an exasperated sound. “Are youreallyintending not to see me?”
He wasn’t playing this game. “If you persist in chiding me like a child for my choices, no, I don’t intend to see you.”
A huff. “I hardly think expressing my legitimate concerns-”
“And there it is,” Bones cut him off. “Goodbye, mate.”
“Crispin, you are beingunreasonable-”
Bones’s temper snapped. “My search has only cost me four years whenyouchanged your fiancé’s murderers into vampires so you could torture them for the last century and a half!”
His voice was louder than it should have been. The bartender’s head whipped around. Blast it, now he’d have to mesmerize her into forgetting that she’d heard that.
Charles sucked in an audible breath, and he didn’t need to breathe. Regret pierced Bones. Charles might be acting like an ass, but he still shouldn’t have brought up Giselda’s murder.
“I’m sorry,” Bones said. “That was uncalled for. It’s also why silence is better between us now. I’m too raw and you’re too convinced that you’re right, so we only end up wounding each other. When things change, I’ll welcome seeing you again.”
A pause, and then Charles said in a quiet tone, “What if they don’t change? What if you never find her, Crispin?”
“I will,” Bones said, catching sight of Randy as he entered the bar. “Now, I have to go. My friend just arrived.”
“Glad to hear you still have those,” Charles said when a familiar honey-and-cream scent suddenly seared Bones’s senses. Good Christ, that wasCat’sscent! Thick, heady, and coming right toward him.
“Hey, Cris,” Randy said, bringing that scent even closer.
Bloody fucking hell,Randywas covered in it!
Bones flew to him, not caring that Randy backed up in shock. Then, Bones grabbed him and inhaled, taking in even more of the intoxicating aroma coming from Randy’s clothes.
“Where is she?” Bones demanded.
“Where’s who?” Randy sputtered. “And, wow, that hurts!”
He’d forgotten to check his strength. Bones released Randy, and he dropped a foot and stumbled back.
Bones caught him, slamming ice over his seething emotions. Either Randy knew far more about Cat than he was letting on, or he was as clueless as his expression indicated. Either way, Bones had to tread carefully. Randy couldn’t be mesmerized.
