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“Duke wouldn’t say where he stashed them. We won’t know until he comes home to check.”
I looked between the two brothers and I got the distinct feeling that something was going on.
Hank glanced at Matt, who’d straightened and was quietly watching and listening.
“I hope you and your boys are being careful,” he told Lee, and I had this weird feeling we were on a different subject.
“We’re workin’ this for a client,” Lee answered.
There were more looks passed around, then Hank sighed the sigh of a man beleaguered, kissed me on the top of my head and left. Matt and Bobby waited around expectantly. Lee turned me into his arms.
“Don’t let Hank scare you about Tex. He’s trying to mess with your head enough to keep you out of this. Tex’ll be all right.”
I nodded.
“We’re gonna have to postpone our plans for the day,” Lee continued. “I’ll take you to the store, then I have to go check a lead on Rosie. I also need to have a chat with Tex. I’ll be at your house no later than three. Earlier if I can make it.”
I nodded. “Do you think Rosie went into Duke’s house?”
His hand went to my chin and tilted it up.
“You have to prepare for the worst. Rosie may no longer be of this world, and if he is, he may no longer be able to walk free amongst its citizens.”
I nodded again.
Then, right in front of his boys, he kissed me, full-on, full tongue, full throttle. His arms wrapped around my back and mine went around his neck.
He lifted his head and I breathed, “That shot me straight to a six.”
Good ole boy Lee used to laugh all the time, but when he went into the army that changed. The grins were few, the smiles were rare, and a laugh from Lee felt like a gift.
After I said that, for the first time in a long time, I watched as Lee threw his head back and laughed.
NINE
THE NEW DEFINITION OF FINE
Lee dropped me by Fortnum’s, kissing me quickly before he took off in his Crossfire. I watched him go and tried to shut down my mind.
I failed.
I was trying not to think of the night before or that morning. I had a feeling of definitive joy mixed with complete and total fear. It was sinking into my brain that Lee told Kitty Sue we were together, not because it was what she wanted to hear or because it got us out of a tight jam being caught in a clinch, but instead, because we were.
Together, that was.
Liam Nightingale and India Savage, an item.
There was evidence that Andrea was right, hewasserious.
Oh. My. God.
I put out a sign closing Fortnum’s for the weekend, then walked home.
It was cool and comfortable in my house, but it felt like it had been a week since I’d been home, rather than just a night.
In an effort not to think about Lee, I put the water on to boil for the macaroni, opened the back door to let in the non-existent breeze and checked my voicemail.
Seventeen messages.
