Rock Chick 03 Redemption (40 page)

His face softened and he moved away, taking his arm from around my shoulders.

“Beth,” he said quietly and my heart lurched, for Hank, who obviously felt badly but especial y for Beth, who was humiliated.

“Maybe I’l try the Tattered Cover!” she announced gamely then looked at me. “Thanks for your help Roxie.” She looked back at Hank. “Hank, great to see you. Maybe I’l see you around.”

She moved to leave and I cal ed out, “Wait!” I stepped off my stool, bumping into Hank who was stil close.

“Why don’t you two go to lunch?” I suggested.

“What?” Beth said, or kind of expel ed in a breath fil ed with mortification.

“Sorry?” Hank said, staring at me like I’d lost my mind.

I had an idea. It was a heartbreaking idea, but it was something.

She seemed sweet, she was pretty and she liked him.

She liked him enough to come searching for him when she got back to Denver. She was normal and probably never had anyone shoot at her, nor ever would.

So she needed a snazzier wardrobe. Indy would help her out.

Maybe she didn’t spread sweetened cream cheese on French toast but I was relatively certain that Shamus would like her. Then again, Shamus seemed to like everyone.

I stepped away from Hank. “It’s been busy, so I can’t leave and anyway, Indy and Jet are bringing back food. You two go to lunch, catch up, you know… old friends and al that.”

Hank was no longer staring at me like I’d lost my mind, he was staring at me like he wanted to strangle me.

I took another step away from Hank.

“I don’t think –” Beth said.

“Can I talk to you a second?” Hank interrupted her and then didn’t wait for me to respond. He took my hand, nodded sharply to Beth and said, “Just a minute,” and then dragged me out from behind the counter and toward the bookshelves.

While being dragged, I caught a look at Uncle Tex who was shaking his head at me like I’d let down the side.

Hank dragged me passed fiction, biography, crime, romance and straight to the open area that separated the front room from the back room (travel, health, social studies) and had a huge table on it with cartons of upturned vinyl wedged in them.

Then he stopped, turned and looked down at me.

I opened my mouth to speak but he said, “Don’t say a fucking word.”

I closed my mouth.

Hmm, seemed Hank was angry.

He took a deep breath through his nostrils, getting control.

Then he said, in a soft, dangerous voice, “Please tel me you didn’t just try to fix me up with a woman I used to date.”

“Hank –”

He didn’t let me say anything.

“I used to be patient. Now, I’m findin’ it hard stoppin’

myself from shakin’ some goddamned sense into you.”

“Hank –”

“Roxanne, I just experienced my
girlfriend
trying to fix me up with another woman.”

“I’m not your girlfriend, I broke up with you.” He stepped closer. I stepped back. My bottom slammed into the table fil ed with vinyl. He fil ed the space I’d opened.

“That wasn’t nice, doin’ that to Beth,” he said.

“Yes it was. You two could have hit it off, you’d asked her out before. I was doing her a favor,” I defended myself.

“She and I went out twice. She was the friend of the girlfriend of a buddy of mine in the Force. If I remember, she was painful y shy, but sweet, and on her way to some job in New Mexico.”

Shit.

Shit, shit,
shit
.

“I thought she was an ex-girlfriend,” I told him.

“She never made it that far and wouldn’t have. I was doin’ a friend a favor and even if it makes me sound like a bastard, I’l tel you I only did it knowin’ she was soon gonna move to another state.”

Oh shit.
I thought.

“Damn,” I muttered aloud, feeling like a total bitch. It must have taken al she had to walk into Fortnum’s. I looked at Hank. “I’l go talk to her,” I told him.

“No, you’ve done enough. I’l take her out to lunch and I’l pick you up from Tod’s when you’re done tonight. When we get home, we’re gonna have a conversation and put this shit to rest, once and for al .”

I didn’t like the sound of that.

“Hank –” I started.

“I don’t want you goin’ to Tod’s with anyone but Tex, Duke, Lee or one of his boys. Got me?”

His eyes were glittering angry and I had the feeling he was barely keeping his temper in check.

I nodded.

The sleeping tiger had awoken and I was not about to prod him with a stick.

He stared at me angrily.

I bit my lip.

Then, I couldn’t help myself, I hated that he was angry with me. I put my hand on his chest and leaned into him.

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“You can apologize later, after we’ve talked, when you’re naked and in my bed.”

Holy cow.

“Hank –”

He put a hand to my neck and tipped his head down to get in my face. “Roxanne, now’s a good time to be quiet.” Shit.

He was stil angry.

And I felt like a total bitch.

I braced, getting ready for him to explode.

Then, to my complete surprise, his anger cleared, he gave me a light kiss and squeezed my neck affectionately.

“We’l talk later,” he said quietly.

Then he was gone.

I stood there, it could have been minutes, it could have been hours. I just stood there, looking at the space where Hank had been, not quite able to process how easy it was to fight with him. Even when he was that angry, he could shift it and kiss me good-bye.

My phone rang.

I pul ed it out of my back pocket, flipped it open and put it to my ear. “Hel o?” I said, expecting just about anyone; Annette, Indy, Daisy, anyone.

I should have looked before I answered because it wasn’t Annette, Indy, Daisy or anyone.

It was Bil y.

“I saw you walkin’ his fuckin’ dog with him, sittin’ in his goddamned lap in the car, kissin’ him, you fucking
bitch
.” My breath left me and I stood stock-stil .

“You’re gonna learn, Roxie. You’re gonna fucking
learn
.” Then he disconnected.

I kept the phone to my ear and stood frozen, continuing to stare into the space, unseeing, not breathing, scared stiff.

Bil y was watching me.

“A little help!” Uncle Tex yel ed from the front, jarring me out of my stupor.

I flipped the phone shut, shoved it into my pocket and shouted. “Coming!”

I’d think about it later. For now, I was protected, safe, the cameras were on me, even now. I was never alone. They’d find him before he could get to me. Vance was out there looking for Bil y and I knew Hank would keep me safe.

I realized what I’d just thought and closed my eyes.

Hank. I should tel him. I should tel Lee. I should tel someone.

I walked to the front and there were half a dozen customers at the coffee counter, two waiting to buy books.

“Girl, get the fuckin’ lead out!” Uncle Tex boomed.

I decided I’d tel Uncle Tex later. I’d think about Hank and my conversation later. I’d kick myself for what I did to poor Beth later.

I walked to the book counter and rang up the books.

“What do you think, Roxie?” Tod asked.

I looked up and noticed everyone was watching me; Indy, Al y, Daisy, Annette, Tod, Stevie and Jet. My mind had been elsewhere, mainly because I’d just lived the weirdest fucking day of my life.

Now, I was sitting, drinking a glass of sparkling wine in Tod and Stevie’s living room (black carpeting, dove gray wal s, mauve furniture, glass tables, sleek, feminine, stark white, human-sized sculptures here and there, it was total y gay and cool as shit). The Emergency Wedding Summit was in ful swing.

Strewn everywhere were fabric swatches and ribbons of every color; wedding magazines from four different countries; examples of party favors; glossy brochures from wedding venues; information pamphlets for different bands and DJs; invitation samples; and lining the dining room table, were seven (seven!) wedding cake tops ranging from the traditional bride and groom to a teddy bear bride and groom.
The
Wedding Planner Scrapbook was open on the glass coffee table, bursting with even more stuff then it seemed to carry the day before.

Discussion had been hot and heavy: starting with wedding colors and then veering crazily to wedding gowns, churches, bands, you name it. Indy had a definite idea of what she wanted and every idea she had clashed violently with the one Tod had.

Throughout al of this Stevie calmly served hot and delicious hors d’oeuvres.

Also throughout al of this, I alternately wound myself up about the coming “conversation” with Hank and thoughts about my weird day.

* * * * *

“You’ve got to be fuckin’ shittin’ me!” he boomed, tuna sandwich residue flying from his mouth.

I dodged the bits of food and shook my head.

“Have you cal ed Hank?” Jet asked, looking upset.

“Things were kinda busy,” I answered.

“I’m cal in’ Hank, give me your phone, woman,” Uncle Tex said, holding out his big hand toward Indy.

Indy knew the dril with Tex and cel phones (as in, he had no clue). She took out her phone, flipped it opened, scrol ed to Hank’s number and pressed the button before handing it to Uncle Tex.

I turned to Jet as Uncle Tex stormed away, taking his sandwich with him. “Hank and I had a talk last night.” Jet’s upset melted immediately and she smiled at me.

“That’s good. Did you get everything straightened out?”

“Not exactly,” I said. “Anyway, I just wanted to tel you that I mentioned something about me being gray and Hank got a little… angry.”

Jet blinked at me. “Pardon?” she asked.

“He said something about you two having a conversation and how whatever you two talked about in no way, or, I should say his exact words were…” I did a fake, deep voice, “‘Roxie, hear this right fucking now, in no way does it transfer to you’.”

Jet’s mouth spread in a huge smile. “See! I told you he wouldn’t think you were gray. Now you don’t have anything to worry about.”

Right.

I wished.

“What’s this about gray?” Indy asked, looking between the two of us.

Before anyone could answer, Uncle Tex was back. “He wants to talk to you.”

I closed my eyes for a second, wondering what Hank’s mood would be after lunch with Beth. Then I took the phone.

“Hey,” I said.

“You okay?” he asked, no anger in his tone, only concern.

I felt a little of my tension ebb away.

“Freaked out a little bit, but okay,” I answered.

“I know it doesn’t seem like it but this is good, Roxie. I’l cal Lee and he’l tel Vance. We already know Flynn’s been fol owin’ you, but whatever he’s doin’, he’s been careful.

He’s givin’ Vance some trouble and Vance is a top-notch tracker. Now Flynn is getting desperate, angry and stupid and that’s good. That means he’l make a mistake.” I nodded. That made sense and even though Bil y getting
more
desperate, angry and stupid was pretty fucking scary, getting him didn’t sound good, it sounded
great
.

“Okay,” I said into the phone.

“Okay,” I said into the phone.

“He has no idea the kind of protection you have. You’re gonna be fine,” Hank assured me.

“Okay,” I repeated, believing him.

“Make sure you have someone with you when you go to Tod’s,” he went on.

“Whisky,” I said quietly. “You told me that already.”

“I know. I wanna make certain you got it.” Hank was
such
a good guy.

“I got it,” I told him.

“I’l be at Tod’s at nine to pick you up.”

“Okay,” I said,
again
.

“Later, Sunshine.”

Then he disconnected.

I flipped the phone shut and handed it to Indy just as the bel over the door rang. We al turned to see who it was and my eyes widened at what I saw.

“Ohmigod!” Indy yel ed. “Beth! I thought you were in New Mexico.”

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

Indy hugged Beth and Beth said to her, “I moved back. I heard you final y hooked up with Lee.”

“Yeah,” Indy showed Beth her left hand, wiggling her fingers. “We’re getting married.”

“That’s great!” Beth replied, smiling happily at Indy. Then her eyes slid to me and her face got pink. “Um, Roxie. Can we talk?”

Shit!

Shit, shit, shit!

Indy, Jet, Duke and Uncle Tex al stared at me. Only Uncle Tex knew about my earlier idiotic blunder.

“Sure,” I said to Beth.

We were al eating our sandwiches at the book counter.

Beth and I walked over to a couch and sat down.

I turned to her and said quickly, “I’m sorry. It was stu –” Her eyes were kind as she looked at me and she interrupted softly. “Don’t be sorry. Hank told me about your… ordeal.”

I gaped at her. “He did?”

“Yes. I’m so, so sorry you went through that. He told me, because of that, you’re behaving erratical y and you have trust issues,” she patted my knee. “That’s understandable.” Behaving erratical y?

Trust issues?

Good God.

I was going to
kill
Hank.

She went on. “Anyway, what I wanted to talk to you about was… um…” she stopped, looking uncomfortable.

“Yeah?” I prompted, smiling at her even as I mental y planned Hank’s untimely demise.