So, we lifted the dregs of our second martini and toasted our plan; Daisy with a giggle, Indy with a grin and me with a bel y clutch.

* * * * *

It was an hour later and we were slowly nursing our fourth martini (because two was enough, four was just plain crazy) when Daisy’s eyes locked on something over my shoulder and she sucked in breath. “Oh sweet Lord, if I didn’t have Marcus, I’d get me some of that.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw Eddie scanning the room. His eyes hit me and he started coming our way.

My bel y curled in a happy way.

I ignored my bel y, turned back and told Daisy, “That’s Eddie.”

Daisy’s eyes dropped to the badge Eddie wore on his belt.

“Eddie, as in Eddie Chavez?” she said to me, her eyes getting wide.

I nodded.

“Seein’ as my baby’s in the business he’s in, I don’t normal y like cops, but this time, I’m makin’ an exception.” I felt a hand curve around the back of my neck and I tilted my head to look up. Eddie bent low and his mouth touched mine, my happy bel y curl went into overdrive and then he straightened and took in Indy and Daisy.

“Ladies,” he said.

I introduced Daisy, she put her hand in his and said, straight out, “Sugar Bunch, you are fine.” Eddie smiled but didn’t say anything. What could you say?

His eyes turned to me. “We’ve got an errand to run,” he reminded me (like I’d forget).

I got up and waved to the girls.

“I’l cal you later,” Indy said, giving me a look.

I nodded to Indy and Eddie steered me out of the room. It took a lot of steering, I had a serious buzz on.

When I wandered into him, Eddie looked down at me and his hand at my back slid around my side and he pul ed me to him but kept walking.

“You drunk?” he asked, sounding amused.

“Maybe just a little bit,” I admitted, “I think I should have stopped at the third martini.”

We’d cleared the bar and were standing by Eddie’s truck, parked at the curb. He pushed me into it with a hand at my bel y and got close.

“So, you’re saying you didn’t stop at the third martini?” I shook my head.

“And you’re maybe just a little bit drunk?” I nodded my head.

He got in closer.

“Boring, my ass,” he muttered.

This time, I cocked my head and pul ed out The Glare.

Maybe it was the third martini, maybe it was the second sip into the forth but I went al attitude.

“Mark my words, Eddie Chavez and don’t say I didn’t warn you. When this is al over you’l wonder what the hel you’re doing with me. I’m boring, boring, boring… b-o-r-i-n-g.” I was pretty pleased, considering I was seriously tipsy, that I could spel boring.

His head dipped low and came close to mine. “How bad do you need coffee in the morning?” he asked.

I blinked, not keeping up with the conversation.

“Why?”

“I’m thinkin’, in your condition, I might try and see how boring you are naked.”

Eek.

“I need coffee real y bad in the morning,” I told him.

He grinned.

“Right,” he said.

We got in the truck and Eddie pul ed out.

“What was with the look?” Eddie asked when we were headed out of Downtown.

“What look?” I tried innocence.

Of course, Eddie would have noticed Indy’s look.

“Indy’s look,” he answered

See what I mean?

“There wasn’t a look,” I lied.

“You are so ful of shit,” he muttered.

This time, he wasn’t wrong.

We went to Best Buy on Colorado Boulevard and Eddie directed us toward the coffee makers. I stood in the aisle, swaying a little bit, not only because of the martinis but also because I was in Best Buy with a hot guy shopping for coffee makers. I stared at the plethora of machines on display as if one was going to grow teeth and bite me.

“What do you want?” Eddie asked.

“A coffee maker,” I replied.

“Yeah,” he grinned at me, “but which one?” I stared at them, did a quick price check and pointed at the cheapest one.

Eddie shook his head, the grin stil in place, walked passed the one I pointed to and grabbed an upper mid-range, programmable, 14-cup KitchenAid. It wasn’t the mother of al coffee makers, but it wasn’t anything to turn your nose up at either. He tucked it under one arm, took my hand and pul ed me down the aisle.

“Anything else you need to make you less grouchy in the morning? A blender? A toaster?” he asked.

I came to a dead halt and stared at him.

“You don’t have a toaster?” I asked, horrified.

He changed directions and headed to the toasters.

We swung by my apartment and grabbed some provisions (most especial y coffee) and then went to Eddie’s house.

He unloaded the new appliances while I unpacked the groceries. Then I cal ed Famous and ordered a large pizza, one half with everything for Eddie, the other half triple cheese and mushroom for me. Eddie heard me order while plugging in the coffee maker and his brows went up.

“It’s al about the cheese,” I explained.

His eyes drifted down my body and his lips twitched as he flipped open the instruction book to the coffee maker. I wasn’t certain what that meant but I was certain I wasn’t going to ask.

I left him to deal with things with cords, went into the living room, sat on the sofa and phoned Mom.

“Hey Mom,” I said when she answered.

“Hey dol face,” she replied

“How are you getting on?” I asked.

Eddie wandered in, sat down and turned on the TV. The remote went into hyperdrive as he flipped through channels.

“Tex and me are drinking hooch,” Mom answered.

I was leaning back but I shot bolt upright when I heard her answer.

“You can’t drink hooch on your meds!” I yel ed.

Eddie’s eyes came to me.

“Just a little drinkie poo,” Mom said.

“Stop drinking,” I ordered.

Her voice came to me, ignoring my order, and she was whispering, “I think Tex kinda likes me.” Then she giggled.

Dear Lord.

“Tex is a nut,” I told her.

“He’s sweet.”

Tex?

Sweet?

“You think Tex is sweet? How much hooch have you had?”

“Oh! Gotta go, Tex found his laser lights and we’re gonna play with the kitties. Love you.” Then she disconnected.