There was a beat of silence.

“That was righteous,” Al y said quietly.

“You got that right, sister.” Indy replied.

* * * * *

We dropped Daisy first, then Al y took me to Eddie’s. We idled at the curb, me in the front seat, al of us looking at Eddie’s house. The lights were on.

looking at Eddie’s house. The lights were on.

“Damn, shit, f**k,” I whispered.

It was definitely a multi-curse-word moment.

The outside light went on, the front door opened, then the security door opened. Eddie stood inside the opened door wearing jeans and a plaid flannel shirt, feet bare, shirt unbuttoned, chest and abs partial y exposed, hair a sexy mess, face unreadable.

“Holy crap,” Indy breathed from the backseat.

“Fuck, shit, damn,” I whispered.

I was wrong, this was a multi-curse-word moment.

“I don’t know whether to feel sorry for you or stun gun you and take your place,” Al y said.

“I think he’s going to cuff me to bed the next time,” I said.

“Lee tried that with me, it doesn’t work,” Indy offered.

Um… eek!

“I think you best mosey on up there, pa’dner. He doesn’t look like he’s gonna wait much longer and I’m not sure you want to know what he’l do when he’s done waiting.” I got out of the front seat and Indy got out of the back and our hair was forced to get out with us.

I hugged Indy.

“Thanks,” I said into her ear.

“It was a blast,” she said into mine.

I leaned over, my dress rode up, I pul ed it down just before disaster struck and waved at Al y. She blew me a kiss.

Then I walked up to Eddie.

He stood aside and let me enter.

“Hey,” I said as I walked by, surprising myself by sounding cool instead of freaked out.

His eyes did a ful body scan. Then, slowly, he shook his head.

Okay, I was done with being cool.

I made a beeline for the bathroom, leaving him to lock the door.

I washed my face and tore a brush through my hair. With effort it went from Freaky Diva to Charlie’s Angels.

The house was dark when I opened the bathroom door, a dim light coming from the bedroom.

Eddie was in bed, on his side, covers up to his waist, chest bare, head in his hand, eyes on me, face stil unreadable.

Eek!

I turned off the light, slid off my shoes, tore off the dress and pul ed on the camisole that was stil lying on my bag but I left the bottoms for another day.

I crawled into bed and settled, my back to him.

Eddie didn’t move.

“Thanks for letting me in,” I said to the wal , attempting to gauge his mood.

No response.

“Good night,” I tried.

He moved, settling in, obviously on his back, not touching me and not speaking either.

Hmm.

There were a few of problems with this. First; I was wide-awake and coasting on a serious wave of adrenalin, adrenalin that needed to be worked out somehow (and I knew how I’d prefer it to be worked out). Second; I was too freaking shy to do anything about it, definitely I wasn’t able to make the first move. Last; I was pretty certain Eddie was ticked off so even if I wasn’t too shy, he clearly wasn’t in the mood.

Instead, I fidgeted, I moved, I turned and I tried to count sheep.

I was rearranging my pil ows for the third time when Eddie’s arm came out and hauled me across the bed, tucking me into his side.

Final y.

“Jazzed?” he asked.

“Um… yeah.”

“Stun-gunning angry black women in bars on Colfax’l do that to you.”

Wonderful.

Darius told on me.

“Darius,” I said.

Eddie didn’t answer.

“I tried to be a mediator, I swear. I even offered to buy her a drink. But apparently Indy stun-gunned her a few months ago. Then she cal ed Al y a bee-atch, which Al y didn’t like. Then she punched Daisy in the eye. Then Daisy jumped her and Al y jumped them and they started rol ing around on the floor. Then some other woman shoved Indy and—”

Eddie interrupted me. “You can stop talkin’ now.” I closed my mouth and laid there a second, pressed up against his warm, hard body.

Then (I swear, I couldn’t help it, it was the adrenalin, and maybe a little of my newfound coolness) I ran my hand down his chest, across his abs, then back over his chest and my fingernail might have somewhat-purposeful y snagged his nipple.

He grabbed my wrist and held my hand where it was.

“You tired?” I whispered.

“It’s after one in the morning,” he replied, but didn’t answer my question.

I thought about this and came up with a solution.

“I’l do al the work,” I said quietly.

He didn’t respond and he didn’t move.

Damn.

Final y, he said, “Please tel me you didn’t have the chance to bend over in that dress.”

I did a mental replay of the night.

I hadn’t.

Except for when I bent over to use the stun gun of course.

I didn’t share that with Eddie.

“I didn’t even sit down, unless I was in the Mustang.” He didn’t say anything.

I squirmed next to him.

“Um…” I dragged it out, “about me doing al the work?” He pul ed me over his body, his hands slid down my bottom, the backs of my thighs and hooked at my knees, pul ing them up so I was straddling him.

My mouth found his in the dark.

“Can I take that as a yes?” I asked.

He didn’t answer but he pul ed off my camisole.

I was guessing that was a yes.

I went with my guess and I was right.

Chapter Nineteen

Lottie

The alarm went off, Eddie touched a button and rol ed out of bed.

I slid the covers over my head. Maybe, if I hid, he wouldn’t remember I was there.

He yanked the covers off me, grabbed my hand and pul ed me out of bed.

“Did you not hear what I said about the snooze button?” I asked as he marched me across the room.

“It’s a good thing you’re so damn pretty, Chiquita, because mostly, you’re a pain in the ass.”

* * * * *

I didn’t have to make the coffee. Eddie’d programmed it the night before and when I wandered into the kitchen, the pot was ful to the brim; fourteen whole cups of hot, fresh java. Heaven.

I had two cups while getting ready and I made Eddie one.

I poured us both travel mugs, we loaded ourselves in the truck and Eddie took me to Fortnum’s. He kissed me, deep but brief, while we sat in the truck in front of the store. He idled at the curb, watching while I walked in. I gave him a wave when I unlocked the door and went inside. He lifted his chin, slid on his shades and took off.