you can stay with us until you have to go back on Sunday. Is everybody okay with that?”
Ayla was running her fingers through her hair in a nervous gesture while Chase grinned as if he wanted to say, “You sly dog you”. He winked at Austin and then caught my eye.
“Mel’, is that okay with you?”
“Mi casa es su casa Detective. I’ve got plenty of room. We can stop at the desk on the way in and I’ll make sure you both have keys.”
Chase put his hands in his pants pockets and tried to look casual in that, good-cop-bad-cop sort of way. He was being the good-cop at the moment.
“How many people have keys to your place Mel’?”
I had to seriously think about that, and I counted on my fingers.
“Dorothy, my folks, Ayla, Sean, Anton, and now you two. Seven if you don’t count me.”
He relaxed and smiled again. Austin was watching his friend carefully.
“Is this a major deal Chase? Is he close?”
Chase gestured to the bartender and ordered a beer, trying to appear fearless yet casual. He was so not pulling off Indiana Jones here, but I’d give him points for trying.
“He’s in the city. I don’t think he’s found this place yet or you’d have seen him. It’s best if we get you guys moved ASAP though. It’s one thing for him to know you own this place, you’ll probably never be alone here. Knowing that you live above the place with one exit? That’s entirely different. Splitting you two up is probably a wise move. He knows that you helped her escape and you never came back. I imagine he’s got a bone to pick with you as well.”
Ayla visibly paled. This problem had a male face, now all I needed was a name and a story.
Our little corner of the universe got crowded when Pierce saw Ayla. I never saw him approach, but he made his presence known in a big way. He came up behind Ayla and slid his hands around her waist. She tilted her head back to look up at him and smiled.
“Ayla.”
“Pierce.”
“Are you ready to go up and start packing?”
“I am.”
“Then let’s go.”
He took her by the hand and just like that, they were gone. Not much in the way of conversation, but the outcome was effective. I turned to the man with his arms around me and noticed Anton approaching with his date.
“How about you? Do you need to pack?”
He kissed me once and smiled.
“I’ll throw a few things in a bag and grab my razor and toiletries. Every night I leave work I’ll bring a few more things over. Will that work?”
“Whatever works for you, works for me. Do you want me to go up with you or wait here?”
“Chase will keep you company, I won’t be a minute.”
“M’kay.”
I actually said, “M’kay”. Hello? Someone turned my brain to mush while I wasn’t looking. At this rate, I’d be a valley girl by the end of next week.
Chase moved in closer and placed his beer on the bar. Anton and whoever, filled the spot that Pierce and Ayla had occupied a few minutes earlier.
“Melody Lincoln, Chase McCartney, this is Amy Horner. Amy, Chase and Mel’.”
She reached out and shook our hands and I had to give her credit. She was pleasant, well dressed, and had impeccable manners. I wanted to hate her, but I couldn’t. Not yet.
“Amy and I dated in college. Imagine my surprise to see her here! She only lives a few blocks away and this bar is her local! We’re thinking that we might head on over to her place where it’s quieter and catch up.”
His eyes were on me waiting for my reaction. He got nothing and it threw him off kilter, I could see it. Chase interceded on my behalf.
“That’s fine Anton. We’re waiting on Pierce, Ayla, and Austin. Ayla’s moving in with Pierce for awhile and Austin’s bunking with Mel’.”
Oh Chase you sweet talker you, if I wasn’t currently working on your best friend, I would so make your night simmer...
Anton blinked several times in
Ayla was running her fingers through her hair in a nervous gesture while Chase grinned as if he wanted to say, “You sly dog you”. He winked at Austin and then caught my eye.
“Mel’, is that okay with you?”
“Mi casa es su casa Detective. I’ve got plenty of room. We can stop at the desk on the way in and I’ll make sure you both have keys.”
Chase put his hands in his pants pockets and tried to look casual in that, good-cop-bad-cop sort of way. He was being the good-cop at the moment.
“How many people have keys to your place Mel’?”
I had to seriously think about that, and I counted on my fingers.
“Dorothy, my folks, Ayla, Sean, Anton, and now you two. Seven if you don’t count me.”
He relaxed and smiled again. Austin was watching his friend carefully.
“Is this a major deal Chase? Is he close?”
Chase gestured to the bartender and ordered a beer, trying to appear fearless yet casual. He was so not pulling off Indiana Jones here, but I’d give him points for trying.
“He’s in the city. I don’t think he’s found this place yet or you’d have seen him. It’s best if we get you guys moved ASAP though. It’s one thing for him to know you own this place, you’ll probably never be alone here. Knowing that you live above the place with one exit? That’s entirely different. Splitting you two up is probably a wise move. He knows that you helped her escape and you never came back. I imagine he’s got a bone to pick with you as well.”
Ayla visibly paled. This problem had a male face, now all I needed was a name and a story.
Our little corner of the universe got crowded when Pierce saw Ayla. I never saw him approach, but he made his presence known in a big way. He came up behind Ayla and slid his hands around her waist. She tilted her head back to look up at him and smiled.
“Ayla.”
“Pierce.”
“Are you ready to go up and start packing?”
“I am.”
“Then let’s go.”
He took her by the hand and just like that, they were gone. Not much in the way of conversation, but the outcome was effective. I turned to the man with his arms around me and noticed Anton approaching with his date.
“How about you? Do you need to pack?”
He kissed me once and smiled.
“I’ll throw a few things in a bag and grab my razor and toiletries. Every night I leave work I’ll bring a few more things over. Will that work?”
“Whatever works for you, works for me. Do you want me to go up with you or wait here?”
“Chase will keep you company, I won’t be a minute.”
“M’kay.”
I actually said, “M’kay”. Hello? Someone turned my brain to mush while I wasn’t looking. At this rate, I’d be a valley girl by the end of next week.
Chase moved in closer and placed his beer on the bar. Anton and whoever, filled the spot that Pierce and Ayla had occupied a few minutes earlier.
“Melody Lincoln, Chase McCartney, this is Amy Horner. Amy, Chase and Mel’.”
She reached out and shook our hands and I had to give her credit. She was pleasant, well dressed, and had impeccable manners. I wanted to hate her, but I couldn’t. Not yet.
“Amy and I dated in college. Imagine my surprise to see her here! She only lives a few blocks away and this bar is her local! We’re thinking that we might head on over to her place where it’s quieter and catch up.”
His eyes were on me waiting for my reaction. He got nothing and it threw him off kilter, I could see it. Chase interceded on my behalf.
“That’s fine Anton. We’re waiting on Pierce, Ayla, and Austin. Ayla’s moving in with Pierce for awhile and Austin’s bunking with Mel’.”
Oh Chase you sweet talker you, if I wasn’t currently working on your best friend, I would so make your night simmer...
Anton blinked several times in
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