* * * * *
Vance had woken me up by making love to me, slow, sweet, taking his time. It was a new experience and one that I liked (a lot).
We’d taken a shower, got dressed and he drove me to my house.
Without a word he walked me to the back stoop, kissed me (also slow, sweet and taking his time) then he walked back to his bike and roared off.
Gone. Just like that. It was done.
I stared at the spot where I last saw him as my stomach twisted tight and my heart squeezed.
Then I went inside and listened to Boo telling me that Nick hadn’t broken up his wet food with a fork like I normally do.
I picked him up and gave him a cuddle. “Be quiet, Boo,” I whispered with my cheek pressed to his fur.
Boo was quiet.
* * * * *
I’d spent the day waiting for Vance to call, walk into King’s, do something Vance-like to invade my space and my life.
Nothing.
May was openly worried about me and talking constantly in her Mama’s-gonna-make-it-better voice. May was a love, a good friend and a kind heart but no Mama in the world would make me feel better.
All the gang phoned me. Roxie phoned twice. They were checking in and checking up and offering me everything to keep my mind off Vance: Yahtzee and sparkling wine (Tod and Stevie); a movie (Indy and Jet); a drunken night of debauchery (Ally); a day at the spa (Daisy); and a shopping spree (Roxie).
I’d turned them all down and mentally licked my wounds while my emotional Rottweiler sat next to me, tongue lolling, tail wagging, happy.
I was thinking I needed a new emotional guard dog. Something cute and cuddly with a smushy face that I could carry around in a purse and dress in ridiculous doggie clothes. Something like a pug.
The only bright spot had been when I’d called Nightingale Investigations and asked to speak to Luke. Without hesitation the guy named Monty who answered gave me Luke’s cell number.
When I called Luke answered by saying, “You’re not gettin’ out of trainin’. I don’t care if he dumped you.”
“He didn’t dump me!” I (kind of) shouted. Then I realized he knew it was me who was calling. “How do you know my number?” I asked.
“Everybody’s got your number. You’re an unofficial member of the team.”
Oh. I didn’t know that. An unofficial member of the Nightingale Investigation Team. That was way cool.
I shrugged off the way coolness of being a member of the team even if it was unofficial. “I want to bring Roam and Sniff –” I started.
“Not gonna happen,” Luke interrupted me.
“Luke! I don’t want you to train them. I just want them to come and watch. Maybe they’ll learn something. And they’ll be impressed by the offices. And I want them to hang around good male role models.”
Silence.
“Luke?” I called when the silence stretched.
“Good male role models?” Luke asked. I could tell by his tone he thought that was funny.
“Can I bring them or what?” I snapped, losing patience.
“Don’t be late.”
I guessed that was a yes.