Then I learned (or more to the point realized) something new about Lee. Something he’d been showing me for days.
Lee didn’t play games and he didn’t like me doing it either. Perhaps surviving life-threatening situations and living a life filled with danger made you more honest and less apt to waste precious time.
“What kind of underwear are you wearing?” he asked.
“What? Why?”
“Because if you describe it to me, I might decide you’re worth the trouble.”
It was best to cut my losses so I crossed my arms on my chest and glared at him.
He turned away, completely unperturbed.
I caught sight of Dad who was sitting down the table from us. There was no way he could have heard what we were saying because Lee had his back to him and spoke low. Still, Dad was shaking his head.
“What?” I snapped at my father.
“Jesus, it’s uncanny. You’re just like your mother.”
* * * * *
Everyone disbursed to get ready for Burgundy Rose’s show, Ally taking responsibility for Tex, Lee taking me home in his Crossfire.
I’d showered before Beau Jo’s but hadn’t prettied myself up because most of my makeup was at Lee’s. We walked up to the bedroom so I could change and Lee saw the bag.
“What’s this?”
I didn’t want to admit what it was and what it meant that I packed it. Since Lee saw through most of my lies, or was cocky enough to zip it open and see for himself, I came clean.
“I was running out of stuff at your place so I packed more provisions.”
His eyes crinkled their approval, his arm snaked out and pulled me to him. His mouth went to the skin below my ear.
“You done pretending to be mad at me to hide bein’ scared?” he murmured.
My whole body stiffened.
“Don’t be a jerk.”
His head lifted and he looked me in the eye.
“You’re right. That was an ass**le remark.”
Holy shit.
What did you say to that?
“I’m tired, it’s been a long day,” he continued, his hand coming up to pinch his nose between his eyes.
“That’s all right,” I said. “And no, I’m not mad at you or pretending to be mad. But I need to put makeup on and all my good stuff is at your condo so I have to visit Chez Burgundy.”
I had put my Lynyrd Skynyrd outfit back on for Beau Jo’s. I changed my top to a thin, black, silky, partially-beaded, spaghetti-strapped affair that was in the Sushi Den section of my closet. This necessitated no bra and since Lee seemed quite happy laying back on my bed with his arms crossed behind his head, watching me change (and I would have felt like a naïve fool locking myself in the bathroom), I had to pull a Jennifer-Beals-Flashdance move and take the bra off after I put the top on. I kept the jeans, but exchanged the belt for the one with rhinestones and the boots for high-heeled sandals with jet beads sewn across the front strap. I added about two dozen shiny black bangles on my wrist and some dangly earrings.
When I was done, I turned to the bed. I thought Lee was watching me, but he was asleep.
I sat next to his hip and the minute he felt my weight on the bed, his eyes opened.
“Why don’t you rest?” I asked. “We’ll come back after the show.”