“We’re having a family barbeque on Saturday, Ally’s place. I’m sure everyone would like to see you,” I told him.
Lee dropped his chin and gave a couple of shakes of his head in that “I don’t believe she’s such an idiot” way.
“Thanks Indy, I got things to do,” Darius said.
“Okay, come after you’re done,” I said to him.
Darius shook his head.
“Then come before, bring your Mom and your sisters. I haven’t seen them in ages.” I kept going.
Lee’s hand wrapped around my upper arm and he turned me and marched me toward the door. I twisted around and I could see Darius grinning.
“See you later!” I called, already around the couch and in the kitchen.
As we passed, Lee snatched the Crossfire’s keys off the kitchen counter and at the front door he pulled me to a stop.
“What’d I say about trying to save Darius?”
“What? I just asked him to the barbeque.”
“You’re a nut,” he said.
I put a hand on a hip. “Excuse me?”
Lee shook his head. “Nope, not gonna happen. I’m not biting. We are not fighting today. No matter how far you push it.”
I’m so sure. Like I wanted to fight.
I got up on my toes and kissed him, giving him a quick peck and then grabbed the keys out of his hand.
“What was that?” he asked.
“A kiss good-bye,” I told him.
He took two steps forward and I took two steps back, slamming into a wall. His hands went to my ass and pulled me against him and he kissed me breathless.
“That was a kiss good-bye,” he said.
I took in a shaky breath.
It sure was.
* * * * *
Ally and Tex were behind the coffee counter at Fortnum’s when I got there. There were six people waiting in line and three people who’d already ordered and were waiting for their coffee. Every chair and couch had someone’s ass in it, all of them drinking coffee.
Motley Crue was blaring “Girls Girls Girls” from the CD player.
I looked at my watch, it was ten to eight. We’d only been open for twenty minutes.
Apparently people would pay to have a guy who looked like a serial killer serve them coffee.
“Holy shit,” I said.
“Get your butt behind this counter, woman! Does it look like there’s nothin’ to do and you have time to stand around gawkin’?” Tex boomed.
I walked around the counter, saw Annie, the blonde, helmet-head lady who yelled at me during the Rosie riot. She was staring at her cup with a reverence normally only befitting the unveiling of front row tickets. She looked up at me.