including audibly.
And the years that he’d been involved with the Rock Chicks (this being from the beginning, when he rescued Indy after she was kidnapped, this being when he got himself shot for that effort), plus the years he’d been married to my mom, he’d adopted all of us.
Especially me and Jet.
He was not a man who would hold my hand at a fair and shout how he needed to get cotton candy for his best girl.
He was a man who would run into the burning building me, my sister or especially my mother was in, even if there was little chance he would find us alive.
He’d risk his life, and give it, to try.
Obviously, I adored him.
“You’ll meet him Sunday,” I told Mom. “Listen, can you help Carla out?”
“We’ll meet him Sunday,” I heard Mom say, not to me, to Tex. “His name is Mo,” she went on.
“Mo? Hawk Delgado’s Mo?” Tex boomed.
Shit.
Of course Tex knew Mo.
Great.
My eyes went to Mo to see him standing guard over Carla while Smithie prodded her ankle.
From Mom to Tex, “I don’t know, sweetheart.” To me, “Does this boyfriend work for Hawk Delgado?”
“Um…yeah,” I said.
“Yes,” Mom told Tex.
“Well, all right!” Tex bellowed. “Boy’s as big as a house, built tough as a tank and he ain’t no chatterbox. He’s over, I don’t gotta listen to him blather on about a play-by-play of the last Broncos game while I’m watchin’ me a Bruce Lee film. Tell Lottie I approve.”
I nearly giggled, even though I had no idea who made him listen to a play-by-play of the last Broncos game. All of the Hot Bunch were Broncos fans. But none of them were men to hang at Tex and Mom’s house with their one hundred and fifty cats.
Though, I had a feeling they’d dig on Bruce Lee films.
“Tex approves,” Mom told me.
“Great,” I replied, now with a smile in my voice.
“I still haven’t met him yet, Lottie,” she warned.
Mom was going to love Mo.
“You will Sunday,” I reminded her. “Now about Carla.”
“Text us her address, honey. We’ll head over there as soon’s we’re dressed.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I murmured.
“Anytime, darlin’ girl,” she murmured back. “Love you.”
“Love you too. And tell Tex I love him.”
To Tex, “Lottie sends her love.”
A low boom of “Sheeee-it.”
I smiled.
That meant Tex loved me too.
“Later, Mom.”
“See you Sunday, Lottie.”
We disconnected as I watched Mo lift Carla like she was a sheet draped over his arms.
My nipples tingled and my thoughts went where they shouldn’t.
That being my hope he was just as much of a powerhouse in bed.
He carried her behind the screen so she could dress.
“I’m takin’ her to the hospital,” Smithie informed me.
“Good,” I replied.
Mo came out from behind the screen.
“Mo’s gonna help me get her to my truck. You lock the door behind us,” Smithie ordered. “And don’t leave this room. Mo’ll be back as soon as we get Carla in the truck.”
I nodded.
Mo scowled at me.
“I’ll lock the door, Mo,” I assured.
He scowled some more before he dipped his chin.
I turned my attention to the screen, thus Carla, and called. “Mom and Tex are heading over to your place as soon as they get dressed. You might want to call your sitter.” I paused, “And warn her about Tex.”
“I’ll do it in the car. Thanks, Lottie,” Carla called back.
“Don’t mention it. Do you need help back there?”
“Uh…kinda,” she answered.
Yeah, she needed to hit the hospital.
I gave Mo then Smithie a look and headed behind the screen.
We got Carla dressed, I went, grabbed her purse and gave it to her before giving her a kiss on the cheek and a wish of good luck, and then Mo picked her up to take her out to the car.
I trailed them close at Mo’s heels so he’d know I was doing as ordered.
I started to lock the door practically before it was fully closed.
When I turned back to the room, I realized it was weird to be alone. The only time I’d been alone for days was in the shower.
I barely got Carla’s address texted to Mom and my false eyelashes off to do a full makeup cleanup in order to do a full makeup put on when there was a pounding at the door and a shout of, “Mo!”
Well, he didn’t jack around.
I felt my mouth turn up as I hustled to the door to let him in.
He crowded my space to get back in, which meant back to guarding me, and I realized with him, falling in love would probably be