Rock Chick Reckoning (Rock Chick #6)(150)

“Yes, but –” Tod started but Trish leaned forward.

“Tod, won’t say it again, sit yourself down, take a load off and do what your friend here real y wants you to do.” She indicated Indy with a jerk of her head. “Which is enjoy her day with her, not running around like a chicken with its head chopped off.” She looked at Nancy and said, “Yeesh, young people these days.”

Everyone stared at Tod and Trish, wondering what might happen next.

Then Stevie sat at the table and cal ed, “Daisy, I’l take some of that champagne.”

“Sure thing, sugar,” Daisy scooted around toward Stevie.

“Get Tod some too,” Indy put in.

“Get Tod some too,” Indy put in.

“You betcha,” Daisy said.

Indy put down her latte, got up and moved to Tod. When she arrived at him, she put her arms around him and whispered in his ear. His face got flushed and his eyes started to fil with tears.

Indy’s back was to me but I could see Tod’s face, though he wasn’t close enough to hear.

But it didn’t take a lip reader to see he said, “Love you too.”

* * * * *

The Hot Bunch

“‘Nother round for you boys?” the waitress asked on a flyby. Lee’s head came up and he did a chin lift indicating a positive response. The waitress stopped, hitched a hip, smiled and said, “Lee, honey, I hear today you are oh-fficial y off the market.”

“Been off for awhile, Betty,” Lee replied.

“My heart’s breakin’,” she told him and looked around.

“You boys’re droppin’ like flies.” Her eyes moved from Hector to Darius to Wil ie to Mace. “Least there’s four of you left.”

“Three,” Mace said.

“Oh, honey, now you just went and ruined my day.” She grinned. “Saw the papers. ‘Bout time you got your head out of your ass about Stel a.”

The Nightingale Men, Hank, Eddie, Malcolm, Tom, Roxie’s Dad Herb, Jules’s Uncle Nick, Wil ie and Duke were at Lincoln’s Road House waiting for their lunch to be served. Tex had not yet arrived.

At Betty’s comment, some heads dropped to look at the table, a few eyes slid to the side and there were a couple of chuckles.

Mace made no reply. Betty had been serving Mace food and beer for years and didn’t expect one. She winked at Mace and went to get their beer.

“You comfortable with the arrangements?” Malcolm asked Lee.

Lee’s eyes moved to his father. “Yeah, Dad. I’m pretty comfortable with personal security in the form of half the Denver f**kin’ Police Department off-duty, eatin’ Indy’s catering and carryin’ concealed.”

“Indy isn’t payin’ for that catering, I am,” Tom cut in. “And what it costs, you boys better eat it and enjoy every scrap.”

“Please tel me its steak and potatoes,” Bobby muttered.

“Not even close,” Tom told him. “Don’t remember much but something’s wrapped in filo pastry.”

“What in the sam hil is that?” Herb exploded.

Tom shrugged.

Herb looked at Lee. “You have a hand in the menu?” Lee shook his head.

“You have a hand in anything? ” Herb asked.

“I have to be in a tux and at Red Rocks at five and get Indy to Cherry Hil s Country Club by seven. Indy put her foot down that we have to stay until eleven before we can get the f**k out of there and we got a suite at the Brown Palace,” Lee responded. “That’s al I know about today.

That’s al I want to know about today.”

Herb’s eyes moved to Hank. “Listen to me now, son, you better get involved. You asked Roxie to marry you, you gotta remember, she’s draggin’ us al along with her. I ain’t payin’ for no f**kin’ pastry. Good old roast beef carved right on the spot, potatoes, maybe some of them fancy green beans and f**kin’ weddin’ cake. Got me?”

“Roxie told me Tod’s already started her wedding book,” Hank replied.

“What’s a wedding book?” Eddie asked.

Hank shrugged. “Hel if I know but Roxie says Tod’s got one for Jet too,” Eddie closed his eyes and Hank’s gaze moved to Herb. “If Tod’s involved, I’m out. Roxie knows that and she’s good with it.”

“Sounds like you did the right thing,” Luke said to Vance.

“What’d you do?” Herb asked Vance.

“Justice of the Peace.” Vance replied.

Herb nodded. “Problem is, you knocked up your girl.

That’s the only way women’l al ow you to get away with a Justice of the Peace.” Herb looked back to Hank as many of the men coughed to hide their laughter. “That’s the ticket, son, only way to save us al . Start workin’ on makin’ a baby.”

Hank was taking a drag off his beer. He choked on it and his eyes slid to Herb.

Herb kept talking. “Don’t worry. You have my permission.”

Hank looked at Lee and muttered, “Fucking hel .” Lee was too busy laughing to reply.

So was everyone else.

Tex arrived at the table and boomed, “What’d I miss?”

* * * * *

Stella