Rock Chick Redemption (Rock Chick #3)(105)

Throughout al of this Stevie calmly served hot and delicious hors d’oeuvres.

Also throughout al of this, I alternately wound myself up about the coming “conversation” with Hank and thoughts about my weird day.

* * * * *

Earlier that afternoon, about half an hour after Hank left, Duke showed up and Indy and Jet arrived not much later with lunch. While we were eating, I told Uncle Tex about Bil y’s phone cal . “You’ve got to be f**kin’ shittin’ me!” he boomed, tuna sandwich residue flying from his mouth.

I dodged the bits of food and shook my head.

“Have you cal ed Hank?” Jet asked, looking upset.

“Things were kinda busy,” I answered.

“I’m cal in’ Hank, give me your phone, woman,” Uncle Tex said, holding out his big hand toward Indy.

Indy knew the dril with Tex and cel phones (as in, he had no clue). She took out her phone, flipped it opened, scrol ed to Hank’s number and pressed the button before handing it to Uncle Tex.

I turned to Jet as Uncle Tex stormed away, taking his sandwich with him. “Hank and I had a talk last night.” Jet’s upset melted immediately and she smiled at me.

“That’s good. Did you get everything straightened out?”

“Not exactly,” I said. “Anyway, I just wanted to tel you that I mentioned something about me being gray and Hank got a little… angry.”

Jet blinked at me. “Pardon?” she asked.

“He said something about you two having a conversation and how whatever you two talked about in no way, or, I should say his exact words were…” I did a fake, deep voice, “‘Roxie, hear this right f**king now, in no way does it transfer to you’.”

Jet’s mouth spread in a huge smile. “See! I told you he wouldn’t think you were gray. Now you don’t have anything to worry about.”

Right.

I wished.

“What’s this about gray?” Indy asked, looking between the two of us.

Before anyone could answer, Uncle Tex was back. “He wants to talk to you.”

I closed my eyes for a second, wondering what Hank’s mood would be after lunch with Beth. Then I took the phone.

“Hey,” I said.

“You okay?” he asked, no anger in his tone, only concern.

I felt a little of my tension ebb away.

“Freaked out a little bit, but okay,” I answered.

“I know it doesn’t seem like it but this is good, Roxie. I’l cal Lee and he’l tel Vance. We already know Flynn’s been fol owin’ you, but whatever he’s doin’, he’s been careful.

He’s givin’ Vance some trouble and Vance is a top-notch tracker. Now Flynn is getting desperate, angry and stupid and that’s good. That means he’l make a mistake.” I nodded. That made sense and even though Bil y getting more desperate, angry and stupid was pretty f**king scary, getting him didn’t sound good, it sounded great.

“Okay,” I said into the phone.

“Okay,” I said into the phone.

“He has no idea the kind of protection you have. You’re gonna be fine,” Hank assured me.

“Okay,” I repeated, believing him.

“Make sure you have someone with you when you go to Tod’s,” he went on.

“Whisky,” I said quietly. “You told me that already.”

“I know. I wanna make certain you got it.” Hank was such a good guy.

“I got it,” I told him.

“I’l be at Tod’s at nine to pick you up.”

“Okay,” I said, again.

“Later, Sunshine.”

Then he disconnected.

I flipped the phone shut and handed it to Indy just as the bel over the door rang. We al turned to see who it was and my eyes widened at what I saw.

“Ohmigod!” Indy yel ed. “Beth! I thought you were in New Mexico.”

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

Indy hugged Beth and Beth said to her, “I moved back. I heard you final y hooked up with Lee.”

“Yeah,” Indy showed Beth her left hand, wiggling her fingers. “We’re getting married.”

“That’s great!” Beth replied, smiling happily at Indy. Then her eyes slid to me and her face got pink. “Um, Roxie. Can we talk?”

Shit!

Shit, shit, shit!

Indy, Jet, Duke and Uncle Tex al stared at me. Only Uncle Tex knew about my earlier idiotic blunder.

“Sure,” I said to Beth.

We were al eating our sandwiches at the book counter.

Beth and I walked over to a couch and sat down.

I turned to her and said quickly, “I’m sorry. It was stu –” Her eyes were kind as she looked at me and she interrupted softly. “Don’t be sorry. Hank told me about your… ordeal.”

I gaped at her. “He did?”

“Yes. I’m so, so sorry you went through that. He told me, because of that, you’re behaving erratical y and you have trust issues,” she patted my knee. “That’s understandable.” Behaving erratical y?

Trust issues?

Good God.

I was going to kill Hank.

She went on. “Anyway, what I wanted to talk to you about was… um…” she stopped, looking uncomfortable.