Rock Chick Redemption (Rock Chick #3)(90)

“I’m not, you know,” I whispered.

He glared at me. “You made a mistake with your old boyfriend. Don’t make another one.”

“Duke –”

“You told Hank that Flynn wasn’t gonna control your life and stil , you’re lettin’ him.”

I felt the wind go out of me, like I’d been punched in the stomach.

He leaned into me. “Get smart girl. You don’t, you’l only have yourself to blame.”

Before I could retort, the bel over the door went and Tod and Stevie waltzed in.

Tod was carrying what looked like a scrapbook gone amok. It was way overstuffed and there were bits of paper and other stuff sticking out of it everywhere. He walked to the book counter and slammed it down.

“Glad you’re okay, girlie,” he said, giving me an across-the-counter air-kiss. Then, obviously on a mission, he yel ed, “Indy, get over here!”

Stevie came around the counter and gave me a genuine cheek kiss.

I was feeling funny about my conversation with Duke.

Where everyone else had failed, somehow, what Duke said got to me. No one ever likes it when someone thinks badly of them, and, of al the folks I’d met in the last week, outside Jane, I knew Duke the least. Yet I found this driving need not to disappoint him and I felt I had.

Indy, Daisy, Jet and Annette walked up to the counter.

Jason had long ago disappeared into the bowels of bookshelves and had not returned.

Tod flipped open the book. Where he opened it, one page was ful of fabric swatches stapled to it, the other one had only two, an orange and a brown.

“Al y tel s me you settled on pink and ivory for your wedding colors,” Tod said to Indy accusingly.

“Yes,” Indy said. “And?”

Tod pointed at the orange and brown swatches. “I thought we’d decided on tangerine and chocolate.” I made a gagging noise at the very idea of a tangerine and chocolate wedding.

Stevie gave me a look that said both, “I agree” and “Not now”.

I felt a touch on my shoulder and saw a hand there. I fol owed the arm attached to the hand and saw Duke was beside me, he gave me a shoulder squeeze and walked away.

I felt relief slide through me, Duke wasn’t angry with me. I closed my eyes and leaned against the counter. I opened them when Tod started speaking again.

“I’m cal ing an Emergency Wedding Summit. Tomorrow night,” Tod announced, then his eyes shifted to Annette.

“Who’re you?”

“I’m Roxie’s friend, Annette.”

He took her in, top-to-toe. “You going to Daisy’s gathering?”

She nodded.

“Got something to wear? It’s formal,” Tod went on.

She shook her head.

Tod swung his eyes to me

“Do you have something to wear yet? Or have you had time to shop in between shoot-outs and running for your life?”

I shook my head too. I wondered how Luke was going to feel about shopping tomorrow. I was pretty certain Luke wouldn’t be too happy about that. Furthermore, according to Luke Rules, I was not to be anywhere that I couldn’t see him or wasn’t close enough to touch him. That meant Luke would have to sit in the dressing room with me.

Shit, shit, shit.

I shoved the thought aside, deciding to worry about it later and looked to Annette. “We’l go shopping tomorrow.”

“Fuck that,” Tod cut in. “You’re shopping at The House of Burgundy. Tomorrow night.” Tod glared at Indy. “They’re coming to the Wedding Summit, after that, we’l get everyone situated with party outfits. Do not even argue, we have to have a meeting of the minds about this pink and ivory business.”

“It’s my wedding, Tod,” Indy pointed out.

“Girlie, you think I’ve been supplying you with champagne, shoes and accessories for the last God knows for how many years for my health? ” Tod snapped. “It’s payback time.”

“Oh dear,” Jet said.

Annette laughed.

Daisy emitted a tinkly giggle.

I sent Indy a commiserating look. She didn’t catch my look; she was glaring at Tod.

I figured Luke would probably like the Wedding Summit slash Drag Queen Closet Trawl a hel uva lot less than shopping.

For the first time that day, I smiled.

The bel over the door went and we al turned to see who it was.

Luke was standing there.

“Oh my,” Tod whispered. “I think I just creamed my pants.”

“Tel me about it,” Annette agreed.

“Dinner,” Luke declared in Luke Speak.

“Gotta go,” I said, grabbing my purse.

“We’re meeting at Smithie’s, nine o’clock,” Jet cal ed after me.

I nodded to her, waved at everyone and stopped in front of Luke. “I’m ready,” I told him.

He did a ful body scan.

Then he did his sexy half-grin.

Then I heard some noises that sounded like moans behind me.

Then Luke wrapped his fingers around my elbow and propel ed me to the door.

“Wear something sparkly!” Daisy yel ed as the door swung closed.

Shit, but I was in trouble.

Chapter Nineteen

Denver Men Are Men

Luke took me to Lincoln’s Road House (clearly the Nightingale Investigation Team hang out) for dinner, where not surprisingly, he didn’t say much