Rock Chick Renegade (Rock Chick #4)(116)

“I’ll have to ask Vance and Nick.”

“Okay, let me know. Eddie and I are going over there for dinner tonight so just give me a ring.”

“Cool,” I said then, “um… Jet?”

“Yeah?”

“Vance asked me to leave my lotion and stuff at his place this morning.”

“That is so cool!” she shouted.

I grinned at the phone. “Did you ever double up on toiletries with Eddie?” I asked. “One set for his place, one set for yours?”

“No. Didn’t have to do that. I moved in with Eddie after a few days and never moved out.”

Yikes.

What was it with these guys?

I was heading to the mall when call number three came, Daisy. “Hey Sugar. What’s shakin’?”

“I’m on my way to the mall,” I told her. “Vance said to leave my lotion and stuff at his house so I’m doubling up on toiletries.”

“That is so cool!” she shouted.

I started laughing.

I flipped the phone shut after listening to Daisy telling me about how her masseuse was coming that night. It was only after I hung up that I realized I’d just talked to a drug dealing, gun running, pimp’s wife and I had no problem with that.

None at all.

How weird was that?

Call number four came about five minutes after Daisy. It was Tod.

“Girlie! You’re doubling up on toiletries?”

Someone was obviously talking and that someone was either a redhead, a platinum blonde or a honey blonde. I was guessing platinum or Daisy.

“That calls for champagne!” Tod screeched. “I’m getting on a flight as we speak and Stevie’s in Baltimore. We’re both back in a couple of days and then we’re having a Toiletries and Tiaras party.”

By the way, when Tod wasn’t a drag queen both Stevie and Tod were flight attendants.

“Toiletries and Tiaras?” I asked.

“Everything goes with tiaras, girlie.”

There you go.

Call number five came when I was in Bath and Body Works at Cherry Creek Mall. It was Roxie.

“Daisy says you’re at the mall.” Her tone sounded accusatory.

“Um, yeah. Vance told me to leave my lotion –” I started to say.

“I know, I know. Why didn’t you call and tell me you were going to the mall?” she asked then didn’t give me time answer. “I’ll meet you outside the MAC store in fifteen minutes. We’ll shop, then get pizza at California Pizza Kitchen and we’ll gab.” Again, she didn’t let me answer, she disconnected.

Roxie and I were browsing in the underwear section of Nordstrom’s when call number six came, Ally. “Hey chickie. What’s this I hear about leaving your lotion at Vance’s?”

I gave her the lowdown.

“That is so cool!” she yelled then, “listen, I’m working a shift at Brother’s.” Ally, I’d found out the other night, was a bartender at My Brother’s Bar when she wasn’t working at Fortnum’s, “come over, I’ll buy you a drink to celebrate.”

“Can’t. Roxie and I are at the mall. We’re looking at undies then we’re getting a pizza. Anyway, Tod is going to have a Toiletries and Tiaras party in a couple of days,” I said.

“Works for me,” All replied, clearly always up for any kind of party.

I was buying three new silky, lacy and satiny underwear sets when call number seven came, Vance.

“Where are you?” he asked, not taking my instruction in common civility that you should identify yourself, he launched right in with macho-speak.

“Buying underwear at Nordstrom’s with Roxie.”

Silence.

“Vance?”

“Give me a minute, Princess.”

“Why?”

“I’m enjoying a mental picture.”

I grinned at the phone. “Still your mind, Crowe, and tell me why you called.”

“Lee tells me you’re goin’ out tonight.”

“How did he…?” I started.

This time, I figured it was the redhead who had the big mouth, Indy.

Jeez.

“Yeah, I’m thinking about it,” I said.

“I’m caught up in something. I can’t take your back.”

“That’s okay.”

More silence for a beat and then, “It’s not okay. I don’t want you on the streets without someone doin’ backup.”

“Crowe, I’ve been doing this alone for months.”

“You’re not doin’ it alone anymore.”

Again the macho-speak.

“Crowe –”

“I’ll ask around, get one of the guys to ride with you.”

“Crowe –” I started again but I heard the disconnect.

“God dammit!” I shouted at my dead phone.

“What?” Roxie asked.

“Vance is arranging for someone to ride with me tonight even though I’m perfectly fine going it alone. I mean, I did flip a drug dealer onto his back and nearly shot another one in the foot not a week ago and two nights ago, on my own, I dropped a pimp and two of his whores!” I snapped.

The customer service representative who was ringing up my sexy, silky, lacy, satiny delicate, pretty, girlie underwear gasped.