Rock Chick Rescue (Rock Chick #2)(102)

Once we exited the bedroom, we found that Lee not only disappeared, Lee disappeared, leaving a note. So we headed over to Tod and Stevie’s and Daisy was already there having a cocktail, playing with Chowleena and you could only just barely see the black eye under her concealer.

More proof that Daisy was the shit, I’d never be able to conceal a black eye and stil look as good as she did.

Stevie and Tod were both flight attendants and Stevie was out on a flight and not due back until the wee hours which meant Tod was stag.

When I walked in, Tod’s eyes got huge.

“Girlie, you are Queen Chameleon. Every time I see you, you look different.”

I smiled. “Is that good?”

“Fuck yeah, it’s good. You are workin’ that shirt and you’re only in my living room. The world wil stop when you walk out the door.”

Daisy smiled at me. “See?” she asked, as if Tod’s approval proved a point.

“He’s g*y,” I said.

Tod looked between me and Daisy.

“What’s my sexuality got to do with anything?” Tod asked.

Daisy turned to him. “She doesn’t think she’s al that.

Thinks she’s plain Jane and boring.”

Tod swung his wide eyes to me, “Good. You’re workin’

that too and you don’t even know you’re workin’ it.” Daisy’s tinkly-bel laugh sounded. “Damn straight, Sugar!”

Then they high-fived.

Dear Lord.

“Who’s designated driver?” Indy asked.

“I’ve only had one rum and coke, it can be me.” I said.

“I don’t think so,” Daisy said. “You need liquid courage for a face-down with your Daddy. This’l be my last one, I’l drive.”

Lottie showed up. We introduced her to Daisy and Daisy and Lottie formed a deep bond in five minutes while sharing breast enhancement surgery stories.

We ordered Chinese, we ate Chinese, we drank and we waited.

We didn’t want to show up at the scene of our last crime too early and Shirleen told Daisy that Dad wasn’t normal y early to the table.

At eleven thirty, we started to rol out but then Tod stopped dead in the kitchen.

“Un-unh, I tried, I real y tried, but can’t do it. Be back.” Then he ran up the stairs.

We al stood in the kitchen staring at each other. He came down with a pair of burnished silver stilettos with a pointed toe and a thin ankle strap that crossed at the back as well as a matching belt. He handed the belt to me and then knelt at my feet.

“What are you doing?” I asked when he lifted a foot, took off my black flat and threw it into the living room.

Chowleena was standing in the door to the kitchen, she watched my shoe fly over her head, gave a bark, then settled on her ass.

Tod slipped the pump on in its place.

“I do not worship at the altar of Sarah Jessica Parker and al things Sex and the City to go out with a hot-lookin’

girlie in black flats. You wear black flats when you’re eight and ninety-eight, not anytime in between.”

“Tod…”

“Huh!” he snapped, giving me The Hand.

I knew better than to argue with The Hand.

So, if something went down and I couldn’t run, at least I’d die dressed to the nines from top to toe.

* * * * *

We went straight to the bar when we got there and I scanned the crowd for any sign of Darius or angry black women.

Luckily, the coast was clear.

The bartender came right up to us. “Shirleen said to wait until she gives you the high sign,” he told Daisy and Daisy nodded.

Then she turned to me. “You ready for this, Sugar?” No. I wasn’t ready for it. I had a lot of things to say to Dad but had no idea how to say them. And what would it matter anyway? Vince was stil going to be after me. I was just going to have to go with the moment.

“Ready as I’l ever be,” I told her

She squeezed my arm. “That’s my girl.”

The troop turned to the bar to order drinks and I stood just outside the clutch.

“Buy you a drink?” I heard a man ask and I turned to look.

My eyes hit a well -defined col arbone and muscular throat above a navy henley so I looked up.

Mace was standing there.

“Say yes and then look like you’re flirting with me,” he ordered in a soft voice.

My stomach clutched and I ignored his instructions because I was in sort of a mini-freak out. Mace could put any girl in a mini-freak out, especially tel ing her to flirt with him and most especially using a soft voice.

“What?” I asked, sounding stupid.

His eyes shifted and he lifted a chin to the bartender.

“Two beers,” he said.

I shook off the freak out and leaned into him.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered.

He circled me, getting close, cutting me off from my posse and forcing my back to the room. He leaned against the bar, looking, for al the world, like a guy on the prowl with me being the prowlee.

“Lee got word shit’s goin’ down tonight. He put together a team.”

No.

No, no, no.

No shit going down and no team.

I could just about handle my friends offering moral support when they were having fun while they were doing it.