Visions (Cainsville #2)(27)

We were saying our goodbyes when Ricky trailed off midsentence, staring at something over my shoulder. I turned and saw . . .

The hound stood in the park, watching us. Ricky was staring, but not in the way one might look at a big dog on the loose, with concern or trepidation. He looked as I imagine I must have when I saw it the second time—in confusion and disbelief, certain my eyes were playing tricks on me.

“Wow, that’s a big dog,” I managed finally.

“Dog . . .” His voice was oddly hollow, distant, and uncertain. “Yeah. That’s . . . a dog?” His voice rose as if in question. A hard blink, followed by a short laugh. “Obviously.” He rubbed his thumbs over his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Clearly I’ve had too much caffeine.”

“It is a very big dog.” Standing there. Staring. At Ricky.

“An unaccompanied and unrestrained big dog. I should walk you to your car.”

“It’s right over there. I’ll be—”

“No. I’ll walk you to your car.”

His voice had taken on a tone I’d heard in the clubhouse with one of the girls and, later, with Gabriel. A reminder that while he was charming and easygoing, he was still a gang leader’s son. He followed it with a softer “This way?” and I nodded.

As we crossed the lot, he kept his gaze on the beast, and I could say that was just common sense—don’t turn your back on a threat—but Ricky still looked confused, as if trying to figure out what the hell he was seeing. I wanted to ask: Exactly how big is it? Does it have reddish-brown eyes? What really made my stomach twist, though, was the way the beast stared at him.

“So, Wednesday?”

Ricky’s voice startled me, and I looked around to realize we were at my car already. I glanced back over my shoulder.

“It’s gone.” His tone was light, jaunty even. “So, Wednesday, do you want to come here again or someplace else?”

“Wednesday? I—”

“Or Thursday. Maybe a walk this time. It’s supposed to be perfect weather.”

“You really are persistent.”

“Damned straight. But I haven’t heard a no. Wednesday, then? Same time? Coffee or a walk?”

I paused beside the Jetta. “I can’t. I’m sending the wrong message—”

“The message that you enjoy my company? That you had a hurricane blast through your life a month ago and you’re still sorting through the pieces and you could use the occasional coffee break with a normal—well, relatively normal—guy? The rules don’t change unless you change them, Olivia. The only message you’re sending says I don’t bore you to tears.”

“Okay. Wednesday. I’ll figure out where and text you. Is that okay?”

“Texting me anytime, for any reason, is absolutely okay.” He opened my car door and I climbed in.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN


Ten minutes into my shift, I got a call from Rose. She left a message asking me to phone back, which I would have, on my break, if her damned nephew hadn’t called three times after that.

After the first time, I’d left my phone in the back—and on vibrate—but it didn’t help.

“Liv . . .” Larry said, bringing my phone out.

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just—”

“Gabriel. I saw. Don’t apologize. He’s your lawyer. Take the call in back, and I’ll cover for you.”

When Gabriel answered, I said, “Have I ever told you about Margie? The server I replaced, in part because she kept getting calls during her shift?”

“I didn’t realize you were at work, as I’m no longer in possession of your schedule.”

“And my voice mail wasn’t working?”

“I wasn’t about to trust that you wouldn’t simply delete the message unheard.”

“Texting?”

“The buttons do not accommodate larger-than-average fingers.” Which meant, apparently, that I’d hallucinated all the times we’d communicated by text message. He continued, “I was unable to arrange for a security system installation today. It will be done tomorrow. In the meantime, you will stay with Rose.”

“I will?”

“I’ll tell her you’ll be by after your shift. As will I. We need to discuss a matter relating to both your mother and Ciara Conway. Nothing urgent, but I have a busy week.”

“I don’t get off until eleven.”

“I realize that. I’ll meet you at Rose’s. I presume you’ll want to gather an overnight bag from your apartment, and I’ll ask you to wait until I arrive to do so.”

“Okay.”

Silence. Then, “I’m serious about this, Olivia. I don’t want you going to your apartment alone at night—”

“Didn’t I say okay?”

“Too quickly, suggesting you’re humoring me and have no intention of actually doing as I asked.”

“Mmm, if that was your idea of asking, I’d hate to see how you give orders. I inconvenienced you and Rose last night because I didn’t get that security system. Insisting on staying in my apartment tonight without one would be careless and immature.”

“All right. I’ll see you at eleven.”