*
Now, I was back. It was nearly noon. I was on I-25 and wel into Denver when I pul ed out my phone, flipped it open and said Hank’s name.
I was now beyond nervous, no longer excited, just total y scared to death.
For three weeks, Hank and I had talked almost daily.
He’d missed cal ing me twice (I counted) because of work.
Sometimes, we could only talk for minutes; three times (I counted) we talked over an hour.
“Jeez, Bitch! Starving people in Africa would get a new lease on life with the money you two spend on phone cal s,” Annette shouted each of the three times.
I ignored her.
Never did Hank give an indication he was going to back out.
Always, he was just Hank.
Stil …
In my car, Denver sliding by me, I listened to the phone ring and held my breath.
On the second ring, he answered.
“You in Denver?” he asked by way of greeting.
I let go of my breath. “Wel , hel o to you too,” I answered, sounding uppity.
“Sunshine, are you in Denver?” Hank repeated.
“You could say hel o. It’s the nice thing to do. What?
Have you been taking Luke Etiquette Lessons while I’ve been gone?”
I was trying to cover my nerves.
A beat of silence and then, “Sweetheart, I’m gonna ask one more time…”
I bit my lip.
Then I said, “Yeah, Whisky, I’m in Denver. Exiting I-25
now.”
“See you at our place.”
Then he disconnected.
I flipped my phone shut and my brows drew together.
Our place?
He must mean Fortnum’s.
I pointed my car toward Fortnum’s.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Our Place
I walked into Fortnum’s and everyone was there.
Everyone, that was, except Hank.
Lee, Mace, Vance, Eddie and Luke were relaxing on the couches with Jet sitting on the arm of the couch by Eddie.
Al y was standing by Mace. Uncle Tex and Duke were behind the espresso counter. Jane was behind the book counter, Indy and Daisy sitting on top of it.
They al looked up at me when I walked in.
“Where’s Hank?” I asked.
“Wel , how the fuck are you too?” Uncle Tex boomed, coming out from behind the counter.
I grinned at him. I couldn’t help it.
“Hey, Uncle Tex,” I said.
He made it to me and his arms engulfed me, so hard, my breath went out of me in a poof. “Darlin’ girl,” he half-boomed.
I smiled into his chest and gave him a hug back.
Then I gave hugs and cheek kisses to everyone else (except Mace and Luke, I didn’t know Mace al that wel and I’d already had my lifetime quota of hugs from Luke).
Indy, Lee, Al y, Jet and Daisy stayed close while everyone else wandered away.
“Hank said he’d see me at our place. He should have been here before me,” I told them.
The Rock Chicks looked at each other.
Lee got out his phone.
“Uh-oh,” Al y said.
“Uh-oh what?” I asked.
“Uh-oh nothing,” Al y muttered and bugged her eyes out and Indy.
I looked at Indy and my stomach did a scared-to-death curl.
“Uh-oh what?” I asked Indy.
“Um…” Indy said.
“Hank?” Lee said into the phone. “Yeah, Roxie’s at Fortnum’s,” he paused then he said, “Right.” Then he flipped his phone closed.
“Where is he?” I asked Lee.
“His house,” Lee answered.
“What’s he doing there?” I asked, my brows coming together.
“Waiting for you,” Lee told me.
My brows came apart and I blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“He’s comin’ to Fortnum’s,” Lee went on.
I kept staring at him.
Daisy shoved forward, put her arm around my waist and started to move me to the espresso counter.
“Sugar, I’m guessin’ your man didn’t tel you but some minds have changed while you’ve been gone.” Oh… my… God.
I halted and stood stock-stil , staring down at her. “What minds have changed?” I whispered.
“Wel , Hank’s…” she stopped and then started again.
“He’s not overly…” she paused, looking for the word. Then finding it, she spoke again, “Fond of you movin’ in with Tex.
See, he thinks –”
“Oh for fuck’s sake. You’re movin’ in with Hank,” Uncle Tex announced. “Sil y, stupid girl nerves, movin’ in with me, then movin’ into some apartment only to end up movin’ in with Hank in a few months. You need to fuckin’ settle, girl.
Get over it and get over here. I’l make you a fuckin’ latte.” I stared at Uncle Tex. “I’m not moving in with Hank,” I said.
“You are,” Uncle Tex returned.
Good God.
“Did you guys move my stuff to your place?” I asked.
“Hel no. Waste of time. I’l make you my new coffee. It’s the shit. So damn popular, they’re linin’ up out the door for it in the morning,” Uncle Tex answered.
I frowned at him. “I’m not moving in with Hank,” I repeated (though, I wanted to try his new latte).
“You are,” Uncle Tex said.
“I’m not!” I yel ed.
Daisy’s arm went away from me and Jet came close.