“Working,” Roman answers. “But she said she might stop by later if things stay quiet.”
Nora nods, then tugs on my arm. “Come on, let’s say hi to Grandma.”
Theodora Moon is now holding court at a corner table, surrounded by what appears to be every senior citizen at the party, probably making Roman’s friend worry about the competition. She’s wearing a paisley pantsuit and more jewelry than a pawn shop, pointing her glass left and right as she tells something to her peers.
“Steve!” she exclaims when she spots me, arms outstretched. “You actually came!”
I’ve given up correcting her on my name. It’s become something of an inside joke between us now. I think.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I lie, accepting her perfumed hug.
“And don’t you look dashing!” She holds me at arm’s length, examining my outfit with obvious approval. “I knew you’d clean up nice under all that flannel.”
“It was this or sleep on the couch,” I explain, which makes her cackle with delight.
“That does it,” she says with a wink.
“I need a drink,” Nora announces, glancing behind her shoulder at the line at the bar.
“Do you want me to get you anything”
“No, I don’t want to make you suffer more than you already are,” she chuckles, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. “Do you guys want anything?”
Moon waves her off. “I just ordered an espresso martini, dear. Take your time.”
“Grandma!” Nora exclaims—they are at it again about Moon’s caffeine consumption.
“Go, child. Go.” Moon dismisses her with a wave of her hand because she can never win this argument. I think the more Nora pushes, the more coffee Moon drinks. I’d beconcerned, but she tolerates caffeine better than big men at my job do.
Once Nora’s out of earshot, Moon fixes me with a pointed stare. “You’ve got the ring, I assume?”
I nearly choke on my beer. “How did you?—”
“Please.” She waves a bejeweled hand dismissively, nearly giving me a black eye with all that metal on her wrist. “I’ve been around long enough to know when a man’s got something weighing down his pocket.” She leans closer, lowering her voice. “When are you asking?”
“Not tonight,” I assure her. The small velvet box has been burning a hole in my dresser drawer for two weeks, waiting for the right moment. “I had something more private in mind.”
She nods approvingly. “Smart man. Though if you wait too long, I might drop some hints myself.”
“Don’t you dare,” I warn, though we both know it’s an empty threat. No one tells Theodora Moon what to do.
“There’s something you should know first though,” she says, her expression turning serious.
I lean in, curious.
“You hurt my granddaughter in any way, and I’ll send Reginald to take off your pecker. Are we clear on that?”
Feeling my lips twitching, I try not to smile. Since we learned that the rooster actually somewhat belongs to Moon, he’s been harassing me even more. Especially when I do something wrong—and that seems to happen nearly every day.
“Crystal clear, ma’am.”
She narrows her eyes at me for a moment before relaxing. “Good. I would hate to put that big pecker to waste.”
I chose this time to take a sip of my drink, so naturally I choke on it again.
“Hey, dear.” She moves closer to me and starts patting meon my back. More like hitting so hard I fear her fragile bones might break. “You all right there?”
“Ye-yes.” Once I stop coughing, I start looking for an escape—the size of my pecker is not a conversation I’m willing to have with Nora’s grandmother.
