“You know what, I’m sure you’re busy,” I said when things got too quiet. “I should’ve called ahead. I’m so used to everyone accommodating my schedule that I forgot I’m not in LA anymore.” I laughed one of those stupid laughs you do when you’re uncomfortable as hell.
“No,” Jodi said right before I turned back for the door. “It’s okay. I was shutting down for the day. Micah insists that I end work at a reasonable time.” She rolled her eyes. “He’ll be barreling up the hall any minute to make sure my computer is off.”
She sucked her teeth. “Overbearing ass.”
The words weren’t the nicest, but there was no heat behind them. I noticed that she had to smother a smile to keep up the look of annoyance.
A lump of emotion formed in my throat. I remembered back to two years earlier when I was sick with the flu. Even after taking all the vitamin C shots and all types of elixirs meant to make me feel better, I still could barely stand, and my throat felt like it was on fire.
When I told Nate to call the venue and have them reschedule or give the audience their money back, he laughed in my face.
“Scared money don’t make no money,”he’d said.
When I told him I wasn’tscaredthat I was sick, he laughed again. “Your value is in your voice and those words. You start canceling shows over a little cold, and everything will dry up.”
I performed that night and the following two nights. I got so sick and exhausted from doing those shows that I wound up in the hospital. I was severely dehydrated and had lost five pounds over three days.
“It must be nice to have someone looking after you like that,” I said.
Only upon looking at Jodi did I realize that I’d said those words out loud instead of in my head like I meant to.
“You’re better off without that son of a bitch, to be quite honest.”
My eyes widened, and I burst out in a laugh at her bluntness. Jodi tended to say whatever was on her mind. It was one of the traits I liked about her. After working in this industry since I was a teenager, with people who smiled in your face right before they put the knife in your back, her bluntness could be refreshing.
“It’s after five-thirty. That damn computer better be off,” a deep, male voice, I identified as Micah, filled the silence.
A second later, Micah Townsend’s imposing frame filled up the entryway between the lobby and the hallway. His eyebrows were narrowed as he peered down at Jodi.
“You don’t tell me what to do,” Jodi quickly replied while pressing the button to turn on her computer screen again.
A whimpering sound caught my attention. Glancing down, I spotted a huge dog moving from behind the counter where Jodi sat. I didn’t even know the dog was there. This same dog had been at the couple’s wedding reception. They introduced him as Hound like he was a member of the family.
“He’s telling you he’s ready to go, too,” Micah said, gesturing toward Hound.
“He was fine until you came out giving orders and whatnot,” Jodi replied. “Lena’s here to go out to dinner.”
Micah turned toward me. “My apologies for not seeing you,” he said, dipping his head. “How are you, Lena? Is there an issue with the house?”
Words stuck in my throat, which was strange. What was even weirder was that his voice reminded me of his brother’s. While Micah and Gabriel didn’t look terribly alike, they both had a presence about themselves that mirrored one another’s.
I could see how any woman would find Micah Townsend attractive, but it’d taken a bold woman like Jodi to get him to commit.
I cleared my throat. “No, nothing’s wrong with the house. I’ve been in the writing cave all day and thought dinner out with someone might be nice,” I explained. “But I can see you’re busy.”
“Stop that,” Jodi insisted. “We’re done for the day, right?” She looked toward her husband.
“You are,” he said pointedly. “I still have a call to make.”
“Fine, while you do that, I’m going to give Lena a tour of the place. How’s that sound?” she asked me.
I smiled. “I’ve never been given a tour of a private investigative firm. Sounds interesting.”
“Let me lock the front door first,” Jodi said after Micah went back down the hallway to his office. “All right, come with me,” she instructed, heading toward the hallway. Hound was hot on her heels.
“Micah’s office is the other way.” She pointed left. “We’ll stop by his office at the end since he’s on a call.”
I followed down the long hall, noting the pictures of famous Texas sites and scenery on the way. A few images were of Micah dressed in a law enforcement uniform and then the infamous cowboy hat. I paused and looked closer.
