China and Blanc hid their smirks behind their hands. Azelieglanced toward the counter, where Shaila was serving a customer. At least she acted as though she were serving a customer, but in reality, she was listening to the conversation right along with half the coffee shop. The discussions between the merry widows and their two male friends were legendary.
“Penny.” Carlton did his best to sound reasonable, but his voice shook with the effort. “That is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing that’s ever come out of your mouth. And over the years, you’ve managed to spew a lot of insane nonsense. It’s a wonder you haven’t been committed.”
“Ha!” Penny returned. “You’re just jealous because I took an entire year and followed several of the top bands.”
“You didn’t follow them,” Carlton objected. “You had sex with all the band members.”
Penny nodded, completely without one iota of remorse. “Which, may I point out, makes me an expert when it comes to musicians and their sexual prowess.”
Doug choked some more. He took another drink of water and glared at Penny. “You will not encourage our girl to follow bands and sleep with the members.”
“Of course not.” Penny turned her entire focus on Azelie and gave her a very straight-faced lecture. “Honey, you don’tsleepwith musicians, you havesexwith them.”
China and Blanc both erupted into giggles. Half the customers in the coffee shop followed suit, although they tried to muffle their reactions.
Carlton threw his hands into the air. “That’s it, Penny. I’m officially banning you from talking to Azelie. You’ve spent half your life corrupting the young.”
China sobered quickly. “That’s goingwaytoo far, Carlton, and you need to apologize.”
“That’s so true,” Penny said. “I only managed to corrupt a few other girls, introducing them to a rollicking good time with the best loversever.” She blew on the tips of her fingernails. “I like to think I’ve made women aware of thedifferences between bad sex, decent sex and fantastic sex. All women should know.”
“There’s no talking to you, Penny,” Doug declared. He switched his gaze to Azelie, his features softening. “Half the things she says are pure bullshit designed to make our heads explode, Azelie. It gives her great joy to watch Carlton and me lose it over her nonsense.”
“If you know I’m spewing nonsense,” Penny challenged, “why does your head explode?”
Azelie thought that was a very good point. She was very aware everyone in the coffee shop was listening to the conversation. She was glad they were no longer discussing her date. She didn’t want to answer questions about Andrii in front of everyone. She still feared there was a good chance word would get back to Billows and he’d find a way to harm Andrii.
She considered Billows’ odd behavior at the club when he’d come in with his supermodel trophy displayed on his arm. When he’d come over to the table, he hadn’t been looking at Azelie, he’d been looking at Lana. He’d all but ignored the fact that there was a man at the table. There didn’t appear to be jealousy or anger toward Kasimir at all. When she went back over every detail, she realized he’d barely glanced at Azelie.
Carlton sighed very loudly. “Someone has to keep you in line, Penny. The statements you make have grown outrageous.”
Penny’s eyebrow shot up. “Now you’re my keeper?”
Doug and Carlton exchanged another look. It was Doug who assented with a nod of his head. “Yes, Penny, we look after you, China and Blanc. Your antics could get you in trouble. You perform at that seedy little theater the three of you seem to love. It’s not in the best part of town. You’re attractive, funny and very vocal. It isn’t like anyone could ignore your presence. Each of you lives alone, and if someone follows you home and breaks in, what then?”
The merry widows had mixed reactions to Doug’s revealing statement. He sounded very matter-of-fact, but it was clear the two men knew the women’s habits intimately.
“Do you follow us around?” Blanc asked. “Like stalkers?”
Azelie decided it was time to intervene before the merry widows worked themselves up. She leaned across the table toward Doug. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” Smiling at the women, she indicated the two men. “It sounds like they’re your personal bodyguards. Coming from their backgrounds, you three are so lucky to have them. And you don’t even have to pay them.”
The women closed their mouths on a protest, looking mollified. China was the first to recover. “Now that you put it that way, Azelie, you’re right. We are lucky. Thank you, Doug. Carlton. It can’t have been easy keeping track of us.”
“You really were being sweet,” Blanc added.
The door opened, bringing in a draft of cold air. Andrew McGrady waltzed in as if he owned the coffee shop. Azelie’s heart dropped. They couldn’t continue their conversation in front of him.
“Stop,” she whispered. “Don’t talk, not with him here.”
Both Doug and Carlton had already noted him the moment McGrady opened the door. They seemed to always be on alert. The merry widows ceased their laughter, heads coming up, eyes following Billows’ man’s progress as he sauntered to the counter. The entire length of the room, McGrady kept his gaze fixed on the table where Azelie sat with her friends. He had the expression of the cat that ate the canary.
Azelie’s first inclination was to get up and leave, hoping McGrady would follow her out. She bunched the straps of her backpack into her fist in preparation. McGrady pulled out his cell phone, held it up and began taking photos of the merry widows, Doug and Carlton and her together at their table. Her heart went into overdrive.
“I’ll see you later,” she told the others and dragged her backpack from the floor. If McGrady didn’t follow her out, she could always return on the pretense she’d forgottensomething. She was determined to have a few words with him one way or the other.
“Put that away,” Doug snapped. “You have no right to take our pictures.”
“Shut up, old man,” McGrady ordered.
