He looked at the hopeful expressions on their faces.The last thing he wanted to get involved in was another search.He should leave.He had his own life now, and he needed to get back to it.
But he couldn’t let them down.
“Sure,” he muttered.He ruffled his hair.He’d keep it simple.Quick and dirty.What was another kick in the gut, anyway?
He felt Roxie’s stare boring into him.She looked just about as comfortable with the idea as he felt.Wrapping his hands around the back of the chair, he pushed himself to his feet.“I’ll let you gals get going.”
Maxie jumped up.“What?No, you have to come with us.You haven’t seen it.”
Lexie grinned.“You could take our picture with it—if you can stop staring at it long enough to snap a shot.”
The sisters laughed, but Billy grimaced.That sounded like a challenge.“Dear God.How bad is this thing?”
Roxie sighed and pushed her chair under the table.“The word you’re looking for, honey, is ‘good’.It’s really, really good.”
Chapter Five
Quickly, they gathered up their things.Lexie took her folders, and Maxie collected everything she and Zac had found.They left copies on the table for Roxie, but she just pushed everything together in a heap.If she stayed here one second longer, she was going to start climbing the walls.
Fresh air.Sunshine.Outside in the crisp air, maybe she could clear her head and organize her thoughts.She’d been surprised when Billy had walked in the door, morning sunlight glowing all around him.She’d been laying odds that he’d be gone by the time she made it back upstairs.
Not that she’d been looking forward to finding her apartment empty, the bed still mussed and the scent of his aftershave lingering in the air…
“I drove Maxie over,” Lexie said as she pulled out her key fob.“Maybe you two should take another vehicle so we don’t have to come back over here to drop you off.”
What?Roxie’s head came up.No, no.She didn’t want to be stuck in a car with him.
“I need to move my rental anyway,” Billy said.He put on his shades when they walked out into the bright sunlight.“It’s only a few blocks.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Well, darn it all.
“You know where to go, Lexie?”Roxie called in resignation.
“Is it Fisherman’s Road?”
“That’s the one.”
“We’ll see you there.”
The day was bright, but it carried a chill in the air.Roxie stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jacket and followed Billy as they headed down the block.Her heels sounded loud against the concrete.
“So… Fisherman’s Road,” he ventured.
Hewouldpick that up.“Shush.”
“Isn’t that where we used to go to make out?”
She jabbed him with an elbow.“I saidshush.”
He sidestepped to avoid the blow but came back with a chuckle.“Ah, I remember it well.”
So did she.It had been the place to go when they were teenagers.
Some of the tension drained from her body.The “mornings after” were always dodgy for them.Neither of them knew what to say or how to act.They’d been through this cycle over and over again throughout the years.He’d come back and they’d fall into bed, only to scramble out of it in the morning, usually to fight.
There’d been no fighting this morning.
