Then it would surely be a problem.But I didn't say it, because Maisie looked upset enough already. Ryder had claimed that Griff was a good guy, but now, I wasn't so sure. With growing concern, I asked, "Why wouldn't he?"
"I don't know. Maybe because he's private?"
"Howprivate?"
"Well…if you want the truth, I'm not even sure of his last name."
What the hell?Apparently, I knew more thanshedid, which didn't seem fair at all. "You can't be serious. Have youaskedfor his last name?"
"Sort of." She glanced away. "I mean, I asked him to fill out some paperwork once."
Paperwork? Seriously?"And?"
In a quiet voice, she replied, "And he refused."
"Oh."What a jerk.But I didn't want to make it worse, so I controlled my temper and murmured a basic, "Well…that's not good."
And it wasn't.Suddenly, I was regretting that promise I'd made to Ryder – that I'd give Griff the chance to tell Maisie everything on his own.
At the time, the promise had seemed good for Maisie, too. But now, doubt was creeping in.
If Ryder and I were actually talking, I'd probably ask to renegotiate.
Even now, I was sorely tempted.
Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to hear his voice.
I reallydidmiss him.
When Maisie went upstairs to take a bath, I breathed a huge sigh of relief that her favorite bubble bath was no longer missing. And then, I spent way too long obsessing over the guy who'd made the replacement possible.
During these past four days, I'd seen no sign of him at all. Recalling what he'd said about phones going both ways – I'd even sent him a couple of jokey texts but had received no reply whatsoever.
I was almost debating sending a third when my phone buzzed on the coffee table.A text. I dove to snatch it up, wondering if it was Ryder.
It wasn't.
It was a text from Skip.You locked the back door, right?
I stared at the screen. Of course I'd locked the back door. I always locked the back door. My jaw was tight as I typed back a single word.Yes.
No response.
I waited.Still nothing.
I shook my head.Was he trying to give me a complex? I knew the place was secure. But now that he'd asked, I also knew exactly how this would go.
Like a nervous Nellie, I wouldn't sleep. I'd lie in bed all night wondering if the door was wide open.
Reluctantly, I glanced toward Maisie's front door and said on a sigh, "Damn it."
76
The Fridge Has Opinions
Ryder
The smell hit like a fish to the face before I even shut the door.
