Archer snagged an umbrella from the hall table and followed us out.
"You know why they say you shouldn't open those inside?" Boner asked.
"It's bad luck," Cass suggested.
"It's bad luck because you can poke someone's eye out," Boner said. He pulled out an umbrella of his own and opened it once we were out on the street, making sure half of it was covering my head.
Cass and Archer huddled under the other one.
"I love this place when it rains," Boner started to say.
He stopped when a cab flew past us, flinging up water onto the curb and drenching all down one side of him. "Did I mention I hate rain?" He shook his leg out, trying to dry it, but he was holding back a smile. It would take more than a bit of water to upset Edward Bonegard.
"Look on the bright side. You standing there kept me dry," I said with a grin.
"Of course I did," Boner sniffed. "That's why I put myself here. What sort of gentleman would I be if I let you get wet?" He stopped for a moment. "On the outside. A gentleman makes absolutely sure to get his woman wet on theinside." He winked at me, then drew me down the street toward Angel's Rest.
"We have a new artist on display at the gallery," he said as we walked. "You should come and check it out after your lunch shift. He's very talented."
"As talented as you?" I asked.
"At art, yes," Boner said. "At other things, definitely not."
"You seem very sure of that," I pointed out.
No doubt he was right, but if we couldn't joke around with each other, where was the fun in our relationship?
"A guy has to be confident about some things," Boner said. "Especially if he's going to go by the nickname of Boner. That leaves me a lot to live up to, wouldn't you say? Besides, I know you enjoy yourself. Cass too."
I glanced back at Cass. His head was tilted at an angle, trying to stay under the other umbrella. At the same time he was trying to walk at the same speed as Archer, who seemed in a hurry this morning.
"I don't think Cass is complaining either," I agreed, giving him a soft smile.
"Only about the rain," Cass said. "I'm used to it where I come from."
"Funny," Boner smirked. "I was going to say the same thing. You know what they say about rainy old London."
"What is it they say?" I asked.
He grinned. "That it's rainy and old."
I snorted a laugh. "Yeah, that is what people say, isn't it?" I'd never been there so I couldn't say if it was true or not. I guessed it was, since people said it often enough.
"Have you ever thought about living somewhere it doesn't rain all the time?" I asked.
"Like the desert? Hell no," he said. "The last thing I want is sandy balls. Between you and me, I'm not a big fan of beaches either, for the same reason. No one likes a sandy asscrack."
He nodded at a couple of older women who walked by as he said that. They looked at him like he was out of his mind, and hurried on.
"They must be new to the city," he remarked, watching them for a moment before turning back the way we were headed.
"If you shocked them, they're definitely in for an interesting time,” I said.
"Right?" He smiled slowly. "I'm not that shocking." His blue eyes shined and he held back a grin.
"You're very shocking but it's one of the things I love about you," I told him. "You always keep things interesting around here."
"Thank fuuuck for that," he drawled. "I'd hate if you were bored with me around. Life is way too short to be bored." After a beat, he added, "Depending on the circumstances. Sometimes a little bit of boredom is required. Right, Hardy?
