Page 42 of After Midnight

I sat up all the way and polished off two cookies before glancing over at Dillon, who was grinning at me. “Why do you look so damn happy?” I asked. Okay, maybe it came out harsher than I intended but I really was tired.

“Well, I’m glad I already got my share of those cookies because you might down the whole plate at that rate,” he said, and Miss Rita snorted a laugh. “Mostly, though, it’s because I’m getting to see you.”

I shook my head. “I’m not really in the mood for flattery, Dillon. Here, have another cookie.”

When he reached for one, Miss Rita slapped his hand. “He’s hadmorethan his share! Those are yours.”

I chuckled when he frowned and looked like a little boy who’d been scolded. Maybe he could lift my spirits a little, or maybe that was the power of Miss Rita’s baked treats.

I moaned in ecstasy as the rich flavor of gooey chocolate lingered on my tongue. Yep, definitely the cookies. “Miss Rita, you could sell these, they’re so good.”

I’d said it before, at least a million times, but she still smiled at the compliment every time.

“Dillon,” I said after taking another bite and swallowing the yummy goodness. “I appreciate you coming over, but after the day I’ve had, I need to chillax. I’m going to go take a long bath, pour myself a glass of wine, curl up to watch TV, and try to forget everything else.”

“Mind if I join you?” he asked, causing me to cock an eyebrow at him.

“Presumptuous much?” I questioned.

He chuckled and a blush pinked his cheeks. God, he was still adorable. “Not for the bath… I mean, unless you want me to,” he said, the blush creeping up to his ears now. “I meant for the TV and relaxing. I’ll hang out here with Miss Rita while you’re, um, in the bath.”

I studied him a moment, considering his offer. “Miss Rita, can you babysit this one while I go wash the day away?” I asked, and she smirked at Dillon.

“Trust me, I’ve got this one’s number,” she said. “We’ll be okay down here. You go on and enjoy your bath.”

“Oh, do you like Chinese food?” Dillon asked as I got up from the table. “Miss Rita mentioned heating up leftovers, but I told her I’d take the dinner chore.”

“I love it. General Tso’s, please,” I said and turned to head upstairs, suddenly realizing I was hungry. “Miss Rita, are you still going to stick around tonight? I think we’d planned on me beating you at poker, but since I’ve had a bad day and Dillon is here, why don’t we all watch TV instead?”

“Sure, but let’s watch a movie. It’s my turn to pick.”

“Nothing mushy,” I said, and she laughed.

“You’ll watch whatever I choose,” she said, sounding more playful than I’d heard in a long time. “Maybe I’m in the mood for mushy. It is nearly Valentine’s Day, after all.”

I groaned, but the truth was, I loved most of the movies she picked out. We both had quite a love affair with corny romances, and she knew it. I hoped Dillon could tolerate them, although I didn’t really care tonight. He would just have to fit in with our plans.

I didn’t hurry through my bath. Immersing myself in the bubbling warm water of the jetted tub was exactly what my body needed. I could feel the tension in every muscle being soothed away as the minutes ticked by.

By the time I toweled myself off, I was loose as a noodle and looking forward to dinner and a movie with Miss Rita and Dillon.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I heard, “Oh, crap.”

Rushing to the kitchen, thinking something else had gone wrong on top of the shit week I’d had, what I saw caught me so off guard that I laughed. Miss Rita and Dillon were sitting across from each other playing cards. Poker, if I had to guess, since they appeared to be betting with the remainder of my homemade cookies.

“You’re cheating,” Dillon accused, causing Miss Rita to cackle.

“I’m not. I told you, we’re playing by a different set of rules.”

“Rules you’re making up as you go,” he argued.

I chuckled. I’d been caught up in Miss Rita’s rule changes myself and knew for a fact that was her tactic to win every card game we’d played.

“You’ve already lost,” I said to Dillon as I came over and kissed Miss Rita’s cheek. “The woman is a master rulebreaker.”

“I am not, Dominic Lawson!” she exclaimed, then cackled again when I cocked my eyebrow at her. “Can’t break the rules I made up myself.”

I ended up joining them at the table for a game, which was more about calling out Miss Rita than the cards. She’d used this tactic since I was young as a way to get my mind off whatever was bothering me. It was infuriating, funny, and worked like a charm. The bath had soothed my body and this would soothe my mind.

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