Page 93 of Snow Bound

“Good boy.”

He blinked. Good boy? He looked at Simon, who was coughing suspiciously.

“Unless I hear different, we’ll be there at seven.”

“We?”

“You don’t think I’m sending her alone, do you?” She stood and smoothed down her coat. “Get some sleep, get some food, and I don’t know if that smell is you or the dog, but just in case, get a shower as well. And don’t fuck this up, Snow, or I’ll twist your dick into a pretzel. With salt. Lock up when you leave.”

She walked toward the door, eating up the floor with long strides on those ice pick heels. She shot Simon a look as she passed. “Big Dick,” she drawled, then scooped up her purse and sailed out the door.

Simon frowned at the empty doorway. “I don’t think she meant that as a compliment.”

Grant had already pulled out his phone and dialed Michael, who answered with a snarl on the fifth ring. “You keep calling me at the fucking crack of dawn and we’re not going to be friends anymore.”

“I need a favor,” Grant said, ignoring the threat. “Can you open up Odyssey tonight for three people?”

“Four.” Simon interrupted. “No way I’m missing this.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Michael groused, and Grant filled him in.

“Fine,” Michael said. “But it’s going to be five people. Seven o’clock.”

Grant let out a relieved breath. “I owe you one.”

“You sure as fuck do,” Michael grumbled and hung up.

Grant stood, only wincing a little at the twinge in his balls, and tossed the half thawed peas at Simon. “Put those back, and lock up.”

“Where are you going?”

He scooped Lola’s card off the coffee table. “Home.”

“You might want to hit a sporting goods store on the way.”

Grant paused at the door, frowning in confusion. “For what?”

“An athletic cup.” Simon’s grin was one of unholy delight. “You know, just in case.”

Grant shot up a middle finger and walked out the door with Henry, Simon’s laughter following.

Anna was curled up on the sofa, pretending to read and not obsessively check her phone when Lola sailed in the door.

“Hey. Where did you go?”

Lola set her enormous purse on the sofa. “I had an errand to run.”

Anna eyed the lipstick, the overcoat and boots. “You got dressed like that for an errand on a Sunday morning?”

“I needed to make an impression.” Lola peeled off the coat to reveal the tank top and shorts she’d slept in.

Anna laughed. “Nice.”

“Perception is everything.” Lola sat on the sofa. “What are you reading?”

“I have no idea.” Anna set the book down. “I can’t concentrate because I keep checking my phone in case I missed Grant’s call. But I couldn’t miss it, because I haven’t let my phone out of my sight since I left yesterday.”

She looked up with worried eyes. “He hasn’t called, Lo.”

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