Page 224 of Rock Chick Rescue

He shrugged, sat down on the couch, grabbed a remote and found a ballgame.

“How can there be a ballgame on at seven thirty?” I inquired, exasperated, staring at the screen.

“English football, it’s later there. Man U vs. Arsenal, a friendly.”

It was like he was speaking in code but I wasn’t really listening. I was staring at the screen.

These guys didn’t wear pads and helmets that hid their faces. These guys didn’t wear silly pants with gathers at the ankles.

These guys wore shorts and shirts, no hats or helmets, and you could see, straight out, they were hot.

I sat down on the arm of the couch and watched.

Some official looking guy threw a yellow flag.

“What’s that mean?” I asked.

Bobby explained someone did something bad but I wasn’t listening. All the players were pissed off and getting in each other’s faces.

I pushed Bobby over and sat down fully on the couch.

Twenty minutes later, Bobby looked at me.

“Don’t you need to get to work?” he asked.

“Shit!” I cried, jumped up and ran to the coffeepot. I made Bobby a coffee, made one for me and did the getting ready business.

It was nippy and not the normal, bright, sunshiny Colorado day. I put on a fitted heathered gray T-shirt, a wool aubergine, ribbon cardigan, jeans and my high-heeled black boots. Hair back in a ponytail, minimum makeup, spritz of fancy perfume and ready to roll.

We swung into Fortnum’s way late.

No one noticed.

Mom was on the couch, Lottie next to her, and I gave them both a kiss and went behind the espresso counter to help Duke and Tex with the line of customers.

“I see you’re still alive,” Duke remarked, obviously still feeling crotchety about my recent troubles and deciding to blame it on me.

I felt the best course of action was not to answer.

It proved not to be the best course of action.

Duke stared at me a beat then turned to the CD player, yanked out Tex’s Steppenwolf and put in Charlie Daniels.

Normally, this was indication of a throw down. Once a CD was on, it wasonand the only reason you were allowed to turn it off was if it wasn’t some of Duke’s country or some of Ally, Indy and Tex’s rock ’n’ roll.

I held my breath waiting for Tex to react.

Tex wasn’t biting.

This was weird. Texalwaysbit.

Both Duke and I stared at him.

“Are you okay?” I asked Tex.

He turned to me. “Gonna ask your mother to dinner and I want your blessing.”

My mouth dropped open.

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