Page 84 of Rock Chick Rescue

“I think they’repartiallyout here for thrills,” I tried to cover up how moved I was by this show of support.

When I looked at Eddie again I saw the dimple was out.

“I expect you’d be right about that.”

I decided to change the subject. “Who’s the black guy?”

“Mi otro hermano. Darius. We all grew up together.”

“He doesn’t come into Fortnum’s. Is he a cop too?”

Everyone in Eddie, Lee and Indy’s circle were cops, private investigators or crazy people. Darius didn’t look crazy, so I took a wild guess.

“Drug dealer,” Eddie said like he would say “shoe salesman.”

I stared at him.

“Really?” I breathed.

He nodded.

“Why don’t you bust him?” I asked.

The dimple was back, this time with a full-fledged smile.

“I don’tbusthimbecause he’s my brother.” Eddie’s arms tightened around me and his head dipped down. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you sometime when we’re not yellin’ at each other, sleepin’ or fending off our nutcase families.”

My belly curled.

“Okay,” was all I could think to say.

He watched me for a beat. “Can I trust you not to go after your dad?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Does that nod mean I can trust you or you’d rather not lie out loud?”

I couldn’t help it. He figured me out, so I smiled at him.

His eyes warmed.

“I could fall in love with that smile,” he murmured as if he was talking to himself and I wasn’t even there.

My entire body froze.

He felt it, his lips turned up at the corners and then he touched them to mine.

Then he said, “One thing at a time.”

* * *

“How didyour date go with Eddie?”

Mom had heard the key in the lock and was standing in the middle of the hallway waiting for me after Duke brought me home.

“It was a little…weird,” I said and walked by her and into the house. “I met his mom.”

“You met his mom! Oh…my…God. That’s great!” Mom cried.

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