Page 68 of Fast Currents
Drew: And light-fingered. Last time she left with half a bottle of whiskey in her purse.
I groaned. “Never mind. We’re all going to jail.”
Chapter 28 – Lucy
Drew wasn’t kidding about the bartender at Apothecary cutting them off. We stuck to sodas, ready for the inevitable fallout from letting Gran have access to tequila. The woman didn’t need booze to make bad decisions.
I snorted. Not like I could talk. I’d seduced Clay into a night of crime. And somehow, he’d convinced our friends to help. It’d be adorable if it didn’t scare me silly. Did the man have no sense of self-preservation when it came to me? I loved it, even if it made me feel guilty for dragging him into my mess.
Gran lined up shots, passing another round to Anya, Vi, and Rae. Dutifully, they clinked glasses before tossing them back.
Each drink only seemed to embolden Gran.
She eyed us over her next glass. “You two look awfully cozy.” A slow wink followed, more of a lazy blink than anything, like her eyelid wanted to give up halfway. “Thick asthieves. Find anything interesting?”
Her volume made me wince. We didn’t need the entire bar hearing our business. Or word getting back to Chaz.
Vi dropped a hand on her grandmother’s shoulder. “Gran, we can’t talk about that here. Let’s go home.”
We carted a sloppy Gran out to Clay’s truck. Rae and Zach climbed in the back, and Drew passed me his keys so I could take his truck.
“I’ll drop Anya, Drew, and Vi off, then meet you at your place?” I asked Clay.
Clay dipped his chin. “Drive safe, Lucifer.”
“What about Lee?” Vi warbled as I led her, Anya, and Drew to the truck.
“He’s going to sleep it off on his boat, remember?”
She twisted, her expression edging into morose territory. “Maybe I should go camp under the stars with him.”
Gently, I grabbed her elbow, turning her back toward the parking lot. “Nuh-uh. You need your beauty sleep, remember?”
“Pssshhhh,” she blew out a long breath, rolling her eyes.
She twisted toward the marina, longing in her soft expression. Like she’d give up sleep if it meant Lee wasn’t lonely. If my choices were Clay under the stars or a lonely bed, I’d choose the boat too. But I’d be a bad friend if I let her make those kinds of decisions under the influence of tequila.
“C’mon, lover girl.”
She’d deny all of this tomorrow. That was what made it fun.
Drew and Anya had climbed into the back seat without complaint. It may have had something to do with the way Drew’s hands kept crawling beneath Anya’s skirt when he thought we weren’t looking. They seemed highly motivated to get home.
“C’mon, Vi,” Drew called. “Let’s go.”
Vi scowled, casting a wistful glance toward the marina. For a second, I caught the softness she rarely let anyone see. Whatever was happening with Lee, it was more than a flirtation. Maybe even more than she realized.
“I promise, sleeping on that boat isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. Lee doesn’t even have a cabin on that thing, right?”
“I guess,” Vi said. “Take me home then, spoilsport.”
I dropped Anya and Drew off at their house first before driving into town. I watched as Vi opened her back door, waving from behind the glass as she locked up. Pointing the truck toward Clay’s, I drove the mile or so to his house, smiling like a fool.
We’d faced down Chaz and gotten out clean. Almost too clean. But that didn’t stop my stomach from curling when I replayed his scowl. The way Janine’s voice shook. The way Clay stepped in front of me without a second thought. I didn’t deserve him, but I was sure as hell going to try.
Maybe the night didn’t go perfectly, but it was entertaining. I’d texted Agent Harris to meet us for breakfast the next morning. The faster we shared what we learned, the faster he could get a warrant and help us put the drama with Chaz behind us.
I parked next to Clay’s truck, picking my way toward his front door. Clay sat on his front steps, hands clasped loosely between his knees. Waiting. Watching. His deep chocolate eyes drew me forward.
