Page 334 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
“Oh, honey, you have it bad.”
“You can talk,” I respond. Until the guys went out to smoke, she’d spent the whole night draped over Napa like a scarf.
She grins. “Disgusting, isn’t it? Our fifth anniversary is next month but I still feel like a newlywed.”
It’s anything but disgusting. It’s ... heart-warming. When did I become such a melt? I blame Emily.
“How’d you meet?” I ask.
“Oh, I’ve known him forever. His folks live down the street from mine. He was the bad boy who drove up on a motorcycle to Thanksgiving dinner. He had every girl in the neighborhood throwing her damn panties at him. Still does, come to that.”
“I had no idea what an aphrodisiac a motorcycle is until Mac took me riding. It’s a giant vibrator, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely.”
The drunk blonde girl weaves around where we’re sitting and flops onto Tiana’s lap. “I’m drunk,” she announces.
“You sure are.” Tiana laughs and pushes her off into the arms of two of the other old ladies. She shakes her head as the group begins dancing. “They are gonna suffer tomorrow.”
“You guys party hard for a Sunday night.”
“Most of our businesses are closed on Mondays. Makes up for being open on the weekends. So, are we doing those edibles or what?”
“We are,” I say with determination. Tiana links arms with me, pulls me up out of the chair, and weaves with me around clots of dancing women, out the back door, to where the men have gathered in a heavy cloud of blue smoke.
As soon as I’m within reach, Mac pulls me onto his lap. Since he’s sitting next to Napa, Tiana doesn’t even free her arm from mine as she lands across Napa’s thighs.
“We want edibles!” she announces.
Napa chuckles.
I lean in to whisper into Mac’s ear. “Sir, I haven’t had anything to drink so I could be sober for later, but could I have one edible? My tolerance is high; one won’t make me stoned.”
Mac turns his head. His mouth catches mine and he exhales cigar smoke into my mouth. I huff it out my nose to keep from choking and Mac chuckles.
“You look like Puff the Magic Dragon. Now tell me about this edible. What’s in it?”
“Weed, Sir.”
“Indica,” Tiana says merrily.
“That’ll probably make me mellow, Sir.”
“Would you like that, girl?”
I don’t mind being the only sober person at the party, or the only sober person at the party beside Mac, who has been on water all night, but I could definitely use something to mellow me out after today.
“Please, Sir.”
“I’ve never tried weed. Think I might enjoy some?”
“Never, ever? But, Sir, it’s legal now.”
Mac snorts. “Tell that to the Navy.”
“I have something perfect for a bud virgin!” Tiana crows, eavesdropping shamelessly. “It’ll give you such a nice ride.”
Mac tips his head at me in an unspoken question and I nod.
