Knuckles’s nose flared and his chest rose and fell beneath his Grateful Dead T-shirt, but he jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and asked, “You sure, Trixie girl? She’s just lookin’ for a fight, and I won’t have that here in our place of business. She lays one finger on you and—”
I placed a calming hand on his broad chest to stop his tirade. “It’s okay, Knuckles. Please. Go deal with your clients.”
Knuckles’s eyes questioned mine. “I’m fine. I promise. Go.”
As he took his leave, I turned to face Susie, imploring her to look at me. “Susie, as I stand here before you, in all my ex-nun-ness, I absolutely did not leak that information to Corinne. I swear it. I would never do that. Never.”
That appeared to let the air out of her angry bubble because she blinked, swiping her fingers over her wet cheeks. “Your ex-nun-ness? What does that even mean?”
Smiling at her less-intense tone of voice, I said, “It means I was a nun, and now I’m not. But I can assure you, I’m also not a snitch. I thought about this on my way over, and I’m betting Corinne was in the bathroom stall, hiding there when we were talking. Did she leave the table before you? I didn’t notice. I was too busy cringing on behalf of our waiter Gary’s sake.”
Susie gasped, tucking her mussed hair behind her ears. “She did! Oh, that rat. If I get my hands on her, I’m going to—” She stopped mid-threat and gave me a guilty look. “I feel like the only way you’ve seen me is in a rage or hysterical, and I’m always threatening someone. I sound like a maniac, don’t I? I feel like my hormones have me doing things I wouldn’t normally do.”
Flapping a hand at her, I dismissed the notion. “You’ve had a rough few days, but I would be careful with how often you threaten to kill people. Especially seeing as how people are dead or at least in the ICU.” I watched her process my words, her facial expression relaxing, and then I asked, “Any word on Ames?”
Wringing her hands together, Susie shook her head and let out a loud exhale. “Nothing other than what’s been on the news and Corinne’s channel. I heard he’s pretty banged up, though. It’s very serious, if you listen to the reports. I didn’t like Ames for various reasons, but I’d never want to see that happen.”
I hitched my jaw to the back of the store. “Hey. You want to grab a cup of tea and we can sit and talk about the fallout I’m sure you’re experiencing from this latest tangled mess? I promise to check in the broom closet and under the table for YT gossip vloggers with phones.”
Susie laughed, rolling the sleeves of her oversized raspberry sweater over her elbows. “I’m so sorry, Trixie. I didn’t really think, or even consider giving you chance to explain. I just rushed to judgment. I’m not usually so hotheaded or flaky, but these days…”
“No worries. You don’t have to explain. It’s been a difficult few months for you, and it doesn’t help when half the world is breathing down your neck. C’mon. I’ve got some peppermint tea that’s sure to ease your troubles. Decaffeinated of course.”
Susie smiled warmly and nodded. “I’d like that…but what about your friend? I did come in here like a raving lunatic. He’s pretty upset, and I don’t blame him.”
“Knuckles? He’s a total pussycat, but very protective when riled up. You have nothing to worry about. I mean, as long as you’re not threatening to kill me, that is,” I teased.
I grabbed her by her cold hand and began to pull her toward the break room when someone burst through the door, bringing with them a rush of cold air and sopping-wet footsteps.
“Susie!” a male voice roared, making us both turn around.
“Who is that?” I asked as he rushed toward us, soaking wet and enraged.
Susie’s voice trembled when she whispered, “Luca.”
I stood between Luca and Susie, my eyes fixed on him and his red face. Susie hadn’t mentioned how good-looking he was, though, I suppose that was the last thing on her mind at this point, feeling the way she did about him.
But I’m here to tell you, wow. He was one handsome devil, with dark hair, gaunt cheeks and razor-sharp cheekbones, deep set eyes the color of chocolate and a long, lean frame. His skinny jeans hugged him in all the right places, his casual shirt and even more casual ivory blazer had the look of someone who was used to expensive clothing.
Even soaking wet, he still looked as though he’d just walked off the pages of an Armani ad.
I hadn’t looked him up last night because I was so tired from the previous evening’s shenanigans, I had to walk away from my laptop. I’d all but forgotten about him today until seeing Corinne’s video where she’d flashed all kinds of pictures of the players in this drama with funny bubble comments, and even then, I didn’t really look at him very closely, but it was easy to see how he got away with so much debauchery.
As he stomped toward us, his eyes full of fire, he attempted to lean around me and reach for Susie, but I blocked his motion. “If you touch her, you won’t like what happens next.”
He scoffed at me, his face twisting into a smirk. “And all one hundred and twenty pounds of you is going to do what to me?”
One-twenty? Hah! I’d kiss him if he wasn’t such a mooching letch.
As if by some sort of osmosis, Knuckles and Goose appeared behind me, and each placed a protective hand on my shoulder.
“Problem, Trixie girl?” Goose asked.
Luca threw up his hands in surrender. “No problem here, guys. I’m just here to talk to my girlfriend.”
“Your girlfriend?”
