Sensual Confessions - Brenda Jackson [67]
Blade pulled off his jacket and tossed it aside, then picked up the phone to retrieve his messages after seeing the light blinking. He checked the first number and saw the call had been from Alex. He hit the speed-dial button to return the call.
“Alex, this is Blade. Did you try reaching me?”
“You’re not picking up on your cell phone. What’s up with that?”
Blade pulled in a deep breath. “I was in a meeting,” he said, thinking of the time he’d spent in Sam’s office while Detective Adams had asked her questions. “What’s going on?”
“I never got the chance to thank you for helping out at A.C.’s birthday party last month.”
A.C. was the nickname for Alex and Christy’s daughter, Alexandria Christina, who had turned two last month. Alex and Christy had asked him to be the cameraman at the party when the one they’d hired became ill. Blade hadn’t minded filling in, since it had been better than playing lifeguard at the kiddy pool as he’d done the previous year.
Blade smiled. “No problem, although I wouldn’t want to do it again anytime soon.”
Alex chuckled. “Does that mean I can’t pass your name on to Sir Drake? His daughter will be celebrating her first birthday soon and I’m sure they’ll want a bunch of pictures.”
“Hey, don’t do me any favors.”
Alex laughed. “Will we see you this weekend at Jake and Diamond’s party?”
Blade rubbed a hand over his face. In his haste to volunteer as Sam’s bodyguard, he’d forgotten all about the fact that he was supposed to return to Houston this weekend for the party Jake and Diamond were hosting for Rasheed. He would have to think of what to do about Sam while he was gone. He couldn’t talk her into going to the ranch with Mac and Luke, since they’d made plans to attend the party in Houston, as well. The Madarises liked to party, and enjoyed any excuse for a family gathering.
“Yes, I plan to come.”
“I’ll see you then, and again thanks for taking care of the pictures at A.C.’s party. You took some real good shots and all of them came out great. I owe you one for agreeing to do it on such short notice,” Alex said, regaining Blade’s attention.
“I might be collecting on that IOU sooner than you think,” he said. “A woman I know is getting flowers.”
Alex laughed. “And?”
“She doesn’t know who’s sending them.”
“I’m sure they aren’t coming from you. And I can’t imagine you getting jealous about someone sending a woman you’re messing around with flowers, since jealousy isn’t one of your attributes. Sounds like she has a secret admirer. Why do you care? What’s the problem?”
He glanced out the window at the lake. It was just beginning to get dark and there was a breeze in the air that was stirring the waters. “The problem is that her secret admirer threatened to kill her.”
“Damn. That doesn’t sound good. Who is this woman?”
“Samari Di Meglio. She’s one of Mac’s law partners.”
“I’ve met Sam. A nice person. She’s also a looker.”
Blade smiled. Since he knew just how much Alex loved and adored his wife, he knew his comment was nothing more than a compliment. “Yes, she is.”
“Call me tomorrow so we can talk about it. And by the way, in case you hadn’t heard, Mama Laverne dreamed about fish again.”
Blade rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “What’s going on with her? Why can’t she have normal dreams like everybody else?”
Alex laughed. “Depends on what you consider normal dreams. Hell, I would hate for her to start having any of yours.”
Blade couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of that, and quickly concluded that Alex was right. He would hate for the old gal to start having any of his dreams. They would turn her gray hair grayer. Hell, she just might wake up the next morning completely bald.
“And just so you know, all eyes are on Clayton and Syneda.”
Blade almost got weak in the knees at that announcement. “I hope you’re bullshitting me, Alex.”
“Sorry, but I’m not.”
Blade shook his head. Clayton and Syneda, the attorneys in the