Snow Blind - Lori G. Armstrong [45]
As I said it, the truth hit me. I could be in Amery’s situation right now. If I hadn’t gone to the ranch, my phone might be ringing with the news they’d found my father frozen stiff. A niggling sense of unease surfaced for my petty parting shot of wishing him dead. Was my guilty feeling because his behavior had turned me into a recalcitrant child again? Or the fact I really wouldn’t be so broken up over his death?
Was Amery feeling guilty for flitting off to Vegas?
Probably. I shivered again.
Kevin flipped the heater to high. “She’s taking it hard. This situation raises more questions than answers.”
With any luck he’d choose to counsel Amery in a personal, rather than a professional capacity. And I really hoped she didn’t resent Kevin because they’d indulged in a little slap and tickle during the blizzard while Gramps became a permanent snow angel.
“Jules, you okay?”
“Yeah. But I think I’ll go home. I’m not as fully recovered from my ranch exploits as I thought.” With 152
any luck Martinez would show up and we wouldn’t leave my bed until morning. This time neither of us would be sleeping.
“Take care, babe. See you tomorrow.”
I climbed in my Ford and smoked while the engine defrosted. My cell rang. The caller ID flashed—TM. Thank God. “You won’t believe what—”
“Julie. Big Mike here. Hang on a sec, bossman wants to talk to you but he’s on another line.”
I rested my forehead on the cold steering wheel. I hated being put on hold.
Finally, Tony came on. “Something came up and I’ve gotta go to Denver.”
“When?”
“Now.”
Great. “Where are you?”
“Outside of Lusk and we’re about to lose cell service so I thought I’d call you.”
“Gee. Thanks.”
Pause. “You okay?”
No. “Just tired. How long will you be gone?”
“A couple of days.”
Immediately the pissy/whiny/clingy part of me pouted and demanded attention. What was I supposed to do when he was off at another Hombres secret meeting? Learn to knit? Get a fucking cat to talk to?
Join a Bunko club?
Jesus. What was wrong with me? In the past I hadn’t needed a man to entertain me or to make me 153
happy. I oughta kick my own ass for being depressed. At least I wasn’t IDing a loved one’s body on a metal slab at the morgue tonight.
“Blondie?”
Buck up, tough up, suck it up, my inner bitch commanded, while my softer side lobbied to make kissy noises in the phone and coo for my man to be careful and come home to me safely.
Talk about unhinged.
“You still there?”
“Yeah. I’ll see you when you get back.” I closed the phone.
In the safety of my empty cab, I snapped, “I hate it that you’re gone again, all right? And I’m pissed off that I need you, you stupid bastard. I’m even more pissed off that I can’t seem to tell you I need you. Why in the hell don’t you know how goddamn bad I miss you when you know every other thing about me?”
There. I felt better already.
I drove within three blocks of Kim’s place, deciding to pop in and say howdy. See if she needed anything, or had a craving for Chinese food. Sounded heavenly to shovel in egg rolls and laugh at stupid baby names from her pregnancy books. Between my job, her job, 154
her engagement to Murray, the baby’s father, and my relationship with Martinez, we were woefully short on girls’ time. I missed that. A little levity in my life after the last few days would perk me up, if only for an hour or two.
Kim’s car was in the driveway. I rang the bell and studied the entwined wire heart festooned with ribbons she’d tacked on her door in honor of Valentine’s Day a few weeks back. Hallmark had brainwashed the poor sap. She decorated for every holiday. Colored M&Ms were the height of holiday spirit in my house. Damn. What was taking her so long? Even if I’d woken her up she should’ve waddled to the door by now. I rang the bell again and beat on the window for good measure.
Thump thump sounded from inside, followed by the locks disengaging. The door swung open and I smiled at Murray.
Whoa. Murray looked a little flushed. His glasses were on crooked, and dear God, was he wearing a . . . chiffon bathrobe?
Jesus. This was