Page 68 of Rock Chick Rescue

Eddie retrieved his pastry and put his feet up on the coffee table. “I have another brother, a sister and five dozen cousins. I’m not starting anything again until visiting hours are over.”

Goodie. A reprieve.

I sat down on the opposite side of the couch, putting my phone on the coffee table, and I ate my Napoleon, my eyes on the game.

I wasn’t a big sports fan. If pressed I’d go to games, mainly for the atmosphere, but I wasn’t fond of watching them on television.

The minute I consumed the last bite of my pastry and put my plate down, Eddie’s feet came off the table. He leaned down, grabbed my ankles and pulled them in his lap. Then he started to work on the straps of my shoes.

“Eddie…” I began, trying to pull my legs away.

His hands wrapped around my ankles. “Quiet,chiquita. You’re going to relax.”

He tossed my shoes several feet away and then he pulled off his boots. I settled into my corner, as far away from him as I could get, thinking this was slightly anti-climactic. I didn’t have high hopes for my date with Eddie, but I expected it would be me who screwed things up in some way, or bored him to death. I didn’t expect to spend the night watching a baseball game.

His hand shot out and he grabbed me, dragging me across the couch as he put his feet back on the table. He tucked me into his side so my shoulder was wedged under his armpit and my cheek was against his chest. He wrapped his arm around my waist, his hand resting on my hip.

Dear Lord.

I wasn’t bored anymore. I felt nice. As in,realnice.

I put my feet up on the couch and curled into him, keeping my eyes on the game and daydreaming about doing this with Eddie again, maybe every night for the rest of our lives.

The next thing I knew, my cell phone was ringing. I could also hear Eddie’s.

I’d fallen into a doze and somehow my arm got wrapped across Eddie’s waist. I came up, pulling my hair away from my face, and grabbed my phone. Eddie leaned forward and pulled his phone out of his back pocket.

My phone saidIndy calling.

I flipped it open and said, “Hello?” at the same time I heard Eddie say, “Yeah?”

“Jet? Are you with Eddie?” Indy asked by way of greeting, her voice sounding funny and not in a good way.

“Yes. Is something wrong?” I asked.

She hesitated then asked, “Is he on the phone?”

I looked over at him. He was listening, then his face got tight and his eyes moved to me.

“Yeah,” I said to Indy.

“He’s talking to Lee. I tried to stop him. I promise I did everything I could think of.”

I felt a chill run up my spine.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“Listen, our adventure at Einstein’s got out and—”

I didn’t hear her say anything else as the phone was pulled from my hand and flipped closed.

My head snapped around to Eddie. “Hey! I was talking to Indy.”

“I know.”

He slid our phones onto the table, looked at me, his eyes serious and maybe a little pissed off.

“What’s going on?” I asked, moving away from him.