I looked at Hank and mouthed “Annette.” I watched the sides of his lips turn up, then to Annette I said, “Not yet.”

“Girl, Jason and I are in love,” she said.

I smiled at the phone. “I already know that.”

“No, I mean with Colorado. We’ve been mountain biking al day. It’s unbelievably amazing,” she told me.

“I’m glad you’re having fun.”

“Fun? This isn’t fun. This is nirvana. The trails here kick… fucking… ass. Sofa-King phat. Bitch, I’m opening Head 2, Electric Boogaloo in Denver. There’s a store across the street from Fortnum’s that’s for lease. I’m not f**king joking. I’m cal ing about it tomorrow.” Holy cow.

I wasn’t sure this was good. In fact, I was pretty sure this wasn’t good. I didn’t want Annette moving to Denver.

As for myself, I was in Denver-limbo. I couldn’t leave, I wasn’t going to stay.

I’d had a day without incident, time to settle, get my mind around things. I’d cleared my email, did some work, felt my life wasn’t total y out of control.

And I knew what I eventual y had to do.

The signs were al there; the right ones. Lee’s cheek kiss, Kitty Sue making us spaghetti, Indy’s unspoken invitation to the Sacred Sisterhood of Nightingale Women, me getting straight As on Malcolm’s Test.

It wasn’t that, it was me.

Things with Hank were good, f**king fantastic actual y, but that wasn’t going to last. I knew that like I knew The Gap’s clothing sizes ran smal . I was damaged goods and when things settled down and Hank had a minute to think, he’d realize just what I was and that he could do better. I wanted to be long gone before that happened.

My plan was simple. I was going to ride the wave, get safe and not cause any (more) trouble and then I was getting the f**k out of Dodge.

I knew I’d lost my heart, it was too late to protect that, but I wasn’t going to give it time. I wasn’t going to be there when the warm, soft look in Hank’s whisky eyes turned cold.

I came out of my thoughts and re-entered the phone conversation. “Annette –” I started to say in protest.

“No talking me out of it. Jason and I are both agreed.

Anyway, we real y like your friends.”

I looked at Hank. “They aren’t my friends, they’re Hank’s.”

“They’re everyone’s friends,” Annette declared as I watched Hank’s eyes flicker with control ed frustration.

Annette went on. “We’re coming down the mountain now, then we’l shower and get some food. We’re supposed to meet at Al y’s at eight thirty. See you there.” Then she disconnected.

I flipped the phone shut.

“Annette’s thinking of moving to Denver,” I told him.

Hank’s hand came to my knee, his eyes registered approval. “That’l be good.”

I bit my lip.

Hank watched my mouth.

“Shit,” Hank said.

“What?” I asked.

“I don’t like your look,” he said.

“What look?” I asked.

He leaned into me and his hand slid up my thigh to rest at the side of my hip.

“Rewind,” he said, his face close to mine. “Let’s go back to the Roxie of fifteen minutes ago. The sweet one who didn’t argue and did what she was told. I like her.” Wel !

“That isn’t the Real Roxie. The Real Roxie argues and never does what she’s told and is a pain in the ass. This Roxie is Freaked-Out Life-in-Danger Roxie. You don’t like the Real Roxie, then give me back my car and I’l go home to Chicago,” I told him.

His eyes went lazy. “I like Real Roxie too.” My eyes narrowed.

He grinned.

Then, he went on. “I was just enjoyin’ the sweet one.” Then he took my hand, lifted it and pressed my middle finger to his lower lip reminding me what I’d done in the safe room and showing me how he felt about it. I held my breath as his mouth opened and his tongue touched my finger.

“Good God,” I whispered, staring at his mouth and completely forgetting about my snit.

“Black bean dip,” the bartender announced, oblivious to the public foreplay, pul ing us out of the moment and putting a bowl of dip and some corn chips in between our beers.

My eyes slid to the side and I saw a table of three women. Al three were staring at us openly. Or more to the point, staring at Hank. Their faces al showed identical expressions of sweltering hot lust to the point of being openly carnal.

I yanked my hand away from Hank’s and reached for a chip while I col ected myself. I heard Hank’s soft chuckle before he took a pul of his beer.

Fucking Hank.

My phone rang again, I grabbed it as I dipped in the chip and flipped it open. “Hel o?”

“Hey girl,” Al y said. “Where are you?”

“I’m at Reiver’s with Hank,” I said.

“Excel ent! We were al going out to get some food, too late for you two. How about Annette and Jason?”

“I’m sure they’d like to go,” then I gave her Annette’s number.

“Cool. I’l cal . Listen, tel Hank not to worry. I know he’s got to work tonight. Tel him Carl is going to be there and so is Jason. We’ve got enough stun guns to go around and Daisy’s bringing a bodyguard.”

My body went stil .

“Stun guns?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she answered, as if they were accessories akin to a handbag or a belt.

“Bodyguard?” I stayed on target.

She laughed. “Just saying, you’re covered. See you at eight thirty. Wear something warm and gym shoes. Gotta be prepared to run. Later.”

“Run?” I said into the dead phone.

I sat there a second and then flipped the phone shut and slid it on the bar.

Hank was watching me.

I put the loaded chip into my mouth.

I chewed.

My eyes widened and I think I had a mini-culinary-orgasm.

After I swal owed, I breathed. “This stuff is great,” then I dipped in another chip.

Hank’s hand caught my wrist with the chip halfway to my mouth, my mouth al the way open to receive the chip. My eyes moved to him.

“Stun guns? Bodyguards?” he asked.

I closed my mouth and told him what Al y told me.

He let go of my wrist and sat back. His elbow went to the bar and his hand went to take a swipe at his forehead.

“Christ,” he muttered.

I ate my chip and ignored him. Then I ate another one.