“I think we’re all tense,” Eliot said. “For the record, though, I think we need to get this out there. Jake, I know you’re upset about us moving in together, but … .”
“I have to live with it,” Jake finished. “If we’re being honest, though, it’s not that I’m upset about you moving in together. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not thrilled with it, but that’s not it. I just … didn’t see my life going this way.
“When we were kids, I honestly thought I was going to marry her,” he continued. “I thought we would have kids and live a quiet life. Now, as an adult, I realize that was never going to happen. She can’t be quiet.”
“And I don’t want kids,” I added.
Jake narrowed his eyes. “You’re not going to have kids?”
I shook my head. “I don’t like them. They always have sticky hands and I don’t want them touching my stuff. I’m not sharing my toys.”
Jake shifted his eyes to Eliot. “Did you know that?”
“We’ve discussed it,” Eliot confirmed. “I’m fine with it. I kind of already knew before she mentioned it, though.”
“And that’s why you guys work,” Jake said. “Avery and I never would’ve worked. I’m not screwed up enough to believe that. It still kills me to see you living the dream I thought I wanted for such a long time.”
“Listen, living with her isn’t a dream,” Eliot said. “I’ve essentially been doing it for months. She’s a pig and I have to pick up after her. She’s also grouchy in the morning and a television Nazi. I never get to watch what I want to watch. That’s why I’m building a man cave. You’re welcome to visit the man cave, of course, but don’t delude yourself into believing life with her is easy.”
“Oh, trust me, I don’t believe that for a second,” Jake said. “I know it’s hard. I’ve watched you. It’s just … you make it look fun.”
Eliot almost looked sympathetic. “It is fun. Despite everything, she’s so much fun I almost can’t handle it.”
“Do you want to know what I think?” I interjected.
“Not really,” Jake replied, turning back to the computer monitor. “Start the footage again.”
“I’m going to tell you anyway.” I plowed on, unperturbed. “I don’t think it’s that you want to have fun with me – although I am a catch. I think it’s that you’re miserable with Cara. You need to dump her.”
“I know,” Jake said. “I just … I have this horrible thought in the back of my head that she’s not going to go quietly. Every time I gear up to end things I get this horrible flash of her causing a scene and I back off. I created this mess, but I feel powerless to fix it.”
“Oh,” Eliot said, realization dawning. “That’s why you’re still with her. No offense, man, but I couldn’t figure that out. She’s hot, but she’s a real pill.”
“She’s not hot,” I scoffed. “I’m hot.”
“You’re definitely hot,” Eliot said, shaking his head. “Eat your ice cream to cool off.”
“Do you really think she’ll make a scene or something?” I asked, curious despite myself. “Do you think she’ll turn into one of those crazy stalker women we see on television?”
“I don’t know,” Jake replied. “I know it won’t end well, though. Her nose is so far out of joint where Avery is concerned … I’m worried she’ll start trouble for all of us. Then whatever crap falls on you will be my fault.”
“We can take the crap,” Eliot said. “You’re the one who can’t take it. It’s eating you alive and making you think you want this.” He gestured to me. “You don’t want this. It’s not pretty in the morning, man. This morning she was so messed up she went to work with a sock on her shirt and couldn’t find the shoe rack.”
“Hey!”
Eliot clapped his hand over my mouth. “Life is too short to be unhappy, Jake,” he said. “You can be happy with someone else. Not my someone else, mind you, but there are a ton of women out there who could make you happy. Stop selling yourself short because you’re worried about fallout. Anyone willing to take on Avery Shaw in a public shaming contest is in for a rude awakening. Avery will crush Cara if it comes to that.”
I puffed out my chest and nodded, finally slapping Eliot’s hand away so I could pop the remains of my cone into my mouth. “I’ll make her cry.”
Jake smirked. “Let’s just see how things go first, shall we? Thank you for that, though. It means a lot.”
“We’re all navigating a tough path here,” Eliot said. “I’m not giving up Avery, but I would like to find some common ground. She’s going to be unhappy if there’s a line drawn in the sand here. That’s the last thing I want.”
“I don’t want that either,” Jake said. “I need to think over a few things. Until then, we’ll just keep things calm.”
“That sounds good,” Eliot said.
“Let’s watch the video.”
“Let’s,” Eliot said, shifting his eyes to me. “Do you want to see yourself on television?”
I shook my head. “They say the camera adds ten pounds.”
“Well, I’m sure you look fine.”
“I don’t really care about that,” I said. “If I have to see it, though, I need more ice cream.”
Eliot scowled, annoyed. “Seriously?”
I shrugged. “I’m injured.”
“You are so much work,” Eliot grumbled, grabbing the dirty napkins from my hand. “I just … do you want more Blue Moon?”
“I would like bubblegum ice cream this time, my sexy nurse.”
“Keep milking it,” Eliot warned. “I’ll make you pay later.”
We both knew that was a lie. “I look forward to it.”
“You guys really are made for each other,” Jake said, rolling his eyes. “It’s frightening.”
“Don’t I know it,” Eliot said. “Just imagine what it’s like to deal with when bedhead and no caffeine are involved.”
“Terrifying.”
I was pretty sure I’d just been insulted. Of course, I was too sugared up to care.
17
Seventeen
“Oh, I’m dying. I’m dying!”
Eliot was calm as he rubbed the back of my head the next morning. I, on the other hand, felt as if my entire body was on fire.
“Lie still.”
“You lie still,” I snapped. “I’m dying.”
“You’re so very dramatic sometimes I can’t take it,” Eliot said, although his eyes were full of sympathy when they locked with mine. “If you calm yourself, I’ll rub your back.”
“What if I can’t calm myself?”
“Then I’ll still rub your back.”
“That’s not much of an offer then, is it?”
Eliot shrugged. “I’m a softie for a woman in despair. What can I say?”
“I have no idea what you can say, but I need you to rub me.”
Eliot was gentle when he rolled me, being careful to make me as comfortable as possible before settling on my rear end and digging his fingers into my back. I moaned at the feeling, burying my face in the pillow as he chuckled.
“Other than being stiff, does anything hurt that shouldn’t?” Eliot asked, genuinely concerned.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Making my way around the convention today won’t be easy, but I’ll work it out.”
“Oh, you’re not going to work.”
I stiffened. “Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not,” Eliot said, his voice firm. “You’re doing nothing of the sort. You’re sticking close to the house all day.”
“Eliot, I have a job to do.” Wow! That sounded whiny even to me. I changed my tone, hoping I sounded pragmatic rather than desperate. “You can’t keep me from going to work.”
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong,” Eliot said, matching his tone to mine. It almost sounded as if he was mocking me. “You conked out at six o’clock last night. I called Fish not long after and told him what happened. He was surprised because you didn’t mention anything when you
called in your story. That’s on me because I should’ve been watching you. It’s fixed now, though. We both agreed there was no way you could work today. You have a sick day … so you might as well enjoy it.”
He dug his fingers in again, eliciting a groan even as my temper threatened to explode. “That’s not your place.”
“No, it’s not,” Eliot agreed. “I feel bad for doing it.”
“Then call him back and tell him you were mistaken.”
“I don’t feel that bad,” Eliot said. “I’m not looking to fight with you, but because I have you in a position where you can’t move unless I let you, I’m willing to go at it.”
“That would be sexier if you weren’t acting like a Neanderthal.”
“I’m not trying to act like a Neanderthal,” Eliot countered. “I’m trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection,” I countered, furious. “I need to do my job. We have a murder and I’m running out of time to solve it.”
“You do realize that you’re not a police officer, right?”
“Duh.”
Eliot ignored my tone and moved his fingers to my shoulder blades, causing my fury to split. One half was angry and wanted to beat him. The other was enjoyed the nirvana his talented fingers brought me. “You’re not a detective either.”
“I know that,” I sputtered. “That doesn’t mean I can’t solve this.”
“There’s a difference between can’t and shouldn’t,” Eliot said. “You shouldn’t be involved in solving this. Your only job is to cover it.”
“Fine. Then you have to call Fish and tell him I’m covering it.”
“I’m not going to do that, Avery,” Eliot said. “You’re injured and can’t walk. If someone comes after you again … .” He left the rest of the ominous sentence hanging, but we both knew where he was going.
“No one will come after me,” I argued. “That was just a fluke.”
“It was an odd fluke.”
“Yes, and I’m perfectly fine,” I said. “I’m better than fine. I’m … amazing.”
Eliot snickered as he continued to massage me. “Those noises you’re making are usually a turn-on, but today they’re a turn-off because I know you’re in a lot of pain. You can’t outrun someone if they come after you, so you’re not working.”
In my head I knew he was doing what he thought was right. In my evil, black heart, though, I wanted to kick him in the soft stuff. “Eliot, you’re not the boss of me. I have a job to do and I’m going to do it.”
“You’re sick today.”
“I’m not sick!”
“I don’t want to yell at you, but I’ll do it,” Eliot warned. “You were lucky yesterday. In fact, you were very lucky that Duncan is such a pansy I thought it was a woman screaming when I hit the parking lot. I didn’t realize you were the one in trouble until I got there.”
“Yeah, he should be ashamed to screech like that,” I said. “Jamie Lee Curtis would be proud … and looking in his underwear to see if there was a mistake at birth.”
“Dammit!” Eliot chortled despite himself. “Avery, you cannot make your way around that convention center. You need a day to get back on your feet. Fish agreed. He’s sending Duncan to the convention to cover events and Marvin is handling the murder. The story is still yours. I made sure he was aware of that. You need twenty-four hours to recuperate.”
“But … it’s mine.”
“And it will still be yours tomorrow.”
“What if Marvin solves it when I’m not looking?” I was stubborn. There was no getting around that. I knew that Eliot was correct and that hobbling around the convention center would be difficult. I also knew I didn’t want to cede my power.
“He won’t solve it without you,” Eliot said, his tone gentle. “You heard Jake yesterday. They’re nowhere on it. It’s going to be okay. You’ll have plenty of time to smoke everyone else. We have until Monday. That’s when they break everything down and leave. It’s just going to have to wait for another day.”
I licked my lips as he continued to massage me. He was purposely wearing down my defenses. “Fine,” I said, opting for a different tactic. “I’ll stay here in bed all day. Does that make you happy?”
“Yes.” I thought Eliot would be surprised by my capitulation, but he appeared to readily accept it.
“Well, great,” I said. “You have to rub me for another ten minutes before you leave for work, though.”
“I’ll rub you for another half hour and make sure you have breakfast before I go,” Eliot said.
“Even better.”
Eliot leaned over and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’m really proud of you for realizing you were in the wrong and doing things my way. That’s real growth.”
Guilt formed a hard ball in the pit of my stomach. I was already working out another plan to get my way. I had no intention of telling him about it, though. “Thank you.”
“Yes, you’re my good girl,” Eliot said, purposely pushing his fingers as far into my lower back as possible. “And, because I love you so much, I also arranged for a … caregiver … to sit with you all day.”
Son of a … does he not trust me at all? “You got me a babysitter?”
I couldn’t see Eliot’s grin, but I could almost feel it emanating from his stupid face. “I got you a caregiver,” Eliot clarified. “I figured you needed someone close to make sure you didn’t get distracted and accidentally find yourself at the convention center before you realized what was happening.”
Well, this just bites the big one. “And who is that?” Something occurred to me. He said it was someone close. That had to mean it was my cousin Lexie. No matter what she promised Eliot, I knew she would come through for me. “Is it Lexie?” A new plan started to form.
“Oh, no,” Eliot said, causing my soaring hope to crash and burn just off the runway. “You can manipulate Lexie into doing just about anything. I needed someone I could rely on, someone who values money over whatever you might offer them.”
“And who is that?”
“You’re going to be entertained all afternoon,” Eliot said. “You’ll love my choice … eventually. Trust me.”
Trust was the furthest thing from my mind. I was going to make him pay.
“WHAT’S UP, Buttercup?”
I glowered at my cousin Mario as he strode into the living room an hour later. He was dressed down in denim shorts and a T-shirt, and he exchanged a high-five with Eliot before focusing on me.
“She’s grumpy in the morning,” Eliot said. “She’s also ticked off because I went behind her back and secured the day off. I wouldn’t push her too far.”
“I’m well aware of her penchant for theatrics,” Mario said. “We’re sprung from the same gene pool, after all.”
“Yes, well, she’s going to be at her manipulative best today,” Eliot said. “I’m not paying you the agreed upon fee until I return tonight and find her in this exact spot. If she leaves … I’ll know.”
Mario wasn’t one to balk under pressure, but he couldn’t stop himself from swallowing hard when he saw the serious look on Eliot’s face. “She can’t manipulate me, man. I’m immune to it.”
“That’s why you’re here instead of Lexie,” Eliot said, dropping a kiss on top of my head. “I’ll be back to pick you up for dinner. Don’t forget to shower later. Your mother will pitch a fit if she sees you looking like that.”
Dinner? I searched my brain. The days kept melding together. “Is it family dinner night?”
“It is,” Eliot replied. “I can tell you’re really looking forward to it.”
“Yes. I’m thrilled.”
“It’s going to be a big night,” Eliot said. “Prepare yourself.”
“It’s going to be a horrendous night because my mother is going to take one look at me and figure I did something to deserve a good beatdown.”
Eliot wrinkled his nose. “She’s not going to think I beat you down, is she?”
“Probably not,
” I conceded. “She’d applaud if you wanted to do it, though.”
“See, that right there is an exaggeration,” Eliot said, extending a finger. “Your mother doesn’t want you harmed.”
“Just maimed.”
“Yeah. Your head is in a really good place right now. See if you can cheer her up while I’m gone, Mario.”
My cousin, who was balding, in his early twenties and resembled a video game character, saluted. “I’m on it, boss.”
“Your whole family is odd sometimes,” Eliot muttered. “Remember, you’re not getting paid if she slips past you. Watch her every move.”
“That’s going to make going to the bathroom interesting, but I’ll blindfold her or something.”
I made a face and mimed retching. “I’ll never forgive you for this.”
“You will,” Eliot countered. “I won’t be able to concentrate unless I know someone is watching you. This is the best I could do on short notice.”
“I’m going to make you pay.”
Eliot smirked. “I’m actually looking forward to that. Be good while I’m gone. Don’t torture Mario too much.”
“No promises.”
“We’ll be fine, boss,” Mario said. “Trust me.”
“You’re only here because I can’t trust her,” Eliot said. “Both of you need to behave.”
I waited until I was sure Eliot was gone – and hadn’t simply circled around the block to spy on us – before shifting my attention to Mario. He looked uneasy. “So, how much is he paying you?”
“I’m not allowed to tell you that,” Mario replied. “He said if you offered me double he would triple it. He said if you offered me more than that and I did what you wanted he would beat me up. I’m more afraid of him than I am of you.”
“That just shows how stupid you really are.”
“Oh, come on, Avery,” Mario whined. “Can’t we have a relaxing day? I’ll play video games with you.”
There was a thought. It wasn’t one I was willing to entertain, but on a different day I might take him up on the offer. “I have another idea,” I said, digging beneath the blanket I sat under and producing several sheets of paper. “We’re going to do this.”
Bylines & Skylines (An Avery Shaw Mystery Book 9) Page 15
