He stopped there, hand still in mine, body so close I could feel his heat and he looked down at me.

"I go out, I wait until I hear you lock the door," he informed me.

I nodded again.

Then he went on, "Tomorrow night, I'll be back. Seven o'clock. I'm taking you to dinner."

The panic came back and my mouth dropped open. Hector "Oh my God" Chavez wanted to take me out to dinner?

How bizarre was that?

My mind scrambled for an excuse and, thankfully, I had one.

"I can't. Buddy and Ralphie and I have plans," I told him and it wasn't a lie. We were going out to dinner and they were taking me to a drag show afterwards. They'd decided, after all that was my life, it was high time for me to start having fun.

"Then Monday. I'll be here at seven," Hector replied immediately and I opened my mouth to speak but he lifted the other hand, the one not holding mine (still!) and put his finger to my upper lip.

I stopped breathing again.

He took his finger away. "It'll be casual; there'll be no reason to put on your designer armor."

Oh my God!

He knew about my armor! He even said it, straight out!

How did he know?

Oh... my... God!

Before I could figure it out or ask or get over my panic attack, he murmured, "Monday. Seven."

Then he squeezed my hand and he was gone.

I stared at the door for what seemed like forever and, finally, from outside I heard Hector's voice say sharply, "Lock."

I jumped to the door and threw the lock.

I put my ear to it and heard his boots on the steps outside and I stayed there even when I could hear them no more. After awhile, I turned toward the stairs and came to a jarring halt when I saw Ralphie sitting on one of them looking at me.

"How long have you been sitting there?" I breathed.

"Was up on the landing, listening to him ask you out. Came down after he left," Ralphie replied.

"Ralphie, we need to talk about "

"If you think we need to talk about how you don't want anything to do with Hispanic Hottie then you need to think again, sweet 'ums."

"Ralphie "

"I don't want to hear it."

"Ralphie!"

He stood and looked down at me. "You deserve your little slice of happiness, you've waited long enough for it and worked hard enough to earn it and I'm gonna see you get it."

Then before I could protest he turned and walked up the stairs.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Darn.

Chapter Five.

Screaming Orgasm.

Sadie.

"We are not watching YoYo," Buddy snapped at Ralphie as he opened the door to the gay bar on Colfax and stepped back to let me precede him.

"We are so watching YoYo," Ralphie snapped back, getting up close to me, putting his hands to my waist and crowding in behind me, shoving me through the door.

"No YoYo," Buddy returned.

"Oh so YoYo," Ralphie shot back.

I started giggling.

They were arguing about watching Bex's black pug, YoYo. She was going on vacation and needed someone to look after her dog. Bex had brought her around that day so we could meet her.

Buddy didn't like dogs but, on sight, Ralphie and I fell in love with the snorting, wheezing, teeny-tiny, squirming, adorable pug.

"We watch YoYo, you're gonna start in on me about getting a damn dog again and I've made myself clear on this subject about a million times," Buddy replied.

"Excuse me but I can't wear the cute doggie sweaters I bought online. We have to get a dog so I can dress her up in those sweaters," Ralphie threw in.

"I told you not to buy those sweaters. Why would anyone buy doggie sweaters when they don't have a dog?" Buddy was losing patience.

"I love dogs. I'm always telling you a house isn't a home without a pet. And anyway, I'm Queen Accoutrement, Expert at All Things Accessory. I need a dog. Dogs are the end all, be all, new, hip accessory." Ralphie didn't care that Buddy was losing patience (he never did).

They were now both behind me, propelling me forward and I was laughing straight out.

That was until my eyes adjusted to the dark light of the bar and I saw front and center at a bunch of tables pushed together all the Rock Chicks. Every one of them. Including a black-haired lady I hadn't met.

And also including Daisy.

I stopped dead and the smile disappeared from my face.

Ralphie ran into me and said. "Sadie, sweets, get a move on, I need a cocktail."

I didn't get a move on. I stood rooted to the spot, staring at the Rock Chicks.

Then it hit me. They hadn't seen me yet so I still had a chance to escape!

I was about to whirl when my eyes caught on something all the way across the bar.

Lounging, shoulders against the wall, was Lee Nightingale. Next to him, at first horrified glance, I thought was Hector. Staring in shock, I realized it wasn't, it was someone who looked like Hector but was just a shade less rough around the edges. By the look of him he had to be related to Hector however. There was no way they weren't blood.

The Rock Chicks hadn't seen me but Lee and his companion most definitely did. Both of their eyes were locked on me and after a second Lee started to push away from the wall.

I decided it was time to go.

I whirled. "We have to go," I said to Buddy and Ralphie.

They were both stopped just inside the door, looking down at me and I saw the surprise hit their faces.

"Go? Why? We just got here," Ralphie said.

I put my hand to his chest and leaned in. "We have to go. Now. Just go."

Ralphie resisted the lean, his eyes scanning the bar as Buddy asked me, "Are you okay?"

No, I wasn't okay. But I wasn't going to explain it, not now. Maybe I'd do it later, like tomorrow or, say, when I could explain it (which might be never).

I knew the moment Ralphie saw the Rock Chicks, I saw his face register recognition. He smiled over my shoulder then he waved.

I grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand down. "Don't do that! Turn around and go!"

"What's goin' on?" Buddy asked.

"We are not going," Ralphie said to me, his voice telling me he was digging deep into his battle trenches and when Ralphie dug in, Ms. Townsend, Ice Princess or even Sorceress of the Antarctic would never win the battle.

"What's goin' on?" Buddy repeated.

I didn't give up. No, actually, I couldn't give up. Too much was at stake.

"We're going," I said to Ralphie.

"Are not," Ralphie returned.

"Are so."

"Are not."

"We're going!" I yelled.

"What's goin' on!" Buddy shouted.

"Sadie," Lee Nightingale said.

I looked to my left then up and saw Lee standing there.

Someone, please tell me Lee was not standing there.

Someone else, please tell me that Had-to-Be-Hector's-Relative was not standing beside him.

This stunk.

I dropped Ralphie's wrist and turned to Lee.

Luckily, I wasn't casual, barefoot and in a huge sweatshirt. I had on my armor. A bone-colored, pencil skirt, a matching, fitted, silk-knit turtleneck and a pair of lush, beige, spike-heeled Jimmy Choo boots. My hair was pulled severely away from my face but burst in a riot of waves and curls from the clip at my neck. I had a thick, heavy, pure gold bangle at my wrist and long, wide, gold hoops at my ears.

Barring the cast on my wrist it was the Ice Princess Outfit to end all Ice Princess Outfits.

Therefore, as I was unsuccessful at avoiding it, when the time arrived, I was ready.

"Lee," I said, assuming Chill Factor Sub-Zero.

Lee ignored the Chill Factor Sub-Zero something, by the way, which was happening all the time these days and it was beginning to get on my nerves.

"How are you?" Lee asked, his voice not professional or cordial but warm and genuine.

"I'd be a lot better if people would stop asking me how I was," I replied immediately and icily. "I got raped. Unfortunately, it happens every day."

"Sadie!" Ralphie hissed angrily from beside me as I watched Lee flinch.

He actually flinched, like I'd slapped him across the face. Which, verbally, I had.

I was such a bitch.

My stomach clutched and if I didn't get away I was going to start crying. And that could not happen.

I turned to Ralphie and announced, "I need a drink."

Ralphie was having none of it.

He switched on the attitude, complete with hand on hip and clipped, "What you need to do is apologize to Mr. Hot Guy here."

I glared ice daggers at Ralphie but he didn't back down.

"Fine," I declared, giving up in order to get away. "I'll get my own fucking drink."

Then without looking at Lee or Hector-Relative-Guy, with back straight and head held high, I walked to the bar.