“I’ll wait with you.”
Before long, there was a buzz at the door. Chase looked out—Wellington had come straight to Sky’s house when he had called him.
“That’s him?” Sky asked.
He nodded, hitting the release for the gate and the door. A minute later, he opened it to meet Wellington on the porch.
“Don’t be rude—invite him in,” Skylar said.
Larry woofed; she set a hand on his head, telling him that it was all right.
Chase had no choice. He stepped aside as he greeted Andy Wellington and introduced him to Sky as one of his lecturers.
“Sky Ferguson, what a pleasure!” Andy told her.
“And so nice to meet you, too. Brandon is a dear friend of ours, and we’re so grateful he came to Chase and that Chase...knows people. Can we get you anything?” Sky said pleasantly.
“No, it’s late, I’m just going to get these joints to friends I’ve met along the way,” Wellington said politely. “But... Chase scored me some tickets for tomorrow night. I can’t wait—you mostly disappeared, Miss Ferguson, and like me, tons of people out there are anxious to see you step into your father’s shoes.”
She shook her head. “I can’t step into his shoes. I can only hope to honor him.”
“I’m sure you will. He had an excellent reputation, and Chase tells me that all the amazing things written about him being an incredible human being are true.”
Sky smiled and nodded. Wellington asked if he could pet the dog, and Sky assured him it was fine because he’d been identified as a friend.
Andy’s eyes locked with Chase’s for just a moment, and then he was gone.
“We’d really best get some sleep,” Chase said.
“What did you think about Brandon? And...do you know this guy he was talking about? Bobby, who works lights?”
“I don’t know Bobby. But—”
“Chase, if this stuff is laced, more people could die!”
“Wellington will get back to us as soon as possible and...” he shrugged “... I already told him Brandon got the stuff from Bobby Sacks.”
She arched a brow at him.
“A little note I passed to him along with the joints.”
She stared at him suspiciously. “Hey, let it get to the right people! If it was no big deal, it was no big deal. Well, hopefully, some lives will be saved.”
“Shower,” she said.
“Pardon?”
“There are three guest rooms upstairs and two more bathrooms. I’m for a shower and bed. Sleep wherever you like. I mean, we do have a dog now—one that your friend very specifically picked out for me. I’m going to assume he’s an exceptional guard dog. Good night.”
She turned and disappeared up the stairs. He watched her go and winced. There were moments when...
Time. Time could have gone away. He’d be holding her, just as he had those many years ago, he’d almost feel the softness of her flesh, the look in her eyes when...
First things first.
Keep them all alive.
Hell, they did have a big dog. He’d take a shower. And his firearm would be on the sink, right next to the shower. No chances could be taken now.
A SHOWER FELT GOOD. Delicious. Hot water, and then, as it sluiced over her and she felt the steam and replayed the day in her mind, the day, and Chase...
Cold water.
Didn’t help a lot.
He was there. There in her house. Close. She was standing in the shower, naked. He was probably in a shower, too...
Maybe. Maybe not. He seemed...
Well, he was paranoid about her, but with all his so-called friends, she couldn’t tell what was really going on with him.
What the hell was he really doing for a living? He did love his grandfather, he’d always seemed to care about everyone involved with Skyhawk...
Impatiently, she turned off the water, stepped out and dried off, wrapping the towel securely around her. She stepped from her bathroom into the bedroom area, opened the door to the hallway cautiously and looked out.
Larry had indeed taken up a position right outside her door.
One room down, the door was closed.
