When I open the door to my apartment, I turn the light switch on and walk in with Aurei right behind me. The first thing that hits me is the smell of roses and I remember the Swingers, their checks, and … the cards!
Shit! What if Ruth has them now? What if there was something private written on them. Damn! I should have been more careful.
A touch of panic fills my voice. "Aurei, please ask Steve to check my jacket. I took the cards from the flowers last night and stuffed them in one of the pockets." I frown at him as I walk straight to the pole for the envelope. "I thought I would read them on the way to the bar, but I got distracted watching you drive my car. What if I've compromised them?"
He says softly as he takes it from me. "Swingers and their privacy is the least of our worries right now. Don’t you worry your pretty little head over them."
"Please call him and ask." I press my lips together and try to smile for him, but I don't manage more than a grimace.
"I'll ask him. Go! Pack. Don’t worry."
I sigh and walk in my bedroom. It's been my home for the last nine weeks and I look around realizing, I won't be back here ever again. When we return from Italy, I'll be moving back home to Vegas. I find focus with that, and decide to have the moving company come pack my things early and put everything into a storage unit while we are gone.
I'll ask Mrs. Smith to handle the details for me. She's such a sweet woman.
In my closet, I dig around for my suitcases, and start to pack the clothes Aurei said I would need. "The weather in Rome this time of year is still cold. Pack only the heavy clothes you brought. We will shop once we get there."
That's easy. I don't own 'heavy' clothes.
I take my Black & Blue Baby down and try to decide if I will take her with me. I fold her gently and lay her in.
Of course I will. She is me.
I hear Aurei talking as I go to the bathroom and collect my toiletries. When I come out, he is still talking. I gather my computer, my gun, and empty the safe.
Thank goodness I brought my passport.
I put everything in my satchel and sling the strap over my shoulder, then I roll my suitcases out. "I'm ready. Come on. Let's go!" I beam at him, happy to be escaping and knowing he is right. Swingers are all about keeping secrets. They wouldn’t have written anything inside to give themselves away.
"Excellent!" He says with a grin. "I was able to get up with a former Army brother who flies charter jets now with FlyPrivate. He was in Pensacola. He’ll be at the airport in about three hours to pick us up." He takes the two suitcases from me and I open the door for him. He rolls them through the door, then behind us as we walk down the hall back to his place. I turn around and face him walking backwards.
"What did you find out from Steve about the cards?"
"He checked. He said they weren't in there. The pockets were empty."
"Damn! That sucks."
"It is what it is now. If there is a leak, they’ll just have to deal with it."
"I guess so. I’ll need to let Cat know our plans too. Where's my phone? I didn't find it in my pants this morning when I searched and it wasn't in the bedroom." I frown at him. "I haven't seen it since last night!"
"I put it on charge in the drawer of the nightstand. It's safe. Don't panic."
I let out a breath. "I'll need to text Brutus too, and Mrs. Smith. I’ve decided to have the moving company go ahead and get my stuff. Carmela has been doing my housekeeping while I'm here. She can pack my things."
"You can store it at my mini-storage. I’ll have Ann handle it."
"Your mini-storage? I should have known."
When we walk back into his apartment, I retrieve my phone. We sit on the couch and handle all the arrangements. Brutus responds immediately. "Don't worry. I know some people."
Bubba's no doubt.
Cat responds with a lot of worried texts about me flying off to Italy with a strange man. I get my computer out and FaceTime with her. She goes off on me immediately when she sees me, not giving me any chance to explain. Finally, I butt in. "Cat! Calm down. He's the same dude that Bart booked for a one on one session with your Star. Surely you guys checked him out thoroughly before you agreed without my consent?"
Her mouth slams shut and she is silent, then it falls open. "What? You're shittin' me?"
"No, I'm serious! Bart booked a VIP room and I was to be the solo entertainer."
"Same dude?"
"Yes!"
"He's that Moore? I thought you said this guy was an Army helicopter pilot."
"I did, but he is also that same dude."
"Doll!" She whispers to the screen. "He paid Bart 100k’s for two hours with you and Brutus did the background check on him. He's loooaaaadddded!" Then she narrows her eyes. "What are the odds of you two meeting in Alabama? Jackpot odds, for sure!"
I wink at her. "Karma! I've been telling you, she’s only a bitch if you don't pay her! If you do, she works miracles!" She laughs at me. Aurei walks in from the balcony where he was making more phone calls. "Here he is. Aurei, come meet Cat so she won't worry about me while I'm gone." He slides next to me on the couch, puts his arm around me and kisses my hair. Her face is priceless! She gives me her 'I would have liked to have taught him a thing or two' look and I giggle at her.
He looks at the screen and smiles, "Hi."
Her face is priceless again! She practically drools.
"Hi," she says back, but I watch her keen eyes summing him up and I see her relax. She is a good judge of character. I knew she would like him. "You take good care of our Baby Girl and bring her home before May 1st. We get her back then. She's been gone too long. You're welcome to come to Vegas too, but she's coming with or without you!"
He laughs at her and cuts his eyes at me. "It will be with." He tells her and I beam at them. His phone rings and he excuses himself.
He goes back out onto the balcony and she whispers. "Is he gone?"
"Yep."
"Siri! He is a dream! I'm so happy for you. You deserve someone like him. But if he breaks your heart, I'm gonna give him a go. Ok?"
I crack up with her. "I knew you would say that about him and you made your skank face. But I’m never letting him go! Sorry." I look out at the balcony and smile. Aurei is pacing back and forth in front of the door. "I have some business to discuss with you too." I tell her about the idea I had with Clay's bar and bringing the girls in for a working vacation to help with dancer burnout. She loves the idea and she promises to talk to Laura about moving here to raise her baby. When we finish, and I close the computer screen, it's been almost an hour.
I love that woman to pieces! I can't wait to get back!
Aurei comes back in and sits next to me. Before he can say anything, I ask him. "Can we take your guitar?"
"We could, but we won't need it. I have one at my studio."
"Good. I want you to sing to me every day."
"That's a tall order. I don't know that many songs." He laughs and puts his arm around me. I lean my head on his shoulder and snuggle. "Ann is going to come pack my things and take them back to the house. Where's your gun? She can take it too."
"It’s in my satchel."
"Dirk has been delayed a couple of weeks, so he can take over my lease." He pats my leg. "Let's go grab a quick, keyword being quick, shower. It's a nine hour flight to Rome and seven hours ahead, so we will lose 3/4 of a day traveling." He stands and pulls me up. "As cute as you look in my shirt, I'm not letting you arrive in Rome wearing it."
I giggle as we go to the bathroom together. "I am wearing your shirt. I'll put on a bra though and a pair of skinny jeans with my boots."
Right before we step in the shower, Aurei gets another phone call and walks out to take it. I bathe quickly without him and am coming out of the bathroom when he returns. He pushes me out the door.
"No touching. Keyword quick." He tells me as he closes it.