Your Alibi

by Annie Dean

  That sounded more like it, but he didn't think that was the whole story, still. “And?"

  "I was with Eddie,” she said, soft and slurred with impending sleep. “We hadn't been married long. I don't remember everything—like I said, I'd been drinking—and I ... think he was being playful.” But she didn't sound too sure of that. “We were in a bar parking lot, and I kicked at some beer bottles. He said he knew I'd crawl over broken glass to get to him; I loved him that much. Somehow I wound up doing just that. I was just drunk enough that it sounded romantic rather than stupid as hell."

  "Oh, baby,” he murmured, sick. Both at the idea she might have loved the bastard so much and that the son of a bitch had let her prove it in such a way. “You're supposed to pick a man who'd walk over glass for you, didn't you know that?"

  But she'd already drifted off in his arms. Sean wasn't sure he could sleep for wishing to be her knight in shining armor, even if she didn't want one anymore. Oh well.

  The sunrise would probably be spectacular.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  She'd gotten used to having Sean follow her around, making notes.

  Now that he'd closeted himself away to work on the actual article again, Addie felt a little lonely. Which was patently stupid, as this was her life, and he wasn't part of it. He was just an enjoyable speed bump in the road.

  Must be something else bothering her, like the fact that Manu hadn't been home in two days. Lorene might have chained him to the bed, and if she were a good sister she'd go rescue him before he died of dehydration. Maybe she should go over there.

  Imagining his reaction to that, Addie laughed as she pulled a weed up by the roots and dropped it into the gardening bucket.

  There's something soothing about putting your fingers in the dirt. She worked at least two hours, including water and fertilizer treatment, and was just thinking about a shower and something cold to drink when she saw Lorene's car turn into the drive. Addie watched in amusement as her friend gave Manu a long goodbye kiss. Like she'd thought at the party, there was a certain rightness to it, and Lorene deserved a genuinely good guy for a change.

  Oh, this is going to be fun.

  As her brother in law climbed out of the car, she folded her arms and adopted her best stern expression. Lorene just waved and backed out onto the road. She probably needed to check in at the Kwik-Stop; Penny Harris might've scarfed down the entire inventory while the boss enjoyed a long weekend.

  "Hi."

  It was great when big men looked uneasy, even better when she caused it. Unfortunately, she couldn't read his expression. “You have some nerve,” she said. “Lecturing me and then you spend the night with my best friend. Two nights. You didn't even call. I was worried sick about you.” Okay, that might be laying it on at bit thick.

  "I don't think you want to have this conversation with me right now."

  Oh, he's mad? Now what? She guessed he could still be upset about the web business. It seemed unlikely he'd try to butt into her sex life again.

  "Why don't I?” She stabbed her spade into the ground and straightened.

  "Because Lorene told me where you two went Tuesday night."

  "I'm going to kill her!” Any intention she had of giving him a hard time went out the window; she knew which offense took precedence in the bitching-out hierarchy.

  His mouth quirked like he halfway wanted to smile. “Don't blame her. I asked her during a vulnerable moment."

  "Aw, come on,” she muttered. “I really didn't need that mental image."

  "Lorene says I'm a sex god. Just ask her. Of course she'll probably give you all the highlights next time you see her."

  She flinched. “You shouldn't brag about being a man-whore."

  That startled a laugh out of him. “For real—one woman in four years. I should get my own TV show. Anyway, quit trying to turn it back on me. What the hell do you mean, taking off for LA without telling anyone, going after Fast Eddie..."

  "Manu, please,” she said, suddenly tired. “It was the safest way. You'd get arrested if you kicked his ass, but he's not going to press charges against Lorene and me. He'll be too embarrassed. And I think he finally got the message too. When are you going to learn that I won't let you fight my battles for me?"

  "I know!” He slammed his fist into his palm. “It drives me crazy. I've said it before—you won't make room, you won't let anyone do anything for you. Would it kill you to ask for help?"

  Tears burned in the back of her throat, and she stared over his shoulder at the sun, high and golden in the afternoon sky. “My mama did it. My abuela did it. And Mel is gone because she couldn't fill their shoes, no matter how hard she tried, so I have to..."

  "No.” Manu crossed the distance between them in two strides and brought her against his broad chest. “Don't you think I've thought that if I'd been enough, Mel would still be with us? As for your mama, she's gone, and maybe it's because she took too much on by herself. You keep trying to fill her shoes, and we're going to lose you too. I can't have that, Addie. I just can't. I know I was worthless for a while, but you can rely on me now, I swear."

  Eyes closed, she let him hold her for a moment, sucking in unsteady breaths as she fought not to break down entirely. God only knew why her emotions were right on top lately. Maybe it was PMS.

  "I don't even know what you're asking,” she muttered finally. “You want to help me run Your Alibi?"

  He shook his head, setting her back to stare down into her eyes, wearing his best stern expression. “I want you to shut that down as soon as possible, and believe me when I say I'll figure something out, something that doesn't involve you lying to people."

  With a sigh, Addie picked up her gardening bucket and headed for the trash cans alongside the house. As she'd known he would, Manu plucked the pail from her fingers and followed along, waiting for a reply. The man just didn't know the meaning of the word quit.

  "I can't,” she said. “I'm making excellent money. And I know you may not understand, but I'm good at this. I don't have a calling, and I've never known what I wanted to be when I grew up. Hell, most days I don't even want to be a grownup."

  He emptied the wilting weeds, looking thoughtful and aggravated in equal measure. “Promise me you'll consider it if I come up with a new business venture."

  The sun beating down on her bare head reminded Addie that she had been working outside for hours, so she went into the kitchen and poked in the refrigerator. She didn't need to look back to know that he was right behind her. He'd persist until she agreed or she went somewhere he couldn't follow. Though she already knew she wanted a frosty glass of ice tea with a slice of lemon, she stood letting the cold air wash over her for a minute.

  "You want some?” she asked, as she got the glasses out of the freezer. “Maybe some cookies too?"

  His brows came down, thick and black as thunderclouds. “Are you trying to distract me, woman?"

  "Why, is it working?” She grinned as she poured the drinks, stirred in a little sugar, and then squeezed the lemon before dropping the wedge into the tumbler.

  "No!” He paused and then asked, “Do we have any cinnamon spice bars?"

  "Probably some in the cookie jar. Go have a look?"

  "We're not done discussing this.” The man grumbled as he went over to the round-bellied bear that housed all their baked goods. Addie couldn't help but notice his lavalava looked like it had been crammed down beside Lorene's bed for the better part of two days. She snickered as he set the snacks out on a plate, and he glared. Sometimes it was like they truly were blood related, the way they got on each other's nerves.

  "You might want to change after we eat,” she said, just to goad him. “I've seen you looking better after a bout with the stomach flu. Lorene really rode you hard and put you away wet, huh?"

  He smirked as he sat down at the table and took a drink of tea. The minute her back was turned, he'd dump some more sugar in it, and she knew it, which was why she watched him another minute. It was
pointless to lecture the man about diabetes.

  "Was the other way around,” he corrected.

  "Oh, Christ.” There was another mental image she could've lived without. Addie decided not to tease him anymore because he seemed to be getting the best of the exchange, every fucking time.

  "No...” he said through a bite of spice bar. “Although she did call to God a lot."

  She fought the thoroughly childish urge to stick her fingers in her ears, understanding for the first time his discomfort with her sexuality. “Okay, you win. Let's talk about something else."

  "Like you doing something else for a living?"

  "Gah. Yes, let's talk about that.” Addie washed down the slightly stale pastry with a huge swallow of tea.

  Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the table as if he wanted to be sure he had her full attention. “I just want your promise that if I come up with a workable idea, you'll consider it."

  "You mean like a joint business?"

  He nodded, his dark eyes unexpectedly vulnerable, and she realized that his self-esteem had taken a huge hit the last few years. Before she'd only thought that he was grieving and she did her best to take his weight. It was something she bitched about internally sometimes, but she'd never question the rightness of it, because family took care of another. If you're hurt, I carry you until you can walk again. She'd learnt that from her abuela, not in so many words, but in the old lady's actions.

  "Something we can do together,” he said. “Partners. No more of you busting your ass on your own. I worked before Mel died, remember? And I did in Vegas too."

  "You were a bouncer,” she remembered aloud. “Mel said she met you tossing some guy out on his ass and he almost landed on her."

  And he'd done security work off and on since moving to California. Mostly he kept the guests in line at the Grail, though he had to feel he served no useful purpose now, given how their money came in. She sighed.

  "Yeah.” The silence felt thick with her sister's presence. Sometimes she could almost smell Mel's perfume on the landing. And as if he felt the same, he added, “Sometimes I swear I feel her, you know? Like I could touch her. Even now, it's hard to believe she's never coming back. At first, I thought you put Lorene up to it, a pity fuck or something, and I thought I'd feel guilty."

  "You don't?” God knew, she didn't want him to.

  Manu shook his head, thick fingers crumbling the rest of his spice bar. “No. I don't know, maybe it's been long enough, or because she's so different from Mel, but I'm going to take her out. Hey, can I borrow the truck tomorrow night?"

  She grinned. “Of course. Just be back by midnight."

  The man surprised a laugh out of her when he said, “Whatever,” with perfect Valley girl inflection. Smiling faintly, he watched her for a moment, and she felt the warmth that proved families were made, not born, comprised of people who wanted to be part of them. He'd never talked about his people in Hawaii and she didn't ask, although she often wondered why he moved to Las Vegas. “So you'll think about it?"

  About...

  Oh. Right.

  "If you come up with something we can do together, I'll see about shutting down Your Alibi.” Her expression turned serious. “But I expect a real business plan, not just some off-the-wall idea. I wanted projected income, overhead, all that."

  "You're such a hard ass."

  Addie finished her tea as a faint boom came from downstairs. “Someone has to be. I live with a couple of beautiful dreamers."

  When he started to hum the song, she threw the last spice bar at him. Of course he caught it and crammed it whole into his mouth, so it did nothing in the way of chastisement. She put the sweating pitcher back into the refrigerator as he said, “So I was thinking we could use the Internet since you've already got some nice equipment. Maybe we get you a digital camera and you can do a Live with Addie thing. Flash some boob..."

  "She can what?"

  Neither of them had heard Sean come downstairs, probably taking a break, and she couldn't think of a word to accurately describe his expression. Just as well they had him off balance because she didn't want him in any state to notice her sweat-stained t-shirt or the dirt smeared on her face. She wished she'd had a chance to shower before she saw him. They weren't—and never would be—at the stage where it was okay to see each other grungy and unshaven.

  "He's kidding!” she said quickly, although the man really had no right to object if she decided to start a naked website. There was good money in it, but she suspected she was too old. “I'm going to become a stripper. I read this book about a lady who started when she was in her thirties. She only made eight dollars her first night but then she learned how to work the crowd. I guess it worked out really well for her and then she got a book deal.” She shot a glance at Manu to assure herself he was willing to roll with the joke, whereas Sean looked like he might rupture something. “What do you think?"

  "It could work,” Manu answered. “I'd come with you, we'd hire on as a team. I sort of miss being a bouncer anyway. A club would be crazy not to take us on."

  She saw a muscle working in Sean's jaw as he swallowed all the things he probably wanted to say. “Is there any tea left?"

  "Sure. We ate all the cinnamon spice bars, though."

  He nodded as if he wouldn't have expected anything else. “Of course you did."

  Addie poured him a glass of tea, prepared it as she liked it and carried it to the table, where he sat down, fingers digging idly at the surface. Inwardly she winced. Teasing him was going to damage the furniture.

  "Of course ... what?” Lem asked, stepping out of the pantry.

  Sean wrapped his fingers around the glass, and she repressed a smile, half-expecting it to explode into shards. “Let's see.” His voice sounded deceptively placid. “There are no cinnamon spice bars left and Addie's becoming a stripper."

  Her father looked interested. “Do you need pasties? I could work on improving them so they don't react with human sweat. They'd stay on better while you're dancing."

  "That's okay, Pop."

  As Lem sat down at the table, Manu got him a plate, digging out some store-bought sugar cookies while she fixed yet another glass of iced tea. She saw her dad's face fall when presented with those and made a mental note to bake some fucking brownies. Sean sat staring into his drink like he expected to read his future.

  "Just as well,” Lem said, apparently oblivious to the tension. “I've got a meeting with Exxon. I wouldn't have time to look at your pasties for quite a while."

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Sean recovered from that bombshell first while Lem sat calmly eating cookies as if he didn't notice everyone else's astonishment. “With Exxon, sir?"

  "Yes, I'm going to Texas. I'll need to use the truck, Addie."

  Addie looked none-too-sure that the truck would make it to Texas. “Make sure you have the oil changed before you go, Pop.” Then she asked what everyone was dying to know. “Just why are you meeting with Exxon?"

  "Oh right!” Lem pushed away from the table. “I haven't shown you. Let me just go get the stuff for a demonstration. I could use the practice anyway."

  He hurried away, tall, thin and stoop-shouldered, leaving Sean staring at Addie, who glanced at Manu. The big man shrugged. “First I've heard of it."

  "You mean he actually invented something that works?” Looking astounded, she ate the last cookie on Lem's plate.

  "It would seem so.” Sean tried to conceal his irritation. Although he knew perfectly well she was teasing him about the stripper thing, he couldn't prevent his knee-jerk reaction. He hoped to God she was joking anyway.

  Shortly Lem returned with numerous oddments in his hands, setting them out on the table as if it were a science fair project. “I need a deep, flat bottom pan, Addie. I don't want anything to catch fire."

  Her eyes flashed with alarm. “Pop, are you sure we should do this up here? You have all the safety gear downstairs."

  Lem leveled a look on her
over the top of his glasses. “Get the pan."

  She hesitated. Sean had never seen her dad look so focused, so alive, as he did in that moment. He wasn't sure why, but he suddenly felt sure whatever it was would work perfectly, so he nodded at Addie. “Seriously. Get the man a pan."

  Her dad rewarded him with a big smile, and then he poured a significant amount of motor oil into the bottom of it. “We have all kinds of trouble on a global scale with oil spills, right? I call this invention Dropfire. Stand back and watch.” While they looked on, he scattered a harmless looking gray dust onto the oil and it began to burn, a slow controlled ignition until nothing remained in the pan but fine white powder. “They'll want to run their own tests at Exxon, but this residue is bio-degradable. I've found an environmentally sound way to clean up when there's a spill."

  The reporter in him knew a story when he saw it. “That is amazing. Is it water inhibited? How in the world did you..."

  Smiling, Lem shook his head. “I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you. Addie, pack me a lunch, will you please? They expect me in Irving on Tuesday and it's Sunday afternoon already. I have some ground to cover."

  "That's so great,” she said, sounding choked up. She went over the fridge and laid out the ingredients for what Sean would call a gourmet sandwich. “I'm proud of you."

  "Yeah,” Manu chimed in. “I'm honored I can say I knew you when."

  Pausing in the middle of packing up his accoutrements, Lem shook his head. “No, I have a lot to make up to both of you. And I will when I get back. No more hiding from life. My only excuse is that I needed to succeed at something, otherwise all the time I spent indulging myself and making my wife carry more than her share was wasted. It was my way of making amends, but I put too much on you in the process, pumpkin.” He came up behind Addie and hugged her around the waist, dropping a kiss on top of her head. “I'm a stupid old bastard and I just keep making the same mistakes. But things will be different when I get back, I promise."

  She turned then and wrapped her arms tight around his waist. “Pop, I never minded you doing your thing. It's who you are. Maybe I did sometimes doubt you'd ever invent anything that works, but it was kind of endearing, you know?"