“Yes,” Nate says. “My girl is a bad-ass-gun-toting agent and I like when she calls me Archer.”
“I agree,” Evan adds.
Ryley throws her hands up in the air, much to everyone’s delight, and kicks us all out of the kitchen, including Cara.
“Well I’m sorry I’m not girlie enough for her,” Cara mumbles, causing Nate and Evan to laugh.
“It’s okay, we’ve never been girlie enough for her. The only one that appeases the girlieness is Lois,” Nate tells us.
“Yeah, she misses Lois,” Evan says, as we all step out onto the deck. Rask is tending to the grill and Nate and Evan go over to help him, leaving Cara alone. Lois is Ryley’s best friend from high school. Lois and Carter, who happens to be Nate’s best friend, followed Ryley to San Diego, but chose to stay in California instead of moving back to Washington.
“I don’t want to be too forward, but I’m hoping you can get me into see Lawson?” I feel like I’m asking for her to do something dirty to me by the way my heart is pounding. Of course, it probably would’ve been better coming from Nate or Evan since she knows them better.
“Why do you want to see him?”
It’s a fair question, so I tell her what I found out at the PI’s office. Her eyes widen and I see a hint of tears as I recap my story and that of Penny’s when she found Lawson with Claire.
“I see,” Cara says, shaking her head. She stares off, out into the distance without saying a word. Her silence speaks volumes and has my mind spinning on how I’m going to get in to see him. Shit, maybe I’ll just break into Ingram’s house and get him to start singing about his involvement.
“I’m not sure if I have clearance, but I’m still on his investigation. Let me work a few angles and see what kind of strings I can pull. It’d have to be without his lawyer present because if that bitch is in there, Lawson won’t say anything. Not that he will anyway. The bastard is smug and just sits there saying nothing during questioning.”
“I’ll make him talk.” I shrug when she looks at me. “Especially if no one is watching. I’ll make him fucking beg for his mother, and that bitch of a lawyer, too. He knows about my wife’s disappearance and I want answers.”
Cara nods slowly before a mischievous smile appears. “I think I like you, McCoy. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s your name, cowboy?”
I look around wondering who the leggy blonde is talking to. I don’t see anyone with a cowboy hat at the bar so she must be blind, which means she’s right up my alley because she won’t see how truly ugly I am.
“No cowboy here, ma’am.” I pick my pint back up and finish it off, signaling for Slick Rick to bring me another one.
“Well what would you like to be called?” She sits down next to me and places her large purse on the bar.
“Ma’am?” I question.
“You want to be called ma’am? Are you into cross dressing or something?”
It’s a good thing I didn’t have a mouthful of beer when she said that or she’d be soaked. Although, she has what looks like a nice rack and she is wearing a white T-shirt so maybe her being wet isn’t such a bad idea.
“What’s your name?”
“Penny,” she says in a sweet voice. One of the things I notice about her is that she’s sitting on the stool and not leaning into me, showing me the goods. Most chicks that come in here wear next to nothing for clothes so you can see everything they have to offer.
I look at her as if I’m inspecting her, but I stay focused on her face. Her eyes are light brown and her blonde hair frames her face. Her lips are definitely kissable.
“What?” she asks as a smile plays on her lips.
“Nothing. I guess I always thought that if I were to meet a Penny, she’d have copper hair, but you don’t, unless you’re not a true blonde.”
“Well there’s only one way to find out!”
I look at her inquisitively and watch as her cheeks turn bright red. I can already tell she’s not this forward, which I have to say I’m thankful for. I’ve had my fair share of women throwing themselves at me and it never lasts long.
“Wow. I … uh … yeah, I don’t usually talk like that, but my friends over there didn’t think I’d be able to get your number if I just asked for it.”
I hold my hand out for her to take and when she does, I bring it to my lips and press them softly against her skin. Her eyes turn dreamy and she sighs. I can’t help but smile before pulling my lips away.