“I’m sorry, I need to answer this.” She placed the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hey, gorgeous, how did the gallery situation pan out?” Renaldo asked. He was speaking loudly and she was certain that both Seno and Mace could hear him.
“Everything is set.”
“Fantastic. I owe you for taking care of this so professionally and smoothly. Dinner tonight, at Redalphos’s?”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Dinner isn’t necessary, Renaldo.”
“Oh please, I insist. It’s been a successful first week, only Wednesday and you’ve accomplished so much. I can have a car pick you up at your place or at work.”
“I’m running kind of late. As a matter of fact, I’m just having lunch, and then I have a lot to accomplish for the builders by Friday. So dinner really can’t happen tonight. I probably won’t even be able to leave the office until late.”
“I’m disappointed but impressed with your commitment. We’ll make plans for Friday or the weekend. I need to go. Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.”
She pulled the phone away and placed it onto the table. Both Mace and Seno were staring at her.
“Who’s Renaldo?” Mace asked. She thought for sure that Justice would mention him but then why would he? She’d made it clear to Justice that she wouldn’t date him or his brothers right now. Besides that, it was a police investigation and she was certain they had confidentiality clauses.
“That’s someone I work with.”
“Declining dinner at Redalpho’s? I hear that place serves a mean chicken Parmesan,” Seno stated.
“It is a nice place, but I really have a lot to do at work. I’ll probably be there late.”
“You should be careful. Is there security that can walk you out to your car?”
“No, but there is security inside the building and they have cameras on the outside. I’ll try to park closer to the building as precaution.”
“Good. So how about those self-defense classes? Are you, Moira, and your other roommates going to sign up for some?” Mace asked.
“To be honest, I don’t think I’ll have much downtime to do any. Even on nights that I’m not late coming home, it may be closer to eight o’clock and the sessions take place earlier.”
“We can help you. Seno and I, and Hunter, too. We have access to the gym by the track and indoor dome,” Mace told her.
“That’s okay. You don’t need to do that.”
“Hey, if it means spending more time with you, and letting you get to know us, I’m in,” Seno added.
“Hey, seriously. Think about it. We can start next week if this week is so crazy,” Mace told her.
“Okay. I’ll think about it. Thank you.”
Her phone started buzzing and she glanced at it. “Work. I guess I should just take this back to the office. It was nice seeing you both again. Tell Hunter and Justice that I said hello.” She wasn’t sure why she said it, and as she did, her cheeks felt warm and her heart light. She smiled at Mace and Seno as they stood, each gave her a kiss on the cheek good-bye, and then she left.
It was crazy, but she felt very comfortable with them, too. If she could just slightly peel down the wall enough to entertain this attraction, maybe it would be okay. Maybe she would be okay, instead of feeling so timid and unsure. She walked to her car, as her cell phone went off again. Work, work, work. She wouldn’t have time for a personal life right now even if she had one.
* * * *
“So you saw her at the deli, and had lunch with her? What did she have to say?” Justice asked Seno and Mace as Hunter and he sat in the living room.
“Who did you say called her?” Justice asked. When they told him about the guy Renaldo, he cursed. He couldn’t help it. He didn’t care for him or that Phillips guy one bit. They were rich assholes, who could care less about the dead girl.
“What? Do you know the guy?” Mace asked. Justice explained how they had met and about the case.