The Gamble

Or maybe it was just Max’s way.

Not to mention the fact that he thought my nightie was sweet.

“What’s up?” I heard Max ask, I jerked out of my stupor and ran to the bathroom.

I did my routine, left the bathroom, heard voices but not words, grabbed my robe, shrugged it on and belted it as I walked down the stairs.

Mindy was up on a hand, peering over the back of the couch at Mick, another man and Max standing in the kitchen. She looked sleepy and adorable.

I glanced in the kitchen, caught Max’s eyes then went directly to Mindy.

“Morning, sweetheart,” I said to her.

“What’re Mick and Jeff doin’ here?” she asked, her voice sleepy.

“Why don’t you go upstairs and lie back down?”

“Is everything okay?” she asked back, her eyes still on the police.

“I don’t know they just got here. You want to go upstairs?”

She shook her head but mumbled, “They should leave him alone. They gotta know what a visit from the cops would do to him.” She looked at me and said, “He’s a strong guy and it was a long time ago but you never forget that shit, ever.”

I had no idea what she was talking about but I also had the feeling that I really didn’t want to know. But before I could make up my mind whether or not to ask, she threw back the covers and I grabbed her clothes from the armchair.

“I’ll go upstairs to change,” she said, pulling Max’s t-shirt that she wore to bed down her thighs while still seated and I knew she didn’t want them to see her.

I handed her the clothes and straightened, turning to the kitchen.

“Sorry, gentleman?” I called and when six eyes hit me I went on, “a lady needs some privacy. Can I have your backs?”

They all looked at the back of Mindy’s head, she turned and gave them a wave over her shoulder. Mick and Jeff waved back but Max was smiling at me.

Then Mick and Jeff turned their backs to the living room and Mindy got up and darted to the stairs, whispering, “Thanks, Nina.”

I watched her go and then I walked to the kitchen calling, “All clear.”

They turned back to me and when I hit the kitchen Max claimed me. There was no other way to put it. I was claimed. He did this by pulling me tight into his side with an arm around my shoulders.

“Nina, you remember Mick? This is Jeff,” Max introduced and I nodded to Mick and Jeff.

“Hi gents,” I greeted.

“Nina,” Mick said.

“Nice to meet ‘cha,” Jeff smiled.

Mick’s eyes went to my cheek then they went to Max.

“Matthews?” he asked.

“Backhanded her at The Dog,” Max answered.

“Fuckin’ dick,” Jeff muttered then looked at me. “Uh… sorry.”

“That’s okay as, last night, he proved your estimation of him to be true,” I said to Jeff and for some reason my remark received three man chuckles which made the spring coiling in my stomach relax. If their visit was bad for Max, I doubted they’d be chuckling.

“Heard there was a disturbance at The Dog last night,” Mick commented.

“Damon make a complaint?” Max asked and I tensed.

“Nope, word I hear, enough folks witnessed the hit to his manhood, I’m thinkin’ he’s not gonna be big on spreadin’ that word,” Mick replied and I relaxed.

“You f**k him up?” Jeff asked Max with an edge of enthusiasm then he again turned to me and muttered. “Uh… sorry again.”

I smiled my “I’m okay with the f-word” to Jeff but even as I did I was feeling uncertain if Max should brag about parking lot fisticuffs at The Dog to policemen and I opened my mouth to speak but Max got there before me.

“Got a few in, best part, Nina shoved him and he went back at least five feet,” Max replied.

There were more man chuckles at the idea of me shoving Damon and I wasn’t certain how to take this but decided to let it go and change the subject.

“Does anyone want coffee?” I asked and Max squeezed my shoulder.

“Love a cup,” Mick replied and Jeff nodded.

I started to move away and as I did so Max muttered, “Thanks, baby.”

I liked these two words and how he said them so much, without thinking, I glanced over my shoulder and gave him a small smile then went to the coffeepot.

“Mindy okay?” Jeff asked when I grabbed the pot and moved to the sink.

“Hangin’ in there,” Max answered.

“She shot of Matthews now?” Jeff continued with more than a hint of curiosity and I turned off the tap and moved to the coffeemaker, looking him over.

He was taller than Damon, lighter hair, leaner of build but fit and perhaps not as overtly good-looking he was also not unattractive in the slightest. In fact, since he was more obviously comfortable with who he was and how he looked instead of being in your face about it as Damon was, he was more attractive.

Hmm.

“I’m thinkin’, yeah,” Max said but when I looked at him he was also studying Jeff closely.

“Good news,” Jeff mumbled and I lifted the top to the coffeemaker and poured the water in.

“So, Bitsy’s home?” Max was obviously bringing the conversation full circle.

“Yeah,” Mick answered.

“And you’re here…” Max prompted and Mick lifted a hand to the back of his neck.

“Wouldn’t ask –” he started.

“You need me,” Max cut him off, his words mysterious.

Mick dropped his arm and I turned my attention to the cupboards, finding the gourmet coffee I bought in Denver in the second one I opened.

“Yeah, Max. I know –” Mick said.

Max interrupted again. “She doin’ okay?”

“Murdered, cheatin’ husband and life ahead of her in a wheelchair, all alone?” Mick asked then answered, “No.”

“I’ll go see her today,” Max said and he didn’t sound like he enjoyed saying those words because, I suspected, he knew he wasn’t going to enjoy his visit which was even more mysterious since, from what he said before about Bitsy, I thought he liked her.

I measured coffee into the filter and Mick mumbled, “Thanks, Max.”

“You got any leads?” Max asked.

“Looks hired,” Mick answered and I was surprised he shared this information.

“Hired?” Max sounded surprised too but probably not that Mick was sharing.

“Hit was execution style, no muss, no fuss, in and out, Dodd was dead before he hit the floor,” Mick shared. “Didn’t touch nothin’, didn’t take nothin’, left nothin’ behind.”