Josie grinned. "Ohhh, that. I know why."
"Why?'
"Because remember Sonya, how she wasn't looking so good?"
I nodded.
"Well, maybe ten minutes after you left, she threw up in Keith's office."
I leaned forward. "On Keith?"
"No." Josie frowned. "In his wastebasket. Unfortunately. Still, she had to be sent home. We won't be seeing her for a week or two."
"So that explains it," I said.
"Yeah, good news for you, huh?"
"How so?"
"Two words," she said. "Job security."
I felt my shoulders slump. It was a sad day when you had to wish the flu on your co-workers just to make ends meet.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
I summoned up a smile. "Nothing. Just a long night, that's all."
"Alright, here's something that'll crack you up. Want to know what else happened in the parking lot?"
I felt my body tense. "What?"
"You know who Lawton Rastor is, right? Remember, you let me wait on him a few weeks ago?"
Mutely, I nodded.
"Well, some guy I waited on claims he spotted him in our parking lot, beating the crap out of his own car." She laughed. "Crazy, huh?"
"Well, he does have that reputation," I mumbled.
"Know what?" Josie said. "I don't even care. I'd totally do him, anyway." She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "Oh my God, those abs. Want to know what I want? To cover him with chocolate sauce and lick it off." Her voice got husky. "Drop by drop."
I tried to laugh, but it came out wrong. More like a whimper.
Josie opened her eyes to study my face. "You feeling okay? You're not coming down with the flu, are you?"
I shook my head. "Not me. I can't afford to."
I also couldn't afford to think about any other girl, including Josie, licking Lawton anywhere. He and I were done. But if I were honest, the idea of him with anyone else was making me more than a little sick.
Or maybe, if I was lucky, itwasjust the flu.
Chapter 17
The tall, iron fence was as daunting as ever, but the gate was open. Cast in the shadows of thick overhanging branches, I stood on the darkened sidewalk, gripping a cold fence spire in each hand.
My stomach churning, I stared at the massive brick and stone mansion that I'd come to know all too well. The house was utterly dark, except for the barest glimmer of light coming from a single room on the lower level.
I knew that room. Lawton's study.
