Cat 'N Mouse by Yvonne Harriott Page B

straightened up when Alexandria pushed open the wooden swinging doors. She took off the oven mitts and placed them on the counter, relief on her face.
    “I’m so sorry about what happened at the hotel. Why would someone do such a horrible thing?”
    “Let’s not talk about it,” Alexandria said. “Okay?”
    “If that’s what you want.” Robyn had a puzzled look on her face. “I think you’re a little overdressed for pot roast?”
    “Pot roast? That’s the new recipe? I should’ve known.”
    “You know I’m a perfectionist. I always find new ways to revamp old recipes and call them new.” Robyn gave her the once over and then looked down at her own simple white sleeveless summer cotton dress and flat sandals. “I feel a little under dressed. Perhaps I should put on the cocktail dress I bought for the fundraiser?” Robyn mused.
    “Don’t start.”
    Robyn was silent for a moment, then asked, “Why are you dressed up?”
    “Someone threw blood in my face this afternoon. I couldn’t very well come in that dress now, could I?” Alexandria rubbed her forehead. The tears that had been threatening to fall since the hotel were near and she swallowed hard to keep them at bay.
    “What’s going on? You’re more secretive than usual.”
    “I need a drink.” There was a slight tremor in Alexandria’s voice. She took a wine glass from the metal wine glass rack affixed underneath one of the cupboards. She could still hear the man’s voice and see the blood on her dress. The blood on her skin was washed off, but she could still feel it.
    “You hardly ever drink.”
    “Robyn, darling, you’re not reading the right newspapers.” Alexandria uncorked the bottle of wine on the counter and poured herself a glass and drank it all. She poured another and drank most of it. “According to
Gossip Entertainment Magazine,
last week I was so drunk, I slapped my date and tripped over my dress. It was a nice picture wasn’t it?” She tipped her head back, draining the glass and proceeded to refill it.
    “Easy,” Robyn said and caught her hand. “First of all, that magazine is trash.” She frowned. “This isn’t like you. You never let what they print bother you.”
    “Maybe it does bother me. Maybe I’m sick and tir—” She turned away, wiping her eyes.
    The kitchen door opened and Dennis and Sam entered. Dennis grabbed two beers from the fridge and handed one to Sam.
    “I’m good,” Sam said, shaking his head.
    “I like this one, Alex. Sorry
Alexandria
.” Dennis turned to Sam as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “For future reference, she hates having her name shortened.”
    “Noted,” Sam said looking at Alexandria, but her focus was on the stem of the wine glass she held in her hand.
    “I think you should keep this one.”
    “And do what with him, Dennis?” It was the wine talking. So this is what it felt like to have a real buzz.
    Tension as tight as a coiled spring passed through the air. This time she met Sam’s gaze and held it, daring him to respond. It was if they were the only two in the room.
    Something had happened since the incident at the hotel. She had a feeling he was reaching out to her, trying to comfort her in his own way, and she didn’t know how to accept it. Could she accept it?
    “Have some fun.” Robyn laughed breaking the tension. She hugged Alexandria because she needed it. Then she moved to Sam. “I’m Robyn Anderson.”
    “Sam O’Malley.” Robyn hugged him as well because she was a hugger. Sam appeared to be taken aback by Robyn’s gesture and patted her awkwardly on the back.
    “His mother is Irish and his father is from Trinidad,” Dennis said as if he was doing a show and tell. He popped a diced carrot into his mouth he’d taken from the tossed salad on the counter. “Get this, babe,” Dennis pointed his thumb in Sam’s direction. “He used to be a detective in Boston.”
    That was news to Alexandria. She hadn’t cared enough to ask