Page 80 of Kick the Candle (Knight Games 2)
"Ohhh," Poe said. "You're afraid if your skirt is short your willpower will be too."
No denying it. I nodded.
"I thought you and Logan were just friends."
"We are."
"Then why the modern chastity belt?"
"It's hard to explain."
"Hmm."
I smoothed the last strands of my hair back and turned toward my familiar. "Can you do me a big favor tonight?"
"That depends. Does it involve watching you awkwardly avoid your 'friend' for fear even the funeral dress won't ward off the hormones?"
I flipped him the finger. "No. I need you to look for Rick while you're out hunting."
"Look where? We've already looked everywhere. We've been looking all week!" Poe protested.
"Come on, Poe! You've got a freakin' birds eye view. Look around and try to find him. He's been gone too long. I'm worried. I'm even having dreams about him."
Poe stopped. "What kind of dreams?"
"None of your business."
"Your connection runs deep. Maybe he was sending you a message."
I spread my hands. "He said to trust him."
"Well, there you go."
"You're not getting out of this, Poe. I need to know he's okay."
"All right, all right. I'll search for him."
"Thank you."
I retrieved my black leather bag from beside the dresser and patted the top of my shoulder. "I'll give you a ride to the door." He jumped up to perch over the buttons of my dress.
"Are you sure you want to go to this party?" Poe asked.
"Of course. Why?"
"You only have mascara on one eye."
* * * * *
Thirty minutes later, fully mascaraed yet sufficiently frumpy, I arrived at Valentine's. A large sign on the door said the restaurant was closed to the public to accommodate a private party and judging by the packed parking lot and the thumping bass spilling out into the night, one hell of a party it was. I entered and fought the crowd to the bar. I recognized some of the faces from the hospital and yelled a curt "hello" over the music to be polite. Michelle was right where she said she'd be, getting up close and personal with an Appletini.
"Thanks for coming. You look great!" I said, giving her a quick hug.
She returned my embrace. "You're late. You missed the speech by the staff welcoming Logan back. And OMG you actually wore that dress. You look like a librarian." A slight slur in the middle of 'librarian' told me the Appletini wasn't Michelle's first drink.
"Thanks."
"Never mind. Pull up a seat and tell me all your troubles. The last time I talked to you, you sounded like hell."
