CHAPTER 20.5

C H A P T E R - T W E N T Y

Antonette was so thrilled by the time Falcone got up to put his plate in the dishwasher and walk back to his laptop that she was nearly shimmering, and this was not simply because she had just swallowed three Cosmos.

After we talked and mostly laughed together, Falcone ultimately brought her home. After they departed, I had just finished cleaning up, was getting ready for bed, and was just about to go off to sleep when I heard the garage door open.

I heard Falcone walking around the platform of the bed, felt his warm palm on the small of my back, and then felt his weight fall onto the mattress just as the lights in Falcone's lair started to fade one by one.

Before he could cuddle into my back, I rolled into him.

"So, what's the verdict?" he encircled me.

" he questioned into the darkness, knowing exactly why the girls were there that night.

"I'm apparently Queen Crash and Burn," I said.

“Come again? ”