Page 11 of Dancing With Guilt

“Is it this place? Because the owner’s background check came back clean, the place has never been raided, and the location is great. We still have the beach atmosphere outside in the private dining area where we can have outdoor events, but it’s private, which we also need.”

“It’s not the place, it’s great really.” Roxie meant it as she looked around. Palm trees overlooked well-maintained grassy areas around the building and the parking lot in the back was well-lit. Any customers that visited could have a modicum of privacy when they stopped in to spend some time inside. Other places Roxie had worked at hadn’t offered that and she knew that had lost the place many customers. Not everyone wanted their car hanging out outside a strip club for everybody to see. “This place offers a lot of privacy, security, and I like it if for nothing other than that.”

“But you like the rest too?” Keily asked as she unlocked the car, her face anxious.

“I do, it’s fine, really, Keily. Don’t worry.” Roxie smiled and checked her phone as Keily started the engine.

There were no messages except the usual reply from one of Lincoln’s PAs, he was still out of town on business, but he’d be back soon enough.

Roxie let Keily do all the talking as they drove out to her house and even after. It wasn’t until Roxie had a cup of coffee in front of her on Keily’s farmhouse kitchen table, with Keily across from her, that she spoke finally.

“Lincoln’s fine, I guess.” Roxie shrugged, indicating she didn’t know how he was really. “He’s off on some business trip he didn’t bother to tell me about, and his PAs won’t tell me what’s going on.”

“But he’s calling you, right?” Keily asked, her face full of confusion.

“No, he’s not.” Roxie looked down at her own hands instead of at the woman dressed in a pair of jeans and an emerald green t-shirt. “I thought when he came home that everything was about to change, that we’d attained some new level in our relationship, but so far? Nothing. I haven’t even had a text message from him.”

Roxie held up her phone before she wrapped her hands around the delicate china coffee cup decorated in pink roses. It was obviously antique, but Keily used them like they were everyday dishes. Roxie wasn’t about to judge anybody right then, and lifted the cup carefully.

“What do you think’s going on? Do you think he got spooked when he came home and felt overwhelmed about what he obviously feels for you?” Keily leaned back, taking a sip from her own cup.

“I don’t know if it’s obvious,” Roxie started but paused when Keily gave her a look that cast doubt on that, “and I don’t think he got spooked. I think he just…forgot about me.”

“Let me tell you right now, honey, I’ve seen that man with you. He adores you whether either of you know it or not. Whatever he’s doing, it must be important, or he’d call you. Maybe it’s to do with his kidnapping?”

“I thought about that too, and maybe it is something to do with that. I don’t know, he might have had to go out of the country again for all I know.” Roxie took a deep breath to steady her nerves before she picked the cup up again. Her hands only shook slightly when she put it back down. “I just wish he’d let me know he wasn’t going to be around. It’s kind of rude, don’t you think?”

“Well, yeah. You’re living at his place, you’re in a relationship, it’s very rude. And kind of an asshole move too, but it’s Lincoln. I’m sure there’s a good explanation for it all. And if his PAs say he’s fine, then he is. Now if he doesn’t tell you what he’s been up to when he gets home, then that’s something entirely different.” Keily’s eyes sparkled with a fire that brought to mind how she’d once been a beauty queen. But that beauty queen had grown up to be one very determined lady who didn’t take shit off anybody. “If that happens, kick him in the balls and burn his dinner.”

Roxie laughed at that and when Keily winked, she laughed harder. “I needed that laugh.”

“Well, it was only halfway meant to make you laugh,” Keily said, a corner of her mouth lifted in a devious smile. “I halfway meant it as advice too.”

“I understand, believe me. I’ve wanted to kick him so many times, but I thought those days were behind me. I can’t believe he’s done this to me.” Roxie wasn’t surprised how easy it was to talk to Keily about all these things. Something about the woman just invited confidences that she wouldn’t have shared with anyone else.

Yeah, she could call June and complain, but Lincoln was her brother. She could call any of the girls she used to work with, but they were all busy with their own lives. Even Emily was busy lately, with all the charity events her mother had her going to. Emily had sent Roxie invites to all of them, but she didn’t want to go anywhere without Lincoln. It wouldn’t be any fun if she went alone.

“I guess I’d better go, the babies will be home soon, won’t they?” Roxie said, knowing the nanny had taken Keily’s triplet daughters out to shop with her.

“Yes, they will, but you can stay if you want,” Keily offered but Roxie shook her head.

“I need to get back to the house and take care of some things myself.” Roxie smiled and stood up. “But thank you for the coffee and showing me around the building. I think it’s the one.”

“I do too,” Keily said and stood up to walk Roxie out. “And you’re more than welcome to stay, I mean it. I’m making dinner in a little while, you could stay?”

Keily held out her hands and Roxie took them before she hugged the other woman. “You’re an angel, but no. I’m good, I promise. I just need to stay calm until he gets back.”

“Well, I mean it. Burn the shit out of his dinner if he doesn’t have a good excuse.” Keily laughed softly as she let Roxie go. “And if you need somewhere to land for a while, I’ve got an extra room.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Roxie went out to the car she’d left here earlier and waved goodbye just before Keily closed the door.

She didn’t want to go home; she’d be alone if Lincoln hadn’t come back. She thought about inviting Wendy to dinner somewhere nice, but her friend had something going on. She was always busy lately, unless it was a phone call, and more than once Wendy had hung up the phone giggling and making very obvious kissing sounds.

Wendy must have found herself a lover, Roxie thought with a smirk. It was about time.

But that also meant Roxie was still alone when she walked into the house. It was obvious nobody was there by the absolute quiet that pervaded the place. Empty, the house screamed back at her when she walked into the living room. Every room was empty as Roxie checked, one by one.

Tears stung at her eyes, but she blinked them away and went to the kitchen to get a glass of wine before she sat down on the couch. Pulling out her phone, she ordered Chinese food to be delivered to the house and waited for her lonely dinner to arrive. There was still no word from Lincoln when she went to bed later, her dishes cleaned up and a load of washing in the dryer.