Read Who Glares Wins (Lexi Graves Mysteries) for Free Online Page A

Three
     
    There was nothing like a girl date to take my mind off sanctimonious men who made me furious. The only problem being that the best conversation was usually centered on the subject of said men.
    Lily and I started off in O'Grady's because it was quiet and most cops wouldn't get in until later . B y that time , we planned to take off to a club to drink and dance until our feet couldn't take anymore. I hadn't been to a club in ages so chances were, we would be home before turning into pumpkins.
    "Tell me about your date last night," I said, because I didn't want to think about my own man - issue.
    "It was lovely,” Lily gushed as she picked up her wine glass. “ We went to the Dragon for Chinese and he was very sweet."
    "I feel a ‘ but ’ coming on."
    "But the sparks just weren't there. He was no Officer Tasty."
    "You have got to stop holding my brother up as the gauge for all men."
    "I can't help it. I still get butterflies when I see your brother."
    "I could beat them out of you?" I suggested. “If I do it often enough , you’ ll get a Pavlovian response to him.”
    One side of Lily’s upper lip curled in displeasure. "Thanks , but no. How's the fine Detective Maddox?"
    "He's gr eat," I said , taking a sip of my wine . It slipped down my throat a lot better than the platitudes I told myself on my way back to my apartment. "Better than great. He said the ' b ' word."
    "Bastard child? Butt sex?"
    "No! ” I blinked. “ Boyfriend!"
    “He only just worked it out ! What a sweetie.” Lily laughed. "Does he have a clone? Brothers? Friends?"
    Actually, I'd never met his family, didn't recall asking about siblings , and hadn't met his friends. "Uh - oh," said Lily when I told her that.
    "Uh -oh, what?"
    "How long have you been dating?"
    "Two months and a bit , b ut he used the boyfriend word yesterday and didn't even flinch."
    "Excellent. I once dated a guy who vomited at the ‘b’ word. "
    " I remember. About that uh - oh?"
    Lily took a fortifying sip and placed the glass on the table. Her fingers toyed with the stem. "He hasn't introduced you to anyone?" Lily pulled a face. I think it was supposed to be something between unimpressed and sympath etic . And, maybe, wondering what was so wrong with me that he didn't introduce me to his family or friends. Uh - oh. Now I was wondering. Did he think they wouldn’t like me? My whole family liked me and there were a lot of them.
    "You think that's bad?" I squeaked.
    "No -o - o ," she said, drawing out the vowel.
    "It's bad," I decided. "Maybe his friends won't like me. Maybe I'm not pretty enough. Is it my job? I thought PI sounded better than temp. "
    "Stop that. You're very pretty and your job is cool. Way b etter than saying you're a temp, " Lily assured me.
    "Oh my God. Guys didn't like me when I was a temp?"
    "No, they liked you , but you don't impress M ama by saying you're dating a temp."
    "Do guys even care?"
    "I don't know. I haven't met any mothers in a long time."
    We both took a long drink. "You know what really pisses me off about guys?" I said to Lily without waiting for an answer before plowing on. "The guys in my office think I'm sleeping with Solomon."
    "You haven't yet ?" Lily asked, surprised.
    "No!"
    "But he's a fox." She wiggled her eyebrows.
    "I know, but I haven't, and I don't want them to think I have. They think I suck at my job. I haven't even had my own case yet." I took another sip and thundered on. "Maddox isn't keen that I work for him , and that's without knowing I kissed him."
    "You work with assholes," said Lily.
    "That's what I thought this afternoon, and before that , I liked them. Well, not Fletcher , but that’s his fault . I'm every bit as good as they are!"
    "Sure you are," said Lily , pouring me another drink.
    "You want to know what Solomon said when I brought it up?"
    "What?"
    I mimicked Solomon. "Just because we haven't , doesn't mean we won't."
    The glass hovered at her lips. "No. Way."
    "I know, " I sighed, a knot