December

“Nice to see you again, Lucy.”

She heaved herself up from the low white leather couch in the Palm Club’s lobby and stood before Trainer Ken in all his glory, wondering how the man had managed to become better-looking in the last four days.

“I’m baaack,” Lucy said.

Theo laughed, and she scanned his crisp uniform of navy blue athletic shorts and white Palm Club polo shirt, then looked at those perfect bright teeth framed in those perfect man lips and thought if it weren’t for the mouth-to-mouth-induced nirvana she’d experienced in his presence, she’d need to poke Theo to make sure he was real flesh and blood. The guy was way too perky for first thing in the morning.

“So how are you, Lucy?”

“I’m breathing on my own today. At least I got that going for me.”

“And I can assume you’re not armed and dangerous?”

Lucy wasn’t sure she’d heard right, and frowned.

“I’m asking if you’re packin‘ any Milk Duds this morning, Miss Cunningham.”

Lucy’s jaw fell open. It seemed that Buff Body Theo’s sense of humor was a little edgier than she’d assumed. Maybe she’d been too preoccupied with her own mortification and near-death experience four days ago to appreciate it.

“No ammo today,” she said, letting go with a nervous laugh. Then, as if on cue, she patted her sweatpants pocket in search of the comfort of a Milk Dud. She looked up in horror to see Theo smiling softly.

“It takes about six weeks to establish a habit or to break one,” he said, his voice kind.