Hmm, it sure does. I nod and slowly pick myself up off the floor and Ben stands exasperated with his hands on his hips.
“Just have someone follow us discreetly down there, Ben. He needs some privacy at the moment,” I whisper quietly.
Ben frowns. “Why? What’s going on?” he asks.
Oh shit, he doesn’t know. “Joshua has some family stuff that is worrying him and he needs to get away. You stay here with the girls and send someone else.”
“I can’t do my job properly if I don’t know what’s going on, Natasha,” he replies.
“I know, I’m sorry,” I sigh. “I will talk to him, I promise. Can you just make security minimal for a couple of days please?”
A knock sounds at the door.
“It’s not safe, Tash,” Ben replies as he frowns at the door and looks at his watch. He opens the door and
two large muscled-up men stand before us. Ben raises his eyebrows in question. “Can I help you?” he asks.
“Yes, I’m Detective Ford and this is my partner Detective Taylor. We are here to see a Joshua Stanton and a Ben Stathem.”
Ben’s face drops. “That’s me. Please come in and I will get Mr Stanton.” He holds his arm out and the two detectives walk into the lounge room.
I fake a nervous smile and my panicked eyes meet the girls. The three stooges get up from the floor, walk over and the detectives introduce themselves to everyone. Abbie shakes the first guy’s hand and then when she gets to the second guy, Detective Taylor, they seemingly forget we are all here.
“Hello. I’m Abbie,” she breathes, appearing nervous. Bridget’s and my eyes meet-this is new. I’ve never seen Abbie get nervous before.
He smiles warmly, taking her hand in his, and he seems all flustered too. “The pleasure is all mine.” His eyes hold hers. “My name is Rick.”
I frown at their exchange. Rick is tall with blond curly hair and appears super fit… super freaking hot actually. Pity about the small fact he is here to interview us about a murder that he thinks we are involved in.
Bridget and I frown at each other. Joshua comes back down the stairs with a renewed purpose.
“Hello,” he says calmly.
Rick speaks first. “Mr Stanton we are here to check in with you as required by the Australian Police Force.”
“Yes, of course,” Joshua murmurs as his eyes flick to Cameron. “Come into my office.”
Abbie bites her bottom lip in anticipation and Joshua, Ben and Detective Ford all head down the hallway. Cameron takes off upstairs, not wanting to be involved in any of this. Thanks a lot Cam. Rick, however, stays glued to the spot staring at Abbie.
Bridget widens her eyes at me. Fuck I know, what is she doing?
She holds out her hand again and he takes it in his. “Lovely to meet you, Rick,” she whispers.
Oh god, give me a break.
He hands her a business card. “If you think of any reason why you need to ring me, please feel free,” he smiles sexily.
She smiles nervously and Bridget frowns, huh? What the hell? Why would she need to ring you, dipshit?
“Thank you, I will,” she replies.
Rick then turns and walks down the hall to meet the others and I grab her by the arm and lead her into the kitchen. “What do you think you are doing?” Bridget whispers angrily.
“What?” Abbie snaps as she rips her arm from the vice grip I have on her.
“You don’t screw the cops, Abbie,” I whisper.
“I’m not screwing anybody,” she snaps.
I raise my eyebrows in question.
“Yet.” She smiles. “Although I am having a drought and he is gorgeous. Maybe I will.”
“No,” Bridget snaps. “I frigging mean it. He could bring us undone,” she whispers angrily.
“God.” Abbie shakes her head in disgust at us. “You two are the biggest drama queens I know. Calm down.”
The car horn beeps from out the front. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” I sigh as I look for my sunglasses around the bedroom. Where in the hell have I put them? The horn sounds again. Bloody hell, shut up. I finally find them and make my way downstairs. The Lamborghini is parked in the driveway and everyone is gathered around it.
“Joshua, are you sure you don’t want to marry me instead?” Abbie asks as she hangs in the window looking at the beautiful interior of the car.
Everyone laughs and Joshua looks at her deadpan. “Positive Abbs.”
I smile and put my hands on my hips as I circle the beast. This doesn’t even look like a frigging car.
Joshua throws me the keys. “You’re driving, presh,” he says.
I look at the keys in my hand and I see the beautiful silver key ring with the initials:
NMS
I smile broadly and hold it out for Bridget to see. She pretends to swoon as she picks it up and smiles. She turns to Joshua. “You really are a little bit beautiful, Joshua Stanton.”
I smile broadly as my eyes flick to him. “Don’t I know it?” I reply.
Joshua shakes his head and gets into the passenger side of the car, unimpressed.
“What about me: am I beautiful?” Cameron asks.
Bridget looks at him flatly. “No, you’re an idiot.”
He grabs her in a headlock and she squeals in laughter as they start to wrestle and he pushes her over so she falls into the hedge.
“See, an idiot. That’s what an idiot would do.” She squeals as she giggles. Ben grabs her hand and pulls her out of the bush.
I nervously hop into the driver’s seat. “It’s very low.” My eyes flick to Joshua.