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Jamie chuckled at that and moved everyone back up on-stage, leaving Qui
"Hurt me?" Audie moved from Griffin 's side to stand in front of Qui
"Did he touch you?"
"What are you talking about, Qui
"We'll talk about this after the set."
She shook her head and gestured toward the city skyline. "I don't think so. I'm leaving." She started through the crowd, quickly saying good-bye to his family, Griffin jogging behind her. Qui
"Audie." He touched her shoulder and she spun to face him.
"I'll get you an Italian ice!" Griffin shouted in her ear, nodding toward Qui
"What the hell were you doing?" She knocked her fists against his chest, hitting him in his brass nameplate. "Somebody could have been hurt! The kids saw everything!"
Qui
She started to laugh but abruptly stopped as she understood his words. She stared at him in disbelief. "The letters? You thought Tim Burke was going to murder me right here in front of thousands of people?"
"I'm not sure what I thought, Audie. All I know is I saw his hands on you and I wanted to kill the man."
"God! I can't believe this!" She turned to go, but he reached for her wrist and gripped her tight.
"Please hear me out."
She jerked back from his touch. "No! You're an unstable, gun-toting neat freak! Your little show just now scared me much more than any letters ever have!" Before she knew it, the tears started to well in her eyes. She turned to run.
The pipes were reaching a crescendo and Qui
"Go for it!" Michael's booming voice rang out behind Qui
Audie's arms fell uselessly to her sides and she turned slowly, her head spi
Qui
"Oh, this is just great, Qui
"That happened a few days ago, really," Qui
She stared, nodded, and felt relief that at least the band had started playing again. It was some kind of happy jig that had people clapping and dancing instead of staring at her and Qui
She looked at him for a long moment but couldn't bear what she saw-too much honesty and too much love. She stared down at her sandals until Qui
"Look at me, Audie," he said.
She would only hurt him. She knew she would only hurt him.
She raised her eyes. His gaze locked with hers. And though she knew this was the biggest mistake she'd ever make in her life, she reached out and touched his chest, right where she'd so recently pummeled him. His skin felt hot beneath the white uniform shirt. His heart was beating fast.
"Qui
A voice boomed down from the heavens. "Hey, Fabio-get your arse up here so we can finish our set!" Jamie's words echoed through the speakers, and the laughter rolled and rocked through the Grant Park crowd.
"Meet me by the stage?"
Qui
"What's under your get-up, Detective?" In case he missed the point, she bit his earlobe.
He pulled back, gri
He winked at her and she watched him swagger through the crowd, the plaid kilt swaying against his firm butt and muscular thighs with every step.
"He loves me," she muttered to herself, staring after him. Then she smacked herself in the forehead. "Oh, crap! Hell! What a disaster!"
Griffin suddenly reappeared with a half-melted lemon ice.
"I've got a big favor to ask you, Audie." He handed over the leaking waxed paper fu
He wagged his eyebrows to the left and gave his dread-locks a little shake, and Audie followed. Griffin 's big favor was standing a few feet away, looking beautiful and shy in a white gauze sundress and gleaming dark skin. Audie turned to find Pat, Michael, Sheila, and the kids all smiling at her.
"I think I'll be fine," she said.
When she pushed through the crowd to reach the Qui
"You OK?" she shouted.
"Fine. Are you and the kids OK?"
"Fine." Sheila looked at Audie and sighed. "Testosterone poisoning," she said. "At least it keeps things interesting."
Qui
"Where are you going?"
"To the bedroom!"
"I thought you wanted me to tell you about my pipes and kilt!"
"I do! Bring 'em up!"
A few moments later, Qui
"Let's get to my lesson, Qui
"It will be a pleasure to properly introduce you to the second most beautiful lady in the world."
"Lady?"
"Her name is Philomena." Qui
"Wait. It has a name?"
"Yes. My grandfather named her. In Greek, it's supposed to mean 'one who loves songs.'"
"Philomena." Audie mused over that while she watched him cradle the pipes in his arms like a child.
"You obviously take very good care of it, them-her."
"Sure I do." Qui
Audie hummed in agreement, not missing the compliment. "So. What's an Irishman doing playing Scottish pipes?"
Qui
Audie stared, realizing there was apparently a third subject that could turn Quiet Qui
"So tell me all about Philomena. I promise I'll try not to get jealous."