Hardheaded Brunette (15 page)

"Okay," Gilda and Mena said in unison.

He handed Mena twenty dollars and pointed to the door. "Go."

She snorted and puckered her lips. "Fine, but when I get back, we're going to settle a few things around here."

"Yes, we are." Mick waited until Mena had gone before he turned to Gilda.

She met his gaze. "I thought you were sending
me
out for coffees."

Mick shook his head. "Nope. I told you to go home. I know you want to be a part of this, but I think I need to calm things down once and for all before we tackle any other issues."

"And you don't want me here while you talk to them." Gilda winced. "If you wanted to keep your past life separate from this one, why did you invite them here?"

"Because of what Charlie planned to do to Kane."

"Charlie planned to kill him?"

Mick frowned. "Worse. Charlie wanted him to fight again. Kane's too unstable. I thought Razi and I could head things off and Kane would just retire and teach for a while. Then Charlie showed up."

Razi cleared his throat.

Mick hugged Gilda. "Do me a favor. Go home and play in your garden or grab a coffee and sit on the beach. Whatever. Maybe your buddy Fabio is hanging out there and you can drill him with questions. Even better, pick up some lunch and go home for a bubble bath."

"You don't want me here. You'd rather leave me out of everything."

"Partly." Mick hugged her. "The less you know, the less you'd be able to tell the police. Mostly, I don't want to involve you in whatever's going on between those two knuckleheads. I should just lock them in a small room and make them work it out, but I'm afraid of the bigger mess I'd have to clean up."

She stuck the photo into the laptop bag. "That's fine. I'll go. Don't worry about calling me later. Just clean up the mess."

Mick was right about one thing. In order to calm the atmosphere around the school, things between Kane and Mena had to be resolved. Maybe this actually was one meeting she really didn't want any part of.

"Gilda." Mick pulled her close. "This isn't personal. I'd love to tell you everything, but that would put you in a worse spot than you're already in now. I'll call you later. Thai, right?"

"Don't worry. I get it." Gilda forced a smile then left the school. She strolled up the street, not wanting to see Mena at Café Beanz. Instead, she bought a bottle of water at Happy Harvey's then headed to the beach. She sat on her favorite weather-beaten log to think. All she'd achieved in that department lately was a heap of self-doubt. The smell of sugar and cinnamon drew her back to reality as someone held a large cup of coffee in front of her.

"Vanilla latte with nonfat milk and chocolate curls on top," Razi said. "Just the way Sensei Mick said you like it."

She smiled at him then hesitated. "Mick told you I might be here."

He flashed a wide, comforting smile. "Sensei Mick felt badly for kicking you out while he has Kane and Mena fighting in his office. He knew you would be here and sent me to bring you coffee, and to make sure you are not trying to solve another murder. He does very much want to keep you safe."

"Why would he think I'd do something like that?" She clenched her teeth.

"You do have a history of doing that sort of thing." Razi tapped her cup with his. "I do see why you come here. This is a very soothing place."

Gilda gazed out as small white waves crested on Lake Erie's sandy shore. "Yeah. It is."

They sat in silence for several seconds before Gilda finally swallowed her pride. "What happened between you and Kane? When I first met him, he said you two were good friends, yet you act like he's a virus you can't shake off."

"A virus?" Razi met her gaze then frowned. "Sensei Mick did not tell you much about Kane before he and Mena arrived, did he?"

She shook her head. "Actually, he didn't tell me anything at all. He was more worried about getting everything ready in time. Between the move and organizing the grand opening, we didn't really see each other much over the past month."

His jaw tightened as he gave a small nod. "With all the chaos, I think it is amazing the personnel problem is all we have overlooked."

"That's a pretty big oversight." The back of her neck prickled. Why would Razi leave the school when Mick was settling a dispute between Kane and Mena? Razi always watched Mick's back, no matter who was in the office. "Maybe I should go to the school and make sure everything gets done the way it should."

"No," Razi flinched. "I think you should focus on healing."

Gilda dropped her shoulders into a defeated hunch. "Please be honest with me, Razi. What's really going on? I know there are problems between you, Kane, and Mena. Mick seems stuck in the middle and won't say anything, especially to me."

He bowed his head. "I should go now. Sensei Mick gave you the day off. Go home, and get ready for your date. You both need to relax. You are both very tense."

Her face warmed at the thought. Maybe preparing for a romantic evening with Mick was just what she needed to forget about Kane, Mena, and Charlie.

She hoped.

Kane strode up Gilda's front sidewalk later that afternoon, while she enjoyed a cup of tea on her front porch swing. Wearing dusty cowboy boots, snug blue jeans, and a black T-shirt stretched so tight across his chest it left little to her imagination, he touched the brim of his black felt cowboy hat and nodded. "Miss Wright."

Mr. Wrong.
The words sat on her lips unspoken as she swallowed hard. Since Gilda and Mick were now an item, Kane's presence had to be a mere test.

"From samurai to cowboy in the span of a week. Who
are
you really?"

"Just a sword-wielding, horse-riding, yoga-training son-of-a-gun." He grinned and gave a wink. "Mena says I'm one of the last true samurai."

Gilda stifled a chuckle. "She thinks samurai warriors did yoga?"

Kane eased next to her on the porch swing. "That wouldn't surprise me in the least. She's one of those New Age people who believes in past lives, lives on alfalfa sprouts and green shakes, and talks to rocks."

"Mena talks to rocks?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Little crystals on chains, love." He pulled out a round piece of turquoise strung on a gold chain from beneath the collar of his shirt. "Pendulums. She thinks it's her spirit guides telling her how to live her life. The only thing they haven't told her are winning lottery numbers or we'd be hitched by now. You'll have to check her shop out."

"I thought she was your stalker ex-girlfriend." Gilda didn't have the heart to tell him she'd already popped in on Mena and got kicked out of the shop. "You sound awfully fond of her."

He frowned. "It's complicated, love. Very, very complicated."

She shifted to face him, mindful of the ache in her shoulder. "Well, I know you didn't come over to talk about your so-called stalker girlfriend. So, why are you here?"

"I missed you." Kane flushed. "I know it's only been a few hours, but… I don't know why Mick gave you time off to recover. There are a billion things you could be doing around the school that don't require two hands."

"Besides typing with one hand, name one."

"Keeping the peace between me and Mena." Kane grimaced. "Mick can give all the lectures and counseling he wants, but Mena's still a nasty piece of work. I really wish she'd take a shine to you. She could learn a lot."

"Ha! Good luck with that," she said. "Mena hates me. She's probably got a voodoo doll of me and is hard at work thinking of more ways to maim me."

Kane chuckled. "She's probably got a whole set of dolls, love, one for each of us. That's probably why Thayer and Fabio were asking questions about her and Charlie."

Gilda didn't bother to hide her surprise. "How well
did
Mena know Charlie?"

"That's complicated too." Kane took off his hat and ran a hand through his long damp hair. "As far as I know, she knows him through me. Sometimes when I went to train or meet with him, she tagged along. She actually liked the guy and, in some sick way, was thrilled to find out he was well connected and very generous. She also thought he was funny."

"He seemed to like her."

He hesitated. "Charlie thought she was an opportunistic gold digger and said I should watch my wallet and my back."

Yet Charlie seemed glad to be stuck with her at the meet and greet.

"Hm. Sounds right." Gilda sat back and tapped her fingers on the arm of the swing, her mind on Mena's shop. "Did she know Charlie didn't like her?"

"I don't know." Kane sat back. "I never asked."

Mick stood on the sidewalk in front of her house. "Is there something going on around here I should know about?"

Kane sighed. "You wouldn't listen to me, so I thought I'd have a chat with Sherlock."

"Totally innocent." Gilda held up her left hand.

"As always." Mick's gaze seemed to be focused more on Kane than on Gilda.

She nodded. "I thought you weren't coming over until after classes."

"I was. I mean, I am. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"She's great, mate. I guess I'd better be on my way before I start more trouble." Kane stood. "Thanks for listening, Gilda." He bowed his head and walked away.

Mick dropped onto the swing, placing a possessive hand on Gilda's thigh. "He wasn't trying to pull anything on you, was he?"

She laid her hand on his. "No, he was a perfect gentleman. He just wanted to talk about Mena and Charlie."

"Oh boy. Do me a favor, babe. Let Thayer and Fabio do their jobs while you get better." He draped one arm along the swing behind her back. "How is your shoulder, by the way?"

She frowned. "I hate that I'm supposed to rest and not do classes for a week. That already seems like an eternity."

"Good thing you have a murder to try not to solve then," he said. "Getting in everyone's way will definitely keep you out of trouble."

Gilda huffed. "I can still come to work, you know. It's my shoulder that's hurt, not my brain or my hands. I can still type, albeit one finger at a time."

Mick leaned his head against hers. "I know. I just figured with all the growing pains between the instructors, you'd be safer healing outside of the school."

"What growing pains?"

"Kane. Mena. Razi. Individually, they're great people," he said. "Put them in a small room together and it's like mixing a scorpion, a tarantula, and a boa constrictor."

Gilda chuckled, not sure from his description which person he deemed more deadly. "Having the old gang together again isn't as much fun as you'd hoped, huh?"

"Nope." He rolled his eyes. "Definitely not like old times."

She nestled into the curves of his body. "Did you still plan to pick up Thai later, or should I make chicken for our romantic dinner? At least our date tonight will give you an excuse to get away from the chaos."

"Yeah." He rubbed his chin on the top of her head. "Don't forget I have classes to teach then a quick meeting later tonight. If I do make it over, it probably won't be until about nine thirty or ten. Maybe it's better if we watch a movie or something."

"I like the or something part." Gilda kissed his mouth.

Mick moaned. "Oh, great. Now I'll have to figure out how to cut the meeting short."

"Who's it with? I could call and say I have an emergency."

He nuzzled her ear. "Or we could use the time we have now. Classes don't start for another hour. What do you think, Sherlock? Do you want to solve another mystery?"

"You banned me from mystery solving, remember?" She took his hand and led him inside the house. "I do think I could use a good massage, though. Maybe you'll even get my shoulder to relax and get back to normal."

"It's worth a try." Mick grinned.

*   *   *

Marion stopped by Gilda's house around six, long after Mick had gone to the school to teach classes. "Come on. Let's get you out of the house."

"Mick asked me to stay out of trouble, so I don't want to go anywhere." Gilda sat on the couch and hugged a pillow with her good arm. "I just want to be alone and pout."

"No, you don't." Her best friend laughed. "You want to be at the school taking orders from Mick and watching Kane swing swords half naked."

She shrugged. "They don't need me. Mick has Mena looking after the front desk."

"That twit?" Marion snorted. "Yikes, that means he needs you now more than ever. Trust me. Grab your purse. Let's go for dinner and maybe see a movie."

"But Mick's coming over after he closes up and bringing Thai."

"Oh, please." Marion groaned. "You'd pass on hanging out with me to sit and wait for your boyfriend? My guess is he won't be able to make it anyway since he had Fabio and Thayer in his office."

"I guess that's not much of a surprise." Gilda rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm sorry. It's been a long day."

"All the more reason you and I should get out of here for a while."

Too tired to argue, Gilda texted Mick to let him know her plans. She changed clothes then grabbed her purse and followed Marion, not surprised when Mick didn't reply right away. They strolled along the beach and into The Cove Restaurant, the same cozy place they used to haunt every Friday for brunch before all the chaos of renovations at the new school.

"Don't we need reservations here for dinner?" Gilda asked.

"Only during the summer."

She winced. "But the place is packed. We'll never get in."

"Gilda!" Henry strode toward them and flashed a huge smile as he caught her in a hug. "Please tell me you're coming to try the new fall menu tonight."

"Yeah. We don't have a reservation, but—"

"No problem." One of Mick's karate students for the past three years, Henry gave an enthusiastic wave for them to follow. "The new Cornish hen is absolutely delish. We also have a white chocolate cheesecake that's divine. I have a table for two—right this way."

Marion nudged Gilda's arm. "I love being best friends with a local celebrity."

"What's with all this local celebrity stuff?" she asked. "Kane said the same thing earlier."