Side by Side

9

Winter Massey let the hot water drum on the top of his head. He heard the bathroom door opening and, seconds later, a naked Sean pulled the curtain back and stepped into the tub, closing the curtain behind her.

“You need your back scrubbed?” she asked, putting her hands on his shoulders and squeezing.

Winter wiped the water out of his eyes, and when he turned to her, she pressed herself against him and touched her lips gently to his.

“You know,” he said, smiling, “I don’t have time for this.”

She said, “It’s been my experience that you don’t take all that long.”

Winter hugged her to him and laughed.

Afterwards they dried off and dressed. Sean had already packed his clothes in an overnighter that waited by the door. She sat on the edge of the bed, legs crossed at the knees, and he felt her golden-brown eyes on his back as he stood at the open gun safe peering into the drawers at his handguns.

Winter took out his SIG Sauer 226 and hefted it. The 9mm had been his first service piece, but he had set it aside for one in.40 caliber-a trade-off of fewer rounds per magazine and a bit less penetration, for the extra knockdown it offered. He had a third SIG chambered in.45 automatic, which he considered because of its superior stopping power. The forty was a compromise.

Sean seemed to be reading his mind. “Massey, just take the forty.”

He lifted the.40 caliber from the felt-lined drawer along with a pair of extra magazines and set them on the top of the safe. He took his shoulder holster from another drawer, and a couple of boxes of ammunition from another.

“All you can do is the best you can do, Massey.”

Winter opened another drawer in the safe and took out an envelope that contained two thousand dollars in hundreds, fifties, and a few twenties. Having cash on your person and using it for your expenses was important. Most people with information to sell didn’t take promises or plastic. And he wouldn’t be turning in an expense report.

Winter clipped his cell phone onto his belt, put an extra charged battery into his pocket, and ran through his mental checklist. He decided he had everything he needed, and picked up his lightweight leather jacket by the collar.

“Call me when you can,” Sean said, standing. They embraced and kissed tenderly. Reaching behind him, she gave his buttocks a squeeze.

“Call you what?” he said, kissing her forehead.

“Call me in love, Winter James Massey,” she whispered into his ear.

“Some guys have it all,” he said.

“So do some gals.”

She accompanied him to the front porch. Rush and Faith Ann were seated in the porch swing. Between them, Olivia slept in her car seat. Winter kissed each of them and promised he’d see them on Monday.

“Keep on the sunny side, Win,” Hank said, from the rocker.

“Always,” Winter said. “Keep everybody in line, Hank.” He patted his friend on his shoulder before taking Sean’s hand and walking with her to his truck.

Sean held the door open and, after Winter climbed in, she kissed him again and squeezed his forearm.

“Hey, Massey,” she said. “Promise me one thing?”

“Anything.”

“Just this once, try not to get all busted up.”