Free Click (A Night Fire Novel Book 2) by TM Watkins Page B

grinned.
    “Morning. Thanks for the rub down last night, when did you get in?”
    “Huh?” she frowned. “I was out until midnight. Surprised you didn't hear me come back, my friend wasn't exactly quiet.”
    I shook my head, not just at the statement but her antics. As I made my coffee I tried to think about last night. There wasn't much I remembered about it, the pain relief was pretty damned good. I gripped the table and the chair as I lowered onto the seat, ignoring the smug smile on Monique's face.
    “You're looking a lot better today. Not so pink, once the rest of the dead skin is gone you'll be good again.”
    “Thanks.” I groaned before taking a sip. “Was Austin still here when you came back?”
    “Yep. He left once I was here. I don't think he wanted to hang around while you were out of it and it's not as if he was interested in talking to me.”
    She air quoted talking. Yep, I was glad he wasn't interested in 'talking' to her.
    “So, what's the plans for today?”
    I shrugged, not feeling like venturing out of the villa.
    “Oh come on Ab, I have let you ditch me so far without complaint but this was supposed to be a holiday together. Lover boy said he was busy this morning so you don't need to be hanging around waiting for him.”
    “I was actually more concerned about the hideous appearance.”
    An eyebrow raised at me.
    “We are on an island, as if you are the only one that's been sunburned. Find a nice, loose dress and hurry up.”
    I finished my coffee, picking through the platter of pastries and fruits, effectively ignoring her request to hurry up.
    We took a bus into the town for a day of shopping. It was an old rattler, one that looked like it was from several decades ago. The windows were down and hard to move so I had to put up with the wind against my face. It was a hot and hard wind that hit against my sore body, making me want to return to the villa.
    I hid my minor suffering from Monique, offering her a smile every time she turned and looked at me. Today I had been a little smarter, wearing a wide brim hat and sunglasses, long flowing dress that covered pretty much all of me.
    The driver putted the bus along, narrowly avoiding the pot holes. It made him look like he was weaving his way around a course of witches hats.
    “It's going to be fun!” Monique grinned madly at me. “Gonna shop up a storm, what about you Ab?”
    “Shit yeah.” I smiled brightly at her.
    The driver dropped us at the beginning of the shops, telling us that there was a taxi station at the other end. It was perfect, we would take a slow amble up the shopping strip and then motor our way back to the villa.
    Monique and I had certainly shopped up a storm. My eyes were always on the lookout for a great bargain, my pittance would go far today.
    After two hours of moving in and out of the stores, we were both ready to return. I had managed to acquire a gorgeous bit of bling sandals, a kaftan that was bright and funky, gifts for my family and a fridge magnet, it was going to be my new thing. All destinations that I traveled to would have a fridge magnet placed on my fridge.
    “Well that was fun.” Monique sighed happily. “I think I'm ready to kick back and have a late lunch, maybe at the restaurant?”
    “Sure.”
    She smiled at me, her eyes darting over my shoulder with a frown. I turned to the other side of the street. It had a rather long convenience store and a petrol station at the other end of the strip of shops. There hadn't been anything fascinating on that side of the street until now.
    I turned to look at what she was frowning at and in that very second I almost dropped my bags. The street was narrow, I could only assume that he hadn't seen me because of my oversized hat and glasses but what about Monique? It's not as if she was trying to hide from the sun.
    Austin stood outside the shop, his bag hitched over one shoulder. The bike was a few steps down the street, waiting for his return. But that wasn't