Free Just Like a Hero by Patricia Pellicane Page B

too.”
    “In bed?” she asked.
    “Well, now that you mentioned it, that sounds great.”
    “Now that I mentioned it,” she repeated with a touch of sarcasm, as she reached for her lamp and turned out the lights. “Goodnight.”
    “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
    Lexie only smiled at the endearment, while wondering what he was up to. There was no way that he was finished. It wasn’t long before she found out.
    “Lexie.”
    “What?”
    “Monday’s are not enough. We’ll have to spend more than one night together.”
    “We agreed on Mondays and the weekends.”
    “Yeah, but―”
    “You’re not moving in here,” she said, cutting him off. “It’s too soon.”
    He reached around her and pulled her closer to his chest. His hand cupped her breast. “If we sleep together Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, that only leaves Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.”
    “So?”
    “I think we need to sleep together on Wednesdays, too.”
    “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
    “Fine,” he said in obvious disappointment.
    “Fine,” she repeated, hoping the subject was closed for the night.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    It was…for the night.
    Early the next morning, they sat at the kitchen counter, having finished breakfast and sipping coffee. She looked over the newspaper while Jim scanned the sports section.
    “God, these Mets,” he said in disgust. “Lost again. They’re sort of pathetic, aren’t they?”
    She shrugged. “I wonder if I’ll live long enough to see them win another series.”
    “Are you a fan?”
    “I was.” She shrugged. “I suppose I still am, but I don’t mind telling you, it’s not easy to watch them play. Every time they put together a decent team, they sell off half of it.”
    “Yeah, they have a problem, all right. Some people blame it on Madoff.”
    “Still? I’m not saying he didn’t hurt the team, but come on… I think there’s no one to blame but the players.”
    “The All Star game is in two weeks. You want to go with me?”
    “Really? You have tickets? Of course, I’d like to go with you.”
    “So what about Wednesday nights?”
    She glanced at his hopeful expression. “Okay, here’s the deal. You’re not allowed to nag.”
    “What kind of deal is that?”
    “It’s the kind I’m willing to give.”
    “What am I allowed?”
    “Anything you want, except sleeping over on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.”
    He grinned. “Does that mean we can make love, but not sleep together on those nights?”
    She shrugged. “If you like.”
    “I’ll take it.”
    “Take what?”
    “The deal.”
    “Go to work. I’ve got to shower and get ready for work myself.”
    * * * *
    At work she got a phone call. “Lexie?”
    “Yes?”
    “Lexie, it’s me, Mrs. Morgan.”
    “Oh, hi is everything all right?”
    “Well, actually not really. We have a bit of a problem.”
    Lexie frowned. It was nine o’clock at night. What could possibly cause her neighbor a problem at this time of night. Most often, the lady was ready for bed by this time. Instead, Lexie heard voices in the background.
    “Tell her―” The rest was cut off as Mrs. Morgan or someone put their hand over the receiver.
    “Wait,” Lexie heard. Then came the sounds of a scuffle. “Don’t do that! I told you to wait.” There wasn’t a doubt in Lexie’s mind that voice belonged to Mr. Burton.
    “Don’t do anything. I’ll be right there,” she said and hung up.
    Barely ten minutes later, after muttering a quick excuse to her boss, she took off the last two hours of her shift. She stood in the hallway of her apartment building and glanced at Jim’s door. He was probably watching TV. Lexie wondered if she should get him. She shook her head and forced herself to calm down and take a few deep breaths.
    It wasn’t that bad. Of course, it wasn’t. What could these old folks have done that could have instigated this pounding of her heart. Nothing, she mentally added as she silently convinced herself her