Free Caress by Grayson Cole Page A

elaborate oak double doors. She stood for a moment studying the dark lobby, which was lit only by dim chandeliers with rich, smoked glass and candles placed on cherry coffee and sofa tables around the room. There were a few people conversing quietly, but she didn’t see Lysette. Nya knew exactly where she was. She sauntered down the steps, then maneuvered through the lobby and soon entered the Cold Room. The Cold Room was the dining area where diners could get ribs and collards and beer to boot while sports were broadcast on a big screen. Nya enjoyed the atmosphere of the Cold Room with its constant bustle and laughter. She looked over and was not at all surprised to see the most uproarious table was the one where Lysette sat next to her basketball player husband and a couple of other friends. Nya was always amused by the sight of her five foot, two inch friend and her six foot, seven inch husband. Lysette had always liked big men, but Jamie took the cake.
    “Nya,” Lysette called, waving her arm vehemently, motioning for her to come join them. “We were just talking about you.”
    “I hope not. You were laughing way too hard to be talking about me, I’m sure.” Nya slid into the seat next to Lysette.
    “No, we were just saying how much we loved you and how absolutely lovely you look,” Jamie returned with a broad smile.
    “You’re a rotten liar,” Nya responded, though she kissed him on the cheek.
    Jamie said, “No matter what anyone says, you’re a sweet woman.”
    “You mean that anyone ?” Nya asked incredulously, pointing to her best friend.
    He draped his long arm protectively around his wife. “This is a sweet, kind woman, Nya. She wouldn’t say anything unkind, sarcastic, nasty or insulting. She wouldn’t dare ridicule me in front of my friends and all the world or even call me ‘baldy’ on national television.” Lysette slugged Jamie in the stomach and he feigned hurt. “She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
    Nya laughed and ordered her food. It was feeling good to be out with them again, without work or the investigation on her mind. Her last social outing before the wedding had ended up with her reviewing a sales proposal in the boardroom at Hatsheput Galleries. She looked over at her friend staring up at her husband with adoring eyes. Nya knew Lysette had finally found all the happiness she’d ever longed for in this man.
    Lysette turned to Nya and whispered into her ear that she wanted to go to the ladies’ room. Nya got up and headed toward the nearest restroom, but was tugged in the opposite direction. “It’s not working, I don’t think. I saw a sign on the doors when I tried to go earlier.”
    “Well, we can at least see if they’ve fixed it,” Nya said and turned back towards the bathroom. The other one was in the Hot Room, all the way on the opposite side of the restaurant.
    Lysette grabbed her arm again. “No, I just checked before you came in and they said it wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow.”
    “Okay.” Nya acquiesced, wondering what could have been so wrong with the restroom. She followed Lysette out of the Cold Room and back through the lobby to the Hot Room. Each time she saw it, Nya appreciated the splendor and elegance of the place. It was a luxurious four-star restaurant with the looks to go with its superb cuisine.
    As they walked, Lysette looked up at Nya and said, “You do look nice. And perfume, too. Why?” Nya shrugged her shoulders in as honest an answer as she could give. Something had made her want to feel feminine and beautiful that night. Something she couldn’t explain. She decided that it must have been her stressful work. She hadn’t given herself enough time to feel attractive in at least a year.
    Nya and Lysette went into the elegant bathroom and sat on a settee, waiting as her friend touched up her lipstick. “Lysette, what are you planning? I know that scheming mind of yours. You didn’t call me over here to be nice.”
    “Of course I