A Bitter Pill to swallow (Chapter 1 thru 3)

Payne scratched just above her right eyebrow with an extended middle finger, her attention fully on Russell.

All he could do was laugh as she spun around on her heels and stormed off down the hallway. When she was out of earshot, he said, “Friendly, you must enjoy sleeping with stiffs, ‘cause that one’s as cold as a slab in the morgue. I’d steer clear of her, if I were you.”

Friendly shot him a contemptuous glare. The veins in his neck stood out in livid ridges, but he said nothing.

Russell continued, ignoring his partner’s obvious irritation. “If you’d like my advice, I’d tell you to stick with the one you got at home. Now, Rhoda, she’s easy on the eyes. Yes, indeed, a true beauty--a tall, refreshing drink of water for a parched throat.”

Friendly’s brow crinkled. Russell imagined his partner probably didn’t know whether to be offended or flattered.

“I was only making conversation with Payne— nothing more,” Friendly explained, evidently feeling as if he needed to deflect Russell’s assessment between him and Payne.

“Right. You can’t fool me. I know she makes your dick stand at attention. She’s a bite-sized, caramel morsel,” Russell said then in a lower voice. “She’s someone to have fun with, but be sure to take care of home first. That’s all I’m saying.”

Friendly looked skeptical of the advice, nodded and said, “I’m not stupid, man. I would never get involved with anyone else until I ended things with Rhoda. I don’t need any added stress in my life.”

Yeah, right, Russell thought. He had a gift for reading body language and facial expressions. What he’d figured Friendly really thought was, Why should