He was leaning through the driver's window practically before the car stopped rolling. "I'm glad you're here," he said to Sam. "Did you bring what I asked for?""And hello to you, too, Clare," Clare murmured to herself. "Nice to see you. You're lookin' good."Elvis gave her a pained smile. "Sorry. Hi. Nice to see you. And you are lookin' good." Immediately he turned back to Sam. "Well?""Yeah, it's in the trunk." Sam gave Elvis a perplexed look. "What the hell's going on?""Nothin'. Pop the trunk. This baby's gonna save my bacon." He rolled his shoulders. "I hope.""How the hell is a trike going to save your bacon," Sam wanted to know as he popped the trunk and climbed out of the car. He exchanged a look with Clare across the roof of the vehicle and then shrugged."Well, maybe save my bacon is the wrong term. I'm hoping it's gonna buy me some affection," Elvis amended. "The kid hates my guts.""Gracie?" Sam said incredulously. "Get outta here. Kid's crazy about you.""That was before. She hates my guts now that she's discovered Emma's going to be sleeping in my room instead of hers." * * * * * "Oh, hates his guts, my fanny," Emma said a few minutes later when Clare was relating the story to her and Ruby in the kitchen.
