The vibration of Max's phone on the nightstand broke the quiet of the bedroom. It was Alex. His voice was frantic, stuttering out the news that Nancy had slipped his tail at the cafe and hadn't surfaced.
Ruby, wrapped in a silk robe and still glowing from her time with Max, let out a light, airy laugh. "Alex, breathe," she said into the speaker. "She told me she had a date. She's finally getting that 'tea' she was so excited about. She probably turned her ringer off to keep you from ruining the mood."
"But ma'am..." Alex started.
"Keep looking for her, but don't kick down any doors yet," Ruby instructed, her tone playful. "She's a grown woman. Just keep calling her phone. We'll talk in the morning."
After hanging up, Ruby reached for her own phone. "Let me just check on her," she murmured to Max. She typed out a quick message: Are you being safe, girl? Call Alex, he's worried sick!
Almost immediately, the phone buzzed with a reply. Ruby's eyes scanned the screen.
