Hey Guys, So first of all I wanted to give a general shout-out to the book 20 chapters done! Yay! It may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but considering the books I have done in the past getting to chapter 20 with this many words per chapter is a huge milestone for me and I'm so happy about it!

Good news is I am nowhere near the end yet either. I will warn all of you when we are nearing the end, however the way the story is going now, I can advise we are quite a bit away from the end that's for sure.

mdexter2010 – I agree that everyone should stop taking their anger out on Rick. It does indeed take 2 to tango and he does seem to be getting the raw end of the deal doesn't he? Interesting that you think Rick and Andy may hook-up, what led you to think that? (I'm not saying it wont happen, just wondering). Rein is not in the story this week (and funny enough neither is Lauren) but she and her mom will be back soon. We will tie up that loose end I promise. I'm so glad you're loving the book!

Ok, so let's keep going shall we? I wonder how things went with Andy and Jay after we left them. If you're wondering too, read on…

Chapter Twenty One – Mystery Text.

Andy exhaled and flopped back down onto the bed. Being alone with Jay had finally allowed them to get as intimate as the two possibly could get. Not only was it as perfect as Andy had always imagined, it was actually much better and he reminisced allowing a smile to appear on his face.

"Someone seems happy," Jay smiled, rolling over on the bed to face his boyfriend. "So it was ok, huh?"

"I can think of a few words better suited then ok," Andy replied. "But if that's the term you want to use..."

"How about best ever?" Jay's smile grew.

"I find that very hard to believe," Andy replied making to get up and out of the bed, thinking of what Jay could have gotten up to with B.

"Whoa!" Jay protested. "Where do you think you're going?"

The blonde wrapped his arms around his boyfriend not wanting this moment to ever end. He knew that the moment they left this

room the world would go right back to normal and normality was something that he just didn't want to deal with right now.

Especially when everything was so right. So perfect.

"I was just going to get my phone," Andy whined mockingly.

"Why?" Jay asked. "I know you don't need to call in reinforcements," he replied as a devilish grin spread across his face.

"No," Andy corrected Jay picking up his pillow. "To call Lauren and see if we can get the day off doofas,"

And with that he aimed the pillow at Jay and hit him with a loud thwack.

"Hawww," Jack mockingly grimaced. "You got me. Man down, man down!"

Andy smiled and got up and off the bed grabbing one of the hotel dressing gowns.

"Do you really need to wear that?" Jay asked.

"Cheeky," Andy winked as he wrapped it around himself and walked back into the common area of the Praeses Locus in pursuit of his phone.

He knew Lauren wouldn't mind giving them the day off, especially when she found out why. Of course Andy would promise to make up the shift anyway, but Lauren was such a big believer in love that there was no way she would even batter an eye-lid before giving them the okay.

As he walked into the living area, Andy couldn't help but giggle at the sight of it.

Lauren wasn't wrong when she had told him that he was a neat freak and so to see T-shirts, pants and underwear littering the common area of this beautiful room was a sight to behold indeed. Without thinking Andy automatically started picking up and folding the clothes.

Just as he was done he heard Jay walking towards him and turned around and smiled.

"Hey!" Andy protested. "You didn't need to get up."

"I was getting lonely without you," Jay replied coyly.

"And I notice that the dressing gowns aren't as much to your liking as mine," Andy winked mischievously noting Jay's easy-going nude nature. "Leave a comment on one of the cards I'm sure Lauren will appreciate it."

Not that Andy minded seeing Jay like this but that was one thing that he himself was never comfortable with doing. He knew of people who were very happy to walk around private and even public areas without a stitch of clothing on, but to

him it was just something he couldn't do. Clearly this was not an issue Jay had as he walked forward proudly and picked up his own phone from the coffee table he had placed it on earlier. It was then that Andy realized that despite his own principals, he was more than happy for Jay to be like this. To Andy, the longer it lasted the better.

"D'you mind?" Jay asked, referring to the phone. "I figure if you're using yours anyway."

"Not at all," Andy shook his head. "And thanks for respecting my request and turning it off."

"You're welcome," Jay replied reaching towards him and planting a quick kiss on his lips.

As Jay turned on his phone, Andy moved to the kitchen locating his where he left it earlier on the charger.

"Whoa!" Andy exclaimed once he picked it up.

"What happened sweetie?" Jay asked.

Andy blushed. This was the first time after all that Jay had referred to him as anything other than his name or 'A'.

"I um..." Andy started. "I have like 10 missed calls from Mel. Damn she's persistent."

"And so are you with having that damn thing on silent," Jay replied automatically. "Not that I didn't appreciate it for the

last hour."

Jay then couldn't help but remember one of the messages that Mel had left on Andy's machine this morning. In fact, there had been a few that he hadn't even mentioned to his boyfriend yet. Deciding that leaving this out may cause another argument Jay quickly interrupted Andy from dialing the number on his phone.

"Oh yeah, I totally forgot. Mel left a message on the machine at home."

Andy couldn't help but feel all lovey-dovey hearing Jay refer to his home as simply home, but quickly replied.

"She did?"

"Yeah, sorry. With this and...everything," Jay replied suggestively grinning a slightly evil grin. "I just totally forgot to tell you."

Andy nodded.

"Understandable," he replied grinning back. "I'll call her first. Ten missed calls and a message on the machine? Clearly she's desperate."

Jay nodded in agreement and sat on the couch with his own phone. Unlike Andy he didn't have any missed calls, but he did actually have 2 text messages. The first was from his mom.

Hey Jay

Just wanted to make sure

everything was ok. I haven't

heard from you since you left.

Call me.

Mom.

It was nice of her to text him, he thought. Ever since his mom and dad divorced they had become so much closer then they had ever been. In fact Ms Taylor used to text Jay daily, but of course Jay had told her to stop obsessing and these days it was actually a rarity for her to even send one text. Jay quickly typed a response and then took a look at the second text. This one was actually from an unknown number. If that wasn't vague enough the text made it even more difficult to tell.

Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum

Andy's dead, but

you're just dumb.

xo.

Jay stared at the text. It would be one thing if it was just random and didn't mean anything at all. But it mentioned Andy and that had Jay really worried.

"*"

Back at casa de Carmita, Rick had been thrown instantly into work. Well, that was not necessarily true; he was first given a white form-fitting shirt and some black pants and shoes to change into.

"Servants quarters are in there," Svedantcha snapped at him. "Change quickly we don't have a lot of time."

Rick did as he was told and changed very quickly into the proper attire. It had been so nice of Carmita to help him out but even now he was continuing to wonder why he had stuck around once he heard the terms. After all he had a girlfriend at home and was studying a course, he even had a job. Life was actually good back home. But no, Jay had changed something in him and if there was even the slightest chance of getting back with him Rick was willing to do just about anything.

"Are you done in there?" came a loud knocking and the harsh tone of Svedantcha.

"Almost," Rick replied sighing.

Yes he still loved Jay, he thought, but at what cost? Rick opened up the door and Svedantcha smiled. Or was that Rick's imagination? The moment he saw it, it disappeared replaced by her usual scowl as she thrust a black bow-tie into his hands.

"Put this on," she barked. "The tighter the better," she finished smiling quite darkly.

Rick had no idea if she was referring to the bow-tie or other clothes he was now wearing. All of it seemed quite tight, but he was sure she was enjoying him squirm.

"This way," she instructed and pushed off as Rick continued to tie the breath-constricting object around his neck.

The house keeper led Rick into the living room.

"Now," she started pointing at the coffee table. "This is where they will have the appetizers. As you are now on cleaning, I need you to give the table a quick once over and then come to the kitchen and take out the hors d'oeuvres. I will be back in ten minutes to see how it looks."

She walked towards the door that lead out into the hallway but paused and turned around before leaving.

"Oh and Richard," she smiled. "It had better be perfect or you'll have me to deal with."

She gave him and long hard stare and then turned on her heel and exited the room.

Rick had many thoughts scrambling through his head. The least of which concerned Svedantcha saying his name wrong, not that he would ever consider doing that to her or he may have her to 'deal with' if he did and though he had no idea what that entailed he did not want to find out. Spying the bottle of solution and a rag, Rick picked them up and walked over to the coffee table preparing to make it the most sparkling object in the room.

Just as he was finishing Carmita walked into the room, though she seemed quite surprised to see him there.

"Oh," she exclaimed startled. "You're working already?"

"It's not like I…" Rick started, but then out of the corner of his eye he saw Svedantcha at the door also and so changed his sentence. "Wasn't going to put on the best display for you. I know how much this opportunity means to you and I'm so grateful for the work." He smiled, though seething on the inside.

"Wow! That's so nice of you," Carmita replied. "I remember my first day as a cleaner. Let me tell you, I took the whole first day to unpack so they couldn't put me to work right away." She laughed reminiscing on the time.

"Anyway, I actually wanted to ask your opinion on my shoes!" she smiled looking down and moving her left one as though on display.

Rick's face lit up, but just as he was about to give his opinion he eyed Svedantcha crossing her arms and glaring at him and so he changed his demeanor at once.

"Oh…they're, ah, lovely," he finally said and the stood up. "If you'll excuse me however, I need to get the appetizers."

Carmita was stunned and having not been present for the discussions between Rick and her housekeeper had no idea what had him acting this weird way. Meanwhile behind her Svedantcha was smiling.

Rick walked boldly past Svedantcha, he was really starting to get pissed off with her. It was tough acting like a servant for someone who would normally be so easy to be around.

But somehow he had become so scared of enduring the wrath of this woman, that his friendship with Carmita was put to the side and he knew that no matter what he had been put in place. Despite the fact that he had spent the last of his money on today's plane ticket home and that not being able to go to the airport or call them to cancel meant he had no cash left, he was more scared of being kicked out onto the street and running into someone like Andy or Lauren. Keeping this job kept him safe from their wrath for now and the way Andy had looked at him last night…there was no way he wanted to face that again.

Just as he came out of his thoughts he arrived back at the kitchen.

"That, was very good," Svedantcha said from behind him, making him jump. "I can see you're going to fit in rather well around here Richard."

Though the words certainly seemed complimentary her delivery was certainly not and Rick knew he had only just escaped her wrath.

"Ok so the Salmorejo and bread and the Tortilla Bites need to go on the left of the table," she instructed once again adopting a business-like tone.

"Sorry, which are they?" Rick asked, not having the faintest what either was.

Svedantcha smiled and Rick could have sworn it was an evil smile.

"In addition to cleaning and waiting Richard you will also learn Spanish cuisine," she said quite briskly. "I cannot have you wasting my time showing you what is what."

"Yes ma'am," Rick replied quite respectfully.

"Ma'am makes me sound like the old woman that lived in a shoe," she spat. "You will call me Sveta."

Rick smiled; maybe she was warming up to him after all.

"Now, the Salmorejo is the tomato purée…that one!" she grunted annoyed at Rick's continued ignorance. "The Tortilla Bites is that one!"

Ding-Dong!

Suddenly the sound of the door bell interrupted Svedantcha and she quickly rounded on Rick.

"Quickly! Then come back for these two and I'll bring in the wine as soon as I can. Now! Go!" she cried and swiftly made her way to the front door.

Rick snapped up the two appetizers and raced as quickly as he could back into the lounge. He tried very hard to recall what Sveta had said earlier.

"The right or the left? The right or the left?" he kept questioning as he looked from side to side.

Figuring it would come down to perception anyway as Carmita's left would be different to this man's, he just chose a side and placed them down nicely. Then he raced off back to the kitchen for the final two dishes. Just as he was placing them down on the other side of the table he heard Sveta's voice.

"Can I take your coat?" she asked.

"Thanks," a mysterious voice replied.

"You will be meeting Ms Carmita in there," her voice sounded.

Footsteps followed and sure enough Sveta and the man walked into the room. Rick very quickly stood away from the table with his hands behind his back as he had seen the help do in TV Shows.

"Evening," the man said directing his words to Rick.

Before Rick could say anything Sveta interrupted him.

"You don't need to indulge him," she said. "He's just the help."

"Oh," the man replied smiling.

There was something about this guy Rick felt. Something about the way he smiled directly at Rick as he replied that made Rick instantly trust him. He had always prided himself in being a good judge of character and this man not only seemed to believe in the concept of noblesse oblige, but in general seemed like a man that could get along with absolutely anyone.

"Can I get you a drink sir?" Sveta asked, pulling Rick out of his sudden trance.

"Why yes," the man replied. "Do you have any Sherry?"

"Of course."

And with that she left the room without even a word to Rick who continued to stand there. The man looked at Rick and after a short while spoke to him again but was very careful not to ask a question.

"You don't belong here," he said. "I don't say that to be mean or anything. You just seem like someone who can do a hell of a lot better."

Rick couldn't help but respond.

"Thank you," he replied.

"You're Welcome," he replied. "In fact I could use you in my next show. Go and help Ms Hard-ass and I'll come find you later."

The man smiled at Rick and he was sure it was a genuine one. It was nice to see a stranger be so kind to him. After what he had been through recently no one had seemed to be giving him a break. And on top of that having a chance to work in a show?

Rick nodded quite happily and couldn't help blush a deep shade of red as he smartly walked off in pursuit of Svedantcha.

"*"

Nawww isn't that lovely? I think that's the first time in the book that someone has complimented Rick and it couldn't have come at a better time too it seems.

And what about that Text that Jay received? I'll tell you this much, nothing is co-incidental in Cold in the Rain!

Please leave a review even if it's a small one, being 21 chapters in I would love to know how you think the book is going as a whole and also what you would like to see more of or see happen in the future. I do have a rough idea of where the books is going, but would love the opportunity to add things in that you guys suggest, would truly be an honor.

To whet your appetite: Who was the text that Jay received from and what does it mean? What will happen when the man eventually finds Rick on his own? And what revelation will have everybody talking?

Find out this and more next time when cold in the rain continues…