Page 83 of Wicked Little Thief

“Maybe we could keep a running list on the refrigerator of items we might want.”

After flipping his own omelet, he turned so he stood across from her at the island. “Then Janice can take it to the store with her.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

He furrowed his brows. “You guess?”

“I mean, I like going to the grocery store and picking out my own produce and seeing items I normally wouldn’t think to try. Maybe Janice could start leaving me a list.”

Liam returned to the stove and slid the omelet onto a plate, then pulled his own fork from the drawer and sat down beside her.

“Let’s see how it goes this week. I don’t think you realize how much we’re going to be at the hospital.”

“Do you think at some point I could maybe start driving myself? I could check in with you before I leave and you have cameras, so you know when I’d get home.”

He chuckled and shook his head as he chewed, then reached for his coffee cup. “Already negotiating and you haven’t even started.”

“I’m not trying to be difficult, Sir. I just thought I could come home and take care of Phoebe, and maybe get dinner started. Make the house inviting and have things prepared for you when you get home.”

“Let’s see how the first few weeks go, then we’ll talk about it again.”

“That’s fair.”

“Your house arrest isn’t supposed to be fair, little bee.”

“I know.”

And yet he seemed to be more than fair where she was concerned.

****

Liam

Phoebe stood on Utah’s lap while she stared out the window, her stubby little tail wagging a mile a minute, as they pulled into World’s End’s parking lot.

“It’s like she’s been here before,” Utah remarked when she leashed her up and opened the car door.

Liam got out and commented over the hood, “She was a stray, right? Maybe her former owner brought her here.”

“Maybe.”

He opened the backseat to retrieve his backpack and heard the tinkling sound of Utah’s laugh. When he closed it, he saw her gesture to the two teenage girls squealing with joy at the sight of the cocker spaniel.

“Or maybe it’s because she knows she’s going to get attention.”

The girls approached, and the youngest asked, “Can we pet your dog?”

Utah smiled at her and said, “Of course.”

Liam noticed the man behind them and assumed it was their dad. Then he took a second look.

“Aiden?”

The man broke into a smile, a somewhat rare occurrence for him, and stepped forward to offer his hand.

“Liam, good to see you.”

“Are these your daughters?”

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