Page 64 of Sizzling

Opening the door to the Jeep, I stepped out and closed it behind me, not wanting Dovie to hear. She was already worried enough.

“I think I should keep Dovie in the Jeep until you’ve talked this over with Maeme,” I told him, preparing for an argument because this man always wanted things his way and, heaven forbid, I not do as he said.

“Maeme is going to be happy you’re both here, I swear,” he told me.

I knew he believed that, but I wasn’t as certain of Maeme. “Even so, I think I’ll stay here with her while you speak to Maeme.”

By the grace of God, the man finally nodded and headed for the door. That had almost been too easy.

Turning back to the Jeep, I winked at Dovie, who was watching me. I still wasn’t convinced us staying here was a great idea, but then I didn’t have any other options at the moment. Being shot at had been alarming. Dovie and I had been in some tough spots before, but near death was not one of them.

The door opened, and Storm didn’t go inside. He remained on the front porch, and although I couldn’t hear him from here, I could see them. Maeme immediately stepped out onto the porch and looked out at the Jeep as he spoke.

He’d barely had time to say anything when she started down the steps and headed our way. The woman might be small, but the determination in her expression came with a force that commanded attention. Glancing once at Dovie to see she was also watching Maeme approach, I turned my attention back to the woman.

“Let that girl out of the car,” she demanded. “No need to keep her locked up inside, only making her anxious.”

I nodded, moving to the door and opening it. “Come on out,” I told her.

She looked wary, but she slid across the back seat toward me, then climbed down from the Jeep.

“Maeme, this is Dovie. Dovie, this is Maeme.”

Maeme took a step toward her and gave her a kind smile before reaching out and taking one of Dovie’s hands in hers. “Well now, you are just lovely,” she said, patting her hand. “You must be hungry. I’ve got plenty inside I can warm right up.” Maeme hooked her arm around Dovie’s. “Perhaps I can fix those taste buds of yours while you’re here. If you’re real partial to those Pop-Tarts of yours, then I will make you my homemade version. They’ll melt in your mouth, and you’ll never be the same.”

I watched as Maeme walked with her toward the sidewalk.

“We are gonna get on just fine. I’ve been wondering about you since the day I visited your apartment.”

I paused and glanced over at Storm, who seemed confused by her comment as well.

Maeme smiled back at me as if she hadn’t just insinuated she knew about Dovie from her visit to our apartment. “Don’t go looking so surprised. I knew there was a reason you had to get home that night. You were too adamant about leaving. So, I came and checked things out. Saw the food in your fridge, and I had an inkling then, but it wasn’t until I saw the faded pink Converse tennis shoes sitting neatly beside the door that I knew for sure. They were at least two sizes larger than your feet. I knew then that you weren’t alone. Easy enough to guess there was someone important to you that you were hiding.”

Storm interrupted her, “You knew she was hiding someone and said nothing?”

Maeme cut her eyes to him. “Wasn’t anyone’s business but hers. Now, stop acting like you’ve been wronged and go get their things.”

“They don’t have any here. You walked off before I could finish explaining. They had to leave their car at the exit. Wilder is handling getting it to them here.”

Maeme nodded. “Well, we can work around that. Not a problem at all.”

We reached the front porch, and Maeme waved for Dovie to go inside, then followed behind her. I started to take another step when Storm’s hand wrapped around my arm, stopping me.

“We will be right in,” he informed Maeme.

She looked between the two of us, then gave Storm a look that felt like an unspoken warning and he dropped his hold on me. Once I was free of him she turned back to Dovie and started talking about the food options. Did she know Dovie didn’t speak? I needed to go with them. Turning back to Storm, I started to tell him that, but he took a step closer to me.

“Don’t try and run. Think of Dovie’s safety.”

Narrowing my eyes, I pointed my finger, shoving my nail into his chest. “I always think about her safety. I don’t need you or anyone telling me what to do when it comes to her.”

He clenched his teeth as he looked down at my finger. “You’ve had a kid on the run for four years. That’s not a life.”

How dare he?! Sure, Dovie hadn’t lived a normal life, and, yes, I had kept her on the run, but I’d also busted my ass to give her more than she’d have had with her mom and Roger.

“Every decision I’ve made since the day I took Dovie from that hellhole has been for her.”

His gaze lifted and locked with mine. “Doesn’t look that way from where I’m standing.”

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