Page 98 of Daddy By Design

I groaned. “Not you, too.”

Cordie nudged my shoulder. “You look smokin’. You seeing that intense guy again?” She lowered her voice. “He’s a little...”

I shifted to turn to her. “A little what?”

“I mean, he’s hot. Just…I don’t know of another word except intense.”

TJ looked from me to Cordie to Avery and then back to me. “Hmm. Cordie, I think we need to start with tequila.”

I shook my head. “Oh, no, we don’t.”

Avery sat up and clapped. “Oh, tequila stories. Why haven’t I seen this guy? Who is it?”

Since Avery could drink a three-hundred-pound wrestler under the table, I had a feeling I was in serious trouble. Good thing it was Friday.

Cordelia popped up. “Now I really need to hear the stories. Don’t start without me.” She zipped away and threaded her way through the tables with a smile and a wave for the regulars.

“1800,” TJ called after Cordelia.

She spun around with a thumbs up.

I was in so much trouble. That was the serious tequila.

“Huge thing of fries,” Avery called.

At least we wouldn’t be drinking on an empty stomach.

“So, what’s going on?” Avery laced her fingers on the table and leaned in, her hazel eyes playful. “I feel like I’m missing stuff.”

I opened my mouth, but TJ jumped in. “Our girl is banging our new client.”

“What? No.” She extended the word with a wide grin. “Who?”

Again, TJ answered for me. “Macy’s brother. The new Richie Rich who wants us to redo the haunted mansion.”

“Oh, now you think it’s haunted?” I crossed my arms.

Avery frowned. “Man, I’m missing everything. The only interesting thing I’ve done is save a bougainvillea.”

“Save it? Why? They just take over everything.” TJ rolled her eyes.

“They don’t if you take care of them and prune it like you should.”

Avery was our plant mama, inside and out.

Cordelia came back with the tall shot glasses filled to the brim and I did a quick prayer for my liver. A few lime wedges in a bowl and a saltshaker rounded out the tray of trouble. Not that we really needed it with the top shelf tequila. At least she’d brought a basket of fries with all the good dipping sauces.

Avery sighed. “You’re the best.”

“What did I miss?” Cordelia asked as she passed out the shots.

“Did you know the Barrows house on the lake is haunted?” I asked.

“Oh, sure. Everyone knows that.” The waitress grinned at me.

“You’ve seen her too?” I twisted the shot glass in front of me.

“No. I’ve never been brave enough to go out there. Some people say they’ve seen her walking on the beach at night though. Always in a black dress.” She tucked her tray under her arm and wiggled her fingers. “Spooky.”

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