Page 39 of Kill Me Sweetly

SHEP

With Nickand Noel working on multiple leads, Gabe refusing to leave the bedroom with Mason, and Angel saying he wanted to work with Four today to try to get his body into better shape, JJ agreed to come to the bakery with me for a few hours. I promised I’d get him home before Aziza returned for her session with Four.

Lizzy beamed at us the second we walked in, and Wes and Darby turned when she greeted us.

“Wow, the shop is all set up for the day already.” JJ was obviously impressed. He walked over to Wes first. “Hey, I’m JJ.” Then he did the same with Darby.

“So great to meet you.” Darby beamed. Her hair was up in a curly ponytail, and her bright red lips couldn’t get any wider. “This bakery is just the cutest!” She spun to continue putting the cookies in the case. She wore a long skirt and buttoned-up blouse; it was as if she were straight out ofLeave It To Beaver.

“Thanks, Darby.” JJ turned to Wes. “So, how are you liking it?”

“It’s so perfect with my school schedule, and Lizzy here has been a perfect teacher.”

I glanced at Lizzy, whose cheeks pinked and her eyes sparkled…Oh, someone is catching feelings.

“Lizzy keeps this place running,” I said as I helped Darby fill the rest of the cases.

“Okay, enough flattery or my head will get far too big, and I won’t be able to fit through the doorway.”

I chuckled. “All part of my master plan to keep you here forever.”

She rolled her eyes and hit the switch for the first coffeemaker to start.

The morning was steady. Darby, Wes, and Lizzy were a well-oiled machine. JJ smiled as he regarded the books, smiling as he noticed an uptick in sales the last few days.

“These three are working out well.” He joined me as I began rolling out dough that would need to sit overnight.

“Yeah. Great trio.”

He moved toward the door and watched them through the window. “Darby is odd, right? But not bad odd. It’s like she’s stuck in the sixties or something.”

I nodded. “Thought the same thing. But that’s her style, and she rocks it.”

He hummed. “That she does.”

“What?” I knew that hum.

“Nothing, why do you think something?”

“You hummed.” I wiped my floury hands on my apron and folded my arms.

“I hummed? Can you describe this hum?”

“JJ…”

“Shep…”

“Seriously, you hummed, and that means you want to say something but aren’t sure it’s the right thing to say.”

He pursed his lips. “Ohhhh, that hum.”

I waited, staring at him with my brow up.

“Fine.” He huffed. “It’s gonna sound crazy.”

“Babe.” I took the three steps it took to get to him and placed my hands on his shoulders. “Our lives are crazy. Just say it.”

“Fine, but like, she’s too nice. Too happy.…Did we do a background check on them?”

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