Page 16 of Just Between Us

MJ dragged me along, never unhooking her arm from mine. Typically that kind of uninvited contact made my hackles rise, but with her it felt sweet. Supportive.

“Bug, this is Veda. She’s JP’s new secretary since he fired me.” My eyebrow raised at the label she gave me.

His secretary? So that’s what we’re going with? Okay, sure.

With what he was paying me, he could call me whatever he damn well pleased. I stuck my hand out. “A pleasure.”

Bug gripped her hand in mine. “I am well aware of the assistance you are providing my nephew. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Her direct stare spoke volumes, and I suspected she knew more than MJ did regarding the real reason I was snooping around Outtatowner. Her frosty greeting didn’t bother me. In fact, her cool, dismissive gaze was a tactic I often employed when I didn’t want to reveal too much about myself too quickly.

A strategist could spot another one when she saw her.

Pulled along by the friendliest stranger I’d ever encountered, MJ introduced me to the rest of the women.The Bluebirdsthey called themselves.

I smiled inwardly.Cute.

Next to MJ, I sat on a small green sofa as she made her final introductions. My head was already spinning, connecting new faces and names.

MJ pointed as she spoke. “You know Sylvie. She’s married to Duke. He’s the oldest Sullivan.”

Sylvie offered a shy smile and wave.

“Duke’s brother is Wyatt”—she continued to point at the women around the room—“who’s married to Lark.”

“Hi.” Lark’s friendly smile lit up her whole face.

“Then there’s Annie. She’s with Lee, who works with my brother Whip at the fire station. Whip is marrying Emily, who should be here any minute. Eventually you’ll meet Sloane. She couldn’t make it because she and Abel are getting married on Saturday. Oh!” MJ’s gasp startled more than just me. Her hand clamped on my arm. “You have to come to the wedding!”

My head shook in confusion. “Oh, I—I don’t know, I ...”

MJ waved me off. “We’ll figure it out. Then we have Kate.” The women exchanged a cutesy smile, and I instantly recognized Kate from a popular home design show on television. “Kate is married to Beckett, who wassupposedto get the brunt of that silly stunt Royal pulled last week.”

Kate’s face twisted. “Yeah ... sorry about that. If it helps, the boys are planning revenge in your honor.”

“Oh, that isn’t necessary. I’m fine, really.” I smiled at Kate when realization dawned on me, and I turned back to MJ. “Wait, Royal?”

She blanched as Sylvie’s eyes went wide, and she hit her sister’s leg. “Oops.” MJ grimaced. “Sorry. Funny story, though ... come to find out, Royal was behind it and paid those kids.”

My nerves skittered at the mention of their older brother. My blood warmed and prickles raised the hair on my forearms.

Lark leaned forward. “There’s this thing in town? Kind of like a decades-old family rivalry between the Sullivans and the Kings.” She rolled her eyes. “Everyone thought it would come to an end with Duke and Sylvie getting together, but I think we’ve all come to the conclusion that there’s really no stopping grown-ass men from acting like children.”

Sylvie lifted her shoulder and her blond hair tumbled behind her back. “Thankfully it’s all pretty harmless now.”

I shook my head, soaking in the new information about their quirky town. “That is ... something.”

Annie sighed. “The story is tragically romantic.” She leaned into Kate. “Tell her about the speakeasy.”

Kate popped an olive in her mouth and crossed her legs. “We were remodeling Tootie’s farmhouse when we found a hidden speakeasy. It uncovered allkindsof secrets.”

My ears pricked at the wordsecrets, and Kate continued: “The Sullivans and Kings were friends, but during Prohibition, it all went to shit. Friendship and business didn’t mix. The rivalry started there, but then ...”

The air around us thickened as we all clung to Kate’s whispered words.

“Years later it turned really ugly. Apparently Red and June Sullivan fell head over heels in love, despite Russell King having some intense feelings for June. The rejection stung and breathednew life into the rivalry. Things gotbadfor a while, but now they’re just ...” She looked to Sylvie to fill in the blanks.

Sylvie’s smile held a comforting softness. “We’re all still finding our way in this new chapter.”

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