Page 108 of Smitten with the Single Dad

“I understand why you did it,” Shelley said. “And you have my full cooperation. The police can come and open up the garage, dust for prints, and do whatever.” She wrung her hands and shivered. “I feel like I’ve accepted blood money or something.”

Jordana rubbed her back, her gray eyes sympathetic. “You didn’t know. I probably would have done the same thing if they’d made me that kind of offer. I don’t use my garage either. And as a single mom I can always use extra cash.”

“How can we help?” Wallace asked. “What do you need from us? This is …” he shook his head. “It’s not how we do shit on the island. And the idea that it could be a local pulling this shit makes my blood boil.”

“Me too,” Wyatt said.

Jordana lifted her gaze to them and tucked a strand of her dark-red hair behind her ear. “What did the person who came to your house offering to rent your garage look like, Shelley?”

Shelley swallowed and licked her lips. “Uh … well, she was young.”

“She?” Wyatt asked in surprise.

Shelley nodded. “Early twenties, I’d say. Short, blonde hair. Very pretty little thing. I can’t remember what color her eyes were, I’m afraid. She was friendly. I didn’t get any bad feelings about her. She said that her parents just bought or inherited land—again, I can’t remember—and her dad needed a place to store a vehicle. They were willing to pay, and it was more money than I would have thought renting out the dumpy garage would be. So I said yes.”

Wyatt’s brain was still reeling over the fact that it was a young woman who approached Shelley. Not one of the goons who stepped out of that Chevy Suburban like they were auditioning for a Sopranos remake.

He heaved a sigh. “Well, we need to convince Mal Ernie to let us use his landing strip. We also need people to be on the lookout for a vehicle with front end damage. They have determined that the vehicle that hit my truck was a gray SUV. Probably mid-sized. So think Toyota RAV-4, not Chevy Suburban.”

Everyone nodded.

“This can’t leave this room though. We honestly have no idea who we can trust, and I’m taking a huge leap even telling you guys.” He made sure to make eye contact with each of them. “But I know I can trust you.”

“We’re at your disposal, Wyatt,” Wallace added, holding out a hand.

Wyatt shook it, smiling. “Thank you.”

Shelley stood up from where she’d been sitting in a chair against the wall. Wyatt held open his arms and she went to him.

“I’m sorry, Shelley. I … I was angry enough when it just involved Vica, but after they hit my truck and shot at us while my kids were in the car, all I can see right now is red. Logic and reason are not something I’m paying enough attention to at the moment.”

She squeezed him tighter. “It’s okay, honey. I completely understand. And I’m so sorry for the part I’ve played in it.”

They broke their embrace, and he took her by the hands. “Thank you.”

Jordana handed him his basket of items, smirking when she studied the contents. “Tell me you’re living with an Italian without telling me you’re living with an Italian.”

That made him chuckle. “She’s very particular.”

“I had a roommate in college who was Italian, and she was very much the same. The best cook in the freaking world though. So I never complained when she moaned about the mediocre olive oil. I made sure to get the better one next time. Because it really does make a difference.”

He nodded. “It absolutely does. And as a chef, I thought Ihadthe good stuff in my house. Apparently not.”

When they exited the office, everyone was smiling. Guilt still gnawed at his gut for the way he attacked Shelley, but she didn’t seem bothered by it anymore, and reiterated before they re-entered the main store, that she would help and cooperate any way she could.

He was just leaving the grocery store with his two fabric shopping bags full of groceries when the sight of Jagger, looking very pissed off, caught the cornerof his eye.

His hands were on his hips, his brows were pinched together until they nearly kissed beneath his glasses, and he was glaring down at, and appeared to be berating, Raina Aaronson.

This was not the first time in the last few months that the two of them were caught up in a heated argument. They were too far away for Wyatt to hear though.

Raina, despite her small stature, wasn’t intimidated or deterred by Jagger. She even poked him in the chest which just seemed to make steam come out of Jagger’s ears.

What the hell was going on with those two?

Raina was one of Gabrielle’s cousins. She was co-owner of the winery and vineyard, and the last time she and Jagger got into a public argument was at Bonn Remmen’s celebration of life, where Jagger accused her of trying to bribe the Island Elders to pick her family’s proposal.

It got heated then, and both families had to step in and separate them before they started launching swats and kicks, and not just verbal barbs.

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