Page 40 of Just Add Mistletoe

“Yes,” Lori said with a huff. “He did not like it, but he smells so good now.”

Malcom wasn’t about to smell the cat, but he was appreciating the soft, clean fur.

His phone rang, jolting him out of the peaceful morning. Pulling it out of his pocket, he checked the caller. “Sorry, I need to head out.”

Lori waved a hand and smiled. “No problem.” She moved around the table and scooped up the kitten. “How much do I owe you for the cat supplies?”

“It’s on me,” he said.

She tilted her head, her eyes soft. “Thanks for everything.”

He nodded, wishing he could stay a little longer. If only he didn’t have to deal with his brother tonight, he could come back and help her with the event. Or just take care of the kitten.

The rest of the morning and into the afternoon, Malcom was plenty busy. Every time he looked across the street at the shop, he’d see people coming and going. A few booths had been set up on the sidewalk, and once he thought he saw Lori. But it was too hard to tell.

By the late afternoon, Malcom felt jittery, and by the time he headed to his brother’s house, he wondered if he was overreacting. Maybe there was a perfectly good explanation for all of this.

On his drive, Penny called. Twice. Malcom let both calls go to voicemail, but instead of leaving a message, she texted him. He glanced at his phone to see that she was trying to meet up with him tonight. Something about a Halloween party. He didn’t bother to open the texts.

When he arrived at Bronson’s, his brother was just getting out of his car. Talk about perfect timing.

Malcom parked and helped him unload his golf clubs. “How was the tournament?” he asked, even though he didn’t want to engage in small talk.

“Came in seventh,” Bronson said. “Bunch of cheaters.”

Malcom didn’t know if his brother was being serious, or if he was just mad about not winning. “I guess it’s all for charity in the end, right?”

Bronson shrugged. “Penny’s group did well in the women’s bracket. They got second place.”

“Bronson, you’re back?” Kari’s voice called out when they walked in through the connecting door from the garage. “We’ve got a problem.”

“Malcom’s here,” Bronson said just as she appeared.

Her eyes widened for a moment, then she smiled. “Oh nice. What brings you over?”

Malcom hid a frown. “Just need to go over some business stuff with Bronson.”

His brother chuckled. “Couldn’t wait until tomorrow, I guess. Huh, bro?”

“No, it can’t,” Malcom answered, trying to keep the edge out of his voice. Was Kari involved in any of this or would she be just as shocked?

“I’d really like a shower first,” Bronson said, “but it’s probably been a long day for you too?”

“Yeah,” Malcom said. “You can shower if you want first. I’m not going anywhere.”

In fact, it was probably better. He needed a focused Bronson. Who knew where their conversation would go.

Thirty minutes later, they sat in his home office, which consisted of top-of-the-line computer equipment and deep leather chairs. Kari had brought them drinks and said she’d ordered some dinner for everyone.

Malcom didn’t think dinner with him would be happening—at least not on friendly terms.

“What’s up?” Bronson asked, leaning back in his office chair, one tanned ankle propped on his knee.

“Let’s pull up the accounts receivable spreadsheets on the computer.”

Bronson’s brow furrowed as he did so.

Malcom spent the next fifteen minutes walking him through everything he had discovered.

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