Page 107 of Jagger

“Uh-oh. What did I do?”

She laughed. “Not a thing, darlin’. I wanted to talk to you about the engagement party I’m organizing for Shephard and Denise. They haven’t had the time with their work schedules and I thought it would be a nice touch since they’ve both done so much for the community.”

“That’s a great idea. Now, if I can only convince Jagger to be Shephard’s best man.”

“I have a feeling you’re the only person he listens to.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know about that. How can I help?”

“All you need to do is get them to the restaurant. That’s it. You can tie Jagger on the hood if he argues with you.”

She could have me laughing for hours. “I just might need to do that. When is the party?”

“Saturday night. Eight sharp. I got my ladies making sure everything is decorated and we have a few surprises in store for them.”

“Be careful. Shephard is still a bear according to you.”

“I can handle Shephard Fox. I handled his dad just fine. Maybe I’m an old lady, but I still know a thing or two about men.”

“I know you do, Poppy, and you’re not old. Happy to help. Now, you can do me a favor. Where’s the best place to purchase a sexy dress in town?”

She leaned over the bakery counter, giving me the kind of look that said she had an entirely different wardrobe away from the diner.

I wasn’t going to ask.

Jagger

“You were right,” Hunter said as he walked into my office. Shephard was close behind, closing the door after him.

“What was I so right about?” I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms behind my head.

“Remember I mentioned I’d heard the Brockford name before?” Hunter asked as he moved to one of two chairs in front of my desk, plopping down. He had his usual grin on his face as well.

“Yeah. You found something out.”

“I found out how connected Joel’s father is. He’s funded several major projects in Baltimore, provided campaign donations to the tune of millions, and even helped design the new children’s wing at the hospital where his son works. He’s all over the social pages as the do-gooder. However, you are correct in that he is tied to some pretty bad people.”

“How bad?” I asked, although I could guess the answer.

“Let’s just say I wouldn’t cross them if I were you. No one dares try. If they do, they tend to find themselves in various vats of hot water or worse. I’ve seen it myself.”

I glanced at Hunter. He wasn’t joking.

“And what does Joel provide for them?”

“Didn’t you know? He ventured into several other interests with regards to surgery.” Hunter gave me an odd look.

A light turned on over my head. “He’s a goddamn plastic surgeon for the right money.”

“Bingo.”

“Well, shit,” Shephard said. “He’s changing identities of those very bad people when the pressure is on.”

Hunter nodded in his direction. “Yep, and since he never actually went to medical school for that particular skill, it’s kept a great big secret.”

“I’m curious, brother. How do you know?” I asked.

He didn’t appear eager to be forthcoming, so when he sat forward in his chair, I was eager to hear what he had to say. “The people I worked for after I did my stint in the military were little more than criminals themselves. I’m not going to share with you any names, but my targets were also some unsavory people considered their enemies. I had an up close and personal run-in with my target. He wasn’t too happy to see me. But in the end, I completed my mission.”

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