Page 18 of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

“Still,” I said casually, “sometimes you need to know when to let something go.”

He stopped what he was doing and looked up at me, his eyes piercing mine. “Are you seriously startin’ that shit this early in the mornin’?”

I held out the coffee mug. “I’m only out here to bring you coffee.”

He snatched the mug and returned his attention to the exposed engine as he took a big gulp, then cursed when it burned his throat. “I’ve spread enough bullshit to know it when I smell it.”

I chuckled. “Maybe so, but Trini’s a nice woman.”

He balanced the mug on a flat part of the engine. “Nope.”

“Come on, Teddy,” I pleaded. “Don’t you want to find someone too?”

“I had someone, and she shit where she ate, so no. Thank.You.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I knew it was in reference to Lorraine, the mysterious girlfriend he’d broken up with a few months before I’d come back home last April. He rarely talked about her, but Dixie said he’d gotten serious, and then she’d up and called it off and moved to Dothan, about forty-five minutes away, which wasn’t far in the scheme of things in a rural area likeBixley County, but apparently far enough away for Teddy to call the broken relationship irreparable.

But now that Dixie had started a relationship with our cameraman Bill, and was gone more and more frequently—especially since he lived in Atlanta—andIspent so much time with Luke, that left Teddy alone with Meemaw on the farm. And while Teddy loved the farm with every fiber of his being, he and Meemaw were like gasoline and a lit match. Who held which title depended not on the day, but the minute.

“I love you, Teddy,” I said, leaning my arm on the side of the truck and looking up at him. “I just want you to be happy.”

“Being happy doesn’t mean being in love, Summy. Sometimes you can be happy on your own.”

He held my gaze long enough with such sincerity that I finally conceded. “Okay. I’ll back off. But you have to know this is comin’ from a place of love.”

“I know, and I appreciate it.” An ornery grin lit up his face. “But if and when I decide to start seein’ someone, I can assure you I won’t need any help.”

Rolling my eyes, I gave him a sassy look. “Someone’s full of himself.”

But I actually suspected he was right. Teddy was not only a good-looking man who stayed fit, he was also a genuinely good man who was loyal and loved selflessly. Yet I could also see that he might be intense in his relationships—his protectiveness over me and Dixie was exhibit A—and some women might not appreciate it.

He shrugged and returned to putting his weight into the wrench.

“I’ve got to go,” I said in a smug tone. “I’ve got a potential client.”

His gaze instantly lifted to mine. “Does Dix know?”

“No,” I said. “Our last potential client proved to be someone who’d made up something to get on the show. When she found out that wasn’t happening, she stomped out of the office calling me every name in the book. I didn’t see any reason to call Dixie back from Atlanta if this one turns out to be the same. Besides, she’s comin’ home this afternoon. If it turns out to be something, she’ll get here just in time to help me investigate.”

“Good point,” he said in a grunt, battling with the wrench. “Just don’t exclude her.”

“Trust me. The next case we get, she’ll be one hundred percent included.” But first we needed to get a case. While I’d only become a PI for my reality show, it turned out I was pretty darn good at solving mysteries. However, because I’d become a PI to be on a reality show, potential clients often thought I was a joke or might only want to hire me to be on the show. I hadn’t had a single client in three weeks. Sure, I had enough royalties from the show to tide me over, but I wanted a job that kept me busy every day. I was tired of people treating me like a joke. “Which means I’ve got to go. See ya, Teddy.”

“Be safe, Summy.”

I grinned. “I’m always safe.”

It was his turn to roll his eyes.

“Iamalways safe,” I said, walking backward toward my car, which was parked behind the house. “I can’t help it if trouble seems to find me.”

Talk aboutanotherunderstatement.

His brow rose as though he was calling me out. Then his mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Try not to find any trouble today.”

I gave him a wave as I got into my five-year-old sedan and headed to my downtown office.

I really hoped this client turned out to be the real deal.

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