Page 77 of The Main Event

Well, now they had my full attention. “I’m not certain what Bill Winchester has to do with Salem Witch Village,” I admitted.

“Nothing. Technically.” Levi offered Daisy a sympathetic smile. “It’s just we were over there a lot. His office is over there. He used to taunt Daisy about having two moms. He was mean about it. Then, when she was a teenager, he actually got drunk at one of the street parties and grabbed her ass.”

Temper bubbled up and gripped me by the throat. “A grown man did this to you?”

Daisy nodded. “He was just mean. I loved the witch village more than anything. We always had so much fun because it was so goofy. They have haunted houses over there, and I love haunted houses like I love pumpkin lattes.

“I’ve always loved Rosie, but I was still trying to adjust to the new dynamic when my father moved out and she moved in,” she continued. “Levi would take me to the witch village to perk me up. Bill kind of ruined it for us. As for the ass-grabbing thing, he claimed it was an accident, but I have trouble believing that.”

I was frustrated beyond belief. “I’ll handle Bill Winchester,” I said.

“You don’t have to.” Daisy shook her head. “He’s on the DDA and everything. We don’t want to make an enemy of him.”

“I’ll handle him.” I tried to picture Daisy as a teenager. The only image that would enter my mind was of a smiling, kind girlwho loved to laugh. The fact that a grown adult had thought it was okay to terrorize a kid that way was frustrating to the point of distraction. “I want to see this Salem Witch Village.”

“You do?” Daisy’s forehead creased. “It’s kind of lame for adults.”

“Levi just said that he was going to take you there.”

“Yeah, but we do goofy stuff.”

“And eat our weight in bad food,” Levi added.

“And then scream ourselves silly in the haunted house,” Daisy supplied. “There’s one for kids and one for adults. They go all out for the adults.”

“Well, I still want to see it. Let’s go.” I stood.

Daisy’s eyes went wide. “Now?” She looked confused.

“You’re the resident expert on all things Salem,” I confirmed. “I don’t feel I know the area as well as I should. This sounds like a prime place to start.”

Daisy darted an uncertain look toward Levi, and I could practically hear the gears in her mind working. Was this a date? I didn’t have a clue. All I knew was that I didn’t want her thinking too hard on bad times.

“Come on,” I insisted. “I’m the boss. What I say goes.”

“What about work, though?”

“It’s fine.” I motioned with my hand. “Let’s do this.”

Daisy was slow when getting to her feet. “Okay, but you can’t wear that.”

I glanced down at my expensive suit.

“Think carnival,” she prodded. “Try to dress comfortably.”

“Okay.” I was game to change my clothes. Besides, a haunted house sounded like a great way to get to rub up against Daisy in public without getting tongues wagging. “Give me fifteen minutes.”

TAMMY CAUGHT ME WHEN I WAS GETTINGoff the elevator after changing into jeans, a polo shirt, and a hoodie. Nothing was more casual than a hoodie, right? Normally, I kept it for when I left the gym when I was still in Boston. It somehow seemed fitting today.

“There you are.” Impatience ran roughshod over Tammy’s features. “I was hoping we could get lunch and talk about a few things.”

Of course she was. She’d been trying to make meal plans with me every day since I shut down her dinner invitation to go out with Levi and the guys. She was getting increasingly more desperate.

“Sorry.” I held out my hands. “I have plans.”

“For lunch?” Tammy looked suspicious. “Who are you having lunch with?”

Tricky situation,I warned myself. “It’s not actually a lunch meeting. I’m trying to get a feel for Salem so I can understand it. I’m going over to check out the witch village thing.” That sounded casual enough I assured myself.

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