Page 66 of Crazy Imperfect Hearts

“My dad made me get a job. He said I can’t work for his security company until I’m twenty-one because of all the regulations. Gotta be that old to get a gun carry permit.”

“My brother Blake worked at Gigi’s Flower Shop when he was your age. I worked at the hardware store. I can’t remember what Dallas and Allie did. We all had to have other jobs before the winery. It’s good to get different experiences. How’s your dad’s business doing?”

“Great. Storm started working with him last year. Colt will as soon as he graduates. He says as each of us join him, the business will expand. He’s thinking of getting into personal security, too.”

“As in bodyguards?”

He nods. “Wouldn’t that be badass?”

Ava comes up behind Gray and clears her throat. “We’ve got quite a line of customers. I’ll take him. You take the next.”

Gray looks guilty for making others wait. “Sure thing, Ms. Criss.”

Something tells me she’s taking me for reasons other than moving the line along.

“Good morning, Lucas,” Ava says with a shit-eating grin.

And there it is. My head bobs to the side. I thought Regan wasn’t going to tell anyone.

“How’s your questcoming?” She giggles. “No pun intended.”

Right. Regan told them about our original mission. Maybe she didn’t bother telling them that deal was off. That way she could explain any awkward moments of us being caught together.

“I never kiss and tell.”

“Good thingshedoes.” She refills a large canister of sugar, completely unaware that Regan has no intention of telling a soulabout what we’re doing. She looks up. “I’m sure I’ll hear all about it.”

I ignore her comment and peruse the menu over her head. “I’ll take a caramel macchiato.”

She grins. “Comingright up.”

Outside, my drink in hand, I park myself on one of the benches lining The Circle. It’s a pretty good place to people-watch. Several families are in the park across the way, beyond the statue of Lloyd McQuaid that stands tall in the middle of the roundabout at the end of McQuaid Circle. I cock my head as I observe them, wondering if that will be me soon, holding hands with my daughter or pushing my son in a stroller.

I lift my chin when I see Jaxon Calloway and one of his daughters Ashley or Aurora—I can never remember which is which—walking their golden retriever in the large grassy area. I wave when Ginny Ashford emerges from the jewelry store across the street. I laugh when two kids come racing down the sidewalk on skateboards, remembering all the shit I did with my brothers when we were kids.

“This town sure is a wonderful place to raise children.”

My head swings up to see Rose Gianogi standing next to my bench.

She motions to the empty space next to me. “Do you mind? It’s a long walk here and I need to rest.”

“Please. Sit.”

“I like to get my steps in,” she says. “I walk here almost every morning. I usually go to the park and feed the birds, but when I saw you here, I thought I’d stop and make conversation.”

Finding it unusual that Rose Gianogi wants to talk tome, I ask, “Is there anything in particular on your mind?”

“I know things.” She looks directly at me with her old, weathered eyes. “Iseethings. And I’m very protective of the ones I love.”

“I’m sure you are,” I say, not liking where this is going.

“You’re a nice boy, Lucas. I like you. I think you have a good heart. But Regan is like a granddaughter to me. I don’t fancy seeing her get hurt.”

Amused that she called meboy, I say, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Mrs. Gianogi.”

She scoffs. “I’m old, but I’m not senile. Saturday mornings aren’t the only times I’m around. I’ve been filling in at the flower shop a few hours a day so Maddie can spend more time with that precious baby. I know The Circle. Which means I know you don’t spend much time here.”

“Don’t have much reason to.” I hold up my cup. “But I do enjoy a good cup of coffee.”

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