Page 13 of I Did Before I Do

“Yeah, tell me how that works out for you.”

It sounded like Benny didn’t think it would work out at all.

Asshole.

“I’ll drop it off and be in as soon as I’m done.” I smiled, reaching into my back pocket for my keys. Benny wasn’t going to get me flustered. Sydney would be into me soon; it was just a matter of time and figuring out how to approach her.

“Okay. Cool. See you when you get here.” Benny smirked, holding one hand up in a wave.

I waved back. “See you later.”

Chapter Six

Ryker

I tossed my keys into the bowl beside the door. “Daisy, baby,” I called out. “I’m home. Where’s my girl?”

She came running, leaping at me. I scooped her up, kissing her forehead. “Hey, there, baby girl. Miss me?”

She licked my face eagerly, her tail wagging against my thigh.

Daisy may have been a mastiff mix, but she lived up to her name—she was spoiled, dumb, and still believed she was a lap dog.

And she loved being the little spoon.

I put my dog down, grinning as she danced around my heels. She barked softly, putting one paw on my butt to get my attention.

“I know, I know. You’re hungry, and you’ve been home alone all day. I’m here now.” I patted her head, going into the kitchen. Daisy followed. I scooped kibble into her bowl, adding a little warm water to it and setting it on the floor. “Eat up, baby. I’ll be right back.”

It felt good to be home. My house was small, but it was quiet, away from the center of town. Not that Richland was big—even the main roads got quiet after dark, as long as you weren’t right by the bars. And it was a source of pride, to be the owner of my home.

I was still paying the mortgage on it, but one day, I wouldn’t owe any money on it. Especially if the shop kept doing well.

The shop.

Shit.

What were Benny and Bradley up to? They didn’t normally keep secrets from us. They owned the business, but they typically let us know when things were going to change well in advance. This felt different.

I looked back at the front door. The papers were in my car.

The envelope was held closed with metal brads.

Nobody would know if I took a peek. Hell, nobody would even suspect it.

And Daisy would enjoy the walk.

No, I decided, shaking my head. No. I wouldn’t. Benny and Bradley trusted us, so I’d trust them, too.

I went to the fridge instead, grabbing a beer and a container from the Mexican joint down the road. I threw the leftover fajita meat in a pan, letting it heat up slowly. A little extra lime juice, and they’d taste better than they had last night.

And while they cooked, I could do something mindless.

Instagram.

My own profile was flooded with likes and comments, like most tattoo artists. But I only cared about one person. I scrolled through the list of usernames until I found the one I wanted.

I tapped on it, going to somebody else’s profile.

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