Page 53 of Clean Out of Luck

The surprise on his face is real, and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. If he was lying about why he was in the courthouse, I’m not going to like why he was actually there.

“I wasn’t lying exactly…” he says slowly.

All the current cases roll through my mind in rapid succession. None of the cases ended the day he said he was finished with jury duty.

“It’s really not a big deal,” Briggs says with a smile. “It’s just a little misunderstanding. My lawyer will clear it up soon.”

His lawyer?

Right. Which means he’s guilty of something. I stand up abruptly, sliding out of the seat. “I’ll take care of my part of the bill.”

If Wade asks me why I’m leaving the date, I’m going to have to come up with something creative. Like, I found out we were long-lost cousins—it’s happened to Phoenix before maybe Wade would believe it happened a second time.

Or maybe I could say he’s allergic to my perfume.That phantom IBS is kicking in.Anything but the truth.

I glance at the door, and my jaw drops open as two police officers, followed by Wade, walk into the restaurant. Wade looks worried. I hurry over to stand next to him as Briggs is read his rights, placed in handcuffs, and marched out of the restaurant.

Stunned, I turn to look at Wade, who’s now smirking as Briggs is led out of the restaurant. “I’m going to kill you.”

“Better not,” he tells me. “They’ll have to arrest you, right along with your date.”

I glare at him, and he wisely takes a step back.

“Okay, sorry. It was too soon for that joke,” he admits with a grimace.

“I’ll walk home. I think I need some time to think,” I grit out as I walk out of the restaurant after paying for the drinks Briggs and I ordered.

“No, please get in the car. It’s too far to walk.”

I spin around to glare at him. “I know you had something to do with the police showing up to my date—in a publicrestaurant, where I might have seen people I actually know or work with! What were you thinking? This is the kind of stuff I can get fired for!”

“Going on a date with a known felon?” Wade asks as I turn around and start walking away.

He slips up behind me and drops an arm around my shoulders. “I know you’re mad?—”

“I’m not mad,” I assure him. “I’m furious.”

“Of course you are. And how are you going to yell at me if you don’t get in the car with me?”

“You know I’m not a yeller,” I grind out.

Wade pats my shoulder awkwardly as he stops next to the passenger door of his 4Runner. “I know you’re not. Instead, you’ll plot something brilliant to get even. It’s just another thing I love about you.”

He holds open the door and meets my eyes. I glare back at him, still not sure I want to give him the satisfaction of getting in the car. But it is a long way to walk back to The Serendipity…

“Please,” Wade asks softly.

“Okay. But only because you asked nicely.” I climb into the car and close the door.

Wade walks around the front and climbs into the driver’s side. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry?—”

I wave a hand through the air, cutting him off. “Don’t even pretend you’re sorry! I saw your grin when he was getting arrested.”

Wade flinches as he pulls out into traffic. “You saw that, did you?”

“Yes! And you were laughing at my expense.”

“No!” he fires back vehemently. “No. Never.”

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