Page 72 of Bourbon and Secrets

“Yeah, but Miss Mable is the one who taught me how to move at all,” I tell her, thinking about how much I’ve enjoyed dancing for so long.

“She’s teaching an Oldies and Yogies class for a few of us on Saturdays now. You should stop in and see her.” She nudges my elbow and wiggles her eyebrows. “And you can show us a few of those moves I keep hearing about while you’re at it.”

I can’t help but smile, imagining what that could look like. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

She moves her hand to the right of her mouth, like what she’s about to say is a secret. “And as far as kids are concerned, to each their own. I just know those Foxx girls can’t seem to stop talking about you.” She nods behind me. “It’s not just your burlesquin’ that’s caught some attention.”

When I look over my shoulder to where she gestured, Lark Foxx leans on the bleachers, watching me. Two rows up, just a few seats from her daddy, Lily is pointing at the massive blue bubble she’s blowing, with her eyes wide. They’re impossible not to smile at. “I’m going to say hi to Lark and Lily.” I give Romey a wave and make my way towards the stadium’s bleachers, butCortez stops as we get closer and then leans his forearms on the paddock.

“You should know that we were able to convince Blackstone to cooperate.”

That has my attention. So I mimic his stance and quietly ask, “And what is he cooperating about?”

“I can’t share that just yet. But it’s exactly what we had hoped would happen. You built out a solid case against him—some shady shit that man has been involved with. Trafficking drugs, exotic animals, orchestrating a disturbing number of encounters with co-eds who are just barely above being minors. It’s a hefty list.”

“And you’re telling me that he wasn’t who you’re after?”

He shakes his head slowly as he looks around the room.

“Bigger fish?”

“Wider wingspan,” he says, standing to his full height and waving at one of the bull riders who’s making his way toward us.

“Cortez, why are you telling me this now? I’ve been asking and asking for this.” I let out a frustrated exhale. I’m tired of the evasiveness. “Are you going to tell me what you’ve got my sister involved in, or what?”

I follow his line of sight as he looks out across the arena. And sure enough, there’s my sister having a chat with Wheeler Finch as she texts away simultaneously on her phone. She looks every bit the Maggie Calloway I knew before I ever left here. Her long blonde hair falls down her back in waves. The pair of painted-on jeans and short blue sweater plays off her red lip. She’s always been the outgoing Calloway who found pockets of trouble—caught drinking at high school football games, pulled over in a baked-out car, but she would find her way out of getting too much of a consequence.I guess that caught up with her.

I wonder, not for the first time, how exactly my sister had folded herself into business with Finch & King. She’s a webdesigner, according to everyone in town. She built out the website for Teasers and Foxx Bourbon. But I also knew she did a helluva lot more for the Foxx family. Maybe that was true for Finch & King as well.

Cortez lets out a breath as Maggie breaks off her conversation and moves in my direction.

A hiccuped laugh echoing next to me draws my attention away. “She’s such a slut. Heard she was fucking both of ’em,” the buzzed brunette gossips.

Her friend laughs right along with her and says, “She’s so money hungry, too. I have a feeling she’s doingwaymore than just gambling money. Heard she sucked a cop’s dick to make bail.”

Anger flares in my chest as I turn my head to really look at these two. I can tell Maggie’s working something out in her head by the way her posture changes. She heard them. She looked in her element, relaxed, as she talked with one of the bronco riders. I hate that she overheard small-town closed minds.Fucking bitches.

My phone buzzes as I watch her storm off.

BLACKSTONE

You’ve been keeping some secrets from me, Rosie. I’m not interested in playing along with them anymore.

ROSIE GOLD

Seems like you’ve been keeping secrets for, and from, a lot of people.

BLACKSTONE

I enjoyed our time together. Be careful. Plenty of people are observing, Rosie. But you like that, don’t you? Being watched?

ROSIE GOLD

I would tell you to go fuck yourself, but we both know that’s the kind of direction you like.

BLACKSTONE

Don’t tease me, Rosie.

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