Page 22 of Mustang Summer

“Yeah.”

She refused to cry again, but when she thought that her best friend sat across from her in cuffs, she almost failed.

“Don’t worry about me, Jo.I’ll be fine.”

“Why’d you stick to the not-guilty plea?I thought they were going to cut you a deal.”

He rolled a heavy shoulder, his eyes dark with hostility.“Because that land should’ve been mine.”

Josie steeled herself against her brother’s stubborn nature.At least he was only hurting himself this time—and her—instead of destroying someone’s property.

Jesse must’ve read her remorseful expression.“I don’t think it would’ve mattered.”

No, neither did she, but she appreciated his attempt to make her feel better.Nothing could make this situation better, unless her brother admitted how wrong he’d been.

“Look,” his voice thickened, “take care of yourself while I’m gone.Keep out of Bill’s mess.”

“I always do.”

Jesse shook his head.His hair had grown so shaggy, it curled around his collar and gave her brother a roguish look that fit his orange jumpsuit.“No, he’s gotten worse since Mom died.”

More controlling, too, but she couldn’t burden Jesse with that.“Bill looks out for me at least.Doesn’t let me do the books for…” She glanced at the cameras in the room.

“Bill’s out for Bill.”

“He took care of you.”It was a sad attempt at easing Jesse’s mind, but she didn’t want him worrying.

“He did what he had to and no more because I wasn’t his.Bill’s a coward and I don’t want to see you crash with his car because he doesn’t know when to stop.”

Wasn’t that rich, coming from her brother in jail’s finest threads.Anyway, she’d be smarter than that…wouldn’t she?She’d been a daddy’s girl, a damn parrot until boys had started noticing her in high school.Then Bill had closeted her away as much as possible and she’d taken the betrayal hard.

Josie didn’t dare mention how dire the financials were getting with the garage.Jesse had enough to stress about and too much time on his hands.Once again, she was torn with fury at him for what he did and a chasm’s worth of regret.

What if Brock had caught her drooling over his collection?She’d snuck around his land when Jesse first mentioned coming to Moore to check out his family legacy.

This guy, Jo.His collection is unreal and he restores them all by himself.

Her gut told her that as long as she hadn’t damaged one of Brock’s classics, he would’ve given her a tour and geeked out with her.But then she might’ve been in trouble right along with Jesse.

Josie needed a change of subject.Bill wasn’t going to change and sitting here talking about him wouldn’t help.

“Bill’s got a bead on a ’68 Shelby.”Why’d she bring the car up?She couldn’t go into the details of how Bill wanted to trick Mr.Blackwood so they could flip it for six digits.

Jesse whistled.“That’ll be a sweet payday.How much work will it need?”

“The guy took real good care of it, but it hasn’t run for years.It was something special for him and his wife.”

“Why’s he getting rid of it?His kids have got to know how much it’s worth.”

“They’re not car people, and he has the farm to pass down to them.”She paused, then decided to confide in Jesse.“The owner…he wants the car to go someone who really cares about it.He’s very sentimental.”

Jesse snorted.“And he’s thinking of selling to Bill?”

She shook her head.“Me.”

Jesse arched a dark brow.

Squirming in her seat, she continued, “The business could really use the money from the sale.Bill thinks it could bring in a hundred and eighty thousand.”

---