Page 40 of No More Secrets

“Tell me right now if you need to be micromanaged, and we can drop this gig.”

“Nah, I got it.” She needs the cash. Shiloh lines up the tubs alongside the cold cuts in no particular order.

Lucas sighs, but he doesn’t correct her. “That’ll do. Just don’t come cryin’ to me when Ivy complains. She’s overly set in her ways.” He looks at the shelf behind them stocked with supplies. “We need fresh bread. Wait here.” He goes into the back.

Shiloh’s gaze trails over the food she and Lucas put out, and her stomach growls. She hears Lucas rustling around in the back, and shewonders if now is a good time to make herself a sandwich when the front door opens. In walks Ivy, the old woman who owns this place, and her eyes widen when she spots Shiloh standing behind the counter.

“Who are you?” she asks, coming closer.

Shiloh fidgets, afraid Ivy might recognize her and their sham is up before it gets started. She’d been in a few times before Lucas caught her and stole merch right under this woman’s nose. She probably should have told him that when he offered the job. Guilt sinks in her stomach. If she wasn’t so desperate she’d tell Lucas to not pay her until she earned out what she stole. She looks at her feet then the back door, wondering if working here is a bad idea and whether she should leave before Ivy calls the cops.

Ivy comes over to Shiloh, nothing between them but the deli counter that reaches both their chins. They’re about the same height.

“Have we met before?” Shiloh shakes her head, and Ivy tips hers, peering closer. She points to her cheekbone and asks, “What happened to your eye?”

Shiloh fumbles for words. The story she and Lucas concocted dissipates faster than a puff of smoke from Ellis’s cigar.

“Morning, Ivy,” Lucas says, returning to the front, carrying an armful of bread-roll bags, and Shiloh lets go of her breath, relieved he returned. “I see you’ve met my niece.” He says it with ease.

“Your niece?” Ivy exclaims. She takes another look at Shiloh, her eyes alight with interest. Shiloh forces a smile and gives her a small wave before hiding her hands in the deep pockets of the apron Lucas made her put on. “I didn’t know you had a niece. I didn’t even know you had a brother.”

“Sister. Two of them,” he shares, slipping behind the counter with Shiloh. He warns her with a look to not mention Jenna and stacks the clear plastic bags of sourdough and Dutch crunch rolls on the shelf above the back counter. “And you didn’t ask.”

“I’m sure I have. Shame on you for not letting me know. I would have told you to invite them over.” She smiles at Shiloh. “Welcome to the Dusty Pantry, dear. Are you sure we haven’t met? You look familiar.”

“No, I...” Shiloh shuffles away from the counter.

“She got in last night and will be staying for a few... for a while. All right if I put her to work? She has the tendency to get into trouble when she doesn’t have anything to do.”

“I do not,” Shiloh scoffs.

Lucas grunts.

Ivy clutches the thin gold chain with the cross pendant on her neck. “Lucas, you know I can’t afford another employee.”

“Give her a cut of mine,” he says, rounding the counter.

“I barely pay you enough as it is.”

“I’ll make do.” Lucas shrugs, and Shiloh waves both hands.

“I won’t take your money.”

Well, she would if he leaves out his wallet. She’d be too tempted not to. But she won’t freeload like her mom, taking handouts for nothing in return.

Sensing her dismay, he says to her in a voice only she can hear, “You’re not taking. You’re earning.” He turns to Ivy. “Can I get a moment with you?”

“We should talk about this money business. Your idea is silly.” Ivy retreats to the supply room, and after Lucas glances out the front window, his eyes narrowing, he follows her back where Shiloh knows he’ll tell Ivy the story they fabricated this morning.

Shiloh looks out the front windows, wondering what snagged Lucas’s attention. All she notices is his truck parked in front and that same gray car across the street alongside the road she saw last night. Dust covers the side panels, and the sun reflects off the windows, stinging her eyes. She can’t see who’s inside, if anyone.

Turning away, her gaze falls on the phone on the counter by the register. She almost whoops out loud. She could call Finn anytime shewants. She could swipe the cash in the register and leave now. Surely there’s enough money inside to get her by for several weeks if she plans it right. She wouldn’t have to waste time here.

“Shiloh.”

Her head snaps to the back room. Lucas stands in the doorway. Her face heats as if he knows exactly what she’s been thinking, what she’s planning.

“Make yourself a sandwich. There’s a table and chairs out back. You can eat there.”

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