Page 19 of Faking I Do
I swiveled on the stool to face her. “Just curious. She’s had a rough first week on the job. I hope it’s not getting to her.”
“Lacey?” Jojo waved a hand. “That girl’s not made out of sugar, spice, and everything nice. She’s got ice running through those veins of hers. I’ve never seen someone able to stay so cool and collected. And let me tell ya, working around Helmut,”—she nudged her chin toward the grill—“that’s really saying something.”
“Good. I’d hate to think this thing with the import business had her rattled.”
“If you don’t mind me saying so, it’s probably about time your dad and pops found someplace else to settle down.” She leaned closer, whispering into the narrow space between us. “Lots of folks aren’t so happy with the way your family’s been doing business around here lately.”
I backed away, evaluating her expression to gauge how serious she was.
Jojo’s brow drew down, causing her forehead to crease. “I didn’t say nothin’, okay?”
“Nothin’,” I agreed.
The bell dinged and Jojo whirled around, snagging a brown paper bag from the window. “Here you go. Double Banzai burger loaded and two patties on the side.” She passed the bag to me, but didn’t let go as my hand wrapped around the top. “You’re not doing one of those weird high-protein diets, are you?”
“No. The extra patties are for the dog.”
“You got yourself a dog?” Jojo let go of the bag and tucked her arms under her chest. “What did you get, a pup, or what?”
“It’s a rescue from For Pitties’ Sake. Lacey and I found it in a parking lot the other day.”
Jojo’s jaw clenched. “Those poor animals. Someone’s got to figure out where they’re coming from.”
“I’m working on that.” I stood, taking the bag with me. “Have a good night now.”
“You, too, Deputy Phillips.”
I pushed through the door, smiling as I caught sight of Shotgun standing behind the wheel on the seat of my truck. As I approached, the dog’s backside wiggled faster and faster.
“Brought you something.” I reached into the bag, pulling out one of the plain hamburger patties. Zina had sent me home from the rescue center with a whole bag of dry kibble. Based on the way Shotgun reacted to the scent of fresh-fried ground beef, she much preferred something hot off the grill as opposed to kibble straight out of the bag.
The dog gulped down the burger patty in one big bite. Then sat down on the passenger seat, wagging her tail in anticipation.
“We’re saving the other one until we get home.”
Shotgun must have sensed she wasn’t going to get another treat. She curled up as best she could into a ball and lay down. Her legs hung over the edge. She was going to be big, that was obvious from the size of her paws. I figured I wouldn’t be able to keep the dog much longer. But I’d enjoy the company while I could.
“Let’s go, girl.” I laid a hand on Shotgun’s head and pulled out of the parking lot. I had a long night ahead of me if I wanted to figure out how to handle the meeting between Lacey and my family tomorrow with minimal collateral damage.
CHAPTER 10
LACEY
“Excuse me?”I tried to summon a polite smile. However, present company made the task so much more difficult. “You want to do what?”
Mr. Phillips leaned across the kitchen table and wrapped his fingers around the handle of the coffee mug I’d set in front of him over an hour ago. “No harm, no foul. You let us take back our stuff and we’ll get out of your hair and not put up a stink about your new plans for the house.”
Did he really think he actually had the right to put up any kind of stink? I leaned against the back of my chair, trying to size up Bodie’s dad. “You realize you defaulted on the agreement you had. So legally everything in that warehouse is now the property of the town. Including all the inventory.”
Bodie’s granddad reached for one of the cookies I’d set out. On my mama’s fine china, no less. “These cookies are really good. You make them yourself?”
“Yes—well, no. Actually, Dad made them.” I glanced at my dad, who’d remained silent throughout the interaction.
The senior Phillips let out a chuckle. “So that’s what you’re doing with your spare time now, Wyatt?”
Dad’s face reddened but he didn’t say anything.
“My father’s very busy. He’s working as a consultant.” How dare they come into my home and insult my dad. If the Phillips family thought that was going to work in their favor they were sorely mistaken.
