Page 48 of Dangerous Secrets
“Why are you giving methat look?”
“There aren’t all thatmany people on the farm.If it wasn’t Oscar or Franny, it must’vebeen Walker.”
“Then giving you flowerswas nice of him.”
Clara let out a delighted laugh.Delaney smiled, thrilled her grandmother could seize moments to behappy.
“I’m fairly certain I’mnot the Bryant he intended them for.He’s always loved you, and Idon’t think that’s changed.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.Walker’s not a flower-giving kind of guy.”At least she hadn’tthought so until she’d seen the clutch of sunflowers that’d pleasedAntonia Reynoso.
Huh.Delaney had enthused over Mrs.Watkins’s blooming flowers, some of them geraniums with blossoms inshades of pink.Maybe he did bring them over.
“He might’ve loved meonce, but that was a long time ago.There’s nothing between usnow.”
“Perhaps he’s showing youthereissomething between you.You could always ask him if he broughtthe flowers.”
Delaney stooped to pet Callie, who wasleaning against her leg.She shook her head at her grandmother’ssuggestion.“Maybe later.”Or maybe never.
She dug out a dog biscuit from the jaron the counter.“Here you go, baby.”Callie took the biscuit andcarried it to the rug, as she invariably did, and lay down to eather treat.
Delaney opened the refrigerator andpulled out an avocado and a pack of sliced turkey, then grabbed aloaf of bread from the basket on the counter.
Clara stacked the brochures and slidthem into a large envelope.“I won’t be back until later thisevening.After my appointment, I’m going over to DeeDee’s withthese flyers.We’re going to plan out what we want to see on ourtrip.She’s making a quiche and invited me to stay fordinner.”
“Other than the jabs, itsounds like a fun day.”
“It does.It takes moreeffort to go out these days, but I’m always glad when Ido.”
***
After Gran left, Delaney wolfed downher sandwich while listening to a podcast.The topic was innovativemethods farmers were using to mitigate the effects of farming onclimate change.One of her goals over the next year was to installsolar panels on the big house and the buildings in the retail area.She figured they would generate enough electricity to power thefarm’s operation, and even sell some back to the local powerprovider.The side-by-side was electric, and she wanted to switchthe rest of the farm vehicles to electric as soon asfeasible.
After convincing Callie to stay at thehouse, Delaney returned to the side-by-side and zipped down theroad.She had two interviews scheduled for possible summer workers,and then an appointment with a repair guy to look at the donutmaker.
If the gods were kind, whatever waspreventing the oil in the machine from reaching the temperatureneeded to fry mini donuts would be a simple and inexpensive fix.Simple and inexpensive were two of her favorite things.
Despite the red flags, afterconsulting with Clara, Delaney’d hired Cam.She and Gran decidedthey couldn’t turn away a woman on her own who obviously needed abreak.
The day they’d met, Cam had indeedwalked from town.She’d left her car at the motel—a Honda Civicthat looked almost as old as she did—because it was out of gas andCam had been out of cash.
Delaney had given her a ride back tothe motel for her things, and over the other woman’s objections,fronted her enough cash to put gas in her car.
She’d thought Cam would burst intotears when Delaney offered to let her live in one of the tinycottages on the farm they sometimes rented to workers.
Whatever else was going on in herlife, as an employee Cam was exemplary.
According to Franny, Cam was there,waiting on the steps when Franny arrived in the morning, and workednonstop her entire shift.Cam had asked if she could work in thebakery and so far, the experiment had paid off.
The day before Delaney had sampledapple tarts Cam had made.They’d been mouthwateringly delicious,with just the right combination of sugar and spice mixed with theapples, and an amazing crust that was light, sweet, andcrispy.
Delaney walked through the retail areaand into the bakery, and since she’d spotted a sheriff’s departmentcruiser parked in front, she wasn’t surprised to find Sawyer inuniform standing with Walker at the coffee bar.
Walker was pouring coffee into a metaltravel mug.He caught sight of her and the look in his eyes madeher think he’d gobble her up in one bite if given half achance.
Sawyer, on the other hand, had hisgaze on Cam, who stood behind the counter chewing her bottom lipand fiddling with the front tie of her apron.A nervous Cam was notunusual, but looking like she was ready to faint dead away ifsomeone so much as said “boo” was.
Perhaps being up close to a couple ofthe hottest guys in the county made her jumpy.Or, as Delaneyexpected was more likely, any cop would bring about thatreaction.
