Page 211 of Love Bites

CHAPTER9

Friday, July 13th

Bighorn Billy’s bustled with fanny-pack wearing tourists.

My orange juice tasted a little bitter this morning. Either someone had slipped a few greenies into the juicer, or my shitty mood had soured my taste buds. Probably the latter.

Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River” poured out the overhead speakers, mixing with the clinks and clangs drifting through the kitchen’s swinging saloon doors. The aroma of fried bacon had my stomach snarling out demands.

Mona sat across the table, looking very Grace Kelly-ish in her pink and white polka dot sweater. A matching silk scarf secured her auburn hair. Jane and Ray hadn’t shown up yet.

“How did it go with Addy last night?” Mona asked.

The memory of Addy’s volcanic reaction to my veto on the sleep-over idea made me sigh. “Same as usual. She hates me. I’m a mean, horrible mother. She wishes I’d never had her.”

“Just because you banned any future sidewalk sales?”

“Because Ineverlet her doanything.” Lately, superlatives slipped off Addy’s tongue like it was coated with butter. “Plus, I’m making her return the chicken.”

“What about the kittens?”

“They have to go, too, probably.” I hadn’t had the heart to add them to the chopping block last night. Staring down Addy’s tears had been too tough.

“Any idea who Addy’s candy man is?”

I shook my head. “Layne’s description of him didn’t spur any recognition from Aunt Zoe.”

“Has he asked Addy to go with him anywhere?”

“No. The only thing she could remember—besides him talking about his niece’s cat—was asking if her father was around.”

“Hmmm. That’s kind of suspicious—but not.”

“Exactly.”

I waited for the waitress to refill Mona’s coffee and leave before continuing. “Natalie thinks he’s probably just lonely, looking to make a friend.”

However, Natalie had also been loopy from the painkillers, so what did she know—except not to walk on wet tin roofs while wearing cowboy boots anymore. Her newly fractured fibula had not only put her out of commission for a few weeks, but also sank one of my most promising battleships in the war against Ray and his nephew.

Stirring a packet of Splenda into her coffee, Mona raised her brows. “What do you think?”

“I think he needs to stay away from my daughter.” Along with Jeff Wymonds.

After I’d lectured both kids last night about taking candy from strangers, I’d talked to them about the kidnappings—all of them. When I was finished, Addy had just stared at me, apparently speechless for once. Layne’s only question had been if the police had checked Emma’s bike for fingerprints—I should have named him Sherlock Jr.

“You figure out who your secret admirer is?” Mona asked.

“Not a clue.” I had my fingers crossed that my chicken-rescuing cupid had let my love for daisies be known to Wolfgang the other night while we were all at his place.

“Morning, Red,” Ray said as he slid into the booth seat next to Mona. His yellow, button-up shirt emphasized his fake tan and light blue eyes. He smirked at me. “How’s the Hessler house remodel going, short-timer? Has your girlfriend broken a nail replacing the gutters or windows yet?”

Mona leaned across the table, a frown on her glossy pink lips. “I thought you were just fixing up the inside and giving the lawn a manicure. You didn’t mention exterior work.”

It was my turn to frown. “Of course we need to fix the exterior. The roof is missing shingles, the eaves are rotting, and the paint is just flakes barely clinging to the wood in several spots.” And that was just the easy stuff, according to Natalie.

“Oh, Vi. That’s bad—”

“Any buyers yet?” Ray interrupted Mona with an unreadable glint in his eyes that made me feel vulnerable, like I was wearing one of those open-backed, paper hospital gowns.

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