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“Say you’re out ... making sure I’m having a good time. That way, I’m not alone in a seedy bar?—”
“The people aren’t like that here.”
“People could see you for who you are.”
“And who am I, Mollie?”
“A grump with a heart of gold.”
He rolled his eyes, but he didn’t immediately say no. I counted it as a win. “You’ve obviously thought this through, except for the part where I have a child that can’t go to the bar.”
“No, I talked to someone about that.”
“Jackie offered to watch him, didn’t she?”
“You’re good at deduction.”
And good at looking like he wanted to murder me. “So, you two conspired?”
“A little bit.”
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered.
“What? She’s close with you. Why wouldn’t she want you to succeed?”
“She wants us to get together, princess.”
“What?” I shook my head. “Not Jackie. She’s seen us fight.”
“And so has the town.” He crossed his arms. “This is a terrible idea.”
“Could be a good one.” I crossed my legs and cocked my head to the side. “Why don’t you prove me wrong?”
“Really? Now you’re challenging me?”
“Is it working?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Your stubbornness is your downfall.”
“Fine. I’ll go to the baronce,but only because I wanna see you eat your words.”
“Youmight be the one eatingyourwords.”
“Get out of my room, princess.” He gestured for me to leave.
My stomach tightened. I didn’t want to go. There was something nice about being in this space with him, where he didn’t wear his ball cap and could take a break from working hard.
I wanted to spend more time with him like this. Just us. In a room.
And that meant things I didn’t want to think about. Things that weren’t good for me.
20
CAIN
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch