Page 160 of The Body in the Backyard

“You’re getting married!” Jasmine threw herself at Riley and folded her into a very aggressive hug.

“I know. I FaceTimed you about thirty seconds after it happened,” Riley wheezed.

“Well, I know your mom is planning a vegan celebration dinner?—”

Riley groaned.

“But I wanted to give you your engagement present now,” Jasmine said. She reached into her stylish tote and pulled out a folder. “This is for you from me.”

Nick snatched the folder away. “Don’t steal my thunder, Patel.”

“Don’t ask for free legal work, Santiago.”

“I believe I was promised a present,” Riley said.

Nick handed over the folder. “I meant what I said.”

“About what? Killing Griffin now that he paid up?” she asked, pulling out the documents inside.

“About being partners.”

She skimmed the papers until her eyes got too misty to see the words. “This is a partnership agreement.”

“That’s right, Thorn. I’m giving you half my shares in the business.”

“Nick. This is…amazing. And not necessary.”

“I want us to be all in together on everything. Marriage, business, keeping Mrs. Penny out of prison,” he said earnestly.

“That’s very sweet of you, but?—”

“Nobuts. If I had done this from the start, we wouldn’t have been broke enough to take the job from Gentry. I’m not making that mistake again. So we’re both in this with equal say. If you see me being a dumbass in our personal lives or our business lives, you get to call me on it.”

“Really?” Riley asked, hugging the papers to her chest.

“Oh. It’s you,” Weber said, sauntering into the foyer.

Jasmine flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Ugh. Why are you in front of me again?”

“Why are all my friends so mean to each other?” Riley asked.

“I know you’re my fiancée and all, but ever think that maybe you’re the common denominator?” Nick suggested to her.

“I was the one invited to dinner. You’re the party crasher,” Weber said to Jasmine.

“I was invited, Detective Dick. But I was too busy drawing up these legal documents for my friends here,” Jasmine countered. “They probably only invited you out of pity.”

“Why don’t you two take your foreplay outside?” Nick suggested, ushering Jasmine and Weber toward the door. “I need to call a partners meeting and then have sex with my fiancée.”

“I’ll come by tomorrow after work with all the bridal magazines I can find. We can start comparing venues and dress shops,” Jasmine said to Riley over Nick’s shoulder.

“I love you,” Riley called after her.

“Congratulations again, you guys,” Weber said before following Jasmine out onto the porch.

“I can’t tell if they’re going to fight to the death or start making out,” Riley said.

Mrs. Penny jogged into the foyer, her fresh drink splattering all over the marble floor. “Somebody saypartners meeting?”