Page 102 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

The tension between the couple was thicker than the mud Cat had scrubbed off. She could hear Jared in the bathroom and willed him to come out and save her from what appeared to be a full on argument between the couple.

“Since the investment was my idea, I think I’m the one who should make the decisions,” Fly said.

“If your decision was a smart one, I’d let you,” Mabel snapped.

The door to the bathroom opened and Jared stepped out. Cat jumped up from her seat and set her coffee mug down in the small sink.

“Well, we’d better be on our way,” she said. “Thanks for the use of your rest room.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Jared echoed as Cat pushed him out the door of the RV.

They trudged back to their van in silence until Cat cracked and said, “Interesting couple.”

“That’s one word for it,” Jared said. “My grandfather used to refer to couples like that as the Bickersons.”

Cat laughed. “That suits them.”

Jared let Lucy out of the van so that she could run around and do her business. He took Cat’s elbow to keep her from slipping in the mud. “I’m sorry about what happened before.”

“You’re sorry?” Cat repeated. “For yelling at me or kissing me?”

“Kissing you,” he admitted, looking flustered. “I...we...that shouldn’t have happened.”

“Why not?” she asked, feeling contrary. Maybe they shouldn’t have kissed, but hearing him say so made her feel compelled to argue.

“I’m your brother’s friend.” Jared waved an arm as if the answer were obvious. “It’s part of the code.”

“What code?”

“The best friends’ code. Guys don’t hit on their friend’s sister.”

“That’s in the code?” Cat asked.

“Yeah, right next to the one that states you never date a friend’s ex,” Jared said.

“That one I know, but the sibling one? No, I’ve never heard of that,” she said.

“It’s a guy thing,” he said. “Trust me. It exists.”

“So?” She plunked her hands on her hips, trying to level him with a hard glare.

“So? I can’t break the code. As your brother’s friend, I should keep my damn hands off you.” He walked past her and opened the sliding door of the van for Lucy to leap in. He clipped the puppy in and motioned for Cat to get in the passenger’s seat up front. She didn’t budge.

“Why?” She crossed her arms. “How does that have anything to do with us?”

“It’s a safe bet that Cam wouldn’t like me putting the moves on you.” He tried to propel her into her seat with a gentle nudge. She ignored him.

“Why? Did Cam say something?” Cat asked, feeling her temper burn. If Cameron had warned Jared away from her, she was going to wring his thick neck. She was a grown woman and she could take care of herself.

“He didn’t have to,” Jared snorted. “Now get in the van.”

“Oh, I see, you’re afraid of Cameron,” she said, ignoring Jared’s hand as he tried to bend her knee and get her to step into the seat.

“I am not afraid of him.” He snapped to an upright position.

“Sounds like it to me.” She shook her head in mock pity.

“I could whup your brother with one hand tied behind my back.” He crossed his arms over his chest.