Page 68 of Big Bad Wolfe

Loucinda snorted. “Not unless the judge rides the short bus to work, sugar.” She turned to Jillian and Zane. “Forget her. Want to see the primo appliances I’m orderin’ for the new kitchen?”

Jillian inclined her head. Wiser to let their lawyer handle Brooke. Mia was more than up to the task. “You bet, but let’s go to the office where it’s quiet, and allow Pop and his crew to get back to installing the drywall.”

After a last appreciative glance at Loucinda, Dean’s lips quirked in a farewell smile and he strode toward the rear door.

Jillian and Zane headed for the outer corridor with Loucinda behind them.

Halfway there, Jillian heard Loucinda’s feet stumble, and then a yelp burst from her friend as she fell.

“Loucinda!” Jillian spun, dropped to her knees beside her. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

Loucinda moaned. Rocking back and forth, she gripped her right calf. “I tripped over a power cord and fell right out of my damned shoe. My ankle smarts somethin’ fierce.”

As Dean barreled across the room, Zane also knelt beside Loucinda. “I’ve had field medical training. Let me take a look.” Dean hovered in guard-dog mode while Zane gently palpated Loucinda’s ankle. “It might be broken. At the very least, it’s a bad sprain. Better get her to the hospital for x-rays.”

Dean shoved Zane aside and scooped Loucinda into his arms.

“Dean Ramsay!” In spite of her obvious pain, Loucinda laughed. “Put me down this instant! My weight will strain your back and then we’llbothneed x-rays.”

“Hell, woman, you’re as light as foam insulation.” Dean’s grin shone with the glint of mischief Jillian had so rarely seen since her mom died. “Not a burden at all.”

Despite her worry for her friend, happiness sang through Jillian. She was getting her father back after years of living with a faded copy. She reached to retrieve Loucinda’s chartreuse shoe from the snarled cord, and froze.

Brooke crouched in the middle of the floor, clipboard in hand. The eerie light illuminated half her face, shadowing the other in darkness. She stared at the group, a venomous sneer twisting her elegant mouth. Curving along the floor suspiciously close to her was the thick industrial extension cord to the power saw, which had been plugged in on the opposite wall but now lay as limp and lifeless as a dead cobra.

Jillian’s pulse drummed in her ears. Had Brooke deliberately tripped Loucinda?

Brooke shifted and saw Jillian staring at her. The fluorescents lit her full-on and concern washed her expression. “Oh, dear, what a terrible accident.”

Jillian frowned. “It better have been,” she warned as she stood and handed Loucinda her shoe.

She really wanted to accompany Loucinda to the hospital. But that would leave the center without anyone in charge and Dean insisted he’d oversee Loucinda’s care. Jillian and Zane escorted the couple as far as the parking lot, where Zane opened the door to her dad’s truck and Dean tenderly lifted Loucinda into the seat.

Her friend was smiling in admiration at her father as the two drove off.

Jillian turned to Zane. “Did you see anything odd after Loucinda fell?”

His lips curved. “I think it’s kinda cool that your father’s got a jones for her. Go Pop.”

“I think so, too, actually. I didn’t mean them. I meant Brooke. I— It looked like she might have tripped Loucinda with the cord.”

Raven brows lowered. “I didn’t see that. I was focused on Loucinda’s injury. You believe Brooke has it in her to purposefully injure Loucinda?”

“She’s self-involved and can be thoughtless, but … No, I was upset and because I don’t like her, I probably just jumped to the wrong conclusion.” Jillian licked suddenly dry lips. “Speaking of injuries … about what my dad said in there … He’ll hit you directly between the eyes with his honest opinion—”

“I noticed. Now I know where you get it from.”

“He’s a blustery force to be reckoned with, but Zane, I’ve never in my life seen him lift a violent hand to anyone. He didn’t even spank my brothers or me, not once. He wouldn’t really physically attack you.”

“Yeah, he seems like he has his head on straight.”

“So you’re not afraid of him?”

“Of course not. Any man in his right mind wouldn’t be thrilled about his daughter marrying a stranger. He obviously loves both you and Casey.”

“He terrifies most people when he gets riled.”

Grimness sharpened his chiseled features. “Not much scares you when you’ve survived the devil himself.”

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