Page 75 of The Mouse and the Maestro

“New Nick is cute,” the second woman said.

Jane pulled away from Blue, and forced her eyes open. “Hey, guys.”

Two women stood in the doorway. One wore a marine uniform. The other was approximately Jane’s height but fuller figured with a perpetually cheery expression.

“Hey, Janie,” the marine one said. “How’s the wound?”

“Hurts,” Jane replied.

“I baked cookies,” the plumper one said, holding a box aloft.

“Thank you.”

“Are you going to introduce us to New Nick?” the cookie one asked.

“If I have to,” Jane replied. “These are my sisters. Bailey’s the one in uniform, and Poppy is the baker. Guys, this is Blue Bishop.”

“How very alliterative it is to meet you,” Bailey replied. “What happened to Old Nick, the rat fink?”

“He’s still a rat fink,” Jane replied.

“Want me to kill him for you?” Bailey offered.

“Maybe,” Jane said.

“Wait, Old Nick is available?” Poppy said, and Bailey jabbed her in the arm.

“You can’t date Old Nick. Respect the Code.”

“I’m not a soldier,” Poppy said, rubbing the arm Bailey had jabbed.

“The sister code, you little weasel. Don’t make me punch you again,” Bailey threatened.

“Jane doesn’t care if I date Old Nick, do you Janie?” Poppy asked.

“Only on the basis that I think you could do a lot better,” Jane replied.

“What does New Nick do?” Bailey asked, regarding him with eyes so much like her father’s it was spooky.

“Computer stuff,” Blue answered.

“He works for Dad,” Jane added.

“Oh,” Bailey and Poppy drawled, assessing Blue with new regard.

“I didn’t know we were allowed to date people who work for Dad,” Poppy said. “This opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Who else do you know, New Nick?”

“Do not set Hurricane Poppy up with people you want to remain friends with,” Bailey warned, and now it was her turn to dodge Poppy’s blow.

“You guys are making a great first impression, thanks,” Jane said.

“We’ll make an even better one on Sunday,” Bailey promised.

Jane groaned. “No, you guys are going to be there, too?”

“And miss roasting New Nick? Not a chance,” Bailey said.

“Shame about Old Nick, though. We just got him broken in,” Poppy said.

---