Page 18 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“Just ate there. See you, Sydney Jane.”

Her fingers wrapped around his wrist.

“We haven’t had much time together, JD.” She pouted.

“I’m busy right now, Sydney Jane. But I overheard Beau Keller saying how hot you were, and he’s just gone into CTC. Maybe you could take pity on him and share his table this morning?”

“Really?”

JD nodded, keeping his expression solemn.

“Okay, see you around, JD.” She hurried by him and headed toward CTC.

“Job done,” JD muttered.

He looked for Zoe but only saw Birdie talking to Mrs. C, the owner of Petticoat Homeware, which suggested to him she was likely inside.

JD told himself he was following her because he wanted to see if she was okay. He also wanted to see how she’d react to him. Would there now be a simmering tension? Or would that only be on his part, and she’d be hostile toward him like she usually was?

“Hi, Mrs. C, Birdie,” he said as he reached them.

“Morning, JD. Waffles for breakfast?” Mrs. C asked.

“With blueberry and lemon curd,” he added, and Birdie hummed her appreciation.

“I could eat those about now, but I still have to finish my run.”

“And your running partner is slacking off inside?”

“Ha-ha, I dare you to say that to her,” Birdie said. “She’ll tear you a new one.”

When Birdie had become his office administrator, he’d likened her to a newborn chick. Raised by hippies, she had no street smarts and was far too nice to everyone. But that had changed when she’d fallen for his friend. Now she was protected on all fronts by big grumpy Sawyer Duke, and JD had to say he was happy about that. She was one of his people, and he was relieved he didn’t have to worry about her as much anymore.

“We’ll see about that,” he said.

“Be a dear and help Zoe move those two chairs I just got delivered, will you, JD?” Mrs. C said.

“You’re not lifting stuff, are you? You told me the doctor said you had to rest,” JD said.

“I’m resting, but things need doing, boy.”

“Drag that son of yours down here.”

She snorted. “Boy’s useless as thepin raspberry for anything but working those fingers doing that gaming.”

JD just might have to set a Duke on Clay Copeland. He was sure one of them had gone to school with him.

“Want me to send Zoe out?” He made for the door.

“You can try,” Birdie said with a smirk on her face.

“You’re turning into Sawyer. Watch that,” he said, walking through the open door.

Zoe was attempting to pick up a chair.

“Need a hand with that?”

“No.” She didn’t even look at him.

---