Page 82 of Hold the Line

“Okay.”

“Okay. Don’t come running to me when you’re hard up for cash. You’recleannow, so what the hell could you want with me?”

I cleared my throat. “My lunch break’s over. I need to get back on the road. Good luck, Rich.”

“Sure thing, Deke. Sure goddamn thing.”

I tossed my phone aside and sat in the silent cab of the truck, my head hanging in my hands. When did I get to move on?

I already knew that answer. Richie would keep grabbing at me until he got bored with me, and there was nothing I could do to stop him.

I walked into Sugar Rush a few minutes before closing, unsurprised to see Hannah Kelly there. She was a regular fixture, guarding her sister like a pit bull. She was unsure of me, but given her history with my brother, her wariness made sense. Still, I liked her.

Phoebe had a spine of steel but a soft heart. Left to her own devices, she’d probably let her customers linger all night, but Hannah charged in and got rid of them in minutes. Anyone who protected Phoebe that fiercely was more than all right in my book.

“Deke,” Hannah cried, hopping up from the table she’d been sitting at drinking some kind of iced coffee. “You’re here.” She charged toward me.

I stopped short at her enthusiastic greeting.Thissurprised me. “I am.”

From behind the counter, Phoebe called out to me. “Look at Hannah’s ring, Deacon. Isn’t it beautiful?”

Hannah was already in front of me, flashing her left hand. A silver band with a square emerald caught the light as she wiggled her fingers.

“You’re looking at a fiancée, Deke.” She beamed, sharing her happiness. “Remi proposed last night. What do you think?”

She shoved her hand closer, and I took it, tilting it left and right. I didn’t know a damn thing about jewelry, but I knew she wanted me to be excited with her.

I looked up and smiled. “Congratulations. The ring’s really pretty. Suits you.”

“Doesn’t it?” She took her hand back to gaze at her ring and sighed. “I didn’t think I was a ring girl, but apparently I am.”

Phoebe approached then, wiping her hands on her frilly pink apron. When she reached me, she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine.

“Hey, honey,” she said softly.

“Sugar.” I smoothed a hand down her shoulder and around her waist, pulling her a little closer. “Looks like it’s been a good day.”

“It has.” She slung her arm around Hannah’s shoulders and gave her a playful shake. “My sister’s getting married. How can it be a bad day?”

“Can’t be,” I agreed.

While Phoebe finished up, Hannah made me sit with her so she could tell me about the proposal. We’d never been friends back in the day and had barely spoken, yet she spoke to me like we had been. Before Phoebe, I wouldn’t have known how to handle this kind of openness, but I’d learned when it came to the Kelly women, going along for the ride was the only choice.

All Hannah needed from me was to listen and nod at the right moments of her story and she was happy. She even gave me a one-armed, bone-crushing hug before she took off.

The one she gave Phoebe was full-bodied and looked just as bone-crushing, but my girl took it like she was used to it.

On the way home, Phoebe held my hand tight. I studied her as we talked, trying to get a read on her feelings. It was clear she was happy, but there was something else I couldn’t grasp.

“This guy, Remi, he’s good to Hannah?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, he is.” She bumped her head against my shoulder. “When I was growing up, he was like the fifth kid in our house—always over for meals and spent most weekends on the ranch. He lost his mom when he was young, and his dad was dealing with demons too big to make him a good father, so my parents filled in all the gaps they could. Now, he’s going to be an official member of our family by marrying Hannah, who he pretty much worships. So, yeah, I’m pretty damn pleased.”

“You’ve got some good parents, Phoebe.”

“Luck of the draw,” she said.

“Luckier than most.”

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