Page 23 of Coty

“Uh, Emily.” I lay the envelope on the table and push it to her. “I didn’t give you this.”

I mentally kick myself. If I had thought to slip a few bucks into her apron that night, I would have. She sure needs it. Not a hundred, though. That’s too obvious.

"Who else would do it?" She looks at the money as if it holds some secret. Well, it does, but she won’t find it written on there.

Good question. I wish I had the answer for her.

“You’re beautiful. Maybe one of those college guys fell in love with you that night.” I grin and playfully wiggle my eyebrows. “He could come back looking for you.”

“Oh, please. No, not that. It was bad enough when we thought the flower deliveries at the bakery were from a secret admirer.” She sighs and looks away. “That would have been a better option, though.”

The heavy, gloomy feeling from earlier tonight settles over us again.

At first, Jack believed Emily or one of her employees had a secret admirer. Those floors were from Lily’s abusive ex. Each carried a message. The last one warned of Lily’s death. As beautiful as flowers are, they can be creepy, too. A knock at the door startles us from our thoughts.

“Were you expecting someone?”

I shake my head. Emily opens the kitchen drawer again and pulls out the knife Jay gave her. My eyes widen when she flips it open with ease. Whoa. Just how many knife lessons did Jay give her? Maybe I should talk to him if Emily is this comfortable using a knife.

She silently moves through her small living room to the front door. She checks the peephole and glares at me over her shoulder. What? Why am I in trouble?

Emily closes the knife, slips it into her pocket, and opens the door. “Hey, Rodeo. Come on in.”

Great. I should have known. I speak kindly once, and now he’s everywhere.

“Emily.” His eyes land on me as he steps inside.

“Wonder what brought you by?” She wiggles her eyebrows at me this time. She’s insane.

“Just making sure you two are good for the night. Need anything?”

“I need a shower. Kayla can get you a beer or cup of coffee.” Emily slips off to her room. She’s not smooth about this at all.

Coty and I stand in the living room, maybe four feet apart. Neither of us seems to know what to say. He’s not going to leave quietly. My stupid hormones just had to weaken and let him in a little.

‘You want a beer or coffee?”

“Neither.”

“Why are you really here?”

“Just wanted to see you were okay.” He breaks eye contact first and looks away.

I shake my head. He really is an idiot sometimes. “You know we're okay. You and Hendrix followed us to my apartment, then here. And Bankz has ridden by twice in twenty minutes.”

His head snaps back to me. “How do you know Bankz has been by?”

I laugh. His jealousy is kind of cute. It’s annoying, too. “His Mustang has a distinctive sound.”

“Okay.” He nods, more to himself than me. “I’ve checked the backyard and the neighborhood. The Millers around the corner had a party. They’re still rowdy.”

The Millers do not like the Vikings. They’re not church goers, either. Still, if a side has to be taken, they’ll side with anyone against the club. They’re known for causing problems of their own around town.

“If we have any problems, we’ll let you know.” My apartment would have been the quieter option.

The awkward silence falls between us again. Emily loudly fumbles around in the bathroom and turns the shower on. She and I are going to have to talk about her subtle skills, or lack thereof. Stealthy is not her thing.

“We need to talk.”

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