Page 112 of Lemon Crush

Another witch name. Why was I not surprised?

If she was anything like her dam, Wanda would be a quiet, sweet beauty, and August would have a puppy of her own for the first time. Whether she stayed here or not, I wasn’t sure how much longer Merlin would be around, and I didn’t like the idea of her being alone. Not if I could help it.

Kingston followed me into the office. “Care to share what crawled up your ass this afternoon? Other than August having fun without you, that is.”

Crouching by the huge dog crate that took up half the floor, I laid the pup with her dozing mother and latched the gate, then rounded on him.

“What crawled up my ass? I’ll give you a hint. He was named after the place his dad got laid for the first time, and he keeps interrupting my work to get me to talk about my feelings for the camera. That is, when he isn’t busy trying to pick a fight with August’s closest friend for no reason I can see.”

Kingston frowned. “Dad only says that to tick me off. And Chick was backseat directing. I’m not sure why he came today. Who wears white pants to gut a car?”

I laid a warning hand on his shoulder. “I’ll admit that was a choice, but so is what you’re doing. Enough, okay?” I lowered my voice. “You’re right. We haven’t seen much of each other and I was hoping she’d be here, but I’m glad she took the extra chance to train. We’ll catch up later.”

She said we’d make time. I needed to hold her to that.

“There, that wasn’t so hard, was it? All you had to do was use your words.”

I squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t push it, smartass.”

The icehouse was back to full staff and we got our beers within minutes of being seated. We’d managed to snag a round table big enough for five that was right underneath a fan, so I set my cap on the table and leaned back with a sigh, savoring the cool breeze.

“What did you say to him, Kingston?” Chick asked. “He looks worse now than he did before.”

“He’s bitchy because his girl’s spending the day somewhere else. He was probably hoping for sex in the office.”

I gave him a dirty look. He wasn’t wrong, but I’d rather be crushed under a hydraulic lift than air out my problems to a bunch of gossipy busybodies. Or tell them we’d already lived out that particular fantasy weeks ago.

“Wade knows her driving lessons are more important than revving his engine,” Chick said.

“Damn straight,” Rick agreed before taking a swig of his beer. “Plus, the last thing a man needs is for the woman he’s into to see him crying like a baby over the loss of his favorite toy.”

I hadn’t cried. And I’d worked on that car for Sam, not my own gratification. “Fuck off.”

“He’s been leaning into his inner grouch for days now,” Chick said, peeling the label off the sparkling water he’d brought along.

“You haven’t seen my grouchy side yet,” I warned him.

“We all have,” Kingston countered. “Because there’s nothing inner about it.”

Chick snickered and took a drink. “From what I hear, I doubt it could be any louder than his frisky side. It’s a good thing I brought my headphones on this visit.”

Rick leaned his forearms on the table, studying me with renewed interest. “That escalated quickly. Gene was practicing a ‘before you mess with August’ speech for our next get-together, but Morgan told him he was too late.”

“It’s none of his business. Or yours.”

“She’s Morgan’s sister,” Rick said as if that settled the argument. “That makes it all of our business.”

“Her grown-ass sister doesn’t need anyone warning boys off of her porch with a gun.”

“Thank you, Kingston,” Chick said.

“I do own a lot of guns,” Rick added casually.

I was aware. And according to Gene, no one was a better shot.

“That took a dark turn,” Chick said with amusement instead of trepidation. He’d learn.

“He also has a speech for August,” Rick continued, volunteering more information than he had in the last six hours. “But hers is more about why she needs to let him pick the theme.”

---