Page 140 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

Cat saw the stark pain flicker across Jess’s features. Her black brows drew together and with a deep breath, she seemed to get herself under control. Cat wanted to reach out to her, but she suspected the overture wouldn’t be welcome.

“Anyway, with a little nudging from Dad and Jared, I decided to work in Copper Creek instead,” Jess said. “So, I left Phoenix and came home.”

“A little nudging, eh?” Cat asked.

“Like a pair of bulldozers.” Jess’s eyes brightened, and she laughed.

“I know the feeling,” Cat said. “I have a bulldozer of a brother myself.”

“Hey, Cameron might be a bulldozer, but I have more finesse,” Jared protested.

“Finesse?” Jess gawked. “You have about as much finesse as a wrecking ball. Nag, nag, nag. You’re like a cranky mama hen pecking at her chicks.”

“I am not,” Jared protested.

“Are, too,” Jess said.

“Am not,” he said.

“Are, too,” she said.

“Children,” Mr. McLean interrupted them, and Cat burst out laughing.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “But I’m having a flashback from the trip.”

She and Jared looked at each other and grinned. “The Bickersons,” they said in unison.

“Who?” Jess asked.

“This looney couple we kept running into on the trip,” Cat said. “We first met them in Ohio, where they did nothing but squabble, and then we kept seeing them on the road. We even had to make a getaway in the mountains because we got so paranoid that they were following us.”

“Following you?” Jess asked, frowning with concern.

Cat recounted all of their encounters with the Bickersons.

“What do you make of the different RVs we saw them in?” Jared asked.

“Sounds like grand theft to me,” Jess said. “I’ll look into it and see if anything has been reported. If they have some kind of a stolen RV ring going, you two might be able to help out by giving a description.”

“Let me know what you find out,” Cat said.

“I will,” Jess promised.

A soft breeze cooled the night air, and Cat felt a deep sense of contentment fill her as she sipped her coffee and watched the sun disappear behind the mountainous horizon. As if sensing her mood, Jared reached between their chairs and laced his fingers with hers. Cat made no move to resist. Knowing she would have to leave soon, she squeezed his fingers in return. Just to let him know she cared.

All too soon, it was time for her to go home. She rose reluctantly from her seat. Both Mr. McLean and Jess rose with Jared to walk her out. The conversation continued through the living room until they stopped at the front door.

“Come and visit again soon,” Mr. McLean ordered her as he kissed her cheek.

“I will,” Cat agreed.

“And if ever you need me, you know where to find me.” Jess winked at her.

“Strolling down Main Street,” Cat teased and wished them a good night as Jared took her arm and led her out of the house.

“I like your family,” she told him.

“They like you, too,” he said. “Give me the keys.”

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