Page 39 of Spindrift

Sheserved up the first steaks, along with the mushrooms she’d cooked carefully toone side of the grill, then moved on to the next batch and the vegetable kebabsLillian had prepared as a side.

“Thoselook delicious,” Emilia said from behind her. Morgan caught the undefinablescent of her perfume.

“Youdidn’t get some this round?” She turned in time to catch Emilia tucking a lockof hair behind her ear.

“Igave mine to Stevie.”

Morganglared at Stevie, who didn’t notice. She’d chosen a particularly fine slice forEmilia. “I’ll make sure some gets to you this time.”

“I’mfine.”

“You’realways fine,” Morgan said, keeping her voice light. “I see you lost yourhitchhiker.”

“Sheleft me to go beg.”

“Her,‘I only have one front paw, look at how sad I am’ routine is pretty effective. Nelldidn’t want to come?”

“Shesometimes gets overwhelmed in crowds, and then I stress over her, and…” Emiliatrailed off and made a looping gesture with her hand.

“Where’dyou get her?”

“Greyhoundrescue I worked with. She had a really bad case of anaplasma, and the rescuecouldn’t afford to treat it. I couldn’t bring myself to put her down.” Shelooked away. “I’ve put down hundreds of animals. But not Nell.”

“Somedogs are just like that. They reach up inside you—” she brandished the tongsshe was using to rotate the kebabs—"and steal your heart.”

“Theyreally do.” Emilia’s voice was soft and sad, and Morgan barely refrained fromwrapping her arms around her.

“Aclient gave me Kraken. Her bitch had a huge litter. I was at the farm, and thelittle fucker clamped onto my boot with his teeth and wouldn’t let go. Followedme all over the place.”

“Doeshe still bite shoes?”

“Stealsthem. Sometimes he buries them in Lil’s garden, which is actually convenient,because it means we get them back.”

“Nell’sinto dirty underwear.”

Morganshook her head. “Classy girl. Dogs, man. What do you think cat people talkabout?”

“Mr.Twinkly knocked my drink off the counter again!” Emilia said in a high, nasalvoice.

Morganburst into laughter.

“What?”Emilia said in the same voice.

“Idid not expect that.”

“Youlive with Stevie. Shouldn’t you expect anything?”

“Yeah,but Stevie’s a freak. You’re . . .” She trailed off.

“Youdon’t think I’m a freak?” Emilia asked in her normal voice. Well, not quitenormal. It was the same voice she’d used to tease Morgan about how she’d gettips working at the bar. Her pulse leapt.

“I’mstill compiling evidence.”

“Thankyou for inviting me, by the way. I like your friends a lot.”

“Don’tbe too nice to them, or they’ll end up being your friends, too.” She shoved herhands in her back pockets to avoid a second burn.

“I’dlike that.”

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