Page 57 of A Rose of Steel
“Who is that with him?” Auntie said, ignoring my observation, and pointing. She tried standing on toes to get a better look.
I looked in the direction she’d pointed. It was the first time I’d seen Rhett completely dressed in a suit. Usually by the time I saw him, he’d have changed into a pair of jeans and his ratty tennis shoes. And, again I had to concede, he looked handsome.
Very handsome.
But what Auntie wanted me to take note of was the woman that came in with him, and that made something jiggle in my stomach and dry up the saliva in my mouth.
She was a pretty woman. Younger than me, I could tell, with thick brown hair that wasn’t the least bit frizzed, and even thicker eyelashes. Her skin was smooth, even without makeup, an olive complexion that just seemed to glow. The two of them had a familiarity about them that would seem to transcend a working relationship.
And I couldn’t figure out why I cared.
“C’mon,” Auntie said. “Let’s go find out who she is,” she sidled up next to me and grabbed my arm. “Try not to act too jealous.”
I grunted and made a face. “That hadn’t even crossed my mind.”
“I don’t think you have to worry,” she said. “She’s probably the other half of his sting operation.”
“Hi,” Auntie Zanne said as we got over to them.
By that time she was practically pulling me. I just didn’t care to meet this woman. I tried to think about Alex, but that didn’t seem to work. All I could focus on was her face.
“I’m Babet,” Auntie was saying, her voice to me now seemed it came from a vacuum. “Are you a friend of Rhett’s?”
“This is Hailey Aaron,” Rhett said, smiling one of the smiles when the gold flecks in his eyes twinkled. “Hailey, I told you about Babet. Remember? I work for her. And this is...”
I didn’t know if he was getting ready to introduce me or not, but suddenly I didn’t care one bit about my ingrained southern manners—I didn’t want to meet her so I turned and walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I didn’t have anywhere to go. I’d come in the car with Auntie, and until she finished socializing, I couldn’t even get into the car. But the further I got away from flawless Hailey Aaron, the better I felt.
I gave one last look their way and turned back and ran smack into Piper, Boone and LaJay.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi again,” Piper said. “You were driving my mother crazy! I loved it.”
“I didn’t mean to do that,” I said. “I just had a few questions stuck in my brain.”
“Because you’re trying to figure out who killed Bumper?” LaJay asked.
“That’s for the police to do,” I said. I smiled at the young men. “I think that the both of you did a nice job eulogizing your friend.”
“Thanks,” they said nearly in unison.
“They have been so good to the family,” Piper said. “I wonder did Bumper know what good friends he had.”
“He would’ve done the same for us,” Boone said.
“Boone was at the hospital when we all got there,” Piper said. “Helping Mrs. Hackett getting everything together, going in the back to get info for them and then comforting her.”
“I only made it there before everyone else because when Mr. Hackett got there he was just too upset to drive,” Boone said.
“I’ve never seen Mr. Hackett like that,” LaJay said. “He always was so big and strong.”
“Yeah, I know,” Boone said. “It was scary, and then Mrs. Hackett.” He shook his head. “She’s always been like a mother to us and to see her so upset was heartbreaking.”
“Yeah,” Piper said, “it was heartbreaking.”
