Page 114 of Will Bark for Pizza
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
Lila squealed. Lotti clapped. Thelma spewed a string of approving curses. Grandma Connie looked as though she might cry, but in a good way. Excited chatter erupted around the table, the book club already making plans.
But it was Beckett’s simple smile that spoke the loudest.
There was nothing but genuine support in his expression.
“Beck, get your ass back here,” Luke called across the room. “We’re not doing all the grunt work without you.”
With one last lingering look, he hurried back to help my brothers with the rest of the boxes.
He’s different, an inner voice whispered.
More than going public or doing my first signing, that mere thought was the scariest of them all.
THIRTY-THREE
BECKETT
Flashingred and blue lights bounced off the glass of the new living room window I installed earlier this week, drawing my attention to the police cruiser rolling to a stop out front of the Kniffen Street house.
My chest tightened with dread at the sight of Luke’s SUV. Was he here to harass me about spending too much time at the bookstore? Or did he somehow find out about that kiss? Sure, it was last weekend, but it felt like yesterday. Like moments ago. It also would be like him to hold on to the knowledge long enough to make someone squirm.
I tensed.
Until Nana hopped out of the passenger seat, a giant smile spread across her face.
Luke waved at me, waiting for Nana to reach the front porch before climbing back behind the wheel and killing the lights.
“I see you conned him into a ride-along after all,” Isaid, shaking my head in amusement. Nana had a way of getting what she wanted from almost anyone. I think she enjoyed figuring out what made someone tick. What it took to not only convince someone to give in to her wishes, but to also have fun while doing it.
Even if Luke was scowling now as he drove off, I’d bet my bank account that grumpy ass had fun with Nana riding shotgun during his patrol.
“Did you doubt it?” Nana had been wearing Luke down one family dinner at a time. He insisted he didn’t offer ride-alongs. Nana took his challenge to heart.
“I’m smarter than that.”
Nana raised an eyebrow, as if to ask,are you?
“Did you have a good time?”
“It was a boring fucking day. Typical small town. Not even a speeder to pull over. But he let me turn on the siren to scare a couple of elk off the road, away from traffic.”
Mischief sparkled in Nana’s eyes. She could be a hardass, and often was. But she also knew how to let loose and have a little fun—something she had proven with this family since she arrived.
Two days ago, she convinced Connor and Opal to take her out on the boat they rarely used. Joe invited her on a property sale tour yesterday, which resulted in at least one offer made. He wasn’t even looking for property himself. Quite possibly it was the house on Blue Spruce Lane I mentioned, and no longer had the funds to acquire. And last night, she convinced Connie to tag along with her to bingo, where she proceeded to win the big jackpot. Nana didn’t have any use for a hundred and fiftydollars when she had millions in the bank, so she donated it back to the Legion.
I didn’t have to feel guilty about the hours I worked. Nana didn’t have much time to spend withme.
“You want to see the place?” I offered, waving my hand to the open front door.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
I gave her a quick tour, explaining my vision, since there wasn’t much to show for it right now.
“This is the first property that’s needed a total gut job, but the location can’t be beat. Whether I rent it short- or long-term, I think it’ll pay for itself pretty quickly.”
“I thought you’d be a little further on this house by now,” Nana said as we headed back downstairs. Because I’d been spending extra time at the bookstore for the past couple of days, I was behind schedule, and Nana knew it.
