Page 9 of Crocodile Tears
“Enemies? That’s certainly a strong word,” I retorted. “I see the Lachlan family loyalty is still ironclad.”
“In this particular instance, it’s conservationist loyalty so . . . " Crane saluted me as he started walking backwards. “I wish I could say it was good seeing you, Deacon. Talk to me when you want to start an Almadran skink breeding program."
Damn. Way to twist the knife deeper.
I remembered Luca saying that Crane was now the head reptiles keeper, so I supposed that tracked. Of course he was pissed at me about the skinks. The Lachlans seemed to be the only ones who even remembered the Zap incident. The rest of the world had moved on to juicier and less scientific gossip.
I didn’t know why they were trying to hold me personally responsible.Iwasn’t the one clear-cutting the island to dump factory waste on it. Just because I’d been contracted to sell the product, and just because sales had sky-rocketed since my endorsements, thereby needing more unethically built factories, didn’t mean I should get any of this misplaced hate.
Nope. Their anger is definitely misplaced.
I wanted to tell Crane, “Blame Zap for being bad at running a business, not me for being good at selling it.” But he was already walking away, and it felt weak to shout after someone to get the last word.
“Should've tried with an easier sibling,” I murmured to myself as Crane disappeared behind a bamboo hedge. “Of course I’m at the top of reptile guy’s shit list. I need to find the carnivores one.”
It was a surprisingly strange feeling to have someone be so blunt to my face. Neither wooed nor repelled by my status, Crane just simply didn’t like me, which was both refreshing and pretty awful too.
My publicist, Cody, suddenly appeared through the bored and waiting crew while Ivy and Gavin were still talking in frantic, hushed voices. I furrowed my brow at Cody’s harried expression. I thought he was working from the Holloway Estate today. He had his phone clutched in his hand, notifications making it buzz every second.
"Don't worry," he said, panting and ruddy-cheeked. "I'm already getting it under control."
My pulse quickened. That was never a good way to start a sentence.
"Get what under control?" I managed to see the TMZ video on his phone before he locked it. My heart leapt into my throat as I spied the face on the screen—the wire-rim glasses, the purple-dipped hair, the khakis with a porcupine over the breast pocket. "Is that . . . Dove Lachlan?"
Chapter Six
Dove
One of the many things zookeepers and our animals had in common was our absolute devotion to good food. And the flaky custard cream tart in my hand was no exception. I rocked back and forth like an excited little love bird as I took another hasty bite.
"You are a freaking genie.” My words were muffled by the mouthful of sugary custard as I spoke. “This tart is laced with something, isn’t it? I think I might be high. Food isn’t supposed to be this good.”
“While I appreciate all the sex faces,” Frankie said with a laugh. “It’s just a normal tart.”
Hannah moaned. “There’s nothing normal about this pillowy slice of sugary heaven.”
Frankie waved the comment away, as if we weren’t being 100% serious. “It’s just a little something I whipped up.”
“You know, I love Hawk and all,” Hannah said through giant chipmunk cheeks. “But I think you might be my favorite person in the entire world right now.”
Frankie smiled wider. “Hits the spot, doesn’t it?”
“Not many pregnant women can describe their cravings and have a decorated chefjust whip it upfor them.” Hannah grabbed another tart off the tray.
“So I’m guessing this should be one to add to the new catering menu?” Frankie asked, bouncing on her toes.
“Hell yeah, you should.” My voice was a little too exuberant as I licked my fingers. “So long as you make double the amount you need every time you bake them. Once the twins taste this, you’re going to have to be on high alert for tart theft.”
I was forever grateful that Hannah and I were Frankie’s chosen food testers for all her new recipes. Heron and Crane always volunteered, but Hannah and I had more helpful feedback than the constantly ravenous twins.
Currently, Frankie was in absolute heaven with the film crew around and a bunch of new mouths to feed. She was really pulling out the big guns, and already two different crew members had professed their undying love for her. I wouldn’t be surprised if Finch put a ring on Frankie’s finger by the end of the week, just to keep all of Frankie’s newfound admirers at bay.
Finch said she’d barely seen her girlfriend the last few weeks. Frankie had been so busy in the kitchen and had already updated the summer catering service menutwelve timesbased off her results.
Hannah's eyes rolled back as she grabbed a chocolate tart and took the first orgasmic bite. "Holy shit, these are good." She propped the tray that held a selection of tarts on her swollen belly.
Hannah had reached the point of pregnancy where there was absolutely no comfortable way to sit or sleep or move, andFrankie and I had made it our mission to distract her as much as possible. Although, Frankie’s method of cooking for Hannah was far more effective than me trying to show her all the director’s cutLord of the Ringsmovies.
