Page 67 of The Fall Back Plan
He smiles. “Leaning into it. People who don’t know about this mess will be interested in the name, and I figure the ones who do know will realize no one who is guilty would pull a stunt like this. Bourbon, bitters, amaro, and an orange twist. I’m practicing now.”
I watch as he makes the cocktail. “Best part of your job?”
“Taste testing? Obviously.”
“And what’s the Dolly Derby?”
“Gin, peach bitters, and mint.”
I watch as he takes a sip of his Bandit and makes a satisfied face. “You sure about this?”
“Did it make you laugh when you saw the sign?”
“Yes.”
“There’s your answer. Embrace the notoriety, cousin. And check this out.” He texts me something, and I open my phone to find a flyer done like an Old West “wanted” poster.
I read it aloud. “Since we’re trying and convicting people in the court of public opinion in Harvest Hollow like the old days, may as well come drink with the town’s most notorious outlaw.”
“I’m posting that in all my social media groups,” he says. “Everyone on staff is going to send it to their friends, and we’ll see.”
I put my phone away, shaking my head. “I hope you’re right about this, cousin.” But inside, I have warm fuzzies, a thing happening more often lately, because I’m beginning to realize Ry and Mrs. Herring aren’t my only people.
As it turns out, Ry is right about leaning into the whole situation. I hang around the whole night, even after Ry reveals the final part of his plan when the first customers come in: he has me carry a ragged baby doll around the whole evening for a photo op, and the more people who snap and post the picture, the more business we get. It’s still about twenty percent less in sales than our last good Friday, but we’re close to full at a few points in the night.
When I finally head home after midnight, I fall into bed exhausted but looking forward to the next day for the first time all week. Ry really might have turned things around. Once Lucas confirms the true Doll Bandit, everything will be okay.
Am I also looking forward to seeing Lucas in the morning when he brings Brooklyn by?
“That has nothing to do with it,” I inform my empty bedroom.
But even I don’t believe me.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lucas
BrooklynandIwalkup to Jolie’s door at 10:00 Saturday morning. She opens it with a smile.
There is no point at which this woman hasn’t looked beautiful, but this morning she looks especially good in jeans and a plaid jacket with tan suede boots that go all the way to her knees.
She’s covered from neck to ankle, so why does she look so sexy?
“What’s that?” Jolie asks.
I blink, confused until I remember I’m holding a picnic basket. “Oh, public relations? You mentioned getting ice cream, but I wondered what you would think about me crashing the first part of your hangout. What if we did a picnic on the library lawn? I thought if I hang out with you so publicly, it might make a few people question whether the sheriff and his child would really fraternize with a criminal.”
“That’s so thoughtful,” Jolie says. “I could use all the help I can get. Brooklyn, is that okay with you?”
“Fine with me, Miss Jo. I think it’ll be fun.”
Jolie’s face softens a bit when Brooklyn uses her nickname, and I’m thankful again to this woman for seeing a need and filling it.
“Let’s do it,” Jolie says. “You want to ride with me, Brooklyn?”
“Yes!”
“I’ll follow y’all over and go to my office when we’re done. Brooklyn doesn’t have any other commitments today, so take as much time as you want.”
