Page 68 of Out on a Limb
Mostly.
A few minutes later, Collette came down the hall using her fingers to comb out her wet hair. She filled out the shorts I gave her way better than I ever did.
I held out a cup of coffee. “How are you feeling?”
“You mean how are my boobs?” She took the cup and sipped a little. “They’re surprisingly good.”
“Good.”
I polished off my coffee and set the empty cup in the sink. “We’ll go as soon as you’re finished.”
Collette worked one foot into her shoe. “I can take it with me.”
“Not today.” I pulled open the drawer at the end of the bank of cabinets and pulled out the key I needed. “We’re taking the bike.”
Her eyes widened. “The bike?”
I gave her a slow nod.
She shook her head. “I can’t ride a bike.”
“You have to.” It was the only way to make sure no one did the math on my truck. “Alan was parked right next to my truck last night.”
“We can take your truck to my house and then I can drive.”
“My truck being at your house will be even worse.” I pointed to her coffee, trying to remind her to keep drinking. “Then he’ll know we’re in this together.”
Collette’s lips twisted to one side, almost into a smile. “Are we really in this together?”
Had she not noticed that? “You’re wearing my clothes and drinking my coffee. Looks like we’re in something together.”
She took a little sip from the mug in her hands, eyes holding mine as she swallowed it down. “Thank you for helping me.”
“You’re helping me too.” I shoved my sunglasses onto my head. “If they shut the garden down I’m out of a job.”
“I’m sure some other garden would snap you right up.” Collette rinsed her cup before setting it next to mine.
“I’m sure you’re wrong.” I tucked the front of my shirt in place. “If the garden shuts down then I have to go back to Oklahoma.” I dropped my glasses down onto my face. “And grow soybeans.”
Collette’s eyes moved from side to side before landing on the small garden room. “What about your house?”
“I’d have to sell it.” I turned away from the sadness in her eyes. “That’s why we’ve got to figure out what in the hell’s happening and deal with it.”
“I think Alan’s stealing money.”
I hadn’t asked about the papers she found last night. It wasn’t really my business.
But now that she’d offered it up—
“Because of what you found in his office?”
Collette nodded “There were two sets of numbers.” She followed me as I went to the door leading to the garage. “I took the ones that show where he’s funneling money off.”
“That explains why he was pissed.” I opened the door, letting her go out first. “And why he was parked outside your house all night.”
“Do you think he’s still there?”
“Maybe.” I punched the button to open the door, before passing her the single helmet I owned. “We’re not going to find out.”
