Page 73 of Loverboy
“How long until I flip the sign?” Jerry asks, the kiss already forgotten.
Posy glances at the oven clock. “Twenty minutes. You can wash these pie plates out.” She carries a stack of dishes over to the sink, and deposits them at his workstation.
“Okay,” he says, turning on the water. “I will do it.” The water makes a racket against the metal pie plates, and Jerry sings loudly as he works.
Posy takes the pie she’d been finishing and slips it into the oven. “This is for my nephew. He got an A on his spelling test.”
“Lucky guy. What flavor is it?”
“Chocolate pecan.”
“Can I have a piece?”
She frowns at me. “You think I’d present my nephew with a pie that’s missing a slice? What kind of favorite aunt do you think I am?”
“Well…” I laugh uncomfortably. Then I lean a little closer to keep our conversation private. “Can I buy you dinner? It’s either that or I’m spending the night in a car on this block.”
Posy’s eyes widen. “You mean—for security purposes?”
“Yeah. Sorry.” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “It doesn’t have to be me, if you don’t want it to be. Max would send someone else.”
She grabs the table with both hands. “Is it really that bad? You still think that guy might try to track me down?”
“Probably not,” I say quickly. “But I’d rather be extra careful until I figure out what the hell is going on. The WiFi murderer. The break-in. I’d like to think that it’s not related, but—”
“—You think it is?”
“I think it could be. And I don’t want you caught in the middle.”
She bites her lip, the same one that I kissed a moment ago. “Okay. How am I going to explain to Ginny and Aaron why you’re in my apartment?”
“I can stay in the car. Or get someone else to do it.”
“No. If there was really a problem, I’d want it to be…” She gulps. “You.”
“All right,” I say, strangely touched by this decision. “If it’s easier, I can hang out down here in the cafe until after Aaron goes to bed.”
“No, that’s silly.” She gives her head a shake. “Ginny is making fried chicken and Caesar salad for dinner. You’re invited. But—” she clears her throat. “You have to sleep on the couch.”
“Of course,” I agree immediately. “I wouldn’t assume otherwise.”
Teagan sticks her head into the kitchen and calls to me. “I gotta dash fifteen minutes early. Gunnar, can you watch the counter?”
“Sure,” I call. “I’ll be right there!”
Posy waves me toward the cafe, which has nearly emptied out. “I did everything except clean Lola,” Teagan says.
“Sure, sure. I can’t do that for you on my day off. No problem.”
Teagan gives me a secretive smile. “Isn’t this the second time I’ve seen you here on your day off? I’m only giving you a better excuse to stick around and make heart eyes at the boss.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
She grabs her purse from under the counter. But before she walks away, the door opens to admit two beefy men in cheap suits.
Cops, my brain says immediately.Interesting. “Can I help you guys? I was just about to turn off the espresso machine, but you made it just in time.”
“Sorry,” the bald cop says. “Not here for coffee. Are either of you the manager?”
