“But then who’d cover for me?”
“Plebian.” The eight-year-old sneered at his father before stalking back to his room.
“He gets that from Brodie,” Mike grumbled, describing one of his brothers who could often be found instigating and cheating his way through cards and board games. Rena liked him,andhe’d married her favorite romance author, so he got a bye with his shenanigans from her.
Del turned from him. “So, Rena, why did the possibility of Heller betting on you make you so mad? We bet on everything at the garage. You know that.”
“Oh, so that’s what got her in such a hissy.” Mike nodded. “Makes sense. You’re into the guy, and you think he’s just hanging with you to make a buck. Not that the stone-faced killer you’re dating would sink that low. But Icouldsee him betting on killing someone and whether we’d ever find the body.”
“See, I was thinking that same thing at dinner with my mother the other night.”
“I don’t even want to know.” Del sighed and muttered under her breath as she headed down the hall, likely to the bathroom.
Mike patted the spot next to him, and Rena sat.
“Tell me what’s wrong, Rena.”
She blew out a breath. “Okay, but you can’t tell Del.”
He moved back so she could see the disbelief on his face.
“Well, not while I’m around. And pretend it’s a big secret so she won’t bring it up to me.”
“That I can do.”
“I think I like Axel. Like, Ireallylike him. But I don’t know him that well, and he’s not that great at communicating, though he’s getting better. My mother thinks I’m afraid to open myself up to fall in love, but I’ve had plenty of boyfriends before.”
“Have you loved any of them?”
“Maybe. Yes. No. I don’t know.”
“Okay.”
“And she’s dating a married man, who’s separated. I’m kind of dating Axel, a man I don’t know much about. I don’t think he’s married.”
“He’s not. This I know because Del and Liam checked him out.”
“Not J.T.?” she joked, not surprised her family would be so protective. It sometimes irked her, but their care also made her feel warm and loved.
“No, because he likes Heller. Says the guy is bananas for you.”
She groaned. Maybe she shouldn’t have left that ugly message on his voicemail earlier. “Well, I thought he’d been betting on us hooking up, which is lame even for high-schoolers.”
“I agree.” He patted her shoulder and put an arm around her.
She rested her head on his broad chest, wishing it was Axel’s large frame. “I jumped to conclusions because some idiot at Del’s garage wrote his name on the betting board, and another idiot called to tell me about it.” She sighed. “I left an ugly message on Axel’s cell phone. And he was so nice to me the other day.” She quickly described the dinner but left out the sexy parts.
“Huh. Sounds like a pretty romantic night to me.”
“I know. He pulled out all the stops.”
“And Chocolopolis? Those truffles are expensive. Del likes them too.” He groaned. “Don’t tell her you got any or I’ll be forced to show my dedication by getting them for her. Okay? And between you and me, she can’t tell the difference between them and a Whitman’s Sampler, so I try to keep to a budget.”
“Deal.” She pulled her head off his chest and scooted back, and he turned to face her. “So if you were me, how would you handle a nasty phone message?”
“I’d tell him to his face you’re sorry. And if he hasn’t listened to the message yet, which, if he’s into you, he totally has, then tell him to delete it.” Mike checked his phone. “It’s not quite five. You think he’s still at work?”
“Probably. He works long hours.”
