“Hope Church.”
He tilted his head to the side, his eyes narrowing. “You’re Lorenzo’s little girl, aren’t you?”
I lifted my chin. “I’m only little to those who look down on me.”
Humor danced in his eyes, and he set down the pen. “I’ve seen you walking along the streets every so often, but I didn’t know you were related to the Church pack.”
I smothered a laugh and collected the clipboard before glancing at his name. “You’re probably the only one in this city who doesn’t know me by sight. Do you live around here?”
He studied the expensive pieces inside the counter. “I own a fine jewelry store two streets over.”
“Ah. So you’re my competition. Did you come here to spy on my wares?”
He barked out a laugh. “You’re not even in the same ballpark.”
I folded my arms and shifted my weight to one leg. “I charge what’s fair. Maybe it’s you who is overpriced.”
He leaned on his elbows. “Give me your number.”
My cheeks burned hot.
Dutch gave me a playful wink. “A woman who blushes. Be still my heart.”
Flustered, I set the clipboard in a drawer, and the pen went rolling beneath the counter. “I need to close up the store now.”
He snatched a business card from the holder on the counter and tapped it against his nose. “This’ll do. Promise you’ll call when you get the next shipment?”
“You have my word. Have a wonderful night, Mr. Day.”
Dutch snorted as he pivoted around and headed out. “You do the same.”
I removed the drawer from the register and locked it in the safe under the counter. As I reached into a cabinet to retrieve my purse, a peculiar noise made me perk up my ears. It sounded like the squeaking my paper towel made when I washed the front windows.
I stood up and looked across the empty store.
Odd.
Since I’d already locked the display counters a short time ago, I grabbed my keys and flipped off the lights. When I crossed the room and took another look around, my phone rang.
“Are you locking up?” Mel asked.
“I had a last-minute customer, so I’m running a little late. Do you want me to bring you two something to eat for your trip? I can swing by the sandwich shop before they close. You can pack them in a cooler if you’re not hungry.”
I stepped outside and locked the door, my phone pinned between my shoulder and ear.
“No, you don’t have to bother,” she said. “I ate that leftover burger in the fridge, and Lakota wants to have a midnight dinner in Dallas at this taco place that’s open late. I’ll probably nod off by the time we get to Waco, so he’ll just have to go inside and eat a chimichanga all by himself. Road trips at night have a narcotic effect on me. I just wish he had a bigger truck so I could stretch out.”
“Well, you could always put a mattress in the back,” I quipped.
Melody laughed and relayed the joke to Lakota.
Before turning away, I noticed a white letter envelope taped to the window. I peeled it off the glass and turned it over. There wasn’t a label, but Breed messengers relayed notices all the time on behalf of others. In a hurry to get home, I tucked it in my purse. “Be sure you take all the water bottles in the fridge. That’ll save you from having to make any unnecessary stops. Don’t worry about leaving me any; you know I prefer tea.”
“Lakota! Can you grab the water out of the fridge?” she yelled in my ear. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” I said, getting in the car. Once the door closed, I turned the key and tossed my purse in the passenger seat. “Did you pack your favorite pillow?”
“Lakota!”
