"Skippy,everyonesaw the sign. The thing's attracting gawkers. Why do you think I came in the rear?"
His eyes narrowed. "It's Skip, not Skippy."
Her eyes narrowed back. "Not according to your Grandma."
"Yeah? Well she's different."
"So am I," Franny said. "AndIneed coffee, pronto. So quit yammering and do your job."
"But why shouldIget it?" he whined. "You askedher, not me."
Franny snorted. "And if you'd kept your yapper shut, she would've gotten it. But you justhadto jump in, didn't you?"
"But it'smyshop," he protested. "I can jump whenever I want."
"So go ahead." She made a little shooing motion with her hands. "Jump and get me a coffee."
"But—"
"And don't forget the cream, double, like I said. I'll know if you skimped."
Grumbling under his breath, Skip turned and stomped off, pushing through the swinging door that led to the front. From the other side, he called back, "But there's not even a pot brewed yet!"
"So get brewing! I don't got all day!" Then she turned to me and leaned in to say, "Listen, there was a brawl."
My heart rate jumped. "Awhat?"
"A brawl," she repeated. "At the bike shop."
I stared.Wait, what?
54
Not Laughing
Ryder
I still didn't get why Tessa was sticking with the coffee shop. She was unpaid, unappreciated, and clinging to the idea that toughing it out was the right thing to do.
It wasn't.But she was smart enough to realize that on her own, so I'd planted the seed and let it drop while walking her back to work.
I'd just returned to my suite when my cellphone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to look.Maddox.
I didn't hesitate. "Hey, what's up?"
"A question."
"Yeah?"
"What's with the CPR doll?"
I frowned. "What CPR doll?"
He paused for a beat too long. "So you haven't seen it?"
At something in his voice, my fingers flexed on the phone. "I don't even know what you're talking about."
"Hang on. I'll send you a picture."
