Looking down at said clipboard, Branna flipped up a page. “It’s called organization, Belle, something you should appreciate, being of that mind too.”
“I still wouldn’t use a clipboard no matter how many papers I had. I’m way too cool for that.”
“You hassling my girl, Smith?”
“Man alert, man alert!” Annabelle cried as the tall, handsome figure of Jake McBride entered the van. He climbed the steps and stopped beside Branna. Annabelle watched him place a hand on Branna’s back, then brush a kiss against her head. She made a couple of gagging noises because she knew they expected it of her.
“She’s got a clipboard, Jake! Come on, seriously!” Annabelle said as he then bent to kiss her cheek. “Even you have to agree that’s Geek 101.”
“Sexy women can carry clipboards off, Annabelle. It’s just the way of things.”
“You’re so whipped it makes me want to puke, McBride.”
“True. And while I’m enjoying this conversation with two of my favorite people, I have to say the right side of my face is burning from the look Militant Lawrence is sending my way, so I’d better give you this.” Jake handed a small brown box and a slip of paper to Annabelle. “And get out of here.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s for Tex. He needs it today. He said if he’s not at his apartment, then he’ll be in the hanger drooling over his bird. If you can get it to him, that’d be great. Both addresses are on there.”
“Sure.” Annabelle didn’t want to go anywhere near the handsome Texan, but she couldn’t refuse, or Branna and Jake would want to know why.
“Bye, baby, see you tonight.” The couple shared another lingering kiss and then Jake was off and Annabelle shut the door.
“Hold on now, ladies, we’re gonna burn some rubber!”
“Annabelle Smith, you keep to the speed limit!”
Laughing at Millie’s words, she headed the van out of Howling.
Two hours and thirty minutes later, they pulled up in Brook, and Annabelle’s ears were ringing. There might be only six of them, but they could sure make some noise.
“Okay, so, I can’t tell you where we’re going, but I’ll text you when we need to be picked up, okay?” Branna said after everyone had gotten out of the van.
“Branna, we’ve been over this. I can manage to idle away a few hours on my own. In fact, right now it sounds like a dream,” Annabelle said, scowling at the rest of the passengers, who were milling about outside, chatting like a gaggle of excited geese.
“They’re excited, Belle. This is their first official road trip.”
“Which is just plain weird considering the average age of them.”
“Don’t be a grouch.” Branna gave her a hug and then, flipping up the first page on her clipboard, she got out.
With a final blast on the horn, Annabelle headed to where Ethan lived. The building was just outside of the main part of Brook. Constructed of old red brick, it sat easily on the street with tall green trees dotted every few paces along the footpath. Windows jutted from façades painted pristine white against the brick. It was a building that would cost its owner plenty to live in, and as she knew money was not a problem for the Texan, she was not surprised that he had settled here.
Pulling up outside, she saw her car and ignored the savage tug of pain it gave her. She climbed out of the van and was soon heading in through the canopied entrance. She made her way to where a man was sitting behind a reception desk.
“Hi, can I help you?”
“Are you Roy?” Annabelle smiled at the man.
“I am, yes. How can I help you today?”
“I’m a friend of Ethan’s and I need to drop off a package to him.”
He flashed a smile at Ethan’s name. “He’s not here. He’s out with his bird.”
“Okay, I know where that is. I’ll just head over there and see him,” Annabelle said. “How’s the car going? It was mine,” she added.
“My boy loves it. Thank you.” His words were accompanied by another smile. “I told Ethan he shouldn’t give it to me, but he insisted.”
