“You wanna bet on that?” Cubby muttered.
“I’m not baking for everyone; you can eat out of packets like real men!” Buster roared, rolling the paper into a cylinder and then yelling in it just as Katie walked through the door. “I’m not your personal fucking cook, you hear me!”
Newman stuck his hands in the air in surrender. “Lizzi Heath heard you, baker boy, and she’s visiting her sister in Washington. Hey there, little girl,” he added, getting out of his chair to hug her. “I hear you got banged up; want me to kiss it better?”
“I’m good, but thanks, Newman.”
She was thrown, Cubby could see it. Her eyes were darting around the room. She had expected to hear them discussing her situation and had anticipated giving them a piece of her mind, but instead Buster was talking about food.
She’d forgone the jeans today and pulled on exercise tights that did special things to her long legs. On top she wore a light blue zip-front jacket, and to his eyes she already looked better, as if a night spent with her family here in Howling were the best therapy for her.
“Hey there, sweet cheeks.” Buster hugged her next, holding her as if she were made of the finest crystal, his big hands cupping her head briefly. “I need to introduce you to my girl, she’s heard all about you.”
“Willow, right, the artist? Branna told me she’s really nice.” Her smile was small, but real, and probably only the second one Cubby had seen since he’d found her in that bar. It was pathetic that he was jealous that it was Buster who’d made it happen, but he was just the same.
“Right, and yes she is… really nice, that is.”
“Damn, boy,” Tex hooted. “I’ve never seen you blush so much; it’s real cute on that purdy face of yours.”
Buster snarled, then flipped them the bird and extracted a promise from Katie to call into the Hoot before walking out.
Newman and Tex left next, each one smuggling out their paperwork in a sleeve or behind a leg, leaving Katie alone with Cubby and her brother.
“I know you guys were discussing me and it’s not right, Jake. You should have brought me with you.” She wouldn’t look at Cubby, instead focusing her anger on her brother. “I’m not the fluffy-headed sister who left here; I’m a detective and this is my business. Those Alessis are big-time, and I need to be in on this.”
“Who said you were fluffy headed?” Jake frowned, looking from Katie to Cubby.
Cubby shrugged; she’d said something similar yesterday and he didn’t find her meaning any clearer today.
“I was, but that’s not the point.”
“You were sleeping, and as that’s something I have lately come to treasure I thought it was best to leave you.” Jake yawned to support his words and Cubby watched Katie walk to her brother’s side. Wrapping her arms around him, she ran her chin over his head.
“Branna told me Rose was awake a lot last night. Sorry I got angry.”
“You have a right to know what’s going on, Katie, but you need to know that Howling is not LA, and we do things differently here. We look after our own in our way.”
“I know, Jake, but this is my trouble and if it comes calling then I need to deal with it, or even better, I should leave now.”
“No,” Cubby said softly. “You are not leaving, nor are you running, Katie, because if you start then you won’t stop.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Cubby.” It was the first time she’d looked at him since walking in, and he saw the anger that she still carried toward him.
“I’m the sheriff in this town, and that means you do what I say when it comes to your safety here in Howling.”
She stood, hands now fisted at her sides, and glared at him. Jake sat quietly and watched, his eyes flicking between them.
“Then I’ll leave, because you will never tell me what to do again!” With those words she walked out, ponytail swinging, and slammed the door.
“She was such a sweet-tempered child.” Jake sighed. “All hugs, kisses, and smiles.”
“She’s hurting, Jake, you know that.”
“I know it, but I don’t like that she’s taking her pain out on you, Cubby, when you did what you had to, to bring her home.”
Cubby knew he owed it to Katie to tell Jake there was more behind her anger than just bringing her home.
“We have an uneasy truce, Jake, but if I’m honest there’s more between us, and some of her anger is justified.”
