“I just need to change into something official looking,” Millie murmured.
The back door opened and JT strode inside with Roscoe on his heels. “We went for another run,” he announced. “Dog’s fine. Guy has a better tolerance for alcohol than a couple of my buddies from the service.”
Scott reached for his orange juice. JT leaned back and eyed Scott from head to toe, taking in his bare chest and bare feet. Then he looked at his sister and his gaze hardened.
Scott met his eyes evenly and lifted an eyebrow in invitation. Did JT want to make an issue of Scott and Millie? If so, Scott could go a round or two. The morning had gotten completely out of his control, an unacceptable situation.
To his surprise, a slight grin lifted the right side of JT’s mouth. He looked at him, patted the dog, and winked at his sister. “Good luck, Scott,” he muttered, heading for the door.
“Wait,” Millie said.
JT turned around. “What’s up, Mills?” he drawled.
“I have to go into the city today but will drop by the doctor’s office at the hospital for Mae’s appointment. Can you keep an eye on her when she comes home? I don’t like leaving her alone.”
“Sure.” JT turned around as if changing his mind and headed for the cupboard. “Do you still have those cookies you made the other day?”
“I have peanut butter left,” she said.
He reached in and took out a bag of what looked like delicious cookies. “I need sugar.” He strolled out, pausing to look over his shoulder once again. “You hurt her and I’ll cut out your heart, Terentson. Just thought you should know.”
The door shut quietly behind him.
That seemed fair.
Chapter Seventeen
Millie clip-clopped into the waiting area of the doctor’s office attached to the small hospital to find Verna Montgomery sitting near her aunt, who had balanced a very pretty bouquet of pink peonies in a vase on the adjacent chair.
“Hey, Verna,” Millie said, smiling.
Verna looked up and grinned. “Howdy. I brought some family paperwork to Valerie since she’s on duty and dropped by to see your aunt Mae after her appointment.”
“We’ve had such a good talk while I’ve waited for the pharmacy to fill my cholesterol medicine prescription,” her great-aunt said, looking at Verna’s belly. “She’s so excited and hopes this is a girl. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a great-great-aunt?” She slowly turned her head to Millie.
Millie rolled her eyes. “I am nowhere near to getting married, Aunt Mae.”
“Hm, I don’t know. That Scott Terentson is quite handsome.”
“He really is,” Verna said dryly. “I mean, I’m happily married and all, but I do have eyes.”
Millie shook her head. “What did the doctor say?”
“That I’m fine.” Aunt Mae touched the pretty petals. “Verna, you’re always so sweet. How did you even know I was going to be here?”
“Valerie told me when I dropped off the kids’ concert schedule, so I stopped into the gift shop. Valerie’s helping out since I’m getting so large.” Verna pushed herself to stand and walked over to Millie to lean over and whisper, “You have whisker burn beneath your ear, girlfriend.” With that, she turned and headed into the restroom.
Millie tried not to blush.
Her great-aunt examined her. “You look nice. Where are you going today?”
Millie had worn her navy-blue suit with a bright pink shell and understated gold jewelry. This represented the height of her conservatism. She’d thought idly about removing the last of the green streaks from her hair, but then decided that Agent Rutherford could just bite her. “I have to go into the city for a while and get some work done.”
“Good. I wish the pharmacy would hurry—I need to get back to work. We have a lot of charters for the Derby, you know.”
“I saw,” Millie said, guilt filtering through her. Her great-aunt needed more help to keep the business going successfully. “I have some funds,” she offered quietly. “Why don’t we hire you an assistant?”
“I don’t need anybody to help me,” Mae said, her blue eyes sparkling. “JT is home for good, I think, and now Lila’s around. We haven’t taught her to fish yet, but she’s a fast learner.”
