He stared at the ground, hoping his thoughts weren’t written across his face as he said hello.
“I just have to tell Zoey thank you—are you still at her place?” Mom asked.
Hunter put her on speaker. “She can hear you, Mom.”
“Hi, Mrs. Westbrook,” Zoey called. She offered Brandon a bite of her bar, and he turned his head away, his face going green.
“Zoey, you darling girl! I feel like a new woman. My skin’s so soft!”
Zoey chuckled. “I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself. The honey is the key—I swear it’s got magical properties.”
Mom laughed right out loud. The sound was so lighthearted and free, it surprised Hunter. “I think you might be right. Allie gave me samples to try at home—said I was an excellent model. I’m going to buy one of everything. Watch out, Tom—I’m feeling all sassy.”
Zoey giggled.
Hunter blanched. “You’re breaking up, Mom. Gotta go.”
“Bye!” Mom called right before he hit the button to end the call.
Cash held his side with one hand, laughing so hard he doubled over. Hunter dove for the tray, saving his lemon bars from ending up in the dirt.
Honey materialized from out of nowhere, going into a downward dog pose, tail waving like a flag when he thought the lemon bars were going down, then lying down with his head between his front paws, tail tucked back with his eyes all puppy-ish when they didn’t.Sorry, pal, these are mine.
Brandon narrowed his eyes. “She modeled for Allie?”
Zoey nodded. “Allie was in a bind, and I thought Mrs. Westbrook would love a facial. I was right.” She took a large bite from her bar and chewed. “I knew you were the man for the job, Cash—these are excellent.”
“Thanks,” Cash said, hiccupping as he tried to stop laughing. He looked at Brandon, and that seemed to do the trick, sobering him just a little. “Are you sure you don’t have food poisoning?”
Brandon groaned as he nodded. “Motion sickness is a side effect of being Zoey-trained.”
Hunter and Cash burst out laughing again.
“Like being freight-trained by a bull?” Hunter couldn’t think of a better phrase for what Zoey pulled off that morning. Especially for Brandon, who’d gotten the clam end of the bargain.
Zoey whacked Brandon. “I hate that phrase.” She then whacked Hunter. “Don’t laugh—you’ll only encourage him.”
Hunter wiped the moisture from his eye. He shouldn’t be laughing when Brandon was miserable. Still … He shoved a lemon bar in his mouth to smother his laugh. “So, Cash … do you use real lemons …?” he asked to try to change the subject.
Cash’s eyes sparked with understanding. “Let me get this straight. You plowed the field for lemon bars that I made to get out of the clam contest?”
Hunter swallowed and nodded.
“And your mom modeled for Allie so Brandon would judge the contest for me?”
He nodded again.
“And you didn’t know about any of this?” Cash asked Brandon.
“Nope.” Brandon burped.
Cash burst out laughing again. “That’s brilliant.”
Zoey grinned. “I thought so.”
Brandon made a face. “I need Tums.”
“I’ll get you some.” Zoey pulled out her phone and dialed. “Allie? Brandon needs something for his stomach after—yep. Glove box—got it.” She skipped to his truck and came back with a roll of antacids. “Allie says to take two and call her in a half hour. She’ll come home if you’re really sick.”
