I nodded.
“Nadia,” I said. “We need to call Grady and let him know what you found.”
She looked up at me, eyes red-rimmed and tired, and nodded. “Yeah,” she said. “Okay.”
We left her there, surrounded by papers and broken expectations. The air in the brewhouse felt heavier than on the way in. Outside, I paused, drawing in a breath that didn’t taste like hops and death while my wolf paced.
“Thoughts?” I asked.
Elwood looked out over the tree line like he might find answers there, and who knows, maybe he would. “I’m sure Roy thought he was doing the right thing. He was excited about being a father.”
I looked back at the brewery. “Roy’s death, the contest, and the hexes are connected somehow.”
Elwood nodded sadly. “I think so.”
Chapter Seventeen
Big Steps and Arrests
Declan
Standing outside Janis’s office, I sucked in a deep breath then let it out slowly. Licorice fluttered her wings from where she stood on the sidewalk beside me. She cooed softly as if to soothe me.
“I know,” I said, as if she’d actually told me everything would be okay. “I’m overreacting.”
This was just such a big step—financially, emotionally, everything.
I was also still reeling from Gideon calling mebaby. It was the first time he’d used a term of endearment, and it’d taken me by surprise, in the best way possible. I should’ve said something back to him, called him by some sweet name, too. But my mind had blanked and then the moment passed.
And what should I call him? I wasn’t the kind of person who could pull off something like darling. Sweetheart seemed, I don’t know, not quite right. Honey? Muffin?
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I knew it was a reminder of my appointment. Right. Deciding on a term of endearment for Gideon could wait. After wiping my palms on my pants for the fourth time since crossing the street, I tugged the door of Wilcox Development open and walked inside.
Janis was on the phone. She looked up at me with a big, welcoming smile. She mouthed, “I’ll just be a minute.” Then she turned her attention back to her call. As she listened to whoever was talking, she batted a small ball back and forth across her desk. Gideon had said she was a cat shifter so that seemed appropriate.
“It’s just a business decision,” Janis said. “It isn’t personal.” She rolled her eyes in my direction like whoever she was speaking with was being unreasonable.
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the office wasn’t that big. I considered stepping outside to give her some privacy, except I didn’t want her to think I’d changed my mind. So I turned to study an oil painting on the wall and tried not to listen to her side of the conversation.
The painting was dreary. The kind of dark and gloomy landscape you might see in a stately home in Europe. It probably cost a fortune, but I wouldn’t want it. If I remembered correctly, I think it’d been here the last time I was here, too.
Honestly, I didn’t think anything had changed since Janis had taken over Winston’s business, including the name. She hadn’t even moved into the private office with a door, which she probably should. That way, I wouldn’t be hearing her remind someone to re-read the terms of their lease.
A moment later, she said, “My next appointment is here. If you still have any questions, we can meet later. I also have other properties that may be of interest to you.”
Even I could hear the squawk of outrage from the other end of the line. Then it was cut off abruptly as Janis ended the call.
“Declan! Hello.” Janis got up from her desk and came over to shake my hand. She was all smiles, like she hadn’t just been arguing with one of her other tenants.
“Thanks for meeting me today,” I said, adjusting my glasses and wishing I didn’t feel so awkward.
“Absolutely,” she said. “I’ve heard such great things about all the delicious things you make. I think your bakery will be a great addition to our little town.”
I lifted an eyebrow.
“Sandy helps me with filing one morning a week,” she explained. “He’s been raving about your cakes and cookies.”
“Sandy’s a great guy,” I said. “But I could probably give him a spoonful of sugar, and he’d be just as happy.”
