Page 123 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“Can you pick me up after school today?” Lucas asked. “We can tell Mom we’re going driving and get started on the swing.”

“I’m glad you’re excited, but I don’t want to lie to her, even about this.”

“Then we can tell her the truth without revealing the secret.”

Doc arched a brow. “How are we going to do that?”

“If we say we’re going driving, it’s the truth if you let me drive. And we can tell her we’re working on a secret project together. That’s not a lie.”

“That’s not a bad idea. She’d probably enjoy a little time alone tonight.”

“And we can pick up dinner on the way home, so she doesn’t have to worry about cooking.”

“You sneaky boy. That’s a great idea.”

Lucas grinned. “Cool.”

“You do realize that you’ve shown your hand, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Now that I know you’re sneaky, I’m going to have to read between the lines when you get your license and want to take the car out for a spin. I can’t have you saying you’re going for a ride, then taking your girl parking.”

Lucas rolled his eyes. “Kids don’t go parking anymore.”

“Better brush up on your poker face,” he said as the house came into view. Juliette was sitting on the front step, holding a coffee mug. “Your mother and I can spot that lie a mile away.”

Lucas’s boyish grin returned.

Juliette pushed to her feet, looking too damn beautiful in curve-hugging jeans and a red flannel shirt over a clingy white top that accentuated her gorgeous figure. The dogs ran to greet her. She bent to pet them, smiling at Lucas and Doc. “Where did you two sneak off to?”

“Nowhere,” Lucas said with a guilty grin that made him look like he got caught with his hand in a cookie jar.

“I’ve got a project I needed some help with, so I got him up early and dragged his ass out with me.”

“Oh? What kind of project?”

“Woodworking,” Lucas said. “It’s super boring, but Doc said he’ll show me how to build stuff if I help.”

She looked at Doc approvingly. “That’s great.”

“Doc said if I help him with the project for an hour after school, he’d take me driving. Is that okay?” Lucas asked.

“We’ll pick up dinner afterward, and you can have the evening to chill,” Doc offered.

“This project sounds better by the minute,” she said. “But, Seeley, are you sure you can get away?”

“Barring any emergencies, it should be fine.”

“Okay, sure.”

“Yes! I’m starved. I’m gonna go eat before we leave for school.” He and the dogs bounded up the porch steps and into the house.

Doc swept his arm around Juliette, tugging her into a hug. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“He’s been so grumpy and quiet lately. What kind of spell did you cast on him this morning?”

“He’s a teenager who just had his legs kicked out from under him. I gave him a distraction to focus on. It was Tiny’s idea, actually.”