Gia set two baskets on the back seat of Savannah’s blue mustang convertible. They’d already dropped Thor at daycare and stopped into the café to make up the baskets, filling them with bagels, muffins, and an assortment of teas and coffees. “You think that makes a nice gift for a condolence call, don’t you?”
“Sure thing. Especially if by condolence you mean snooping.” Savannah slid her sunglasses on and hopped into the driver’s seat.
Gia scowled at her, then climbed into the passenger side. “You make it sound like I have no compassion.”
With a quick glance over her shoulder down Main Street in the early morning, pre-traffic hour, Savannah pulled away from the curb. “I’m only teasing you, Gia. It’s a nice gift and a nice thought, both of which come from a good heart. The snooping is just a bonus.”
Well, when she put it like that, it was an assessment Gia could live with. “Do you have the check for the deposit?”
“Leo’s bringing it.”
“I don’t understand why you’re putting a down payment when the seller hasn’t even accepted your offer yet?” It seemed foolish to Gia to put down money on something you didn’t know you’d get. What if the seller said no?
“It’s not the down payment, just a good faith deposit to show we’re serious about buying and not wasting everyone’s time.”
That made sense, she supposed. Gia put on her own sunglasses as they headed toward Mallory’s office. Hopefully, Mallory would be on time. They still had to visit Isaac and Jeremy, and Gia hoped to make it back in time for the lunch crowd. “Why didn’t I have to do that when I bought the house?”
“Uh…” Savannah winced. “We…ell…”
“You paid the deposit.” It wasn’t a question. She didn’t need to ask, since she could already tell she had. Gia had been adamant she’d wanted to pay everything when she bought her house, even though she hadn’t been able to get down to Florida to see it at the time and Savannah had handled the entire purchase. “I thought I—”
“Enough. I know what you said, and on the morning I found the house you were in court. After court, you called crying about having to listen to testimony from Bradley’s mistresses.” She reached out and squeezed Gia’s hand. “What was I supposed to say, oh, hold that thought I need a thousand dollars?”
Gia squirmed. She remembered that day, and it had been a particularly stressful one. Having to listen to other women describe their relationships with Bradley as they tried desperately to provide false alibis had been sheer torture. “I don’t know what to say, Savannah, thank you. And I’ll pay you back every dime.”
“You will do no such thing.” She patted Gia’s hand once more and returned her hand to the wheel. “That was a gift, Gia. Think of it as a housewarming gift.”
Savannah’s upbeat phone call a few days later to tell Gia about the house she’d found, along with the tons of pictures she’d texted and emailed, had pulled Gia through the worst of the trial, and then Gia had fled to her new home and never looked back.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She’d spent the first year or so creating mental pro and con lists about living in Florida or New York. But somewhere along the line, Boggy Creek and its inhabitants had just become home, and she’d stopped looking back. Now, she simply enjoyed the present and looked forward to the future. A future that might be about to change drastically as her best friend in life got married and started a family. She pulled off her glasses and looked at Savannah. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
Savannah’s lips quivered as she smiled. “As much as I love you. And you have shown it in so many ways you don’t have to tell me.”
Gia let her head fall back against the seat.
Seeming to sense her need for a quiet moment, Savannah switched on the radio to a soft rock station and cracked open the window. And in that one instant, Gia knew her life couldn’t get any more perfect. Unless maybe she allowed her full feelings for Hunt to emerge, allowed him into the part of her heart she’d kept closed off since Bradley’s betrayal.
She jerked upright.
Savannah laughed. “I figured that was coming.”
Gia shot her a dirty look. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s those quiet moments, when everything in life seems about as perfect as it can get, when the thought of maybe getting married and starting a family sneaks on up and blindsides you.”
“Whoa, don’t get ahead of yourself now.” Family? Who said anything about family? She was barely willing to admit to thoughts about a committed relationship with Hunt.
“Uh huh.” She nodded knowingly, flipped on her turn signal, and pulled into the real estate parking lot. “Come on. Don’t want to keep your true love waiting.”
“I’m choosing to ignore you.” Gia climbed out of the car.
Hunt and Leo hadn’t arrived yet, so she and Savannah headed inside.
Mallory sat at her desk, her hair piled in a complicated braid of some sort, her V-neck almost low enough to show her belly button.
“Guess she figures Leo and Hunt are coming,” Savannah muttered.
Gia figured the same.
When Mallory saw them, she stood and smoothed a skirt so short you could see almost—in Savannah’s words—clear to the top of the Christmas tree. “I thought Leo was coming with you?”
Savannah smiled her sweetest smile, the one she reserved for those rare occasions when she either didn’t like or didn’t trust someone. In this case, it might be both. “He’ll be along.”
“Great. Do you want a cup of coffee or something while we’re waiting?” She gestured toward a coffee station at the far end of the waiting room. As if Savannah wasn’t capable of looking over the papers without Leo present.
Savannah cut her off before Gia could accept the offer. “Nah, we’re okay, thanks.”
Mallory shrugged and turned away. “Suit yourselves.”
Gia started to say something, but Savannah pinched her arm discreetly and nodded toward the parking lot.
Isaac stood beside Mallory’s car, his gaze darting back and forth between Savannah’s convertible and the real estate office.
Savannah leaned toward Gia and whispered, “That guy’s as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs.”
“No lie.” Gia watched him look around, then bend over on the far side of the car. “What do you think he’s doing over there?”
“I don’t know.” Savannah glanced at Mallory, who had returned to her desk and buried her nose in whatever papers she was shuffling, and lowered her voice even further. “But I don’t like it. I can’t help remembering the slice of cake that poisoned Robyn could well have been Mallory’s.”
“And it could have been her someone was trying to kill, not Robyn.” Hmm… What to do… Even though Gia didn’t much care for Mallory, especially after she gave Savannah such a hard time, not to mention flirting with Hunt. At the same time, she didn’t want to see the woman wind up dead. Gia took a step away from Savannah and held her gaze, then spoke loud enough to get Mallory’s attention and raise the alarm that Isaac was messing around by her car. “Is that Isaac?”
As usual, Savannah caught right on. “You mean the guy by the black car in the parking lot?”
Mallory’s chair shot back and hit the wall as she surged to her feet. “My car?”
Gia tried to look surprised that Mallory had overheard, but it didn’t matter. Mallory was staring intently out the window as she hurried across the office. “Where?”
Gia pointed out the window. “I thought it was him standing beside your car, but then he bent over, and I haven’t seen him stand up again.”
Mallory barreled through the door and started across the lot.
Savannah stared after her in wonder, then let out a low whistle. “Boy, she can really move on those spiked heels, huh?”
“No kidding. I’m not gonna lie, that’s pretty impressive.” Gia pushed through the door after her, just as Hunt pulled into the parking lot.
“What do you think your doing?” Mallory stood at the far side of her car, fists planted on her hips.
Isaac jerked upright and whirled toward her. “Mallory. Uh…I…uh…”
Hunt kept an eye on the two of them as he slammed his door shut behind him and approached Gia and Savannah.
Leo watched Mallory and Isaac as he stopped and kissed Savannah hello.
Hunt kissed Gia’s temple in a gesture of affection she’d come to enjoy, then he frowned. “Something going on?”
“No idea. We were inside waiting on you two, and I noticed Isaac bent over beside Mallory’s car. When I mentioned it, she went rushing out there to confront him.” Gia tried her best to relay the information quickly enough that she didn’t miss whatever went on between the two. She needn’t have rushed, since the two of them just stood staring at one another, Mallory like a lion on the hunt, Isaac jittery as the prey she’d cornered.
“Wait here,” Hunt said.
As if she’d do anything else.
Hunt strode toward the confrontation, his professional smile firmly in place. When he reached the pair, who were still glaring at each other, he stopped. “Everything okay over here?”
“Um…yeah.” Apparently bolstered by Hunt’s presence, Isaac puffed up his chest. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
He pointed a finger back and forth between the two. “Just curious why the two of you are glaring daggers at each other out here on this beautiful morning.”
Isaac took a couple of steps, then staggered and caught himself against the car.
Mallory sneered and shook her head. “I asked you what you’re doing out here bent over next to my car?”
“Nothing. Besides, it’s not your car. It’s mine.”
“What!” Mallory’s eyes went wide. “What are you talking about?”
Isaac slapped the trunk of the car. “This here was my daddy’s car, and it should have been left to me.”
Her lips twisted into a half-smile, half-grimace. “Except your daddy knew you were a no-good drunk who’d probably wind up wrapping it around a tree, so he left it to me instead.”
“What else did he leave to you, huh, Auntie?” Isaac lurched toward her.
She danced back out of the way, graceful as a ballerina on those blasted shoes that made her legs seem like they went on forever before disappearing into that little scrap of fabric that passed for a skirt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Gia couldn’t deny a burning case of shoe envy, though they wouldn’t do her a bit of good, since she’d probably just fall off the darn things.
Leo chuckled. “Looks like Isaac might be taking another ride with us.”
Savannah elbowed him in the side. “Five bucks says Hunt loses his cool in less than a minute.”
“You’re on.” Leo’s grin widened. “It’s going to take him at least two minutes.”
Savannah looked at her watch.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Isaac whined. “And it’s not like I was going to drive the car, I was just looking to lay down in the back seat for a few minutes and collect myself.”
Mallory huffed and turned to Hunt, completely dismissing Isaac. “Remove him, please.”
Isaac took one step forward and cocked his fist.
“Hey,” Leo called and started forward.
Isaac swung.
Mallory must have caught the movement from the corner of her eye, and the woman who had been as adept as a stilt walker only moments before staggered and fell against Hunt’s chest.
Isaac’s swing missed Mallory’s head by less than an inch. Instead, his fist plowed into Hunt’s jaw.
Hunt’s eyes went wide.
Savannah looked at her wrist and grinned. “Eighteen point oh five seconds.”
Hunt struggled to right Mallory—who seemed fully intent on playing the damsel in distress and clinging to him for all she was worth, and fend off Isaac—who seemed to have completely lost his mind and was still trying to get ahold of Mallory, though his reflexes didn’t seem coordinated enough to allow it.
Gia couldn’t help rooting for him a little bit, not that she’d ever condone him hitting his aunt, but he could at least get ahold of the woman and pull her off Hunt.
“That’s it.” Hunt shoved Isaac back against Leo, who grabbed hold of him. He then straightened Mallory, stepped back, and pointed at Isaac. “You are under arrest this time. I’ve tried to be patient with you, tried to respect the fact that you just lost your mother, but taking a swing at a woman just pushed my patience past their limit.”
“Yes,” Savannah whispered and pumped her fist. “And the winner is…moi.”
Hunt grabbed hold of Isaac’s shirt front and yanked him from Leo’s grasp, then whirled him to face a towering oak tree. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”
Leo glanced back at Savannah.
She held up her hand, wiggling all five fingers.
He swiped a hand over his mouth to cover his grin.
“But you don’t understand.” Isaac tried to turn toward Hunt, but Hunt kept firm pressure against his shoulder, holding him in place.
“Hands on the tree,” Hunt demanded.
“But—”
“But nothing. You have the right to remain silent, I suggest you use it.”
Isaac deflated, his shoulders slumping as Hunt cuffed him, led him to his Jeep, and stuffed him inside.
Leo stood by the side of the car while Hunt approached Mallory and took out his notebook. After a few quiet questions Gia couldn’t hear, he flipped the notebook closed and turned his back on her. With a quick glance over his shoulder to be sure Leo had Isaac under control, Hunt strode toward Gia and Savannah. He used the back of his hand to swipe a trickle of blood from the side of his mouth.
A smile played at the corners of Savannah’s mouth. “Getting slow in your old age, huh?”
“Ha ha.” Hunt grinned. “Not so fast, cous, it wasn’t Isaac’s punch that caused the bleeding, that barely landed.”
“Uh huh,” Savannah teased. “A likely story.”
“Don’t you be spreading no rumors now.” He pointed a finger at her. “I had just opened my mouth to tell Isaac to back off when Mallory’s head hit my jaw, and I bit my tongue.”
Savannah laughed out loud.
“Yeah, funny for you, maybe, but I hate that crunching sound when you bite your tongue.” He shivered.
Gia dug through her bag for a wet wipe and handed it to him. She’d have tried to clean his face off herself, but she doubted he’d appreciate the gesture in front of his attacker.
“Thanks.” He took the wipe from her and opened it, then cleaned off his chin. “Did I get it all?”
“Yeah, your good.”
“Good. Wouldn’t want to give Isaac the satisfaction of thinking he bested me.” He crumpled the wiped and stuffed it back into the wrapper, then pocketed it. “Looks like I’ll have to catch up with you guys later.”
Savannah’s smile fell, and her good-natured teasing slipped away. She lowered her gaze. “Looks like I’ll have to wait to put in my offer now.”
“Don’t be silly.” Hunt propped a finger beneath her chin and lifted it until she made eye contact. “I can handle Isaac by myself, and Mallory seems no worse for wear.”
Probably because she’d gotten the opportunity to cozy up close to Hunt. Gia dismissed the less than charitable thought, along with the small pang of jealousy it brought, an emotion she was not only surprised by but had no clue what to do with.
“If you guys can drop Leo off at the station when you’re done, I don’t see any reason you can’t take care of business here.” He slid a strand of Savannah’s hair behind her ear and smiled at her, so softly it sent a wave of love crashing through Gia. Despite the fact that Savannah had five brothers, she and Hunt had grown closer than any of them growing up. “You know I’d do anything for you, cous.”
She nodded and gave him a quick hug. “I do know, Hunt, thank you.”
He kissed the top of her head and stepped back. “Any time, kiddo.”
“Hey.” Her playful grin returned. “Maybe later I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He propped his hands on his hips. “How long?”
“Just over eighteen seconds before I knew you were going to blow, another ten for you to untangle yourself and yell.”
He seemed to consider that for a moment, pursed his lips, then nodded. “What did Leo say?”
“Two minutes.”
“Hah. He deserved to lose if he doesn’t know me better than that by now.” Hunt turned and jogged back to the car.
And Gia once again lost her opportunity to talk to Mallory. She had a list of questions fully prepared this time for after the signing, figuring she could stall for a few minutes once Hunt and Leo took off. Now that Leo would be present until they left, she might never get to ask her about the real leaves and berries on the cake, or her past involvement with the police.