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Mo joined Jo and Ryan at the serving tables and saw the paper plates were running low so she headed to the supply closet. As she searched the shelves, she heard arguing coming from the next room, which was the office. She hoped it wasn't Minnow and Marc. Soon the escalating voices from the office caught her attention. It wasn't Marc and Minnow arguing in there.
"I'm telling you, Eddie, I'll cut you in, I promise. Just don't say anything. Please? You know how much I like you."
A stranger replied to Tabby. "Cut the crap. You always were full of it and you're looking to take advantage of me like you did the boss."
"Oh, come on Eddie! I'll take very good care of you. Like this."
It was quiet in the office and Mo hoped Tabby and Eddie weren't taking advantage of each other.
Finally, to Mo's relief, Eddie spoke. "You know I've always been crazy about you. But if anyone starts asking questions..."
"Don't go home," Tabby replied. "Stay here with me and I'll take care of us both."
"Somehow, I don't quite believe that one," the man said. "I know your expensive tastes, baby. Why are you working in a backwater town like this if you're so well off?"
"I'm bored. Besides, you know how much I love dancing. At least it seemed like it when you came to watch me at the club," she purred.
"I know you're good at the con, Tabby. Even that name..."
"I'll prove it to you. Just give me the chance."
Mo, now crouched to look on the lower shelves for the plates, put her ear to the wall and lost her balance. CRASH! She desperately grabbed a box to slow her fall, but it didn't help. The sound from a spilling container of metal pegboard hooks amplified in the small closet and the conversation in the office ceased. Then the closet door opened and Ryan's brows went up when he saw Mo sprawled on the floor, with the metal hooks strewn everywhere. She gave him an embarrassed smile. "I'm still looking for the paper plates."
He crouched down and pulled a package from the shelf closest to her nose. "You mean these plates?"
"What's taking so long?" Jo yelled from the doorway. "If you don't get those plates out here soon they're gonna just dig in and eat with their hands!" She grabbed the plates from Ryan and told him to clean up the mess he made and for Mo to get her big butt to the serving line.
With a chuckle, Ryan reached down and pulled Mo to her feet. When she offered to pick up the hooks, he pushed her toward the door. "I don't argue when she uses that tone of voice," he said.
Before Mo could exit the closet, Minnow stuck her head in. "What's going on? Never mind. Have you seen Marc?"
"He's not in here," Mo told her. "There's no room."
Ryan was the only one to appreciate her humor. Minnow muttered under her breath that Marc disappeared and someone had a question for him. She left the closet and Mo followed, but Mo went to the buffet where Jo slapped eager hands as she tried to tear open the plates with her teeth.
"Do something!" she snapped at Mo who took the plates and peeled off the plastic wrap. Jo glared at the visitors and mumbled, "Animals," as Mo handed out plates. Mo was too busy trying to keep up with the demand to ponder the conversation she'd overhead. All she knew is that she'd have to warn Minnow that Tabby might have a shady past.
Meanwhile, Minnow made her way to the storage room at the back of the building where she found Marc- backed against the wall and lip locked with Tabby, whose arms wrapped around his neck as she gave him a full body press. To give Marc credit, he wasn't holding Tabby but trying to dislodge her arms. Minnow's hiss worked faster. Tabby turned with a smug air and faced Minnow's black look.
"If you ever lay a hand on my husband again, it will be the last thing you do," Min threatened.
"We can get by without hands," Tabby taunted and Marc closed his eyes. When he opened them Minnow had Tabby's hands, twisting them while Tabby yelped in pain.
"I can arrange that," Minnow growled. "I can also remove your lips and any other body parts that get up close and personal with Marc." She gave Marc a scorching look as he separated the two women.
Tabby rubbed her wrists. "Hey, it's not a big deal. You two act like you don't even care about each other, so I didn't think you'd mind."
She flounced to the door and Min warned, "If you like breathing you'll save it for someone else."
When Min turned back to Marc he said defensively, "Min, it wasn't what it looked like."
She nearly blew a braid. Just how stupid was that comment? "It looked like she had every inch of her front pressed against you while she kissed the hell out of you!" Marc flushed because she was right and Minnow rubbed her brow, wondering where her explosive reaction had come from. But one thing was certain. Tabby was right. She and Marc didn't act like a couple, and Min took a deep breath. It wasn't Marc's fault that Tabby read their relationship as it was. Minnow reached up to wipe the lipstick off his face.
"You're not going to shove your fist down my throat, are you?" he asked as he moved his head back slightly and grabbed her hand.
"Just making you presentable." She wiped the lipstick from his face. "There's a guy out front who has questions about supplements, so I came to find you."
He gave her an uncertain look, but nodded and walked toward the door leading to the front.
"Hey, Marc? I don't blame you for what happened. I've been so wrapped up in getting this place in order that I dropped the ball and forgot why we're here." She gave an ironic smile. "One might think I really want this place to succeed."
"Is that an apology I didn't hear?" he asked.
Min's eyes narrowed. "And I'm sorry," she added. "But I'd like to remind you Tabby read both of us."
He smiled. "Point taken. I'm sorry too. I'll work on it if you will." Min responded by blowing him a kiss. Marc closed one eye thoughtfully and told her to keep practicing.