Her concern was touching, but totally unnecessary. "It's definitely safe," I said. "I'm not even tired. And as far as Joel, he'll just assume I worked all day." I grinned over at her. "Especially if I bring home cookies."
Cassie didn't look reassured. "Maybe you should leave now, so you don't crash on the way home."
"Oh stop it," I said. "I'm not gonna crash."
Cassie was in the middle of objecting again when a loud, pounding noise made both of us look toward the front of the shop. The store wasn't scheduled to open for another half-hour.
I asked, "Are you expecting someone?"
Cassie shook her head and then moved to the narrow doorway that led to the front room. She peered around the corner and sighed. "Oh, crap."
"What?"
She turned to me and said, "It's for you."
"How do you know?"
"Because it's Derek." She grimaced. "And he looks ticked off as usual."
Damn it.I didn't even realize he was back in town. Isowasn't in the mood for whatever was wrongthistime. Still, I couldn't let him pound all day, so I strode to the door and called through the glass, "We're closed!"
"I'm not here for cookies," he called back. "I'm here to tell you something."
I called back, "So tell me later!"
He glared through the glass. "It can't wait."
"Oh, alright," I muttered. I opened the glass door barely a sliver and said, "But hurry up, because I'm on the clock."
He looked to the slim opening. "Aren't you gonna let me in?"
"No," I told him. "I'm working, just like I said. So just tell me, okay?"
"Alright, you wanna hear it this way? Fine by me. I just wanted to let you know that your boyfriend?" Derek gave me a nasty smile. "He's on his way to jail."
My jaw dropped. "What?"
"Sorry, I misspoke."
Relief coursed through me.
Derek was still smiling. "What I meant to say wasprison." He shrugged. "But oh well. See you later." And with that, he turned to go.
"Wait!" Desperately, I flung open the door. "You can't be serious."
He turned back. "Can't I?"
Chapter 67
Fifteen minutes later, I was pacing the back room of the cookie shop. And poor Cassie. Instead of getting any work done, she was listening to me rant about my own problems.
For the tenth time, I stopped pacing and studied the photos laid across the back counter.
Cassie asked, "So youknewwhat Joel did?"
"You mean the fighting?" I said. "Yeah, I knew."
She gave me an odd look. "Did you know it was illegal?"
