“Not the likes of you,” bellowed Quinn, taking a menacing step toward Kyle.
Kyle backed up, looking flustered. “I told you I’m not even interested in her. Geez.”
Pervis nodded. “Yeah, Ivy isn’t Kyle’s t… type.”
“Pity the poor girl mixed up with you two,” snapped Quinn.
“Hey.” Pervis scowled. “What did I do?”
Waving a big hand at Pervis, Quinn turned to go back into his bike shop. “You’re twins, so you’re the same to me.”
Pervis knitted his brows. “We’re not the same. I’m my own person, ya know.”
Smoothing his hand over his rumpled shirt, Kyle grumbled, “What in the world got into him?”
“Have you been seeing Ivy?” I asked.
Kyle shook his head. “Hell no.”
“You sure about that?”
“Of course I’m sure,” Kyle grumbled. “Don’t you think I’d know?”
I studied him, taking in his flustered demeanor. He was obviously rattled, but he didn’t appear to be lying. “Well, see that you give her an extra-wide berth. Quinn obviously has it in his head you’ve been sniffing around her for some reason.”
Kyle gritted his teeth. “He’s wrong, but it’s fine by me to avoid her. Like I said, I have no interest in Ivy.”
Pervis looked uneasy. “Never saw that side of Quinn before.”
In the doorway of the bike shop, a slender blonde girl peeked out. She was watching the brothers, her cheeks pink. The last time I’d seen Ivy up close, she’d been a skinny, flat-chested teenager. It appeared she’d done a lot of growing up and filling out since then. Quinn ushered the girl back inside the shop, but she gave one last glance toward the brothers.
What’s that look about?
“What’s Quinn got against you boys?” I asked.
Kyle shrugged. “He thinks I’m a womanizer.”
“Just you?” I asked, giving Pervis a curious glance.
Pervis blushed. “Don’t look at me, Sheriff. I… I’m definitely not a womanizer.”
Kyle snorted a laugh. “No, Pervis most certainly does not have a roving eye.”
Pervis frowned. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Ignoring his brother, Kyle said, “Ivy isn’t my type. I mean, she’s hot and all, but I… I like older women. Women with experience, if you know what I mean.”
“Whether she’s your type or not, steer clear, Kyle,” I said.
“I already told you I would. Sheesh.” Kyle rubbed the back of his neck, looking annoyed. “I think Quinn must be drinking again. Why else would he fly off the handle like that?”
“I heard tell he’s a big fat lush,” Pervis muttered.
“Who said that?” I asked. As far as I knew, Quinn didn’t have a drinking problem. If anything, he was the opposite. Very straightlaced. He’d raised Ivy as a single dad after his wife took off ages ago.
“Oh, just people around town.” Pervis avoided my gaze. “You know how people love to talk.”
Kyle started picking up the fliers that were scattered all over the sidewalk. “Come on, Pervis. Help me grab these.”
