question females about their love affairs with shoes. Zap. Yep, it still hurt.
“You decide to list your house with Julia?” Bertie gave him a pointed look. “She’s the best…even stuck in bed.”
“Probably.” Did he have a choice? To not use Julia as his realtor would seem petty, and he didn’t need any more negative gossip. Then again, to start working with Julia would fuel the rampant speculation over whether they’d get back together.
Even though Keith Morgan had presented a solid business plan with growth potential, opening BetterBites was only one reason why he hadn’t hit the trail yet. Unresolved issues from his past was another reason why he was sticking around.
“Heard you picked Lucy up today on the side of the road. I give her credit for coming home to help Julia and take care of Parker, but she’s gonna go bonkers if she doesn’t find something else to keep her occupied.”
Brogan shoved his unwanted thoughts from his mind. “She seemed a little nervous about being home.”
“She and Julia aren’t very close. They still have unresolved differences.” Bertie snapped her fingers. “Hey, you should talk to Lucy about marketing. She could really help if you need someone for BetterBites.”
Now that was good news worth sinking his teeth into. Brogan set his beer down slowly. “Really?”
“She’s amazing. She helped me on a couple of projects, and Keith plans to talk to her about promoting one of his tournaments.”
“If she’s so awesome, why is she here? I got the impression she didn’t have a choice.”
Bertie shrugged. “She got burned bad in a business deal. I don’t know all the particulars, and it’s not my story to tell, but being home and reconnecting with some of her old friends will be good for her.” Bertie straightened the condiment rack on top of the bar. “Hate to leave you alone. Is your friend coming back?”
“Nah. Javier is settling in at Hazel’s.”
“Ooo, sorry to hear that. You know Hazel has Bible study on Wednesday nights, and attendance is mandatory for her boarders.”
He grinned into his beer. “I know that. But Javie doesn’t.”
Bertie laughed. “You trying to run him off?”
“Javie’s a charmer. He’ll have them eating out of his hand and probably converting to Catholicism before he leaves.”
“Conways are die-hard Methodists. They will welcome the challenge.” She chuckled and patted his arm. “I’ll be by first thing tomorrow with those samples.”
“Thanks.”
Bertie eased off the barstool. “See you then—oh, it’s Lucy. Luce. Over here!” She waved as he peered over his shoulder toward the entrance. Lucy maneuvered around the colorful tables, wearing a tight knit top that did nothing to disguise her curves, over snug jeans, a grimace marring her face. She clutched the funky handbag over her shoulder, ducking her head as she worked her way across the bar.
“Loco Lucy! Is that you?”
“Hey, Lucy, glad you’re home.”
“Look, it’s Lucy. We’ve missed you, girl.”
Lucy hadn’t gotten two feet before everyone at the Dog seemed to perk up and give a shout out. Brogan watched in wonder as the imaginary welcome wagon practically barreled her over in its eagerness to greet her. Looking embarrassed, Lucy kept her head tucked as she waved and smiled. Shit. He’d give his right arm to receive a welcome like that. He’d encountered only polite nods and condolences about his sainted mother on top of nosy inquiries about his relationship with Julia. Lucy had been the one who’d left town like the prodigal son. And like the Gospel story, returned home to welcoming arms and fatted calf.
As she approached the bar, her feet, clad in soft-pink Keds, hesitated when she spied him next to Bertie. With a resigned shrug, she continued across the colorful terrazzo floor.
“Where’s Parker? You lose him already?” Bertie asked, and then ordered a margarita on the rocks, no salt.
“Don’t even joke about that,” Lucy
“You decide to list your house with Julia?” Bertie gave him a pointed look. “She’s the best…even stuck in bed.”
“Probably.” Did he have a choice? To not use Julia as his realtor would seem petty, and he didn’t need any more negative gossip. Then again, to start working with Julia would fuel the rampant speculation over whether they’d get back together.
Even though Keith Morgan had presented a solid business plan with growth potential, opening BetterBites was only one reason why he hadn’t hit the trail yet. Unresolved issues from his past was another reason why he was sticking around.
“Heard you picked Lucy up today on the side of the road. I give her credit for coming home to help Julia and take care of Parker, but she’s gonna go bonkers if she doesn’t find something else to keep her occupied.”
Brogan shoved his unwanted thoughts from his mind. “She seemed a little nervous about being home.”
“She and Julia aren’t very close. They still have unresolved differences.” Bertie snapped her fingers. “Hey, you should talk to Lucy about marketing. She could really help if you need someone for BetterBites.”
Now that was good news worth sinking his teeth into. Brogan set his beer down slowly. “Really?”
“She’s amazing. She helped me on a couple of projects, and Keith plans to talk to her about promoting one of his tournaments.”
“If she’s so awesome, why is she here? I got the impression she didn’t have a choice.”
Bertie shrugged. “She got burned bad in a business deal. I don’t know all the particulars, and it’s not my story to tell, but being home and reconnecting with some of her old friends will be good for her.” Bertie straightened the condiment rack on top of the bar. “Hate to leave you alone. Is your friend coming back?”
“Nah. Javier is settling in at Hazel’s.”
“Ooo, sorry to hear that. You know Hazel has Bible study on Wednesday nights, and attendance is mandatory for her boarders.”
He grinned into his beer. “I know that. But Javie doesn’t.”
Bertie laughed. “You trying to run him off?”
“Javie’s a charmer. He’ll have them eating out of his hand and probably converting to Catholicism before he leaves.”
“Conways are die-hard Methodists. They will welcome the challenge.” She chuckled and patted his arm. “I’ll be by first thing tomorrow with those samples.”
“Thanks.”
Bertie eased off the barstool. “See you then—oh, it’s Lucy. Luce. Over here!” She waved as he peered over his shoulder toward the entrance. Lucy maneuvered around the colorful tables, wearing a tight knit top that did nothing to disguise her curves, over snug jeans, a grimace marring her face. She clutched the funky handbag over her shoulder, ducking her head as she worked her way across the bar.
“Loco Lucy! Is that you?”
“Hey, Lucy, glad you’re home.”
“Look, it’s Lucy. We’ve missed you, girl.”
Lucy hadn’t gotten two feet before everyone at the Dog seemed to perk up and give a shout out. Brogan watched in wonder as the imaginary welcome wagon practically barreled her over in its eagerness to greet her. Looking embarrassed, Lucy kept her head tucked as she waved and smiled. Shit. He’d give his right arm to receive a welcome like that. He’d encountered only polite nods and condolences about his sainted mother on top of nosy inquiries about his relationship with Julia. Lucy had been the one who’d left town like the prodigal son. And like the Gospel story, returned home to welcoming arms and fatted calf.
As she approached the bar, her feet, clad in soft-pink Keds, hesitated when she spied him next to Bertie. With a resigned shrug, she continued across the colorful terrazzo floor.
“Where’s Parker? You lose him already?” Bertie asked, and then ordered a margarita on the rocks, no salt.
“Don’t even joke about that,” Lucy
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