“Bye.” I wave at him as he takes off down the sidewalk, looking all sexy doctor-ish in his formfitting khakis and tucked-in navy-blue polo.
Dr. Beau Novak. I still can’t believe I can kiss him.
Giddy, I walk behind the sandwich shop to the ice chest. I used to come down here on my bike every Friday to get ice for the family. I’d put it in the strong wicker basket on the back of my bike and then make the trek back to my house like the little delivery girl I was. Sometimes, if my mom gave me a ten-dollar bill rather than a five, I would buy myself a Rice Krispies Treat from the sandwich shop. You know, as tax for my vigorous effort.
When I reach the chest, I’m pulling on the handle just as, out of the corner of my eye, I spot Cooper sitting at a picnic table just a few yards away. But he’s not alone—he’s sitting with Larkin. What the hell are they doing together?
Are they in cahoots?
I shut the ice chest and creep up behind a tall bush that hides me from their view but gives me the perfect vantage point to see what they’re doing. Faintly, I can hear their voices, but I can’t really make out anything.
Cooper opens up a tablet and starts showing Larkin something. From my angle, I only see the sides of their faces, so I can’t get a good read on what they’re saying or talking about, which is frustrating—clearly the plan here is to forget about the ice and snoop instead.
What could they possibly be doing together?
Are they working on the anniversary party together? Maybe Ford assigned the party to Larkin to take care of. I could see that happening. He’s too busy, so he makes his assistant do it.
Rolling my eyes, I’m about to pull away when Larkin lifts up the tablet, revealing a teal and light-blue Watchful Wanderers logo.
I grip the bush leaves in front of me as I lean closer.
Caught, red handed. This isn’t about the anniversary party. This is about the company.
And those are new logos.
Different logos.
Nice, actually.
Where did they come from?
And why is Cooper involved?
Wait . . . why is Cooper involved? Are they all working together? I thought Ford turned down Cooper? Was that all a lie to make me think Cooper isn’t helping out with the business? Is that why Ford was weird about the rebranding? Because he was secretly working with Cooper and wanted to keep me out of it? Like he’s kept me out of other areas of the business, despite his knowing I want to help?
Anxiety roars through me as a wave of momentary embarrassment strikes. They’ve never really wanted me to be a part of the store, and I’ve never known why.
Maybe if I can lean in a little more to hear what they’re saying . . .
The air conditioner turns on next to me, drowning out their voices completely.
“Damn it,” I mutter as I look around, seeing if there’s a way I can get closer.
If it was about the anniversary party, whatever. They can talk all they want. It would annoy me that Ford wasn’t actually doing his part, but nothing to get all tied up about. This clearly isn’t about the anniversary party, though; this is about business. A business I’m not allowed to be involved in, however much I desperately want to be.
So, I need to know what they’re talking about. If anything, just to have a taste of that insider knowledge.
And that starts with getting closer. I spot a trail through the bushes that abuts their table, and if I’m careful, I can stay undetected. Incognito. I’ll need to move around these bushes while the air conditioner is still running to distract from any noise I might make. As the youngest of three, I know I can be a stealthy sleuth, but I’m weighed down by a cumbersome cast that could throw me off balance at any point. Got to be smart about these things.
Pushing past a few branches, I pause to see if they notice, but they’re both transfixed by the tablet. I make a quick pass through the bushiest shrubs and then land lightly on my feet, arms spread for balance. They’re still focused on the tablet, so I make another leap over a tree branch and then duck under one.
My foot gets caught on the root of a tree and I nearly face plant, but I quickly grab onto a branch with my good hand and hold in the squeal as a wave of “close encounter” heat erupts up my neck.
Ooof, steady, Palmer.
Taking a deep breath, I regain my composure and close in the last few feet, drawing even with their table just as the air conditioner shuts off. Could not have timed that more perfectly.
Quiet, they both study the tablet, and I stand on my toes to get a better look at it.
It’s a new logo for sure.
And it’s good.