Deke about her, before she took anything less.
“Fine,” Piper reached into her pocket and pulled out a roll of bills. She counted off the amount in twenty dollar bills and placed them in Vera's hand.
“Great. I'll give you a hand with it.” Vera folded the bills and stuck them in her pocket.
“No need, I've got it. You can get the door, though, I've only got two hands.”
“It's pretty...” Vera trailed off as Piper lifted the vanity with no effort at all, “heavy.” She finished the sentence and opened the door as the woman had requested. It took only a few minutes for her to transport everything to the truck.
“Thanks, she really is going to love it.” Piper smiled for the first time. “Are you coming to the party?”
“Actually, I wasn't invited.” Vera admitted. She tried not to let it sting, since she hadn't really thought about not being invited before. Maybe it was just for family.
“Oh, well, maybe Deke will ask you the next time that you see him. The two of you are close, right?” The overly interested expression was back on Piper's face in full force.
“Not really,” Vera replied, her level of discomfort rising now that Piper had brought up Deacon again. She knew when someone was sniffing around for information. “Is there anything else that I can get you?”
“I see,” Piper replied. “Well, see you around.”
“Drive safe,” Vera plastered a smile on her face and watched the woman walk away to the car. She stood on the porch for a moment, enjoying the fresh air and slight breeze. The sound of a motorcycle roaring past in the distance made her think about Deacon. It was rare that she didn't think about Deacon during the course of a day, and since he'd left the night before he was all that was on her mind. It could have been the sex, or it could be the impossible task he'd assigned her.
Vera realized that confiding in Gina, who was now very much pissed off at her, was a bad idea from the start. Now her friend would take pleasure in spreading the fact that Vera had slept with Deacon all around town, unless she could do damage control.
Once back inside the shop, she decided that there was only one thing to do. She picked up the phone and dialed Gina. It was no surprise when she got voice mail, but she somehow managed not to choke on the apology she left in her message.
The next time that she had a secret to tell, she sure as hell wouldn't go to Gina. Vera realized, though it was too late now, that her friend Susan would have been a much better choice. She picked the phone up again, dialed Susan's number from memory and got her voice mail. “Hey, you're probably up to your elbows in someone's insides or something else doctor-like but give me a call when you get a minute. I need to talk to you about something.”
Vera returned to the counter, to the computer and the search for something antique and emerald for Adelaide.
Chapter SIX
The thick woods on either side of the road were showing signs of the changing seasons. Deacon had noticed the cooler temperatures, the almost brisk nights. It was one of his favorite times of years. Normally, he'd have enjoyed the sight of them and let the ride clear his mind. He'd been summoned by The Old Man early that morning, the order disguised as an invitation he had no way to refuse. Bug and Jake weren't able to refuse it either; they rode behind him.
Deacon forced his concentration on the road as it began to twist and curve. He felt the spot before he saw it come into view, the tree and marker left to
“Fine,” Piper reached into her pocket and pulled out a roll of bills. She counted off the amount in twenty dollar bills and placed them in Vera's hand.
“Great. I'll give you a hand with it.” Vera folded the bills and stuck them in her pocket.
“No need, I've got it. You can get the door, though, I've only got two hands.”
“It's pretty...” Vera trailed off as Piper lifted the vanity with no effort at all, “heavy.” She finished the sentence and opened the door as the woman had requested. It took only a few minutes for her to transport everything to the truck.
“Thanks, she really is going to love it.” Piper smiled for the first time. “Are you coming to the party?”
“Actually, I wasn't invited.” Vera admitted. She tried not to let it sting, since she hadn't really thought about not being invited before. Maybe it was just for family.
“Oh, well, maybe Deke will ask you the next time that you see him. The two of you are close, right?” The overly interested expression was back on Piper's face in full force.
“Not really,” Vera replied, her level of discomfort rising now that Piper had brought up Deacon again. She knew when someone was sniffing around for information. “Is there anything else that I can get you?”
“I see,” Piper replied. “Well, see you around.”
“Drive safe,” Vera plastered a smile on her face and watched the woman walk away to the car. She stood on the porch for a moment, enjoying the fresh air and slight breeze. The sound of a motorcycle roaring past in the distance made her think about Deacon. It was rare that she didn't think about Deacon during the course of a day, and since he'd left the night before he was all that was on her mind. It could have been the sex, or it could be the impossible task he'd assigned her.
Vera realized that confiding in Gina, who was now very much pissed off at her, was a bad idea from the start. Now her friend would take pleasure in spreading the fact that Vera had slept with Deacon all around town, unless she could do damage control.
Once back inside the shop, she decided that there was only one thing to do. She picked up the phone and dialed Gina. It was no surprise when she got voice mail, but she somehow managed not to choke on the apology she left in her message.
The next time that she had a secret to tell, she sure as hell wouldn't go to Gina. Vera realized, though it was too late now, that her friend Susan would have been a much better choice. She picked the phone up again, dialed Susan's number from memory and got her voice mail. “Hey, you're probably up to your elbows in someone's insides or something else doctor-like but give me a call when you get a minute. I need to talk to you about something.”
Vera returned to the counter, to the computer and the search for something antique and emerald for Adelaide.
Chapter SIX
The thick woods on either side of the road were showing signs of the changing seasons. Deacon had noticed the cooler temperatures, the almost brisk nights. It was one of his favorite times of years. Normally, he'd have enjoyed the sight of them and let the ride clear his mind. He'd been summoned by The Old Man early that morning, the order disguised as an invitation he had no way to refuse. Bug and Jake weren't able to refuse it either; they rode behind him.
Deacon forced his concentration on the road as it began to twist and curve. He felt the spot before he saw it come into view, the tree and marker left to
Similar Books
