night he sat her in the squad car while he called her parents. At least this time she wasn’t in trouble. “Max was doing his job,” the chief explained.
Jewel simmered down, but her lips pursed in mulish displeasure.
“This is all just a misunderstandin’,” he assured them.
“Bart would never hurt anyone,” Jewel insisted. “Sure, he’s a little different, but that’s his appeal. Not everyone follows their inner voice.”
Not everyone’s inner voice told them to pick pockets, either. Lilli glanced over at her friend. “Since when did you become so interested in Bart?”
Pink covered Jewels cheeks. “I’ve run into him around town a few times. We went to high school together,” she explained. “Recently we reconnected. I even invited him to join us for lunch today...before we were interrupted. But he turned me down.”
Interrupted by Max. Lilli peeked over at him again, her stomach fluttering. For the second time in her life, Max Sanders caught and held her attention, but she resisted the lure. She had a lot on her plate, which didn’t include getting tangled up with Max again.
“The officer has your statements, ladies, so if you’ll excuse me, I should probably get back to Max.” The chief excused himself.
“Isn’t that peachy,” Jewel grumbled.
“He knows what he’s doing,” Lilli told her friend.
“Bart’s not even here to defend himself.”
Lilli decided not to point out the fact that his disappearing act looked suspicious. While Jewel complained, her attention went back to Max.
He stood only a few feet away, so she couldn’t help but hear the chief laughing while Max spoke in a low tone. He frowned and seemed put out, while the chief enjoyed the entire situation, especially when he handed Max a square brown object that could only have been the pilfered wallet. Max’s neck grew red as he shoved the billfold into his back pocket. Lilli chuckled at his disgruntled expression.
He headed in her direction. Uh-oh.
“Look, things got out of hand. Thanks for not blowing my cover.”
“Are you appreciative enough to be a groom?”
“No way.”
“You know, I could have told the officer you were causing trouble.”
“I still would have ended up here. Like the last time the police brought us both in.” His eyes narrowed. “You seem to have a special ability for getting me in hot water.”
“Hey, I didn’t plan to.”
“Today? Or years ago?”
“Neither. And I resent the implication.”
“You’re trouble, pure and simple.”
“And you’re not?”
The chief chuckled. “Should I leave you two alone to work things out?”
She grimaced. “No, thanks.”
The chief still grinned. “That’s good, ’cuz Max here doesn’t like being cornered.”
By his scowl, Lilli knew she’d managed that. Twice in one day.
“I still lost Bart,” Max groused.
“Are you implying it’s my fault he got away?” Lilli planted her fists on her hips. Max leaned toward her and she couldn’t deny the sparks flaring between them as they squared off. Every flash of potent energy threw off tantalizing heat, yet she didn’t back down.
“No, I’m flat-out saying it.”
They were still glaring at each other when the chief stepped between them.
“Bart’s a slippery one, I’ll give you that. But I have no doubt you’ll get the job done.” He slapped Max on the back, as if giving Max his cue to leave. Max’s neck grew red again. He sent Lilli a curt nod and strode off.
“Our lunch hour is completely blown.” Jewel told Lilli as they left the station. “But watching you push Mr. Security Consultant’s buttons? Worth not eating.”
“Did I do that?” Lilli asked innocently while batting her eyelashes.
“Like a pro.” Jewel held up her hand for a high five. Lilli slapped her hand against Jewel’s. “So really, what’s going on between you two?”
Lilli adjusted her purse strap, her gaze following the path Max had taken. “Nothing.”
Jewel snorted. “Yeah,
Jewel simmered down, but her lips pursed in mulish displeasure.
“This is all just a misunderstandin’,” he assured them.
“Bart would never hurt anyone,” Jewel insisted. “Sure, he’s a little different, but that’s his appeal. Not everyone follows their inner voice.”
Not everyone’s inner voice told them to pick pockets, either. Lilli glanced over at her friend. “Since when did you become so interested in Bart?”
Pink covered Jewels cheeks. “I’ve run into him around town a few times. We went to high school together,” she explained. “Recently we reconnected. I even invited him to join us for lunch today...before we were interrupted. But he turned me down.”
Interrupted by Max. Lilli peeked over at him again, her stomach fluttering. For the second time in her life, Max Sanders caught and held her attention, but she resisted the lure. She had a lot on her plate, which didn’t include getting tangled up with Max again.
“The officer has your statements, ladies, so if you’ll excuse me, I should probably get back to Max.” The chief excused himself.
“Isn’t that peachy,” Jewel grumbled.
“He knows what he’s doing,” Lilli told her friend.
“Bart’s not even here to defend himself.”
Lilli decided not to point out the fact that his disappearing act looked suspicious. While Jewel complained, her attention went back to Max.
He stood only a few feet away, so she couldn’t help but hear the chief laughing while Max spoke in a low tone. He frowned and seemed put out, while the chief enjoyed the entire situation, especially when he handed Max a square brown object that could only have been the pilfered wallet. Max’s neck grew red as he shoved the billfold into his back pocket. Lilli chuckled at his disgruntled expression.
He headed in her direction. Uh-oh.
“Look, things got out of hand. Thanks for not blowing my cover.”
“Are you appreciative enough to be a groom?”
“No way.”
“You know, I could have told the officer you were causing trouble.”
“I still would have ended up here. Like the last time the police brought us both in.” His eyes narrowed. “You seem to have a special ability for getting me in hot water.”
“Hey, I didn’t plan to.”
“Today? Or years ago?”
“Neither. And I resent the implication.”
“You’re trouble, pure and simple.”
“And you’re not?”
The chief chuckled. “Should I leave you two alone to work things out?”
She grimaced. “No, thanks.”
The chief still grinned. “That’s good, ’cuz Max here doesn’t like being cornered.”
By his scowl, Lilli knew she’d managed that. Twice in one day.
“I still lost Bart,” Max groused.
“Are you implying it’s my fault he got away?” Lilli planted her fists on her hips. Max leaned toward her and she couldn’t deny the sparks flaring between them as they squared off. Every flash of potent energy threw off tantalizing heat, yet she didn’t back down.
“No, I’m flat-out saying it.”
They were still glaring at each other when the chief stepped between them.
“Bart’s a slippery one, I’ll give you that. But I have no doubt you’ll get the job done.” He slapped Max on the back, as if giving Max his cue to leave. Max’s neck grew red again. He sent Lilli a curt nod and strode off.
“Our lunch hour is completely blown.” Jewel told Lilli as they left the station. “But watching you push Mr. Security Consultant’s buttons? Worth not eating.”
“Did I do that?” Lilli asked innocently while batting her eyelashes.
“Like a pro.” Jewel held up her hand for a high five. Lilli slapped her hand against Jewel’s. “So really, what’s going on between you two?”
Lilli adjusted her purse strap, her gaze following the path Max had taken. “Nothing.”
Jewel snorted. “Yeah,
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