Daisy mentioned her cousin.”
My brow relaxes, and icy calm fills my voice. “It’s nothing like that.”
“Now, now. Don’t go all Mr. Freeze on me.” She waves her hands at my face. “I’ll sell it to you for ten, even though I could easily get fifteen for it.”
“I’m not asking for any favors.”
“Consider it a sacrifice to the gods for unfreezing your cold, cold heart.”
I’m growing uncomfortable by the second. “Listen, Olsen—”
“No, you listen, Carrollton.” She steps to me, but I see the glimmer in her eyes. “You’ve been this closed-off asshole for as long as I’ve known you. I don’t get it. You’re a good-looking man, and if Sly has somehow gotten through to you, I’m happy to keep the ball rolling.”
“Females,” I grouse. “You and Daisy deserve one another. I hope you do retire from Grafton and go to work with her. From what I understand that town needs a fresh influx of interfering old biddies.”
She laughs, but I tug on my tie, which for some inane reason feels too tight.
“I’ll take your ten grand, and I’ll send it to my guy for repairs. It’ll take a few weeks, is that okay?”
“I’m changing my mind.”
“No, you’re not!” She skids over to grab my arm. “You’re not going to kill my belief in happily ever after. I’m getting this baby fixed, and I’ll tie it up in a pink bow. I expect you to name your first child after me.”
I don’t even respond to that. “Are you hungry? Let’s get something to eat.”
Chapter 19
Joselyn
We got some luck filing our report at the police station. The new desk clerk’s first cousin had an abusive husband, and she seemed to take us under her wing as a personal cause.
She arranged for a patrol car to drive by the apartment complex every night between ten and eleven, and the deputy gave us his personal number.
“It’s because you were with me.” Courtney is packing for her Friday appointments.
“I think it’s because the deputy has a thing for his dispatcher.”
She steps over to kiss my head. “Whatever it takes. I’ll follow up with my department chair about you joining Palmetto. He said if there’s money in the budget, he’ll find a place for you. Don’t want him to forget.”
“You are too good to me.” I give her a tight squeeze, but she plays it off.
“If we’re going to move to a better apartment, I need to get you earning some money.”
“Speaking of, I’ve got that client tonight at five-thirty. Want me to grab a pizza on the way home? We can chill out and watch Unsolved Mysteries or something about frogs if that’s too much…?”
“It’s a date.” She pulls her bag over her shoulder and looks past me. “Come on, Ollie! You’re going to make me late!”
“Go on.” I wave her away. “I’ll drive him to school. You get to work.”
“Sure?” Her nose wrinkles, and I wave my hand.
“Of course! I’ll get him to school. You get to work and talk to your boss.”
“He’s not really my boss…” She’s still talking as she heads out the door.
I dash to the bathroom to dust powder on my nose and pull my hair into a ponytail. I only have one appointment today, Court is doing her best to get me on at her place, but otherwise, it’s time to start cold calling. I’ll pay a visit to the different offices in town, and I need to look respectable. I add a little more blush so I don’t look too pale, then I add some gloss on top of my lipstick.
We’re in the van when Ollie squints at me from the second row. “You’re wearing a lot of makeup.”
“Too much blush?” I flip down the visor. God, the last thing I need is to look like a hooker.
“Your eyes are too dark, and why are your lips so shiny?” He puts a plastic cage on his lap and stares through the clear panel at Chartreuse.
“You can be kind of rude, you know?” I slide an eye over at him while still rubbing at the purple eyeshadow I applied. Maybe I was a little heavy-handed. “Is something bothering you?”
His chin is tucked, and while I know he loves that creepy frog, he’s acting more into her today than usual.
“Hey.” I give him a nudge with my arm. “Talk to me. We’re roomies, after all.”
He doesn’t look at me.
He studies the green amphibian a few seconds longer, like he’s receiving messages from her eerie, oversized eyes. I put my hand