women he employed were usually above reproach and members of good standing within the community. Desoto was a prominent businessman in Hope City, but he'd caught both JDET and DEA notice. Their suspicion of the garbage company’s owner was based on his proximity of far too many incidents involving Peña.
Clare moved them down the stairs and out of view. Amber slid off her seat and edged to the window. Desoto's stance was rigid, and his arms crossed over his chest as he glared down at Clare. He glanced at his watch and glanced right and left before he spoke a few words. She couldn't hear what was said, however the tone left little doubt of his current mood. Desoto wasn't happy. Careful to stay behind the lace curtains, she got an up close and personal view of Clare running her hand up Desoto's chest before she stepped in closer to the man. Her hand landed on his cheek, and she raised up onto her toes.
Desoto's arms shot around Clare's waist, and he yanked her into him. The kiss wasn't nice. It was hard, almost like a punishment. Stunned, Amber stood motionless for a moment, and then carefully made her way back to the counter, and chugged the remaining lemonade in her glass. She trotted to the refrigerator and opened the door as she heard the back door reopen. She grabbed the pitcher of lemonade and spun around with a wide smile on her face.
"Hey, I hope you don't mind, but this is some of the best lemonade I've ever had."
"Ah, no problem. Sorry about the interruption."
"I didn't mean to get in the way of anything." Amber filled her glass. "A neighbor? I still haven't met everyone. Always behind the computer screen." She put the glass pitcher back in the fridge and made her way back to the counter.
"No, an old business acquaintance."
"Am I keeping you from visiting with him? I'm so sorry! I can leave." Besides, she wanted to make sure the cameras caught Desoto's image and needed to ensure Terrell got the information quickly.
"Oh, he just stopped by. We'll visit again another day, but I do need to get back to work in the greenhouse." Clare waved toward the building's location.
"And I do need to go back to work. Thanks for the lemonade and the break. Sorry to interrupt your day."
"Really, it's no problem, one of those days. Started out bad and isn't getting better."
Amber took another long sip of her drink to see if Clare was going to share more. When she didn't, Amber prompted with a sigh, "Yeah, Brody and I have our moments. It doesn't mean I don't love him, but sometimes I'm glad he flies, if you know what I mean. We all need our space."
Clare chuckled and rolled her shoulders. "Space in my life is at a premium, that's for sure. Maybe someday we can go to the city and shop, have lunch and do girl things, tips and toes, or a spa day."
She carried her glass back and placed it in the sink before she walked around the counter toward Clare. "Or a spa day. One including tips and toes." Amber laughed and waggled her fingers in the air. "I haven't had a mani-pedi in almost a year."
"Then we're due." Clare moved across the floor with her and opened the door.
She skipped down the steps and turned to walk backward, taking in the yard. She saw someone in the greenhouse but didn't draw attention to the fact. "Call me about the shrubs and the day out."
"I will." Clare raised a hand and waved before she turned toward the greenhouse.
Amber forced herself to walk in a leisurely, meandering fashion to her house. She stopped to look at a couple flowers. Clare had told her the name of the bush, but the information had gone in one ear and out the other. She ambled past the flower beds Clare had helped her weed and plucked a couple of stray green shoots from the dirt. She waved at Mrs. Dawes and her puppy.
"Hello, Amber. It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" The older woman held the leash of the little puffball as it walked a thousand steps to Mrs. Dawes' one. The thing was nothing but fur, a black button nose, and a tiny pink tongue.
"It is! A great day." She watched the puppy for a few seconds before she wandered into the house. The second the door was closed, she raced into the office and put