each of the wait staff had a section. If so, Roxie would have a harder time making her drop. Instead, she and Jacob and Liz covered the entire bar at random.
Roxie was friendly and flirty with every customer. Before tonight, Tuck had never paid attention to the fact that she didn’t have a large personal space. She got very close to people. That made her drops easier. It also drove Tuck nuts because he had no idea if she’d already made her drop or not. She could have made a dozen by now.
Jodi was nervous too. Tuck had seen her drop more than one glass, the shattering drawing people’s attention. She laughed it off, saying she was clumsy tonight.
Bill spent most of the evening sitting at the end of the bar with one of his usual customers, talking. Tuck had encouraged him to play it cool and stay put so he wouldn’t get caught up in anything.
Tuck had likewise insisted Jodi remain behind the bar for the same reason. He’d pressured her a half an hour before opening and before Roxie’s arrival. She had glared at him defiantly, but in the end, consented. At the time, he’d visualized a future where he wiped that contrary look of hers right off her face by taking her in his arms and kissing her senseless until she melted.
Two days. Not even. More like thirty-eight hours.
Tuck moved his head back and forth as if scanning the entire room, but he kept his gaze directed at Roxie, watching as she leaned a hip against a table and laughed with a customer.
Suddenly, the woman grabbed Roxie’s wrist, jumped to her feet, and leaned into Roxie’s face.
Tuck stopped moving. Showtime.
From the side view, he could see Roxie turning pale, saying something to the woman, and then glancing around, her gaze ending up on Tuck’s. He wondered how often he’d mistaken her attention toward him for flirting when really she was checking to see if he was paying attention. He hated that he’d missed the signs, spending the last month looking for a man. Not a woman. Rookie mistake. A stupid one.
Tuck finally moved forward, making his way through the crowd while Roxie jerked her wrist, frantically whispering to the woman.
When Tuck reached the quiet skirmish, the brunette was still gripping Roxie’s wrist, and much to Tuck’s satisfaction, Roxie was still holding something in her fist. Even better.
The brunette hissed. “I suggest you go quietly to the back office with me right now, ma’am, or risk causing a scene. I won’t hesitate to arrest you and cuff you right in the middle of the bar if you want to fight me.”
“Okay, okay, fine.” Roxie shot a glare at Tuck and turned to walk through the crowd. On her way, she dropped the contents of her hand semi-discreetly in a trash can.
Tuck nearly laughed as he followed them, stopping to yank the entire bag of trash out of the can and carry it with him.
When they reached the office, the undercover agent wasted no time. “You want to explain to me why you were dropping pills in my purse?”
Roxie cocked a hip and rolled her eyes.
Tuck couldn’t even imagine how someone could be that cavalier.
The brunette glanced at Tuck and nodded once. “Officer Pierce.” She flashed a badge.
“Tucker Lawler.”
Pierce shifted her attention to Roxie. “Start talking.”
“Don’t you have to read me my rights or something?”
“I can do that if you want. You’re going to the station with me no matter what. It’ll be easier on you if you cooperate.”
“Seriously?” Roxie’s voice rose and she fisted her hands at her sides. “You’re gonna arrest me for having some diet pills?”
“I’m going to arrest you for selling illegal diet pills,” Pierce pointed out. “But it would be nice if you told us who your supplier is. It would make things easier on you.”
Roxie smirked.
Tuck heard movement behind him and turned around to find Jodi in the doorway. Her eyes were wide. He shook his head. He didn’t want her anywhere near Roxie if the woman decided to fight them. She was volatile. Anything was possible.
For once, Jodi nodded and backed off. Her father was behind her, and he took her shoulders and spun her back toward the front of the bar.
Roxie’s demeanor switched to frantic. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”
“True. You don’t have to tell me a thing if you don’t want. But the judge who arraigns you in the morning is not going to be too pleased to