an awful song like it was the best thing I’d ever done.
Beau elbowed me. “It wouldn’t kill you to loosen up.”
She resumed screeching and clapping to the music.
I wasn’t a loose kind of guy even before all the responsibility fell on me.
Even as a kid, I was serious. My mother had helped me to let go sometimes, but she’d been gone a lot of years. I had fractions of memories like the day she and Teague had danced to Cher in the front yard.
I’d been worried about my baby sister. And when they’d gotten me to join in, I still hadn’t had as good a time as they had.
To this day, I hated every single note of any Cher song. Whenever my brother’s phone rang with the tune the firefighters at his station had programmed, it was like a thousand pinpricks of pain.
Perhaps “Me and Bobby McGee” on repeat wasn’t so bad after all. But the words that were ringing in my head loudest were still Agent Walker’s. You’re under arrest for securities fraud and tax evasion.
How had those charges been levied against me? Who had instigated that? I doubted it would simply go away . . . he would be back. Then what?
Lexie maneuvered the van down the ramp to the underground parking at Daniel’s building at far too high a rate of speed, though I was the only one who seemed aware.
My words to slow down were swallowed up by the screech of tires as we came to a stop.
She turned off the ignition and blessed silence followed.
Finally, I can hear myself think. Maybe even make heads or tails of these ridiculous charges.
How had Dad known?
I rubbed my temples.
Eric grinned and held up his fist. “Awesome ride!”
I bumped it, though my movement was stilted. Beau would say I had a broomstick up my ass. But I had to if I was going to keep her and Teague happy.
Eric threw open the sliding door. Three dogs popped up and no one had their leashes. If they escaped, my brother would be devastated.
Ash gently nudged Eric as if reminding him to take her leash. Muffy barreled out, then looked back at me guiltily like he’d forgotten to wait for permission. Sadie stood at the edge of the van and stared down at the ground as if she wasn’t sure she wanted to jump that far.
Beau joined all of them in the garage and suddenly Sadie and I were the only ones left in the van. She glanced at me, almost in a daring you get out first way.
The overhead garage light illuminated the fact that my suit was coated in dog hair. I resisted the urge to brush it off, though I couldn’t stand to be unkempt.
“You wouldn’t get in and now you’re afraid to get out.” Lexie poked her head through the door.
Her taunt spurred me to action despite that I was over forty, a grown man, a successful business person, and should be beyond allowing anyone to intimidate me. I did as I pleased on my own timetable.
Except when it came to Lexie Logan apparently.
I scooted across the van floor and got to my feet. Sadie blinked at me, and I groaned but lifted her out of the van and set her on the concrete floor.
“She is so spoiled,” Miss Adeline said affectionately as she grabbed her leash.
And I was obviously a sucker for dogs, women who drove VW buses, and guys who wore outrageously colored bow ties that coordinated with their sister’s clothing.
Muffy pawed at my leg.
He’s a dog. He wants something. He’s not intentionally trying to maul your suit.
I inhaled a lungful of air through my nostrils and willed patience to infuse me. The entire car ride had been a test, one I wasn’t sure I was going to pass.
He pawed again. I caught his foot and set it back on the ground. He wagged his tail, seemingly happy with my attention.
“Take his leash,” Miss Adeline whispered.
I thought that was the signal for a treat . . . of which I had none.
Reluctantly I picked up the lead. He bolted forward, and I stumbled. Lexie and Beau snickered.
I scowled, though that wasn’t enough to quiet either of them, and followed Miss Adeline and Eric on the familiar path to the elevator.
My only friend, Daniel, and his wife owned most of the building. I’d been to their apartment a few times, but we mostly met to play basketball or tennis. As of late, I’d come here to