Page 29 of Fly's Path

Dahlia reaches up her free hand and sets it on his cheek. “I’m fine. No one touched me. We were talking about Sheridan.”

Maverick’s head twists, and he pins me to the spot with his hard gaze.

You’re not going to die today.

You’re probably not going to die today.

That man has to have some reasonable parts of his brain.

“Name now,” he snaps.

Like I can talk anymore. My vocal cords, along with the rest of my body, have seized up. I now officially know what a deer caught in headlights feels like.

At least my life doesn’t flash before my eyes.

“You’re scaring her.” Dahlia chides. “Remember what we said about not terrifying my friends.”

“Your friend has nothing to fear from me. The man who touched her inappropriately is going to wish he was never born.”

“I touched him. He did nothing. It was me. I accosted him and kissed him,” the words tumble out of my mouth.

“Really?” Dahlia’s eyes open wide.

“Really.” There is no way I’m discussing this with Dahlia’s husband staring at me.

Change the topic of conversation to something else.

Anything else. “Um…dinner should be done in just a few minutes.” If I can manage to get the dumplings in the pot instead of next to it with my hands shaking this badly.

“You should see how many vegetables she put in the chicken and dumplings.” Dahlia rubs Maverick's chest. Is she trying to calm the beast? Because I don’t think it’s working.

“Woman,” he growls.

Maybe it’s working.

“Oh, tomorrow I was thinking we could do some sightseeing. There’s nothing we need to do for the reception until the day after. What do you think of seeing some sights and stopping at a nice restaurant for lunch, Sheridan?”

I think that sounds expensive. Way, way, way too expensive for my current budget. But thankfully, an amazing excuse just so happened to fall into my lap. “So about that…I offered to go with a friend to visit her grandson in rehab. He was hurt pretty badly, and she isn’t taking it well. We’re going to make the kid’s favorite treats and bring them to him.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet. Is it anyone I know?”

Considering Dahlia is less social than I am, and I’m not very social at all, I doubt it. “No.”

“Do you need a ride?”

“Nope. She’s just a few blocks over. I can walk.”

Dahlia’s brow wrinkles, but she doesn’t push, which I appreciate with all the drama of the day.

Hungry Boys

Sheridan

Where do I meet Viola? We set a time and sort of a place, but did she literally mean to meet her in the garden? Or should I knock on the front door?

You don’t knock on doors at hotels.

But this place doesn’t look like a hotel, even though it has to be one…or maybe a museum. Either way, there would be a sign, right?