That was the way it worked for my parents. If I didn’t play by the rules, follow what they wanted for my life, I might as well not exist at all. My best hope was that Alicia would get bored with these games and find someone in Boston to sink her teeth into.

The bell over the main door jingled as someone entered. “Hello, Miss Penny. Is Crosby in? I have some paperwork for him from my dad.”

The high-pitched voice had me rubbing my temples. Apparently, today was the day for unwanted women invading my office. I pushed up from my desk and crossed to the reception area. If Lacey Hotchkiss made it into my personal office, I’d never get her to leave. “Miss Hotchkiss, what can I do for you?”

Lacey tossed her hair over one shoulder and batted her eyelashes. “I’ve told you time and again, call me Lacey.”

Using the miss in her title was my way of putting a professional distance between us. A separation Lacey wanted nothing to do with. “All right. What can I do for you?”

“My dad wanted me to drop this off for you.” She moved in much closer than was necessary, handing me the papers.

I quickly flipped through them and muttered a curse. It was an offer from the Abbots to settle out of court for an insultingly low sum of money in exchange for The Gables. Apparently, the family wasn’t as confident as they appeared. But that could only mean two things: they would give up, or they’d get desperate. And desperate people were dangerous.

29

Kenna

The bell jingled as I pushed open the door to Crosby’s office. I’d waited about as long as I could for news about how the first court session had gone. So, I’d decided to make a trip to The General Store for lunch, knowing I’d be able to see if his truck was at his small building behind the store. It was.

I tried to tamp down my annoyance that he hadn’t called or texted with an update. “Hi, Penny. How—?” I froze mid-sentence. Crosby was there, all right, with Lacey practically pressed up against him.

His gaze flicked up from the papers in his hand. “Hey, Brown Eyes.”

“Crosby.”

The coolness of my tone had him blinking and assessing his surroundings. He wisely stepped out of Lacey’s dry-humping range. “You’re right on time for our lunch date.”

I opened my mouth to ask him what lunch date when I realized his plan. Instead, I muttered something about him needing to pray I didn’t poison it. Penny choked on a laugh. I guessed my mutters were loud enough for her ears.

“You’re—you’re taking her to lunch?” Lacey spluttered. “For the case, right?”

“Nope. I happen to be partial to her body and smartass tendencies.”