Addison Fox - Tempting Target

And oh, how she’d paid.

“You want to talk?”

Lilah heard Cassidy’s voice a moment after she registered the slamming beat from her music dock had stopped. She never looked up; instead she kept her gaze on her bowl. She measured the cream by sight, adding it smoothly into the mixture. “It’s nothing we haven’t talked about before.”

“Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about it again.”

“It’s the past, Cassidy. And it’s well behind me.”

“Well, that’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard and that includes the pile of bs Melinda Crosby’s cheating fiancé tried to level on me when I caught him in the dressing room with Melinda’s maid of honor.”

Lilah looked up despite herself, shocked at the news. “He was getting it on with Shanna Thomas? Why didn’t you tell Vi and I that part?”

“Because I am a discreet proprietor who can manage my clients in their less-than-stellar moments.”

Lilah shook her head, sad at the news. “And she still married the dog.”

“Despite my best efforts to gently persuade her to rethink this major life decision, yes, she did.”

“It’s not for us to fix. Even when we see the glaring signs of a future of misery.”

“Which is the reason I’m standing here, actually.”

Lilah flipped off her mixer. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You did escape a future of misery yet here you are, wallowing in it.”

A renewed shot of anger bloomed in Lilah’s stomach, a preferred counterpoint to the sickly coating of nausea that had lingered along with the bad memories. “Don’t go there with me. You have no right to go there with me.”

“I have every right. I’m your friend. And I’m here for you. And it’s my job to keep you honest when you’re falling back into the idea that you somehow brought the whole damn thing on yourself.”

“Of course I brought it on myself.”

“And there we go with the piles of crap again.” Cassidy gentled her voice before reaching out.

Lilah wanted to reject the kindness and understanding and keep on with her misery, but the promise her friends had made to her several years before echoed in her ear.

We’re here for you.

Cassidy and Violet had made the promise and they’d lived it each and every day since.

Lilah took the proffered hand and squeezed tight before pointing to her mixer. “I’m at a delicate phase.”

“Is that your Bavarian cream?”

“Yep.”

Cassidy took an exaggerated step back. “Don’t let me be the one to keep the angels from weeping. I’ll wait until you’re done.”

Lilah finished the mix quickly, the cream one of her trademarks, as she caught Cassidy’s movement from the corner of her eye. Her friend kept out of her way, crossing to one of the kitchen’s work spaces to snag a stool.

The paddles kept up their work, as well, mixing the cream into thick, stiff peaks as she dropped in the last few ingredients.

“Please tell me I can dip in a clean spoon for a taste.”

“I’ll do you one better.”

Lilah snagged a small bowl from underneath the counter and scooped out a small serving of the cream. Handing it over, she still saw the concern in Cassidy’s gaze, but was pleased to see it warred with avarice over the fresh treat.

She hated pity.

Give her a crazy bride, a demented mother-in-law and a side order of wedding drama and she’d handle it like a pro. Pull three all-nighters in a row to finish up the cake and desserts for the wedding of the season and she’d push through like nobody’s business.

But put her oldest friend with a pair of sad eyes and a concerned tone in her light Texas twang and Lilah froze all the way through.

Pity suggested weakness.

And she’d vowed after finally leaving Steven that she’d never be weak again.

“Where’s the detective?”

Cassidy smiled before licking the edge of her spoon clean. “You mean Detective Yummy?”

“I believe his last name is Graystone.” Lilah scooped her own small bowl, breaking one of her usual requirements to avoid indulging in her own creations.

“Only if you’re blind.” Cassidy’s gaze sharpened, no sign of pity in sight. “And you’re not.”

“Let’s put his attributes aside for the moment. What did you tell him?”

“The long-standing connections between Charlie and Steven. And if you add in Robert, there’s a merry little threesome going on there.”

“Two of whom are now dead.”

“Yep.” Cassidy set her empty bowl on the counter, her gaze flitting briefly to the mixer before looking away. “It’s suspicious.”

“But not that surprising. Yes, they were three men who knew each other, but they also knew a heck of a lot of other people around town. I’m not making the connection.”

“Someone didn’t just happen to know there was a cache of faked British crown jewels underneath our shop floor. Someone found out. It would make sense it was people who know us.”

Lilah shook her head, puzzling through what they already knew. “But Mrs. Beauregard said several times she and Max’s grandfather never told anyone after they buried the cache.”

“They did pull in an appraiser before they buried the fake crown jewels and the real rubies. Maybe the guy talked.”

“But he was a friend.” Lilah stopped, knowing full well it was futile to speculate. Mrs. B. and Max Senior might have said nothing, but it didn’t change the fact they brought a third person into the mix. Even someone with an innate understanding of when to keep his mouth shut couldn’t necessarily be expected to keep a secret over fifty years in the making.

“Has Reed run down the old appraiser?”

“I didn’t ask.”

“Where is he, by the way?” Lilah meant the question as an innocent one, but instantly regretted the words at her friend’s sly smile.

“He had to go to the precinct. He said he’d be back later.”

“He’s nosy.”

“He’s doing his job.”

“His nosy job.”

“Lilah. This thing isn’t over. I’m glad Reed’s taken an interest in us. He’s committed to finding out who’s responsible and making sure we stay safe in the process.”

“I know. Damn it—” Lilah broke off, her ridiculous petulance fading in the light of the truth.

“Look. I know we’re in danger. And I know there’s someone out there who’d like nothing more than to remove us as a collective obstacle to getting what they want.”

“Which is why we’re going to stay one step ahead and figure out who this mystery person might be.”

“I’m sorry I wigged out over Steven.”

“I’m not.” Cassidy laid her bowl on the counter. “You’re not a robot. And hiding in here day after day or racing around town making deliveries doesn’t mean you can run from the past.”

“I’m not hiding.” At Cassidy’s wide-eyed skepticism, Lilah pressed her point. “Come on, I’m serious. I’m not hiding. This is our business and I want to see it be successful.”

“I know you do.”

“Then why the sudden accusation that I’m working too hard? Last time I checked, you and Vi clocked as many hours as I did.”

“We still find time for outside interests.”

“One week with Tucker Buchanan does not make you an expert on outside interests.”

At the mention of Tucker’s name, Cassidy seemed to come alive. Electrified from the inside out. “No, but it does make me see hearts and flowers everywhere I go. Which is why I suggest you hit on Detective Yummy as fast as you can.”

* * *

Steven DeWinter surveyed the quiet interior of his restaurant with a satisfied nod of his head. They were closed for lunch this week to manage the city’s annual Restaurant Week festivities and he had a full house scheduled for the night.