Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

SHEP

With Nick and Noel working on multiple leads, Gabe refusing to leave the bedroom with Mason, and Angel saying he wanted to work with Four today to try to get his body into better shape, JJ agreed to come to the bakery with me for a few hours. I promised I'd get him home before Aziza returned for her session with Four.

Lizzy beamed at us the second we walked in, and Wes and Darby turned when she greeted us.

"Wow, the shop is all set up for the day already." JJ was obviously impressed. He walked over to Wes first. "Hey, I'm JJ." Then he did the same with Darby.

"So great to meet you." Darby beamed. Her hair was up in a curly ponytail, and her bright red lips couldn't get any wider. "This bakery is just the cutest!" She spun to continue putting the cookies in the case. She wore a long skirt and buttoned-up blouse; it was as if she were straight out of Leave It To Beaver.

"Thanks, Darby." JJ turned to Wes. "So, how are you liking it?"

"It's so perfect with my school schedule, and Lizzy here has been a perfect teacher."

I glanced at Lizzy, whose cheeks pinked and her eyes sparkled… Oh, someone is catching feelings.

"Lizzy keeps this place running," I said as I helped Darby fill the rest of the cases.

"Okay, enough flattery or my head will get far too big, and I won't be able to fit through the doorway."

I chuckled. "All part of my master plan to keep you here forever."

She rolled her eyes and hit the switch for the first coffeemaker to start.

The morning was steady. Darby, Wes, and Lizzy were a well-oiled machine. JJ smiled as he regarded the books, smiling as he noticed an uptick in sales the last few days.

"These three are working out well." He joined me as I began rolling out dough that would need to sit overnight.

"Yeah. Great trio."

He moved toward the door and watched them through the window. "Darby is odd, right? But not bad odd. It's like she's stuck in the sixties or something."

I nodded. "Thought the same thing. But that's her style, and she rocks it."

He hummed. "That she does."

"What?" I knew that hum.

"Nothing, why do you think something?"

"You hummed." I wiped my floury hands on my apron and folded my arms.

"I hummed? Can you describe this hum?"

"JJ…"

"Shep…"

"Seriously, you hummed, and that means you want to say something but aren't sure it's the right thing to say."

He pursed his lips. "Ohhhh, that hum."

I waited, staring at him with my brow up.

"Fine." He huffed. "It's gonna sound crazy."

"Babe." I took the three steps it took to get to him and placed my hands on his shoulders. "Our lives are crazy. Just say it."

"Fine, but like, she's too nice. Too happy.…Did we do a background check on them?"

He was referring to Darby. "The twins have been busy, but I did a small one and everything she said checked out. She's quirky, yes, but why do you think she's bad news?"

He tilted his head. "I think we have two new people who joined here right after Four arrived."

"People I called to interview, JJ. Those applications were like a couple of weeks old."

He sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm being paranoid."

"Maybe a bit but with our lives how they are, I get it. Once the twins aren't waist deep in what they're doing, I'll have them do a more extensive check. Until then, I really do think they're fine."

"You're probably right." He slapped my chest. "Okay, go roll that dough."

Following lunch, I drove JJ to the house so he could sit with Four for his session. I had to return to the shop for a few more hours and get things ready for the next day.

JJ's suspicions about Darby, of course, made me watch her more closely. She laughed at everything anyone said, was super nice to the customers, even helping Lydia, the little old lady who lived across the street, to her apartment when she complained about her hip hurting… Yeah, pure evil, that one.

"So, Saintly Sweets…great name." Wes moved next to me. Lizzy was taking a break and Darby was wiping down the tables.

"Yeah. JJ thought of it."

"Your last name." Wes's smile was genuine.

"Me and my brothers, actually."

"I've met Gabe, and his boyfriend Mason, you, and JJ, but not the others. Do they come in a lot?"

I snorted. "Not if they can help it. They're more like silent partners."

Wes chuckled. "Yeah, I figured. You're all close?"

"Oh, yeah. You have any siblings?"

"One, a sister. She's fourteen."

"Family's good."

The bell over the door chimed breaking up this getting-to-know-you session with Wes and I helped the customer, which turned into several. It was coming to the end of the workday, so a lot of people liked to grab coffee and a snack as a last pick-me-up to get home.

Once the last customer left, I told Wes and Darby they could head home and Lizzy and I would finish cleaning up.

"Question." I locked the door.

"What's up?" Lizzy tossed the dirty cloths into the bin and started rolling it to the back, and I followed.

"Anything off about Darby?"

"She's different, but I like different. Hard worker, happy, customers love her."

"Yeah, figured."

She grabbed her bag from in her locker and faced me. "Why?"

"Nothing, just, I didn't get to do the background checks, and with me in and out I wanted to make sure they were up to code with you."

She grinned, little dimples forming in her cheeks. "Her and Wes have been lifesavers. Thanks for hiring them."

"Sorry it took so long."

She waved me away and headed out. "No worries. Have a good night."

After she left I locked up, gathered my things, and went to the employee lot.

"Fuck." I sighed as I looked at the super flat tire on the SUV. I texted JJ to let him know I had to change it and that I would get home soon. I slipped the phone into my pocket and got to work. It vibrated a few times but I figured it was JJ and paid it no mind.…That was stupid.

As soon as the tire was changed and I got into the SUV, I checked my phone. One text from JJ saying "Okay," then another from Nick saying there was a problem, and then one from Angel telling me to move my ass and get home.

What the fuck is going on?