“You know the way.”
A few minutes later, he came back down, a fistful of paper trash in his hand.
“I’m going to throttle those two guys.” He held up a wad of empty corn chip bags and candy wrappers. “I told them never to leave this stuff behind on a job. I told them again last week after I found that first pile of empty snack bags up there.”
Liddy held up the basket she kept behind the counter and Tuck tossed in the trash.
“Maybe Grace—”
“It wasn’t Grace.” He pulled his phone from the back pocket of his pants and speed-dialed a number. “I just asked her, and she said—yeah, Jack, this is Tuck. What did I tell you about leaving your trash on a worksite? I’m over here at the bookshop and I found . . . You sure? Who was working with you? Huh. Okay, I’m taking you at your word. Thanks.” He disconnected the call and put the phone back into his pocket. “He swears he didn’t leave anything up there, and the guy working with him didn’t, either. He said they didn’t bring anything with them—no snacks, no lunch, nothing.”
“Maybe the stuff was left there from when Fred owned the store.” Liddy searched her memory for the few times she’d gone onto the third floor. She didn’t remember seeing empty chip bags or candy wrappers, but then again, she hadn’t been looking for them.
“No. I was up there to inspect the leak when it was first discovered, and there was nothing on the floor.”
Liddy shook her head. “Then I have no idea where it came from. But honestly, it’s not a big deal.”
“It is to me if my guys left it there.” He frowned. “Jack’s been with me a long time. He knows better, and I can’t believe he’d lie about it.”
She shrugged. “Let it go, Tuck. I’m not concerned about it.”
“Yeah, but . . .”
“Let it go. Now tell me you had that leftover peach shortcake I sent you home with for breakfast this morning.”
He grinned. “I had to fight my son for it, but yeah, I did, and it was delicious. Just as good the second time around.”
“Good. Next time I’ll make extra so I can send you home with some for Linc and the kids.”
He rested his forearms on the counter. “So you think there’ll be a next time?”
“I’m game if you are.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Even after my unsympathetic display of manly ignorance?”
“Even after that.” Liddy couldn’t help but smile. He brought out the happy in her.
“You name the day and the time.” His voice was low and rumbly, and it resonated somewhere deep inside her.
The front door opened, and Liddy’s first customer of the day entered the shop.
“I’ll get back to you,” she told Tuck.
“I’ll remind you if you don’t.” He tapped his fist lightly on the counter and winked at Liddy before nodding at the woman walking toward them. “Morning, Johanna.”
“Morning, Tuck,” the woman said sweetly. “How’re things out on Shelby Island?”
“We’re all doing fine, thanks for asking.” He opened the door, and as he moved through it, the woman came into view. Liddy inwardly groaned. She’d known Johanna Hall since kindergarten. In a secret poll she and the other girls had taken, Johanna had won the title Most Annoying Person hands down. Back then, Johanna had been pushy and bossy and had had a mean streak, and from what Liddy had seen of her over the years, she hadn’t changed much. She was one of those people who always rubbed Liddy the wrong way. Johanna flirting with Tuck definitely rubbed Liddy wrong.
Still, this morning she was a patron in Liddy’s shop, and she had to be treated courteously.
Liddy took a deep breath. “Good morning, Johanna. Welcome to Wyndham Beach Reads.”
Johanna watched through the window as Tuck’s truck drove off. The fingers of one hand fluttered over her heart. “God, I swear that man gets better looking as he gets older. I can’t believe I let him get away.”
“You let who get away?” Liddy frowned. What was the woman talking about?
“Tuck. He had a thing for me back in high school. We went out a couple of times. You probably don’t remember.”
“No, I don’t.” Liddy raised an eyebrow. She probably would have remembered that.
“Oh, he was crazy about me junior year, begged me to go to the prom with him. But I was an idiot and took up with Brad Norton. When I realized what I’d lost, it was too late. Tuck had moved on. My big loss.”
The woman was lying through her teeth. Liddy knew this for a fact because she knew (a) Tuck was already out of school by the time she and Johanna were juniors, since he was three years older, and (b) Tuck had dated Doreen Rick all through high school, and if anyone should be suffering from pangs of remorse, it should be Doreen. And (c) Liddy doubted Tuck Shelby had ever begged a woman for anything.
“Do you think two years after one’s spouse has died is enough time before you start dating again?” Johanna leaned on the counter as if she and Liddy were besties.
“Has Ed been gone for two years already?” Liddy could have sworn it had been just a little more than a year since Ed Hall passed.
“Close enough. So where’s your cookbook section, Liddy?”
Liddy showed her the way. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“The Lascivious Dish. It’s the sequel to The Sensuous Cook. I heard about it on the radio the other day.” Johanna skimmed the titles. “Ah, here we go.”
She pulled the book from the shelf and held it up. On the cover was a beautiful young woman whose impressive cleavage was well showcased in a low-cut dress. Under the title was written, Take it from the dining room to the bedroom in one fabulous meal.
“Oh, yeah. Definitely this one.” Johanna giggled as she flipped through the pages.
“Planning a big night for someone?” Liddy had a sinking suspicion she knew who Johanna’s proposed victim would be.
Johanna didn’t look up from the book. “I’m going after what I passed up the first time around.” She glanced up at Liddy. “That man who just left?” She waved the book in Liddy’s face and giggled again. “I’m going to invite him to dinner. He won’t know what hit him.”
Liddy didn’t know what perturbed her more, that Johanna Hall planned on cooking a seductive dinner for Tuck, or that the woman giggled like a ten-year-old.
“Anything else?” Liddy’s jaw was clenched so hard it ached.
“Nope. I’ve got all I need right here.” She held the book against her chest and patted it.
“So when is this gastronomic seduction to take place?” Liddy asked casually.
“Well, I haven’t asked him yet, but I’m hoping for this coming weekend. Not sure if Friday or Saturday night is best for this type of thing. What do you think, Liddy?” Not waiting for an answer, she said, “I’m guessing Saturday. Friday nights he’s probably tired out from work, and we wouldn’t want him tired out before, would we?”
Liddy didn’t ask why the emphasis was on before. Johanna had made her intention perfectly clear.
Johanna walked to the counter and placed her bag next to Liddy’s iPad. “What’s this?”