Ridge, still grinning like a dumbass, just shrugs. “I’m okay with that.”
Duke and Witt chuckle behind him, and I hear Witt clap him on the shoulder, muttering, “Tough break, buddy.”
I shake my head, already leading Miller toward the side of the house.
I glance at her as we step away from the others, hands braced on my hips. “Alright, what’s up?”
Miller crosses her arms, head tilting slightly. “Missed you too, Booney.”
I let out a small laugh. “Right. Now, what’s up?”
Her expression shifts, turning serious. “We need to help our girl.”
My brows pull together. “What?”
“Lark,” she says, like it’s obvious. “She needs us.”
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
Miller blinks at me. “Have you not driven past the Bluebell in the last day?”
I rub the back of my neck. “I’ve been a little busy trying to run a ranch and renovate a damn-near-condemned house, so no, I haven’t had time to take a joyride through town lately.”
Miller shakes her head. “Well, maybe you should’ve, because the health department shut her ass down.”
I straighten, arms dropping to my sides. “What?”
She nods. “Yeah. I went yesterday morning and found a big notice taped to the window. Apparently, the place failed a health inspection.”
I stare at her, waiting for the punchline.
It doesn’t come.
I let out a dry laugh. “That doesn’t make any sense. Alice kept that place cleaner than a damn hospital, and Lark’s the same way.”
Miller lifts a brow. “Exactly. But the official report says otherwise.”
I don’t have to ask to know who’s behind it.
My jaw tightens, pulse ticking up. “Why’d they shut her down, then?”
Miller sighs, shifting her weight. “Some bullshit. Mold in the walk-in. Improper food storage. A few other things. But I’ve eaten there a hundred times, Boone. You have too. That place is spotless.”
She’s right. The last few times I’d been in for coffee, the counters had been wiped down, floors clean, everything running like a well-oiled machine.
There’s no way in hell Lark’s diner actually failed a health inspection.
Someone made sure it did.
I drag a hand through my hair, exhaling hard. “Well, we both know this is bullshit. And Wendell.”
Miller crosses her arms. “Obviously.”
I shake my head. “Problem is, Lark and I aren’t exactly on the best of terms right now.”
Miller lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, you don’t say?”
I ignore the jab, rolling my shoulders. “She doesn’t want my help.”
