Page 111 of It Runs in the Family

“You were at my grandmother’s yesterday,” Garrett said. It wasn’t a question, and he didn’t sound friendly.

“I was,” Boone said in a neutral tone.

“You came with Billy.”

Boone paused. “I did.”

“You seemed awfully interested in my cousin.”

Boone scooted back in his seat. “You’ll have to be more specific,” he said in a flippant tone. “You have about ten million cousins.”

I nearly punched his thigh.

“Iris.” Somehow Garrett made my name sound like a threat.

“Ah, so that’s her name.”

“Stay away from her.”

Boone shifted in his seat, his voice turning hard. “Is that a threat, Deputy?”

“Take it as you will. Stay away from her.”

“What makes you think I wouldn’t?” he asked.

“I saw the way you looked at her, and Ava told me you were dancin’ with her at T-Birds on Friday night.”

“With all due respect, Deputy, you don’t know anything about me.”

Garrett’s legs bent and I was pretty sure he was leaning over the table. “You’re friends with Billy, and that’s all I need to know.” His legs straightened. “Iris is dealing with a lot of shit right now. Stay away from her.” Then his legs turned, and I could hear his heavy footfalls fade as he headed for the front door.

I stayed under the table for nearly a minute, scared to get up in case Garrett came back and found me here.

What a mess.

“It’s safe to get up,” Boone said, lowering his foot. “He just pulled out of the parking lot.”

It was harder getting up than sliding down. There was nothing graceful about it. The bottom of the booth was scraping my back, but Boone reached down and stuck a hand between the hard edge and my back.

Once I was sitting upright, my face hot from exertion and embarrassment, Boone studied me and said, “You didn’t tell me Garrett was a deputy sheriff.”

“I told you he got called in early because they found a body.”

“I suppose I should have read between the lines, but somehow I missed it.” He made a face. “I was so relieved to see you outside your apartment that it went over my head.”

That was a crock of bullshit, but I wasn’t in the mood to call him on it.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with him. I was hoping he wouldn’t notice you.”

“Maybe we should rethink all of this.”

My mouth dropped open. “Because my cousin is a deputy sheriff?”

Frustration filled his eyes. “Because he’s goin’ to be furious when he realizes you helped me.”

Anger flooded my chest. “I’m a grown-ass woman, Boone. Garrett’s not my father.”

“No, but he’s a cousin, who, by your own words, is like a brother. He’s going to be upset with the both of us. You said it best—I’m a grown-ass man, so I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you. Obviously, he means a great deal to you. I don’t want to get in the way of that.”