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“Okay. Shit.” Spencer looked his way.
“Do you mind helping me carry in the cameras?”
“Not at all.”
He glanced at Lara and nodded, then headed out the door to Spencer’s truck. He swallowed the lump in his throat and filled his lungs with air.
Spencer lowered the tailgate on his truck and pulled the totes filled with equipment toward them. Tate grabbed the first one as Spencer pulled his toolbox off the tailgate. They walked in silence toward the door. Just before opening it, Spencer chuckled. “She’s pretty.”
“Yes, she is.”
“I didn’t expect to find hot chicks here, but it sure is looking up.”
Tate swallowed again and shrugged off the heat that filled his gut. What did he care if Spencer liked Lara? They could both date whoever they wanted.
“Yeah. I guess.”
Spencer scoffed and Tate sauntered past him with the boxy tote he carried. “Where’s your office, Lara?”
She hesitated for a fraction, then shook her head and pointed to a small door across from the kitchen.
Chapter6
Pushing one of her colorful tables into place, Lara stepped back as her front door opened. Whirling around, she stared into the face of her smiling best friend, Shianne.
“Hi!” She threw her arms around her friend’s shoulders. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here earlier, but work was a bear today.”
“How can that be? Is there a rush on clothing or something?”
Shianne shook her head. “I hope you didn’t forget about the Bourbon Ball in two weeks. I’ve had to keep a list of dresses ladies have purchased, so no two are the same. Mrs. Hopkins came in today and looked at five dresses that others have already purchased. She insisted on knowing who purchased the dresses ahead of her and when I wouldn’t give out the information, she chewed me a new one. Man, she was mad. In the end, she found a dress she seemed happy with, but good gawd, she was angry.”
“Didn’t you have problems with Mrs. Hopkins last year? Next year, you need to call her a month ahead and remind her to come in.”
“I did that this year and she waited until today!” Shianne looked around the bakery, and her shoulders slumped. “I’m so sorry, Lara. I can’t believe they’ve done this.”
She let out a breath, and her shoulders slumped, too. “I know.” She looked at the front of the bakery, then to her friend. “Look what they did to my window.”
Shianne turned, then gasped as her hands flew to cover her mouth. “Oh no! You waited so long for that to be painted.”
“Yeah. They’ve cut to the core this time.”
“Why? I don’t understand why. You didn’t trade with them last year either.”
“I know. I’ve run that through my head over and over. There are a couple of new boys or men or whatever they are, this year. I’ve not seen them before. Dad says they’re sewing their wild oats, but yesterday they shot at Dad and Tate.”
“I heard. It was all anyone would talk about today. Aren’t they going to do anything about that?”
“I haven’t spoken to my dad since his meeting with the mayor today.”
Shianne pulled her into a warm embrace, and she soaked up the love she felt coming through. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Shianne giggled. “Of course, silly.” They pulled apart, and Shianne clapped her hands together. “So, tell me about Tate.”
“There’s really nothing to tell. He and his teammates are in town to help with security at the base. They installed a security system here earlier today, too.”
“Really? Gosh, the gossip mongers didn’t mention that today.”
