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Liam went back to his paper. “She’s telling you the truth,son. Your mother’s been planning this conversation. I’ve listened to it about ahundred times now. She’s about to talk about how Lou deserves better.”
His mom nodded. “Lou deserves better. And I happen to agreewith you about timing. I don’t think it would have been a good idea for you tofollow her. I think you should have gone to college, but getting a minimum wagejob and hanging out with your genius girlfriend wouldn’t have served either ofyou. But it’s time and you know it. So I’ll be selfish because I want Lou as mydaughter-in-law. She’s good for you. You have to prove you can be good for her,and that starts with not walking in and making an ass of yourself. Go in thereand do the busy work Zach assigned to keep you out of his hair, and you do itwith a smile on your face.”
“Yeah…wait, what?” It wasn’t busy work.
His mom ignored him. “Be polite and sweet and talk a lotabout dogs. I’ll work this from another angle because we have to deal withBoomer.”
“I can’t imagine having Boomer as an in-law. You know I’vehad to feed the man at Thanksgiving,” Liam complained. “My poor Avery had tobuy out a Kentucky Fried Chicken after the man ate a whole turkey.”
“Oh, I’m too smart to offer to cook. I’ve learned yourlessons,” his mom countered. “Theo and I are taking him to a buffet for lunch.We’ll get him in a good mood so you can tell him what’s going on.”
There was a problem with that plan. “I promised Lou Iwouldn’t.”
“You’re not going to tell her father you’re together?” Liamsounded confused. “I know Boomer doesn’t have a reputation as a philosopher,but he’s going to figure something’s up when you’re suddenly sleeping in Lou’sbed.”
“He’s going to find out,” his mom agreed. “Are you or areyou not planning on playing with her tonight at your club?”
She really did know everything. “Yes.”
“And who works with Lou’s mother every day?” His mom seemeddetermined to poke holes in his plan. “Who is Daphne’s prized apprentice?”
He sighed because once again she was right and proved hismom played chess and not checkers. Damn it. She was right. She was alwaysright. “Marley Brighton, and she’s going to be at the club tonight.”
“Thank god my own sweet Daisy doesn’t believe in gossip,”Liam muttered under his breath.
No. Daisy believed in making as much of it as possible. “Ican talk to her. Even better, I could have Kala talk to her.”
“Won’t happen,” his mom argued. “Kala loves Marley’s mom.She’ll tell you to suck it up and be a man, though she’ll use way rougherlanguage. So you and Lou need to understand that everyone will know aftertonight, and that includes her parents. Be forthright with Boomer. He’llappreciate it. If Boomer’s happy and Daphne believes you’re going to take careof Lou this time, everything will be fine. If not, one of Big Tag’s kids willpull some serious shit and you two can have cover for a while. We can alwayscount on the twins, though the boys turned out to be more trouble than I wouldhave imagined. I’ll never forget the moment Big Tag realized his son wassinging to the lunch crowd at a Pot-Bellied Pig.”
Liam snorted. “Serves him right after all the hell he gavethat boy.”
Somehow he thought Travis having a kid out of wedlock at theripe old age of twenty-three was a bigger scandal than Seth following his musicaldreams, but apparently his Aunt Charlotte couldn’t cuddle a guitar. He glancedover and was surprised to see the blinds to the café were down. Shouldn’t theybe open? They weren’t facing east, so it wasn’t a sun problem.
“Hey. Have you ever been to this café before?” TJ asked,unbuckling his seat belt.
“No, but they pop up all the time in this neighborhood. Itlooks like every other froufrou brunch place,” his mom said. “Why? You gettinga weird feeling?”
It was good that he didn’t have to explain. His parents hadtaught him to trust his instincts. “I don’t like the fact that the blinds aredown. It’s a beautiful day. Places like this value stuff like natural lighting.I’m going to go in. Do you mind waiting for a minute?”
“Not at all. I’ll keep the car running. If you think she’sin trouble, forget everything I said and hustle her out here. I’ll deal withthe fallout with Charlotte.”
Liam leaned over. “And if they have a breakfast sandwich,I’ll take one of those.”
He should have known he would end up running errands. Heeased out of the car, checking the area around him. It was pretty normal forthis part of town. Oak Lawn wasn’t known for its towering buildings. Most ofthe businesses here were small and independently owned and operated. So thereweren’t a lot of sniper positions. Still.
He moved in and frowned. The Open signed was turnedoff and the door was shielded by another set of blinds.
This was wrong. He felt it in his bones. He reached out andtested the door. Locked.
Fuck.
He pulled his cell and called Lou again. She hadn’t answeredbefore and he’d thought it was pure stubbornness, but now he had to wonder.Nothing.
He punched in another number.
“McKay-Taggart Security Services, how can I help you?”
Even though he couldn’t see her face, that bouncy answertold him Kenzie had the phone she and Kala used exclusively for emergencies. Itwas one they used for cover and the only one he could be absolutely certainthey would answer without fail. “I think Lou’s in trouble. I need you to activateher locator.”
