Lead-Pipe Cinch Read Free Page B

life.
    Instead, I forced myself to look up at Blake with as blank a stare as I could manage. “Blake Weston? I used to know someone by that name.”
    The face was the same. The self-satisfied smirk was exactly as I remembered from the last time I’d seen him, and it didn’t slip a millimeter. There was no mistaking the man who had stolen my company, and he knew it.
    I held his gaze. No more running. “Blake.” I nodded. “It’s been a long time.”
    Not long enough, the lizard brain screamed. I ignored it.
    “Gee, nice to see you,” Blake lied. The last time we had spoken, he’d made it clear he never wanted to see me again.
    “What brings you to Pine Ridge?” I asked politely. I hoped he’d answer quickly and then go away.
    But judging by the sneer that passed for a smile, he was enjoying my discomfort. “I’m consulting with Chad, here”—he clapped McComb on the shoulder as though they were old friends—“on the security issues for his new place.
    “You know how it goes. Someone asks for your help, you do what you can.” He shrugged with false modesty. “I’m just here to help for a few days.”
    The expression on Chad’s face said there was more to the visit than Blake was telling me. I told myself I didn’t care.
    “Georgiana’s working on the house, Blake,” Chad offered. “She’s part of the plumbing crew that’s trying to solve the moat issues. Barry tells me she’s invaluable.”
    I held my breath. My plumbing skills weren’t enough to make me stand out, and I had sworn Barry to secrecy about the computer skills that had made me so valuable. He wouldn’t violate my trust, would he?
    Chad stopped and looked from me to Blake and back again.
    Blake gave me a wolfish grin. “You’re working as a plumber?” he asked with barely concealed glee.
    I nodded. This was getting worse by the minute.
    Sue came to my rescue. “How are the dogs, Astrid?”
    Astrid brightened at the mention of her beloved pets. “Angus is getting used to the new pups,” she said. “And they are adjusting to him. In fact, just yesterday—”
    “I, uh, we should let these two eat, before their food gets cold,” Chad cut in. He took Astrid’s elbow to steer her away from our table.
    “See you out at the site, Georgie,” he said, nodding to me. He turned to Blake. “Shall we?”
    Blake smirked at me with an expression that made it clear our conversation was far from over.
    As soon as they were out of earshot, Sue exploded. “Who was that?!”
    “Just somebody I used to work with.”
    She snorted. “And that’s why you’re falling apart just saying hello? I don’t think so.” She leaned forward and crossed her arms on the table. “Let’s try again, Neverall. Who was that?”
    “You heard Chad,” I evaded. “His name is Blake Weston.”
    Sue rolled her eyes. “And who is Blake Weston? And don’t you dare tell me he’s just somebody you used to work with. I’m not buying it.”
    I sighed. I was going to have to confess something.

chapter 4

    “It’s a long story.”
    “I have all night,” Sue said.
    “I’m waiting,” she singsonged when I didn’t immediately respond.
    I hesitated, unsure how much it would take to satisfy her.
    Sue continued to stare at me.
    She wasn’t going to let me off the hook.
    “We had a, uh, relationship. It ended badly.”
    “And . . . ?”
    I fiddled with the cold fries in my basket, breaking one into little pieces and dropping them back into the basket. “And nothing. I left San Francisco and I haven’t seen him since.”
    “Until tonight,” Sue added.
    “Not exactly.” The words blurted out before I could stop myself. Relief flashed through me, surprising me with the intensity of the emotion.
    Sue’s eyes widened. “When did you see him?”
    I glanced around, making sure no one was within eavesdropping distance. “This morning,” I whispered. “He was at the job site.”
    “He didn’t recognize you?” Her voice was incredulous. “That’s a