Three-Way Tie (Neighborly Affection) Read Free Page A

after deer today. You know how bow hunters are when the season’s on. But I’m fully briefed on the massive amounts of junk around here.” She waved toward the stacks of whosie-whatsits and thingamabobs. “Kidding. About the junk, I mean, not the knowledge. I’m Carrie. What can I help you find today?”
    Carrie was a tiny thing, dark and delicate, and for sure the youngest proprietor they’d met. Old Scratch went out and left the devil’s granddaughter minding the store. Wait’ll Alice saw the girl they’d be selling their souls to.
    He edged closer to Henry. Not ’cause Henry would be tempted, but so this cock-blocking college kid understood he was taken. And so she’d knock off the creepy, soul-destroying clown smile.
    Henry slipped into smooth, refined social patter like a perfect paddle stroke to water. Blah-blah-blahs about porcelain and stoneware and patterns and vintages. With platters and bowls trotted out in turn, Jay stood silent and obedient for the show.
    “Hmm, yes, something more in that line. Have you a…”
    Maybe Alice would find something nice wherever she’d wandered off to. The shelves and stacks surrounding them made spotting her golden head impossible.
    “…estate sale…full set of…or some partial…”
    His stomach growled. With lunch three hours in the rearview mirror, the diner across the road called his name. Bet they had pie. Gooey chocolate peanut butter pie. Apple for Alice. Pecan for Henry.
    “No, not Wedgwood, thank you. One of my dinner guests has me quite trounced in that arena.”
    Dash across the road, grab a table, order some pie.
    “Just a moment.” Henry scooped the remaining platter and bowls from his arms. “Jay, leave these with me and go collect Alice, please. We may have exhausted the possibilities here.” He turned to the dark-haired sprite. “Something more individual. I’m seeking an unexpected delight for my table.”
    Whoops. Caught being distracted. Forgiveness wrapped in a fresh task. He retraced his steps to the entrance. Nothing near the door, and the aisles wound around on each other too much for a clear view to the back. Scavenger hunt with Alice as his prize? Perfect.
    He stalked her through the maze of antique curios and sideboards, old-timey mirrors, weird geegaws, and—wait, there. Ripe wheat in a loose twist rising from beyond a wrought-iron something-or-other. Dodging an old globe, he swung around the corner, sucked in his gut, and stumbled back.
    Damn, close one. The spokes of some whacked-out sundial art- dealie stuck halfway into the aisle. Total safety hazard. Henry’d say to fix it so no one else got taken by surprise. Maybe if—
    Jay sank to his knees, careful to avoid an art- dealie poke in the eye, and tugged at the open flap of the cardboard box sitting on the floor in front of the banged-up wooden dresser. The top thing was a plate. Weird-looking. Unique.
    He tipped his head back and called to the ceiling, “Hey!” Great way to get dust in his eyes in this place, sheesh. “Come see this.”
    He unloaded the box, the clink of dishes mixing with the tap-thud of Alice’s boots until the latter stopped and brown suede nudged his knee. Alice squatted beside him. “Knock something over with your massive cock today, stud?”
    “Not yet, I haven’t.” He leaned toward her in teasing threat. “But I do like seeing you on the floor.”
    “You like being on the floor better.” Closing her eyes, she breathed deep and sighed. “I like that too. Can’t wait ’til we get home. He’s been driving me crazy today with those whispered promises.”
    He pecked her cheek, grateful for her playfulness. Henry could be harder to crack, a fun challenge and exciting as a benevolent disciplinarian, but Alice was his partner in crime, always eager to laugh and tease. He needed them both in his life. “Me too. I swear I was this close before shop girl introduced herself.”
    She shifted her hips, and he crooked his leg sideways into a seat.