ppp cove 06 - criminals on vacation Read Online Free PDF Page A

you. If you learn anything, let me know,” Poppy said.
    “I’ll teach him to mess with me,” Carmella grumbled.
    Poppy pleaded. “Please, stay out of trouble. You’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
    A little more chatter, and then Poppy had to head out. She wanted to make sure she made it home in time for Panda’s news. She wondered what it was. A quick run into the market to pick up cocktail sauce, and oh, she forgot to call Reggie. She grabbed a bag of frozen shrimp while she was there. It wasn’t fresh shrimp, but the frozen would do just fine.
    She made it home with little time to spare. Panda was pulling up and hopped out of his car. He walked around to the passenger’s side and opened the door. A young, dark haired girl stepped out. She easily looked twelve or thirteen. Going inside, holding her hand, he introduced her. “Pops, Poppy, this is Stephanie. I didn’t want to say anything until I was certain, but I’ve just asked her to be my wife, and she agreed.”
    Poppy stared. She worded things carefully, before speaking. “Panda, Stephanie, congratulations. Umm, how old is she? Panda, are you okay?”
    “What are you thinking, she’s a kid,” Martin yelled out. “That’s illegal!”
    Stephanie froze. Panda stood next to her protectively. “She’s twenty-two, a legal adult, thank you very much. Who do you take me for? Really guys?”
    “She doesn’t look more than thirteen, tops,” Poppy spit out. “I’m sorry, how rude of me. You just look so…young.”
    “I’m told that often,” she said quietly, obviously embarrassed. Her gaze darted toward the floor. This was awkward.
    Panda cussed under his breath. “Now you see why I wanted to wait. Do you see why I didn’t want to introduce her to you until I was certain? Can’t you just welcome her to the family and not treat me like a criminal? I wouldn’t date someone underage. What do you take me for? Seriously - thirteen? She’s twenty-two. I met her at work.”
    Poppy scrambled. “Stephanie, I’m so sorry. I just…we didn’t know. Please, let’s start over. I’m Poppy, Panda’s sister, and this is our father Martin.”
    Panda rolled his eyes toward his father, waiting for the second apology.
    Martin looked away. “What she looks young. You sure she’s legal?”
    Stephanie opened her purse and pulled out her wallet. “I know I look young. I’ll appreciate it when I’m older, but right now, I’m carded constantly.” She was trying to help shred the awkwardness that lingered.
    “Right, put that away,” Panda said. “We don’t owe them anything. Really, Pops? I bring my future wife to meet you, and this is how you…”
    “Oh, for crying out loud, I was just making sure you weren’t, you know, getting desperate.” Martin shrugged, thinking it was no big deal.
    “Come on, Steph, we’re leaving.”
    “Panda, don’t go,” Poppy said, trying to stop them. “I feel awful. This is no way for us to start the evening. Why don’t we head outside and we can start the grill. Stay for dinner. I’d love to get to know Stephanie better. After all, she’s going to be my sister-in-law.”
    Panda let out a deep sigh. “Fine, whatever, just…never mind.”
    Twenty-two seemed young, but at least Panda was happy. It wasn’t her life to live, it was his. She needed to remind her father the same.
    Reggie pulled up and parked. “Hey, Panda, good to see you,” he said. “Who’s this pretty little girl?”
    Stephanie shook her head. It was going to be a long night.
    “She’s twenty-two, and my future wife,” he said with another groan. “And you wonder why I don’t bring dates around.”
     

Chapter 8
     
    The following morning, Poppy called Carmella. “How are you doing today?”
    “I didn’t sleep well. I’m anxious someone will try to take her from me again. I need to figure this out,” she sighed into the phone.
    “I was thinking we could talk about each of the people on the list, see if we can put pieces