Secrets in the Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page A

jokes and farting?”
Molly laughed and headed around to the back of the truck. “They do that already.”
Winston puffed up his chest in mock outrage. “We do not tell dirty jokes. We may tell bad jokes, but not dirty jokes.” As Charlie walked up, her father pointed at him. “Tell my daughter that we don’t sit around and swap dirty jokes. I don’t know who puts these ideas into her head.”
Lauren’s mouth opened with surprise at having the tables turned so firmly on her. She felt her face turning red. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
Charlie was trying to not laugh, and she shook her head and started for the back of her mother’s truck. “Not a word,” she warned and walked past him. He held his hands up and kept his mouth shut, though her words didn’t dampen the wide grin on his face.
As they unloaded the vehicles, making sure her father handled only the lightest loads, she felt Charlie’s gaze several times. Between her blurted comment last night and their latest exchange, she was certain he thought she was certifiable. With an inward cringe, she sighed.
Molly smiled sympathetically. “Are you missing Ava? You sound troubled.”
“Yes, but that’s not what I was thinking about. It was nothing, really. Where do you want these flavored oils?”
“How about on this table here?” Molly gestured to the folding table they’d set up at the side of the tent. “That way they’re a little more protected than the front table, but still accessible to customers.”
Setting the box down where her mother had indicated, she unpacked it. It was her mother’s spicy pepper blend, extra virgin olive oil infused with jalapenos and crushed red pepper flakes. Lauren knew from firsthand experience how good, and hot, it was. Emptying the box, she placed it underneath the table and grabbed a marker, writing the flavor and price on an index card in front of the bottles. Turning, she bumped into Charlie, who had just set down the last box from the truck.
“I’m so sorry,” she told him as he steadied her before she could bump into the table behind her. “Now you’ll think I’m clumsy as well as crazy.”
He laughed. “Not a chance. I’m sure Win would’ve said something before now if you were truly dangerous, and Ava seems perfectly normal.”
Lauren groaned silently as she started preparing the two large, commercial-sized coffee makers she’d brought. She also provided filtered water, coffee grounds, cups, stirrers, sugar, and cream. Molly covered the cost of the supplies, using the drinks as a draw for customers, and Lauren was able to promote the Brown Bag while helping her mother.
Winston walked up in time to hear her laugh and turned to Molly. “They’re over here telling dirty jokes. After she jumped all over me for doing it, now she’s doing it herself. I see how it is.”
“Daddy, you’re incorrigible.”
Molly leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Changing the subject, how long are you sticking around this morning?” She included Charlie in her question. “Not that we wouldn’t be glad to have you, but it’s getting to be about that time, and I know you’re not overly fond of manning the booth.”
Lauren’s father winced. “No, it’s not my favorite way to pass the time. We’ll head on out, and leave you ladies to it. What time do you think you’ll wrap things up today?”
“I’d say around one. There’ll probably be a heavy crowd, so everything should sell pretty quickly. I’ll give you a call if we’re going to be later.” She leaned up and gave him a kiss.
“What time do you have to be in at the Lighthouse, Charlie?” Winston asked. “Are you working a double today?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m just on this afternoon. I’ll need to be there about three or four, so I should have plenty of time to come back and help you all load and unload.”
Molly walked over and tugged his face down to her, giving him a smacking kiss on each cheek. Lauren was amused to