Free The Hitwoman and the Chubby Cherub by JB Lynn Page A

the jar, and popped an olive into my mouth. “Better. All the therapy seems to be helping and she’s going to school part time.”
     
    “Does that mean your manny will be moving out soon?” There was no mistaking the jealously in his tone when he referenced Angel.
     
    I shrugged. “Don’t know. Aunt Susan is the one who hired him and now that Aunt Loretta’s hurt and will need PT, there have been some rumblings about keeping him around.”
     
    “How convenient for him,” Patrick drawled sarcastically.
     
    “It’s convenient for us ,” I replied. “It’s a big help having him around.”
     
    Patrick’s voice dropped dangerously low. “Is that why you like having him around?”
     
    I swallowed hard. “He helps a lot. It’s nice having someone who does that.”
     
    The redhead scowled. “Unlike me?”
     
    “He’s a lot less complicated.”
     
    “He’s Delveccio’s nephew. How uncomplicated could he possibly be? Besides, I heard Marshal Griswald is moving in. Won’t he be enough help?”
     
    “Is he?” I was surprised by the revelation.
     
    While Aunt Loretta had moved men in and out of the B&B like they were interchangeable, Aunt Susan had hardly dated, much less had a man live at the house.
     
    “If you were paying attention to the subject of your stakeout, you’d see that there’s someone in the front yard,” God said snootily.
     
    Patrick ignored the squeaking, but I looked up and saw he was right. A blonde woman, about thirty, was getting the mail. She looked cute and pure and like she belonged in one of those Christian dating ads.
     
    “Look!” I pointed her out to Patrick.
     
    He stared at the woman for a long moment.
     
    “She looks harmless enough,” I murmured. “Do you think she was paying off Belgard too?”
     
    Patrick didn’t respond. He was studying her with an intensity that sent a shiver of consternation racing down my spine.
     
    “Patrick?”
     
    He didn’t respond until after she’d gone back in the house with her mail. When he finally did speak, his voice was flat. “Stay away from her.”
     
    “What? Why?”
     
    “Because I said so.”
     
    “Because you said so?” I practically shrieked indignantly. I wasn’t a five year old. He couldn’t speak to me like that.
     
    “Stay away from her,” he repeated. “If you know what’s good for you.” With that ominous threat hanging in the air, he climbed out of the car, slammed the door, and stalked away.
     
    “That went well,” the lizard mocked. “Tell me again what’s so appealing about that guy.”
     
    I stared at the yellow house. I had to figure out who she was. Consequences be damned.
     

Chapter Twelve
     
    But first I had to go visit Aunt Loretta in the hospital so that she could give me last minute instructions for The Corset’s Valentine’s Day sale.
     
    I’d avoided visiting her much, because, quite frankly, she’d turned into a demanding bitch while cooped up.
     
    Thankfully she was on her best behavior when I got to her room since she was busy flirting with the guy fiddling with her television.
     
    “Maggie, darling,” she cooed when I stepped in. “How nice to see you.”
     
    I dutifully hugged her and almost choked to death on the cloud of sweet perfume that enveloped her. Pulling back, I registered that she was in full makeup, complete with her fake eyelashes and blood-red lipstick, despite having her leg elevated.
     
    “This is my niece. Margaret,” she told the TV repairman. “She’s available.”
     
    She made it sound like she was pimping me out.
     
    “No I’m not,” I snapped.
     
    “Nonsense,” Loretta shook her head. “Don’t be shy, Maggie.”
     
    Seeing the interest in the TV guy’s gaze, I said firmly, “I’m really not.”
     
    “Is there someone I don’t know about?” she asked.
     
    Thinking about how Patrick had delivered his pompous, ‘ Because I said so ’ edict, I shook my head.
     
    “I came here to talk about The Corset,