“I think she looks exactly like his type. Female. The man was a horndog, plain and simple. Sherry’s better off without him, even though from what Greg says, she’s pretty broken up about the whole thing.”
I wanted to ask more about what they’d talked about, but the good side of me told me to trust my boyfriend. Greg hadn’t called last night because he was busy with the case, that was all. Still, I stalled. “So what’s going on with the case? I didn’t hear from your boss last night.”
Toby held his hands up in mock surrender. “No way. You’re not getting me to tell you anything. Last time, Greg sat me down and explained confidentiality to me. For an hour. If you want gossip, you’re going to have to go directly to the source.”
“Who said I wanted gossip?” I tried to sound casual, but Toby just laughed. “What?”
“You don’t have an innocent look. Except for when you’re clueless about something. You want to know if Kent died of natural causes? You call Greg.”
“Like he’s going to tell me anything,” I muttered under my breath. I glanced over at the table where Leslie and Anne were still arguing. “Seems like something struck a nerve there.”
“Best Friend Bulldog Syndrome. They always have that one friend who will try to show them that the guy they’re dating is the devil.” He grinned. “And typically, they’re right, especially in this case.”
“I take it you’ve run into this syndrome a time or two.”
He shrugged. “A few times. I can’t say they were wrong, either. I was a pretty free spirit, but some of the chicks I dated, they thought the fun was going to end with a ring on their finger. I just knew the fun was going to end.”
“Pig.” I smiled to soften the word.
He held up three fingers in a Boy Scout salute. “Reformed pig. Elisa has me tied around her little finger.”
A noise drew my attention. Leslie stood behind me, her usually friendly face a mask. “Those coffees ready yet? We only have a short break.”
Toby handed her the two coffees and nodded to the tray he’d placed the plates with the cheesecake on while we were talking. “I can carry this out for you.”
Leslie flushed and set the coffees on the tray. “I can do it myself.”
The bell over the door rang, and three of Toby’s regulars from the cosmetology school entered the shop giggling and heading straight to the counter.
“Looks like you’re going to be busy. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I tucked the books under my arm and nodded to the women who were heading to the counter. “Good morning.”
My greeting was lost as the three dashed to Toby. I opened the door onto the sunny spring day and headed down to talk to my own BFF. If she’d gotten to work today.
As I passed Antiques by Thomas, Kyle Nabors greeted me as he swept the sidewalk. Kyle had been the intern Josh had reluctantly taken on over Christmas for the Work Today program in Bakerstown. Like Sasha, Kyle had been offered a real job because of this placement. I noticed Kyle had dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt today, a far cry from the leather and studs he’d shown up with last December.
“Hey, Miss Gardner.” Kyle put his hand on the top of the broomstick and paused. “I didn’t think you worked on Fridays.”
Did I mention South Cove was a small town? Seriously, where else would I be questioned about being out and about before noon on my day off? I held up the books. “Just stopped by for a bit of light reading.”
He laughed. “Light reading is my stack of comic books. That looks more like you’re taking a class over at the university.”
“I read fast. It’s a side benefit from owning a bookstore.” I nodded toward the store. “How are things going with Josh? You two getting along?”
“Mr. Thomas is amazing. You wouldn’t believe all the stuff he knows about antiques and shit.” Kyle reddened. “I mean stuff. Don’t tell Mr. Thomas I swore. He’s been on my case about my language lately. He says I need to learn to be polite in any situation in order to be a good salesman.”
I bit my lip. Josh Thomas was the very opposite of polite. Cold, demeaning, rude even at times, Kyle’s boss was teaching his student something Josh needed to learn, as well. “No worries.” I waved my hand to brush the words away. “He won’t hear it from me.”
Kyle beamed. “Thanks. I love working here. Josh says on Monday I get to go with him to an estate auction up the coast. He’s scoped the offerings and says we’ll make a killing if we get the lot.”
Now, that sounded more like the Josh Thomas I knew. “I’ll let you get back to your work then.”
“I’m supposed to sweep the sidewalk three times a day when I’m working. I can’t believe how fast the trash builds up. Have you seen the pictures Mr. Thomas took with the piles of trash?”
I looked down and saw a Coffee, Books, and More logo on a disposable cup in the gutter. “I guess my store isn’t helping.” I grabbed the cup and put it in the trash bag next to Kyle.