The Way of the Wicked (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 2) (7 page)

Nathan sprinkled black pepper onto his Caesar salad. “Who manufactures your products?”

“I make them. Well, me and my girl, Sheila.” He crunched on a crouton. “We purchase the raw materials, grind the herbs, and fill the capsules in a lab so clean you could serve Thanksgiving dinner on the floor. The bottle labels are printed by a professional because packaging is really important. What I
don’t
have is a killer website.”

Cooper studied Nathan. He seemed to be contemplating Tobey’s request. “What kind of features are you looking for?”

The waitress appeared and silently removed their salad plates. She then served their entrées.

“I want it all!” Tobey exclaimed. “Shopping cart, promotional videos, banner ads on the top, search-engine sites as well as Facebook and YouTube. The only thing I
don’t
want is a way for people to pay with credit cards.”

Nathan looked surprised. “Really? That’s kind of standard with business websites. Lots of folks pay with credit cards. It’s convenient.”

“No plastic,” Tobey insisted. “I’ll take PayPal or whatever program will put money directly into my bank account, but that’s it. For a small-business guy like me, those credit card company fees are too steep. They really bite into my profits.”

Nodding, Nathan turned his attention to Cooper. “How’s the steak?”

“It’s really good,” she said. “My daddy would give his left leg for a bite.”

“Your
daddy
?” Tobey mocked her good-naturedly. “That is
so
Southern.” He dropped his cutlery on his plate and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. “I thought this whole interview thing was kind of weird. Most people dream of getting a client like me who wants the works and has the money to pay for it, but I guess when you’re the best, you can do things your way.” He looked at Nathan as he signaled for the waitress. “And I could tell right off, by checking out your other sites, that you’re the best.”

Nathan’s cheeks grew warm at the compliment, but he said nothing. Tobey didn’t seem to notice. He signaled for the waitress again. “I don’t do dessert as a rule, but why don’t we have some Irish coffee? I can see you need a few more minutes to make your decision.”

“Just decaf for me,” Nathan said and Cooper followed suit.

Tobey gave the waitress a winsome smile. “And bring me the check, okay? I’m doing my damnedest to impress this man.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Seriously, Nathan. My product gives stringy, wimpy guys some confidence. Sometimes it helps them land a better job. Sometimes it gets them the girl. Sometimes they can finally stand up to the loser who’s been bullying them for years. It’s good stuff, I promise you that. Nothing slimy. Nothing illegal. Just a confidence boost. Everyone can use one of those once in a while, am I right?” He stood. “I’ll go powder my nose, and when I get back I hope you’ll tell me that we can work together.”

After he left the table, Nathan looked at Cooper. “What do you think?”

“Lots of people could use a fresh dose of confidence,” she said. “If the product is safe and effective, then it sounds like a good thing.”

Nathan nodded. “That’s what I think, too. It’s just that Tobey can be a little pushy, so I wanted to make sure I was going into this venture on my own terms. I’m really glad I had you here to help me come to a decision.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, just as the waitress placed their beverages on the table.

Cooper and Nathan were stirring cream into their coffees when Tobey returned from the restroom. Nathan held his hand out to Tobey. “I’ll build your Big Man site, Mr. Dodge.”

“Awesome!” Tobey slapped Nathan vigorously on the back just as Nathan picked up his coffee cup. The liquid sloshed over the rim and spilled onto his yellow tie.

Cooper stared at the stain spreading over the silk. It resembled the dark thundercloud from her dream. While Nathan dabbed at his tie with his napkin, Cooper cupped her hands around her coffee cup in search of warmth.

5

Cooper practically floated into the office on Monday. She kept rewinding the scene at Hondo’s bar when Nathan had told her that he wanted to make more of an effort to see her. Though he hadn’t
exactly
said as much, she assumed he wanted her to be his girlfriend.

“You’re grinnin’ like a child on Christmas mornin’,” Angela said. “I have an equally smug smile. I suspect we both have our minds on our men.” She gestured at her desk. “See anythin’ unusual?”

“You have two vases of roses today.” Cooper sniffed a cluster of beautiful saffron-colored roses, but they gave off no scent at all. She then smelled a bunch of delicate peach roses, which had a sweet, heady perfume.

“The yellow ones are from Costco,” Angela explained. “There wasn’t a note on the peaches roses, but I suspect
Emilio
put them on my desk.” She said his name reverently.

“Emilio?” Cooper was doubtful. “Why not Mr. Farmer?”

Angela shrugged. “He only brings me flowers on my birthday. Why would he change now?”

“He’s probably seen how you look at Emilio. Maybe he’s jealous.” Cooper firmly believed that their boss returned Angela’s affections but was too shy to express his feelings.

Angela began to file her nails. “I’ve dropped
plenty
of hints that I’d like to be a whole lot more than Mr. Farmer’s secretary. Maybe it’s time to set my sights elsewhere.”

Cooper disapproved of Angela’s pursuing Emilio because she didn’t think that he was a good match for her. She also didn’t want Angela to get hurt.

“Just remember that Mr. Farmer is very reserved. He probably needs a little help coming out of his shell. Don’t give up on him.”

At that moment, Emilio sauntered in from the parking lot, smelling strongly of musky cologne and gasoline. Angela wriggled in her chair. “Good mornin’, handsome.”

“Good morning, sunshine.” Emilio smiled and winked at her. He then leaned on her desk, as though he planned on settling in for a leisurely chat. “What did you girls do this weekend? Go clubbing? Shake your stuff on the dance floor? Get a little
wild
?” He threw Cooper a searching look.

“Cooper volunteered at Door-2-Door Dinners packing food,” Angela said proudly. “I shopped, went to the doggie bakery with Betty Boop, and had a glorious brunch at the Jefferson Hotel with some friends.”

“Who’s Betty Boop?” Emilio inquired, turning his attention back to Angela.

“Oh, you really are a young thang.” Angela giggled coquettishly. “Betty Boop is my Yorkshire terrier. She’s named after the famous cartoon character from the 1930s. She’s funny, sexy, and has giant eyes, jet-black hair, and a body with hourglass curves. Kinda like mine.”

Emilio blinked. “I’m not into cartoons. My idea of a good time is popping open a few cold ones and watching sports on TV. If there’s no game on, I’ll channel surf until I find a Stallone or Chuck Norris flick. Of course, it’s more fun to watch the tube with company. And my favorite company is the female kind.” He smiled disarmingly at both women.

Cooper made a big show of checking her watch. “Time for work,” she mumbled and hustled off to the locker room. When she emerged from the stall, having changed into her uniform shirt, Emilio was tying his black work boots.

“Do you like flowers as much as Angela does?” he asked, his back and shoulders pressed against a row of lockers. Cooper wondered if Emilio leaned on every piece of furniture at hand.

“I love all plants.” Cooper checked to make sure she had additional rags in her toolbox. “Except poison ivy.”

“You a rose girl, too?”

“No. I like wildflowers better. I prefer nature in the raw.” Cooper glanced up as Ben entered the locker room.

He looked like he’d slept poorly, but he still managed a smile for Cooper. She was certain he knew that she was the one who’d hidden a brochure for the loved ones of alcoholics in his locker a few months ago. She didn’t regret her decision, especially since Ben had seemed more like his old, happy-go-lucky self lately, and Cooper hoped that he and his wife were getting the help they needed.

Ben went to the sink and began to wash his hands. Emilio said hello to him but kept staring at Cooper. “I like to pluck wildflowers,” he said, licking his lips.

“How nice,” Cooper replied, grabbed her toolbox, and hurried out of the room. Things were getting decidedly uncomfortable around Emilio, and pretty soon Cooper was going to have to do something about it.

• • •

After work on Friday, Ashley called to see if Cooper wanted to join her for dinner.

“Is Lincoln working late again?” Cooper asked when Ashley parked in the driveway an hour later.

“I don’t know why I have the car washed before I come here,” Ashley complained instead of answering. She blew a speck of dust off the dashboard. “Lincoln’s kicking off the Labor Day Sale-a-Thon at the dealership.”

Cooper slid into the passenger seat and reached for her seat belt.

“Are you ever going to opt for an accessory other than that brooch?” Ashley eyed Cooper’s butterfly pin. “I know Grammy gave it to you, but retro isn’t in vogue right now.”

Cooper frowned. “I don’t care what’s in. I love this pin. It represents a story and—”

“Grammy’s love. I get it,” Ashley said, sounding a little jealous.

Ashley drove to Five Guys, where the two sisters gorged themselves on burgers and spicy Cajun fries. Afterward, they stopped by Barnes & Noble so Ashley could buy a book on pre-pregnancy health routines. By the time they were done shopping, Cooper had a new historical fiction novel while her sister had an entire bag filled with reference books on conception.

Ashley showed two of the larger tomes to her sister. “Aren’t these babies adorable?” She showed Cooper the covers of
Getting Pregnant: What You Need to Know Right Now
and
From Conception to Birth: Life Unfolds.

“Don’t you know how conception works by now?” Cooper teased as Ashley loaded her bag into the trunk.

Slamming the car door closed, Ashley snapped, “I’ve had more practice than you, that’s for darned sure.” Cooper was surprised by the vehemence in her sister’s tone, but Ashley’s voice softened slightly as she changed the subject. “So what
is
your story with Nathan? I thought you were becoming a couple. Have you gone out again since that night you made out on his porch swing?”

“Not alone,” Cooper admitted. “But he said that he wants to see more of me.”

Ashley snapped her fingers. “There you go! He
is
interested.”

Gunning the Lexus’s engine, Ashley nearly backed into a knot of teenagers meandering toward the sidewalk. They made a few rude hand gestures at her, but she didn’t even notice.

“If you and Nathan get serious, you’ll have to think about what you’re wearing under your clothes.” Ashley turned on to the main road. “Do you own any lingerie?” she yelled over the wind noise.

“I can’t believe it,” Cooper muttered, thinking back to the
Victoria’s Secret
catalog stuffed to the bottom of her workbag. “My baby sister and my grandmother are both trying to talk me into dressing like a hooker.”

But that night, Cooper resolved to at least buy a bra that wasn’t made of white cotton.

“I might as well take the Boy Scout motto to heart,” she said to herself, “and be prepared.”

• • •

The following Saturday at Door-2-Door, Cooper had just finished loading the last of route #10’s pair of coolers when Lali entered the kitchen.

“Would anyone be willing to stuff envelopes instead of delivering food this morning?” She shot Campbell a look of appeal. “If that’s all right with you.”

“Of course.” Campbell beamed at her and Cooper was reminded of the adoring looks Jake gave Savannah from time to time.

“I’ll do it,” Cooper said.

“You sure you don’t want to come with me?” Penny asked Cooper for the second time as they loaded coolers and three weekend food boxes into Penny’s Buick.

Cooper nodded. “I might go with Nathan when he drives a route next week. People usually deliver in pairs, right?”

“Yes. It gives one person the chance to talk to the client while the other unloads the food. We don’t have much time at each stop because folks at the end of the route are waiting for their meals, so it’s nice for one of us to focus on the client’s general well-being while our delivery partner takes care of business.” She pointed to the names on her delivery list. “Sometimes the food is secondary to the socializing. Our clients eagerly await our arrival.”

Thinking about the thefts that had occurred over the summer, Cooper said, “Does every volunteer always drive the same route?”

“No. We drive a route until we get to know the folks well and then switch. That way, our clients get to meet lots of people and don’t get too . . . attached. You see, we only have a little bit of time to spend with each client, and if they’re real familiar with one of us they’ll want us to visit or do lots of little chores. That won’t work because we have to keep a tight schedule so everybody gets fed.”

“I guess that’s the most important part of the job,” Cooper said.

Penny smiled. “I know just about all the clients on the Saturday routes by now. Of course, they change, too. Some pass away, some go into nursing homes, and the lucky ones move in with family members.”

“It must be hard to get close to people and then have them disappear from your life,” Cooper said. “Maybe that’s why I’m nervous about going on the routes.”

Penny’s gaze was sympathetic. “We do what we can while we can. It’s enough to bring them food and company for a little while. It’s a gift for them, but for us, too.” She put her hand on the door handle. “But if you want to stick with a route that doesn’t change often, then take number nine. We’ve had the same twelve people for a year.” She lowered her voice. “Unlike route six. Three people died over the summer. It was pretty difficult to lose several friends so close together.”

“That must have been awful!” Cooper edged the cart away from the car as Penny attached a magnetic Door-2-Door Dinners sign emblazed with the Tyler Fine Properties logo.