Read Pistols & Pies (Sweet Bites Book 2) (Sweet Bites Mysteries) for Free Online Page B

well rounded and help you to really become part of the community!” Mary Ellen’s chin-length red hair moved like a stiff curtain as she nodded her head in emphasis.
    Funny enough, I’d thought my shop and all of the people I interacted with each day sort of did that. “Maybe so, but I think I have another commitment that night.” I all but sighed with relief when the bell over the door rang. Turning, I gaped when I realized Lenny had already arrived. He wasn’t due for six more hours—at the earliest.
    His blond hair was spiked, his earrings hung in gold dangles—both sets of them—he hadn’t shaved in at least two days, and with that amount of scruff, I was betting on four. He wore a faded yellow tank that showed off his tattoos and had an expletive on the front, and his jeans had more holes than the wafting of a tennis racket. To top it off, he reeked of cigarettes. Gross.
    Mary Ellen looked up. Her eyes widened in shock and she moved away from the door, clutching her capacious purse, as if afraid he would pull a gun and ask for all of our money. I have no idea where she thought he’d hide a weapon in that ratty old tank top.
    I put my hands on my hips and gave him a once-over. “What? Did you drive straight through?” I wrinkled my nose as the scent of stale smoke hit me even stronger. “And roll in cigarette butts?”
    He barely gave Mary Ellen a cursory glance. “Honey, I’m home.”
    “So I see.” I tried to decide why he’d pushed so hard when he knew I wasn’t expecting him until closing time, at least. “No wonder Kat didn’t come if she knew you were going to drive like a maniac to get here.”
    He stuffed his hands in his pockets and didn’t meet my eye. “You said you needed me.”
    I couldn’t even count the many ways that excuse was lame. “I need you able to work; not looking like you just came off a three-day bender.”
    He shrugged, not the least offended by my comment.
    “Wait, you know him?” Mary Ellen’s voice rose on the last word, as if someone like me could not possibly know a person who looked like that .
    “Lenny, Mary Ellen is the president of the local quilt guild. Mary Ellen, this is Lenny. When he’s rested, showered and shaved, he’ll be working for me. Don’t let the um, rumpled appearance fool you—you’re going to love dealing with him almost as much as you do with me.” I was as convincing as possible. The last thing I needed was for her to spread the word that I had some disreputable druggie working here.
    The expression on her face made it clear she was not exactly withholding judgment. “I see.”
    I pulled out my house key and passed it to him. “It’s the room on the right, the entrance is around back. Get some sleep.”
    He nodded and headed toward the door. Before he had it half opened, though, I called out, “And take a shower and put on clothes that don’t reek before you sleep in my bed.”
    He grinned wickedly, winked at Mary Ellen and slunk out.
    That’s when I realized how my words sounded. I turned to Mary Ellen, whose eyes were as wide as my cinnamon rolls. “I say that generically. I’m sleeping in my grandma’s room, on the left. He’s taking my old bedroom, which is on the right.”
    “He’s living with you? Are you two like…a couple?” she asked, obviously questioning my sanity.
    “No, he’s crashing with me for a couple of days until he finds a place of his own. His girlfriend will be heading out here eventually, and Lenny and I are honestly just friends. I’d never . . . we don’t . . .  it’s not like that between us.” Could I sound any lamer?
    Again, her look was doubtful, but she said nothing. “So bring the food to the meeting. How much do I owe you?”
    Feeling fully chastened by her attitude—even though I had done nothing wrong—I added up her bill and she paid it. Only after she left, reminding me of the place and time, did I realize she’d just roped me into attending her stupid