Fudge-Laced Felonies by Hickey Cynthia

Author:Hickey, Cynthia [Hickey, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-10-10T05:00:00+00:00

“Don’t use your patronizing tone with me, boy.” Uncle Roy’s face became the color of a ripe turnip. A sure sign of an escalating temper.

“Why don’t you take me seriously?” Joe’s face showed the beginning signs of redness. “If not for the fact that I’m an officer of the law, then because I’m family.”

“It ain’t that.” Uncle Roy took a deep breath. “I’m not going to run scared from my house, and that’s final.”

“I could order it.”

“No, you can’t, and don’t threaten me, boy. I can still take you down.”

At his comment, a giggle escaped me. The vision of roly-poly Uncle Roy taking down muscular, burly Joe did me in. The two men turned to glare at me.

“I’m requesting a transfer.” Joe folded his arms. “I can’t work in the same town my family lives in.”

He’d been making that threat for years. I held up a hand to ward off his words. “Sorry. Just tired.” I snorted.

“I’ll stay, Joe.” Ethan crossed his arms. “There’s room for me on the sofa. If anything happens, you’ll be the first I call.”

Joe nodded.

“That’s settled then.” Aunt Eunice walked around the table collecting the full coffee mugs. “We’re all tired. We’re getting testy. Let’s go to bed.”

Sleep sounded good. But once everyone left and I crawled between the sheets spread over the pile of quilts covering my ripped mattress, my mind raced like a thoroughbred. My hideaway. The old tree house. I threw off the covers and slung my legs over the side. No time like the present.

I pulled on a pair of jean shorts under my T-shirt and headed to the kitchen to hunt up a flashlight. Once I’d found one, I eased open the back door. Ethan sat on the top step.

“Figured you’d be out soon.” He held up a flashlight. “I wondered what took you so long to think of it.”

“You did, huh? Must think you know me pretty well.”

“I do.” He held out his hand, and I took it. Did

Ethan wonder how his tender gestures affected me?

The simple touch thrilled me. Tingles ran up my arm. My heart raced. If only he loved me as much as I loved him. “The tree house?”

“Yep.” He pulled me along after him. “Why didn’t you call Joe?”

Ethan shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I thought you might be up for an adventure. A quick peek at our favorite childhood hangout. It’s our special place. If we find anything, we’ll let Joe know.”

We walked the rest of the way in silence. I couldn’t help but compare the way my hand felt engulfed in Ethan’s. While Nate’s hands were as smooth as mine,

Ethan’s woodworking job gave him calluses. His hands were larger than Nate’s, too. I felt safe. I gave his hand a squeeze and smiled when he returned it.

Once we stood under the tree house, Ethan shone the flashlight beam up the trunk of the massive oak. “I’ll go first in case the ladder isn’t steady. This wood has gotten too old.”

“Okay.” The “ladder” consisted of wooden planks nailed into the tree trunk.

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