The Krampus Kink (A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery Book 12) by Amanda M. Lee

Author:Amanda M. Lee [Lee, Amanda M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WinchesterShaw Publications
Published: 2022-12-05T16:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

We brainstormed over lunch. Jack suggested it might be a good idea to approach the employees and ask their feelings on the Winthrop Group crew. Even though I didn’t want to appear wishy-washy in the shadow of his greatness, it seemed a good idea.

“Do you have any other orders?” I asked dryly as we exited the bar.

Jack slid me a challenging look. “You’re not really going there, are you?”

“I’m considering it.”

“Well, don’t. I don’t find it funny. I’m not bossy.”

“What are you two arguing about?” Millie asked as she joined us. She looked annoyed. “How is it that you’re arguing? You’re usually so lovey-dovey I want to kick you in your private bits.”

“We had an … incident,” Jack replied gruffly. “That Arnold guy decided to dissect us like bugs under a microscope, and it didn’t go well.”

Millie’s lips curved. “I can just imagine. Let me guess…” She tapped her bottom lip as she regarded us. “He said you were the leader, and she was the follower.”

“How did you know?” The anger I thought had been doused flared to life again as I planted my hands on my hips. “I am not a follower, for the record.”

“Of course you’re not.” Millie waved away the statement as if it meant nothing. “These guys read surface stuff. They can’t possibly know who you really are. Why are you getting so worked up?”

“Because she’s Charlie,” Jack replied. “That’s what she does.”

“Oh, right, because you were happy when he called you bossy,” I shot back.

“I’m not bossy!”

“Good grief.” Millie shook her head and extended a warning finger. “Nobody has time for this. That guy saw you as easy marks, and you fell for it. There’s a reason he’s successful at this. He takes the things that people see on the surface—the things co-workers know—and exploits them.”

I jutted out my lower lip. She had a point, loath as I was to admit it. “Well, that’s crap,” I said. “I’m not a walking doormat.”

“Mind you, he never said she was a walking doormat,” Jack interjected. “She assumed that’s what he was implying.”

“You two are unbelievable.” Millie shook her head. “Seriously, knock it off. We need to find whoever is directing the Krampus. We don’t have time for your nonsense.”

Jack folded his arms across his chest. “Just for the record, you don’t think I’m a bossy bully, do you?”

“You have bossy bully tendencies,” Millie replied. She wasn’t the type to skirt a direct question. “You’re a natural leader, Jack. You probably were even before your military stint. I wouldn’t say you’re rigid all the time—and you have a very giving heart—but you like things done a certain way.

“On the flip side, Charlie spent her entire life trying to be invisible because she was afraid of being discovered,” she continued. “She’s always been a good girl, and she wants to please people when she can. More importantly, she doesn’t want to get on the wrong person’s radar, so she spent her life making herself small.”

“I don’t like this one bit,” Jack growled.

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