Mimsey shook her head. “Ranger X saw me arrive here a few minutes ago. I got straight to cookin’, I didn’t even think to check around for that ol’ grump.” Even as she called Gus a grump, her face turned a girlish pink and her eyes sparkled. “I thought he was just in a mood and was organizing the storeroom or something.”
“We haven’t seen him,” I said. Then I clarified. “None of us have seen him this morning.”
Mimsey rested a hand on her hip. “Hmm, now that is strange. Maybe his meeting with his friend went late and he slept in?”
“When’s the last time Gus slept in?” I said. “He’s always puttering around here until the wee hours of the morning, and he’s still the first one up.”
Mimsey frowned. “You’re right. I don’t know then. That’s strange.”
Ranger X stood. “It’s time for me to get going.”
“Is something wrong?” Despite Mimsey’s attempt at keeping a straight face, a layer of fear danced underneath. “X, what’s going on?”
“I’m sure Gus had an event with his friend that he didn’t tell either of you. Maybe they got breakfast this morning or something.” Ranger X gave Mimsey a quick salute. “Don’t worry, Miss Magnolia, we’re just going to check on him. Neighborly duties.”
“Fine, good. Good,” she said, distractedly tucking the spatula behind her ear like a pencil. Her fingers fidgeted with one another. “You’ll find him then?”
“You have my word,” he said. “Lily, can you walk me out?”
I followed Ranger X out the front door, down the steps, and onto the beach where my toes formed little caves in the already warmed sand.
“Are you going to be okay?” He turned toward me, one of his hands resting on my waist as he looked into my eyes. “Do you want me to stay? Just say the word, and I won’t go anywhere.”
I flashed him my strongest smile. “Go. Find Gus. I have to take care of a few things here, and then maybe I’ll see if Mimsey can watch Magic & Mixology. I have to meet with Liam to see if he knows where the ingredient for Poppy’s Vamp Vites can be purchased.”
“Be careful.”
“I will,” I whispered, my hand coming to rest on his chest, the firmness of his muscles strong and comforting under the soft pads of my fingertips. “You too.”
Ranger X took a few steps down the path, and I watched him go. Just before he reached the main beach path, he turned around and winked.
I tilted my head to the side. “What’s so funny?”
“Tell your cousins they can come out from hiding now,” he said. “I left them some eggs.”
My mouth hung open. “You knew this whole time?”
“Tell Poppy that if she swears like a sailor while she’s trying to climb your trellis, she’s never going to be sneaky.”
“What about Zin?”
“Zin…” He winked again. “She did good.”
Chapter 18
Twenty minutes later, I’d ushered Poppy and Zin safely out of the house, though their absence didn’t last long. As soon as they hit the beach, they turned right around and knocked on the door.
“Hello,” I said, trying to keep a straight face as my cousins stood on my front steps without ever having left. “How are you ladies this morning?”
Stifling smiles, they came into the storeroom and got right to work on the eggs.
“Nice of you to show up, girls,” Mimsey said. “Save some food for your cousin! She is shrinking. Lily, don’t you like my eggs?”
“I love your eggs,” I said in the most serious tone I could muster. “But I have to run an errand. Would you three be able to hold down the fort for an hour by chance?”
“Oh, run along. Trinket’s got the supply store under control today, and frankly I’d rather be here.” Mimsey hiked herself onto a bar stool and spread out to catch as much sun as possible on her white-as-marshmallow skin. It was a stark contrast to the blinding green muumuu floating around her plump figure. “I’m working on my tan, anyway. Don’t you think Gus would find me extra attractive with a tan?”
“Ew, Mom,” Poppy said. “No romance talk while I’m eating breakfast.”
Zin winked. “I think your mom would look lovely with a tan.”
Poppy reached over and forked an egg from Zin’s plate. Zin leapt to pull it back, but she missed, and Poppy caught the whole thing in her mouth.
I snuck out with a wave and a quiet goodbye, figuring that sooner rather than later was the best time to make my exit. Otherwise, I risked caking my hair in flying egg yolks.